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I feel like I've been "vacationing" from this diet - swinging back and forth between eating and drinking more than I should, and then toeing the line for a few days. Am now trying out drinking wine only on weekends or when we have guests and sticking to very moderate eating. Also getting myself off to the gym 3 days a week and walking more. Nice weather sure helps! That said, I finally got back on the scale this morning and found I'd lost a bit which is SO encouraging. 9 lbs. lost, 8 to go.

We took a bottle along to Maine this weekend. What a gorgeous wine - astonishing color! And fruity, crisp and delicious. Thank you Joe.

Winchester From a good friend (and food lover) who lives in Winchester: "I had a group dinner at Brewbakers that was very nice; haven't been there for lunch. Also I like One Block West on Indian Alley."

Definitely buy from the guys at Salt River Lobster. We've bought from them for years. They have the freshest lobster and best prices. I usually just show up on Friday morning and get what I want, but you can also call ahead and reserve what you need. Check out the web site.

I opened up a bottle of the Pepiere last night with dinner of roast salmon. I have a cold so obviously it's not an ideal time to taste wine. But I was curious, so tried it anyway. It is indeed a nice pale golden yellow. I did't detect any effervescence. My husband thought it smelled like apricots, but I could only barely get a whiff of liquorice. Noticed that also in the taste. It was pleasantly dry. That was about it. Will try again when the dratted cold passes!

I bought some at MacArthur this afternoon. At 3 p.m. they had 6 bottles left @ $8.99/bottle.

Weighed in this morning with a 1lb loss = 8lbs lost, 9lbs to go. Not getting any easier!

I was at MacArthur Beverages yesterday. They have a case in their warehouse which will be in the store next week, maybe by Tuesday, selling for either $8.99 or $9.99. This is such a good idea!

Just got back from Portugal ready to get back to being serious about this diet business. Surprisingly, I find I lost 1 or 2 lbs. while away (despite the wine and cheese and bread!). Am now 7 lbs. down, 10 lbs. to go. February was just a difficult month!

Backslide I did. Gained 3 lbs. Too much entertaining = too much wine and there goes some self-control, etc., etc. Oh well. Now, I'm leaving today for 2 weeks in Portugal to visit my daughter (with new baby and 2 darling little girls). At least they live in a 3rd floor walkup, so there'll be lots of built in exercise. Just have to be careful of the great bread and fabulous cheeses, not to mention the pastries. Thank goodness for grilled fish!

Thanks for the encouraging words. Of course I'm pretty certain that I'll backslide next week (cold weather, house guests, etc), but will keep plugging along whatever!

Week 6 - Somehow managed to lose 4 lbs this week. I'll take it! 8.5lbs. to go.

I + 1 would love to join you. But, will be away 2/20-3/7. ???

Week 5 - The Wages of Sin (Gerard Pangaud Dinner & Super Bowl Pulled Pork Barbecue Party) caught up with me! Gained 1 1/2 lbs pounds back. Drat! 12 1/2 to go.

From L'Academie's web site -By Metro: L'Academie de Cuisine is located 1 mile from the Shady Grove Road Metro Station (Red line). Take bus #43 or #63. Get off at the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Gaither Road and walk one long block to Industrial Drive. Make a right at the stop sign. Walk into the first driveway on your left, which is our parking lot. Enter the first door on your right.

Yes, but don't you hate it when you've just gotten out a pristine, new sponge and someone leaves it lying around wet and you pick it up the next day and it STINKS! Of course another solution it to throw it in the washing machine with a load of wash.

Week 4 - Well, this was a 1lb. week - 11lbs. to go. But, oh my, Gerard Pangaud Dinner coming up on Saturday. Guess the only thing to do is eat, drink and be merry, and not worry about it!

I started (in November) by following the Diet Center program, and am now just not eating much - yogurt & fruit for breakfast, usually Slimfast for lunch, fruit & almonds & carrots for snack, then a light dinner (lean protein & lots of veggies, maybe a little carb). At the beginning I cut out all alcohol and now allow myself some wine when we have company or go out. That's been hard, but I have saved a lot of money (as well as calories)!

Now that it actually feels like winter around here, I felt like having chili last night. So I dug out an old-favorite recipe from Bon Appetit - Turkey Chili with White Beans. You'll find it if you do a recipe search on Epicurious. It's easy to make, tasty and low-cal. Obviously you can spice it up more if you like. Hits the spot in cold weather. (I particularly like to use the Goya Small White Beans.)

Are they participating?

Koln (Cologne) We're flying in and out of Cologne in May. Our last night will be our travelling companions' anniversary and this sounds like a nice spot to celebrate it. I checked the hotel website - is this the place you mean? "Schälsick Bar and Terrace"

Week 3 - lost 2 lbs, 12 to go. Yay!

That and the follow-up Reader Review are not too encouraging!

Not only compared to Portugal. I'd avoid.

I see Famoso is participating in the up-coming Restaurant Week, lunch only, Monday-Friday. Seems like it could be a good time to try it out. Anyone been?