Is challenge enough with the blood-type diet. Add low-carbing to that and, unless you bring your own food, you can be up a creek. I was!

Last weekend was Gordon's cousin's birthday party. There is always tons of food at any of our family functions, so I figured that I'd find enough selection to get me through the afternoon. I did get through the afternoon, but not without going off both the low-carb AND the BTD basics! Stuffed mushrooms started off the afternoon, dairy-free, with crab and spinach in them. Turned out there'd been wheat in them, though, to thicken the stuffing up since it was dairy-free. Oops. The only thing that saved me from eating corn chips with guacamole was that the guac was too spicy for me. I did have a couple of corn chips, but did pretty well with that considering the devastation that would have occurred if the guac had been decent. Salmon mousse was next, and it was NOT dairy-free. It was delicious, though, schmeared over come crackers, some of which were wheat, until I found the rice crackers in the same basket. Dinner was pork ribs and chicken (I ate chicken) and coleslaw with peanuts and peanut oil - I ate a bite or two and then passed on it. The baked beans (too sweet, and of unknown variety) were good, but I limited myself to a small serving. I did allow myself a small piece of chocolate birthday cake, figuring that would be my one 'allowed' cheat for the party, but I had hoped that there would be more food that was aceptable for me to eat. Aside from the food options, we both had a good time. Sat in the jacuzzi, hung out with the family and a bunch of 18 year-olds. It was refreshing to spend some time with teens and see how they think these days!

Considering the selection, I did okay - derailed myself slightly for a couple of days, and I'm still holding at 10 pounds lost total, but I can't complain. It has derailed me a little bit since then, too - I've been craving sugar again, so last night I allowed myself to have the rarest of rare treats: CHEESECAKE. I LOVE cheesecake, but usually eat a bite of someone else's rather than subject myself to the misery that follows eating a whole piece. But I was craving it, chose to give in, and Gordon and I traipsed off to the Cheesecake Factory. I did behave in the sense that it was at least low-carb - I had the "6 Carb Cheesecake" that they've been promoting, and it was delicious. With the strawberries and whipped cream they serve it with it was 11 carbs total. Not bad! It also didn't give me the misery that most cheesecake does. Nonetheless, it will be a VERY RARE treat.

Today I'm getting back to my usual low-carb levels, and have been brushing up on the basics of both the BTD and the low-carb lifestyle. I had eggs with ground turkey and herbs for breakfast, as well as three large strawberries. Yum. Lamb will be on the menu for some time today, too - it always makes me feel good and is beneficial for me.

I'm on track to lose the rest of this weight before our wedding! It IS happening! : )