How has counselling helped you?

[Helen]

Clairejen, that was hilarious! And actually closer to the truth than you probably realise - though my brothers were in on the act too!

Mrs L, yes people do seem to sell their LL stuff on ebay. I presume its mostly people who give up within a couple of weeks and want to claw some of the money back. Icemoose advises against buying packs on ebay as its impossible to know if they have been tampered with at all but I can't see any harm in the foundation book! I have about a weeks worth of spare food packs (untampered with!) and am switching to CD next week so may give it a go selling the spares.

I have been called many things but never wise - not sure if you are serious or having a joke

Nixx - love your WW comments, have really cheered me up this morning. Wish I could meet this lady she sounds great!

[nixx]

Yes, Mrs L, I think I'll camp out here for a while, you're all clearly very supportive of each other and a friendly bunch. And yes I can be witty when I'm quoting someone else!

Helen, I remember as a child my lovely Nana plying me and my sister with plate after plate of food, and still blame(!) her for my appetite, as does my Dad, her son, blame her for his. SHe was never happier than when she was feeding people, and I see some of this in me too. I love having people round and cooking for them, and cooking stuff for my Grandma and taking it for her. As well as huge stodgy meals, Nana could bake cakes for England. Her house was on the way home from school, so I went every day, and every day it was a plate of cakes, then home for tea. My mum was the other way - restricting and limiting stuff like sweets and cake, so I guess I stuffed myself at Nana's while I could. Same went for if I had some money - off to the shop for sweets to eat away from Mum's beady eye. I suppose this tells me something about myself, but I don't know what!

I could learn from what you say about being gentle with myself - understanding that I WILL make mistakes, and that the odd one WONT make a massive difference might stop the what I see as inevitable binge that follows on from one slip-up. There really is no need, is there? Just because I eat half a mars bar, doesn't mean I have to order pizza and neck half a bottle of vodka and think "I'll start again tomorrow".

I'll have a sken on ebay for LL stuff too, it'll be worth a read I think.

Have a good weekend everyone, and thanks for your replies.