Hey, I really had to search for this thread!! Well I'm down to 3 monarch cats, 1 5th instar, 2 3rd. WHOOHOO!! 7-8 chrys. Haven't collected any new eggs, orchard just sprayed again yesterday, so I'm assuming it's safe to mow the lawn so I can get some safe milkweed again. Well I'll probally check for survivors first, I know a week or so ago there were all kinds of eggs again, but I just didn't have the food to bring them in. I have one cat I've just been keeping an eye on, living on my butterfly weed, he should be off to pupate any time now. 5 of the 6 BST's I brought home have pupated, one working on it. And still have the 3 lil BST's who are starting to eat like crazy! I'm glad for the semi break though. I don't see how some of you raise so many monarchs by feeding individual leaves!! I much rather use plants in vases! Being left w/ only my butterfly weed to feed was insane! 3-4 feedings a day! And yes, I even did the middle of the night feedings on occasion! I didn't even have that many cats!

Thanks for the fitday link, Joann...I'll give that a gander. :-) Nice to see there are people who do the "moderation" eating as well! It's weird - this week, my fiance started the Atkins induction period. I cook for both of us, and had planned on just cooking one meal for both, then a carb for me. What I've found is that when I eat with him, I really don't need the carb until later - and not at all at lunch (we have chef salads for lunch - very filling). So while I'm not following his atkins thing as strictly as he is (I still have my morning breakfast shake, and snack on a carb before bed, eat sandwiches when we go out, or french fries), I'm finding that it's pretty easy to just kinda "fall" into the low-carb thing without any thought on my part. LOL I can easily see myself eating low to moderate carbs right along with him when he gets past these first two stages of the diet - he's enjoying it so much that he thinks he might stay with the maintenance phase of atkins after he's done with this month. But to be honest, I don't think it's even really "low" carb for me...it's just that my portion sizes are small, so I don't need all that food at once. It's more of a "natural moderation" thing, if that makes any sense. Amazing how the "answer" is so easy for most people and they don't even realize it...everything in moderation, exercise, and be healthy. Weight doesn't come on in a month, and it won't drop off in a month either - such simple concepts. Maybe that's the problem...we need something more complex to wrap our heads around. LOL Thanks for the comments, gals!

Hello Everyone! I'm really glad i found this thread! I have some tips as well. :O) I am a female type A 1.I saute in chicken broth my onions,cilantro,tomatoes and squash with my chicken,fish,shrimp or turkey. 2I make homemade hot sauce boil together then put in food processor.season to taste Also, you can hand cut tomatoes,peppers and onions to make a pico de gallo. season to taste 3.. turkey meatball- Make golf ball size balls. 1 15 oz tomato sauce,3 small tomatoes,1 small onion,1 green and 1 red bell pepper,1 tsp parsley,1 tsp garlic,1 tsp oregano,1tsp basil,2 packets splenda,2 egg whites and black pepper. mix all ingredients together and cook. When meat ball are ready mix sauce in with the meatballs. let simmer 5 minutes. Serve. 5. these are some ideas i have thought of or got from someone else. I use my own type A food and my own ideas. :O) 0.Hash browns 0.oatmeal muffins 0.pancakes 1/2 cup of plain oat meal,4 eggs,1 splenda,1/4 tsp vanilla. Grind oatmeal then mix all ingredients. 1.fiesta eggs 2.turkey veggie soup 3.sweet and sour meatballs 4.turkey burgers 5.pizza- 1/2 c oatmeal uncooked and ground up, 2 tsp of Italian season,3 tsp garlic,1 1/2 nsa baking powder,2-3 tsp water.Mix and patty out.sauce-1 small can of tomato sauce,1-2 tsp garlic,2 tsp balsamic vinegar.splenda to taste. toppings- turkey,tomato,onions,peppers,etc. 6.meatloaf 7.turkey tacos 8.chicken fajitas 9.chicken fried rice 10.hot chicken fingers 11.pepper chicken 12.stir fry 13.beef stew 14.chili 15.cabbage 16.pepper steak 17.pot roast and veggies 18.meat loaf 19.seafood gumbo 20.red snapper stew 21.bass 22.spicy shrimp 23.crab cakes-2 oz crab,1 egg,1/4 c. onion,1/4c. bell pepper.Mrs dash to taste,1/4 c. oatmeal. mix all ingredients and fry like pan cakes. add hot sauce. Yum! veggie stew 25.Garlic vinaigrette dressing-1/2 c. balsamic vinegar,1/2 c.nsa garlic vinegar,1 tsp garlic chopped,2 tsp thyme,1/2 tsp ground ginger,splenda to taste. 26.sweet potatoes- 2 lg sweet potatoes,vanilla flavoring,orange flavoring. Mix and bake on 350 for 20 min. 27.candies yams- 4 yams,splenda,cinnamon to taste. bake on 350 till caramelized Have lots more. But i will have to add more later. :O) Hope this helps someone. Sorry it's so "short ans sweet"

Well gee I thought I was the only one that waited till the end of the evening to open the thread. LOL It's fun to see what's happening in other parts of the world and what others have been upto. I'm always setting a new one as background. At the moment it's Katen's squirrel pic from last week. I have such a love hate relationship with them, trying to keep them out of my birdfeeders. LOL Thanks to all who share their talents.