Have a great trip CT, I envy you in your travels this winter. If you get a chance, take some digitals of the place and post them.

Sorry to hear of your experience but I tend to agree with your DH, it sounds like either food poisoning or that illness that is going around this place. My son and his fiancé caught it from a relative of hers at her family's Thanksgiving dinner. They were both so sick the next day they could not attend the dinner we were having and it was two days until they were able to function.

I had a bit of stuffing made from Atkins bread, sausage and veggies along with a cup of bean soup today. Took blocker prior to each meal but I am willing to bet they did not help. Will check weight tomorrow and see what is up .

BRat-We are probably the only people on the planet who don't have a digital camera...so it may take a little while before you see any trip pictures!
My malady passed quickly. Yesterday I took it easy (as far as eating) and only went out for a few hours. I'll do the same today and until I feel back to normal. Wouldn't want to spoil my trip!
Still haven't packed! That's just not like me!! I've been following the weather there and am trying to plan accordingly. Would really love to catch the Cirque de Soleil "O" show while we're there, but the tickets are over $200 each (not sure if our budget can handle that!...maybe if we hit a jackpot!!) We did see another presentation of Cirque de Soleil while at Disney last year. It was really great!! But "O" is supposed to be very different (underwater) and even better.
I've kept the two pounds off as of this morning...it could still be all of the liquids I lost on Sunday, though.
I will go back on the carb blockers on Friday and stay on them through the trip...at least maybe I won't feel so guilty if I slip up while we're away and no scale to keep me in line. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do, right?

Glad you are feeling better. In my experience the "O" is better out of the water, but everyone likes their "O" different , I couldn't resist that. I was pondering a room in the downtown area next trip, had better luck in those casinos anyway. Only problem is the distance from the strip, have to check on the shuttle service.

Tsk tsk!! "O"ne track mind... We've driven downtown a few times to see the "Freemont Street experience", but never spent much time there. Won't have a car this time around. As I understand, the bus is only like $1.50 each way, compared to $10 cab fare. You're right, though, the games do seem looser there.
I will know a whole lot more about shuttle connections, etc. once I'm back. Is there any specific information that you'd like me to get for you while we're there? I'd be happy to!

I'm feeling even better today, especially when I got on the scale and I was down another two pounds!! But it might not last long cause we're going to "Mario's Via Abruzzi" for dinner with some friends tonight. Not sure if my stomach is ready for that yet...

Are there alot of folks sick in your office? I dread taking the plane this time of year as its an incubator of germs and they all seem to find me!! I've been much healthier since I stopped working and sharing air with parents of little children who bring home everything from school! You'd think with all the supplements that I take that I'd have an immune system like a coat of armour!

CT if you happen to be downtown I would not mind if you asked a couple of the nicer places if they had free shuttles back and forth to the strip. I have used a cab and the bus. Bus is OK during the daytime but not recommended for evening fare. Cab is expensive way to do it as you suggested. I ate lunch at the gold nugget, nice place. Some of the major off-strip casinos such as the RIO offer that type of service, so I would think the downtown ones would too.

Keep up the good work, lots of salads and meats, not to mention seafood in Vegas to eat. Don't give up completely!

Ah Mario's....have not been there for awhile, enjoy! I have found a few places with similar quality but much less expensive so he is reserved for fine dining. Great atmosphere in there, many of the local politicians and "strong-arms" used to go there, not sure if they still do.

BRat

FYI - big carby dinner last night at Buca di Beppo (ravioli, eggplant parm, chicken on garlic mashed potatoes and chocolate ice cream and cake dessert) and no gain. WOW! Big Hannukah dinner planned for Saturday too.

I'm still hopeful to maintain at the end of this month!

I'm impressed! What are the ingredients it the blockers you use?

I feasted on Italian low carb pasta and sausage last night, no gain there either but my intake was almost 0 carbs for the rest of the day so I expected that.

BRat

BTW, that pasta was expensive imported with 10 grams net per cup, I had a bit more than that but have to admit it tasted a bit like cardboard. I think in the future I'll continue to use bean sprouts or just eat a smaller portion of the spinach pasta.

BRat

Got in last night. Had a really nice time. Our room was upgraded so we had a full kitchen, living room, bedroom and bath.
The weather wasn't too bad. But I was glad that we brought our winter jackets for night time.
We had the opportunity to see Leann Rimes. She was only going to be in for one night...I think for the National Rodeo Finals week.
Thought of you a few times as our hotel was very near the Harley Davidson Cafe.
Went to Laughlin for a day. Our hotel offered a free trip and a free buffet. We went Downtown (by bus) one evening and had a really good time. I'm sorry, I didn't read your request for information prior to our departure, but I do know that a free shuttle runs between Sams Town and Downtown and then another between Sam's Town and the strip. The bus back to the strip wasn't bad. I think our busdriver was practicing his "stand-up comic" routine, so it was quite entertaining. When we wandered beyond the Freemont Street canopy, we were approached a couple of times by panhandlers, but it was hard to tell how bad it really was further away. They are in the process of building a monorail connecting all of the hotels on the East side of the strip and eventually Downtown and the airport and looping back down the West side of the strip. Hope you're patient, though, cause its not scheduled to be finished until 2010!
Didn't gamble a whole lot. I seemed to be able to make my money last longest playing video poker.
I ended up taking the week off from LC'ing. I did take the carb blockers twice every day, not sure if they helped or not. This morning the scale registered +4, but I'm right back on it today and I'm pretty confident that'll come off quickly.
Well, I'll close for now. Still have some unpacking to do.
CeeTee

Glad you made it back safely CT! Nothing beats the food in Vegas, especially those great salad bars. I LOVE the bread pudding with the warm toppings they all seem to have. Just finished plowing the driveway again, Vegas sounds great now. I have been in the HD Café several times, usually have a couple of beers and watch the bikes roll past on the conveyor system they have in there, then buy a couple of shirts and head-rags on my way out.

I have not had any luck with those pills, seems I do just as well without them. My sister started a new vitamin weight loss regimen last week and is going to let me know how it works. I forget the name of the stuff but it is not over the counter, it is sold by distributors. The lady I was speaking with at the party last weekend lost six pounds in two months doing nothing different aside from using this product. We shall see, although my sister is not heavy, she is gorgeous and imagines herself to be in need of weight loss.

A bit under the weather today, partied until three this morning after a long day at work, felt great at the time! DJ playing, lots of dancing and no cigarette smoke any more! Think I will go to the mall tonight and walk around and then go for some Chinese, have the craving for green stuff.

BRat

I've been following Induction since Saturday and have taken off most of what I picked up in LasVegas...but I really do need to begin an exercise routine since I hate walking when its crappy outside. I just bought a new Pilates tape and I'll supplement that with a bit of light weight training. After all, I only have 4 weeks left till wearing shorts and swimsuits!

At one of the airports I bought a Fitness magazine and there was an article about the supplement CLA. It claims to assist at ridding you of abdominal fat, changing existing fat to lean muscle and (the part I like) if you regain lost weight it is added as muscle rather than fat. It works by inhibiting an enzyme that allows fat to return to existing fat cells. Since I'm a real sucker for that stuff, I thought I'd give it a try. You take 3-4 1000mg capsules a day (with meals). It claims that you may not see scale weight loss but that you will see the difference in body size. I'll let you know... And let me know more about your sister's supplement, too, ok?

We have a Christmas Eve party tonight which shouldn't be too bad...they always have lots of meat and cheese and shrimp on the buffet. Then tomorrow it's an informal sitdown at the inlaws. Always salad and some kind of meat that I can fill up on. I won't have any trouble ignoring the rest of the stuff. It's the day after Christmas that may pose a problem. we go over to my Aunt & Uncle's. Always a carb ridden meal! No salad, their idea of veggies are peas or corn and the meat is typically comfort food (made in thick gravies). Maybe I'll just pop a couple of blockers and hope for the best, even though I'm convinced they don't really do anything. Then New Years Eve could be a challenge as well since its a small dinner party at a friend's house. It seems the larger the affair, usually the more variety, but nobody notices that you're not eating the carb dish that they spent the afternoon making.

Well, my friend, I'll close for now. Wishes for a happy and safe holiday.

P.S. Did we lose Rene?

Hi CT, hope you find that magic pill for us to use. Fat to muscle, I like that idea. I have been a bit under the weather, either I caught a flu-like virus or the salamander heater I was using in the barn while working on the boat Sunday had an adverse effect on my lungs. I lost two pounds in preparation for today's evening meal, although I think I can hold out fairly well. Next week we have a New Year's Eve wedding reception Italian style, that will be all the bad stuff I am sure. The family is well connected, so I have to behave in order to avoid cement goulashes , I do love them dearly.

I will see the sister tonight and see if she has good news about the supplement she is using. My son and his fiancé' are on their way here, I'm taking them to brunch. They are spending Christmas Eve and Day with her family, I never put pressure on my boys to be with me and my family. Too many people do that and ruin holidays for their children by laying guilt trips on them.

Renee was over on the Hillary Clinton thread, as was I this week. It is under either current events or everything else, I forget.

Keep us up to date on those fat blocker pills, sounds too good to be true.

Merry Christmas!

HI Ceetee, I dont have a thing interesting to add about carb blockers. I stopped them awhile back. Seems like you and BRat are doing a good job finding the answers to that one. Ill let you guys do all the work and take your word for it If you find a good one Ill try it. Hope you guys had a great Christmas and have a Happy New Year
Renee

Hi Rene! Good to hear that you made it through Christmas and all of the prep work ok. How has the weather been?
I got through the first two (the easiest ones) of my four holiday challenges with no weight gain. Cross your fingers for the next two.
I tried my new Pilates exercise tape - eeeeks! Didn't know I was so out of shape!!! I'm still feelin' it a bit today
Well, have a Happy New Year! And I hope to "talk" with you soon...

just wanted tell you all about a carb product that works for me.. it is call starch off. you chew this orange like candy and it works for me.. never had a gain from it. and you take it just min.before a meal that has carbs..