Now that I eat faces again, I love eating in N’Awlins more than ever. **wink* The only drawback is that oysters, crawfish, shrimp, heavy cream and corn syrup are all basically avoids for the AB blood-typer. But…I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—some avoids are just not really avoids if you’re having a great time eating them!! It all goes back to that living life in a highly beneficial way philosophy…

I won’t say that I’m not bloated, that I haven’t gained weight in the six days that I’ve been here (my jeans have gotten tight around the waist!), or that my tummy hasn’t gurgled more than a few times…but…it all tastes so good that the end result makes it all more neutral than avoid really. I’m not trying to convince you or myself, just stating the fact that all rules are exempt when in the Crescent City.

Jazz Fest was super crowded this year, and a bit commercial for my taste (sad that all things have to depend on money and who brings it in), but not an overall disappointment. Caught several shows that I couldn’t have seen anywhere else (Buddy Guy was off the hook and came into the crowd right in front of us!!), and danced like crazy to the requisite zydeco, brass band, and cajun music in weather that couldn’t have been better suited to Fest. We had not a drop of rain this year, and temperatures never exceeded the low 80’s. My friend’s wedding was wonderful and cruising on the Mississippi was very cool.

The plan is to enjoy down home good old southern cookin’ for the last two days of our trip; go home and detox for a day or two, and then start the BTD/South Beach combo diet to ward off those extra inches, make way for spring/summertime hiking and outdoor playing and to prevent heart disease/diabetes from setting in (we aren’t getting any younger you know!!).

I will be happy to share recipes from this “fusion” lifestyle/diet, results of weight loss and overall health feeling stuff…I hope that this finds you all well and content and compliant (for me…be compliant for me…)…smile…