Dear [Ang],
Can’t understand why you’re snacking on carrots. You certainly don’t need to lose any pounds.
But if that is what you wish, then you might consider adding green tea to your diet. This is a powerful, natural, appetite suppressant. This beverage also raises the metabolism, which burns more calories per hour. Plus, it gives you some chlorophyll, a very beneficial plant substance. And if you get the kind that has ginseng, you may find that the drink invigorates without making you feel “wired”.
On my last diet, in 1998, I lost some thirty pounds in six months by walking an hour a day on average, and drinking two to four cups of green tea per day.
Oh, and don’t put sugar in the tea. Sucrose counteracts green tea’s hunger-reducing properties. I use Stevia sweetener instead.
Stevia is an herb found in the south west US, Central, and South America, which tastes very much like sugar but has zero calories. Also, it causes no insulin response in the body, a key contributor to weight-gain (or difficulty in weight-loss). Stevia is available at health food stores as a liquid extract or a powder. But I’d stay away from the powder, as it contains fillers and chemicals that you don’t need. And, to spice it up a bit, add a few drops of peppermint, spearmint, or vanilla extract.
I’d like to shed about fifteen to twenty pounds. Most of THAT is in the stomach, so it may not be too visible. Especially when I wear those baggy oxford shirts, sweatshirts, and sweaters. 
But a “spare tire” is indeed there which must be deflated, rest assured. I feel better when I weigh around one-hundred-fifty pounds, rather than the one-hundred-sixty-seven Lbs. I’m at now. During the summer months, I love taking four to six VERY LONG hikes. Say fifteen to twenty-two mile ones. And to complete these without getting VERY SORE feet, it is crucial that ALL excess weight be eliminated. So I probably won’t even attempt a full length one until I’m back at one-fifty.
I picked up the excess inches when living in Altoona. Difficult there to maintain a healthy weight because my sisters and relatives were always having me over for dinner and parties. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. After all, I went to every one. I just didn’t have the heart to decline their invitations on weight-maintenance grounds, as they take such pride in their food and party preparations. *smile*
More later.
Tom Hesley
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