I believe the word you want is RAVENOUS. Yes. And always for the worst possible things. You are very much not alone there. :)

As for push-ups, they are REALLY hard! But doing wall push-ups will get you there. Then you move to the 'girl push-ups' (you know the ones you do on your knees) and then one day you try doing it straight-legged and you find you can do it! (even if it's just once the first time).

I remember my first push-up and even more amazing to me, my first tricep-dip. It'll be just as thrilling for you as finding out you can trace your family tree back to Bugs Bunny!

I'm de-lurking because I am compelled to tell you how wonderful you are for keeping this blog. I'm 20 years older than you and have been up and down the weight loss trail since I was 11 (my mother brought me to Weight Watchers). What you have accomplished, and learned, is tremendously inspiring, even to an old-diet hand like me. I want to thank you. I lost 50 lbs 2 years ago (and kept it off) and have 50 more to go but have not been able to make it happen.

SBD is probably the ONLY diet I have not tried. Believe me, if it's out there, I've done it. Although I didn't want to go back to WW (I'm a lifetime member twice.. hardcore, huh?) I was getting desperate and thought it was going to be my only choice because it did get the first 50 off 2 years ago.

After reading your blog and reading all your archives, I used the info gleaned from you re: SBD and did my own 'modified' try at it. I lost 5 lbs in under a week... so I bought the book and found I was basically following Phase 3. I've been on Phase 1 for 2 days and have lost 2 lbs by doing it 'by the book'.

I would never have even looked at SBD if it weren't for you because I was under the misconception that it was another Atkins-like thing (which was a nightmare for me!)

This plan is a way of eating that makes sense, that is simple and clear and delicious and WORKS!

Thank you so much for all the inspiration, information and laughs! You are a wonderfully insightful and funny writer. Honey you need to turn this blog into a book - it's got best-seller written all over it!

Thanks so much for your journal. I enjoy it so much. I'm still mentally way off as for losing my flab but every little thing helps. You should be so proud of yourself.

Don't sweat the push-ups, upper body strength is rough for women generally, and develops really slowly. Especially in big girls, the disparity is huge between lower and upper body strength. (As compensation, god help anyone we kick.)

As to the period/appetite connection, oh good lord yes. Cravings for sweet, salty, crunchy, or just quantity are really very typical. It might help a bit to have something to blame, right?

And also yes: fat and salt. Deep-fried salted fat with salt sprinkled on it dipped in butter would be ideal. Did anyone see the deep-fried butter demo on Paula Deen? That woman HAD to be PMSing.

Also, big props to you for your slick Pilates moves!

Great job being a rabbit-human hybrid!

I'd answer you, but my mouth is stuffed full of Baked Cheetos. The week leading up to That Time is the absolute pits for me.

If you don't want to wash your hands every time you do a pushup, I recommend getting a stability ball, putting that against the wall, and doing your pushups thusly. That way, you're working your chest AND your core. And avoiding pesky handprints on the wall. :)

Thanks so much for keeping this blog -- it's one of my favorites, both because of your inspiring weight loss and your excellent writing style!

For me, I know my period's coming when I crave chocolate. Like I can't resist it's magnetic pull, but only during that day or two before it starts.

You have been such an inspiration to me! Like Joy who left the first comment above, I'm almost 20 years older than you and I've been on every diet known to mankind. I'm working on my 3rd week on the Beach, and I lost 11 1/2 pounds in Phase I. Even my DH who weighs about 400 pounds is happily doing the beach, because he is honestly getting enough food to eat!

Thank you again for so faithfully posting in your blog and for keeping on even when it was hard.

In the 2 weeks prior to the main event the progesterone in my body increases but if it doesn't out number the estrogen by a certain ratio like 20:1 then a domino effect happens.

Here we go: The estrogen produces protein globulins that bind to thyroid hormones. The thyroid hormones can't do their job of helping to convert/use carbs in my system already when they're bound by the estrogen proteins and then my body thinks it's carb starved and I get the whole, FEED ME SEYMOUR thing going on (increased appetite) and I want to eat everything in sight. So then the solution is relatively simple: I need to be on my game about really recognizing when that's happening to me. I've found that eating a sugarfree fatfree pudding cup helps.

I also found that increased aldosterone during the build up to the TOM is what causes the fluid retention! So it's normal to get diahrrea at the beginning of your period because of the release of the excess fluids.

Hope this helps!

Congratulations on being able to do the Pilates move! That is truly awesome.

P.S. You could like, kick ALL our asses. ;)

By the way, I love your blog (very inspirational and funny as hell) and I think you are totally hysterical - I love your dry, dry sense of humor and I hope that even after you are 'done' losing that you continue to write because you definitely have a point of view that I appreciate!