Wow! Thanks for the kinds words FB! I'll be sure to be on my best behaviour now.

RE artificial sweeteners, I do agree and have agreed since day one! In fact I have never liked AS even before moving to 100% whole foods. BUT I have used SPLENDA on occassion to make a yummy cheesecake or a nice pumkin cake. But I don't use it for anything else.

I only make the cheesecake about once every two months or so, or for special requests for friends who are diabetic. Believe me, if I could get that cheesecake to taste good with STEVIA I would! But, even as a diehard stevia fan for moderate use, I cannot get it to taste GREAT, so I opt to use the Splenda for that application.

What I REALLY should do is avoid it altogether, but I am not compelled to do so since I use it so seldom. Even when I eat chocolate, it's the real thing, just 85-88% pure chocolate with real sugar in it. I can eat it in small amounts with no side effects or cravings, but it's taken me a couple years to get to that point.

Also, I don't like to broadcast this on this forum since it is not something that most folks can do without problems afterward, but I do use molasses to sweeten things sometimes, but in VERY small amounts. I also use pure unfiltered organic honey for certain things. But again, I don't use these very often.

I use molasses in homemade ice cream, about 2 tablespoons for the entire (quart?) bucket, as it gives it a burnt sugar taste, like creme brule (sp?). Or honey for me works well in certain teas that I don't like stevia in. Also for some berry desserts I like to use honey.

But it's taken me a couple years to get to that point. I think my body has repaired itself, obviously enough to begin losing weight at a more rapid rate than the first 2 years I was eating whole foods. So I am certain I am able to now metabolize these things more normally, therefore I don't restrict myself completely from them.

Anyway, that's my long explanation for sweeteners. For the record, when I switched over to this way of eating, I went COLD TURKEY, unlike the way Dr. S recommends in her books. I did not *self medicate* as she calls it, I just ate what I wanted within reason. I also continued to eat corn and other starchy things, and now in her new book she actually advocates it! But I have found that the NEW book is basically the way I have modified my own eating plan! I think she read my mind or has been spying on me! HA!

Also, wanted to mention I have eaten gluten free for about 3 years now and it has made a huge difference in my life! But I do eat oats and some things with gluten, but no wheat, etc.

RE is this book worth investing in -- YES! It's the best yet and puts it RIGHT OUT THERE for ya to get all the little details. I mean, it's only $13. Don't eat out one night and you can use that $$ to buy the book. And while you're there, get a few magazines and read those on the house.

--Betty