Thanks Becca. I'm trying to keep carbs under 30 a day. We tried the balanced approach this past summer/fall with the 3-4 carb exchanges a meal, and it just wasn't working for my diabetic spouse and it seemed to feed my carb 'addiction'.

I will work in some milk as you suggest (apparently the lactose isn't evil as carbs go) and cut back on the sodas. (But if I have to do without them with all this other deprivation, I WILL 'go postal'!) And I'll go a few nights skipping the evening snack and get those calories earlier in the day, maybe that'll help be be 'running on empty' overnight and draw down some fat cells. And, you are right about fruit--just got some strawberries on sale, apparently only the berry family passes muster for low-carb.

Hang in there everybody, whatever your plan!