Candy, My inner since of logic speaks the same language yours does. While eating low-carb does work for some people, when you crunch the numbers it is no mystery how it works. Whether you take WW Points, Atkins, South Beach or Food Exchanges...the bottom line is if you were to take a recommemded day's intake of food and look up the calories you consumed it all they all would add up to 1200-1400 calories a day. A person could presumably under eat or over eat on points if you make the wrong food choices within the program. White bread averages 70 to 80 calories a slice while some whole grains can be as high as 150. Eat five sandwiches a week and you have added 700 calories to your diet. Are whole grain breads healthier? Probably. But I can have 4 servings of ice cream if I eat white bread and still end up the same. Or I can not eat the ice cream and maybe lose almost an extra lb. that month. Fruits and veggies are 1 point? Not if the only fruits you like are bananas and nectarines as opposed to berries and apples. So the programs work so that if you eat a variety of foods it "averages" out to lower calories. Few of us want to eat the same food day after day. All that being said I do think that although some people do OK eating a lot of carbs, I think a higher protein in take helps. I know that I try to get some protein at every meal because if I don't I feel sluggish. Everyone needs to find the plan that works for them and whatever works for you is a good thing. Being overweight is unhealthy and if eating a certain way helps you take some of those lbs off doesn't matter how as long as basic nutrition needs are met. Followed to the letter, every plan used by those on this forum are on meets those requirements. Its just hard to "follow to the letter" because we are social animals and should be able to have our cake and lose it too. So now that I'm off my soapbox let's all continue on and end up being the losers we want to be.

Sisto, you need to work with your doctor to set your own goals. Everyone is different. What is ok for one person might not be for another. That said, and just for the sake of conversation, as a pre-diabetic on no medication, here are the goals which my doctor set for me. Waking up (fasting level) 85-110 mg/dl Before meals (4 hours) 90-120 mg/dl 2 hours after meals less than 130 mg/dl My problem is hunger and pickiness as to foods I like. I eat quite a bit of peanut butter (6 carbs per 2T--watch out some has added sugar) and nuts which are high in fat and have carbs too, but I don't have a weight problem. Wheat Thins/Nabisco makes a flatbread which is 12 carbs for 2 crackers which I can melt some cheese on, making a good snack. Half and apple, glass of milk makes a good snack. Eating out, make a good choice, and if it's not a good choice, only eat half, take the other half home for another meal. Besides carb count, quantity eaten is important too. When half a croissant might be ok, a whole one might be over the edge. Sandwich, just eat half. I make soup and stew and use a small amount of barley for the carb part of the recipe. I don't miss pasta, potatoes, rice, and I do eat 1-2 pieces bread daily. I miss the quantity of fruit I used to eat. I miss the big 8 oz. glass of milk at dinner, which I can have but then something else has to go. I fail when the family goes out for frozen yogurt, because I have some too. I failed the other evening when the family ordered delivered pizza, but most of the time I do pretty good. We'll find out for sure when I have the next a1c test. Sorry to ramble on, but it feels good to share with people who are "in the same boat."

The place where I put my PIPE is now in deep shade due to a tree that grew over that area so it hasn't done anything lately. It did put out a few long canes trying to get out to more sun lol. I need to move it, I meant to last spring but got busy with other things. I will probably place it in front of the bananas that are behind my veggie garden where its sunny and can sprawl on the fenceline. I am on 4 acres but most is shaded from huge trees, so it can be challenging finding sunny spots for my roses. Sorry I can't be of more help on the repeat. When I first planted it and it got more sun, it repeated pretty good, once established. The flowers are similar to Edens but darker pink and can sometimes put out a light pink or half light pink/half dark pink (bicolored) bloom. I know Edmunds carries it bareroot.

My Lowes doesn't have the colored pots but our Walmart and Home Depot does. I happened to be at Walmart yesterday and they had tons of pink, yellow, white and red pots with roses and I finally found a tag on a few of the roses. The rose in the pink pot had a tag on the actual rose, not the pot, and it said the McCartney rose, I also found one on one of the yellow pots that said Peace and one on the white one that said White Majesty. I don't know why all the roses didn't have tags but I'm glad I found them so at least I knew what the roses were. Now I'm not sure if that's what is at your Lowes but ya never know.