@Backstreets actually I found Italy pretty easy for low carb (it's the Uk version of Italy pasta/pizza/risotto which is deadly). Actually in Italy there was a lot of meat/fish/veg, and plates of ham and cheese and peppers and olives and aritchokes...
@NotDonna sorry to hear about your friend - far too young! I work in this area and attended 2 funeralas today, but it never fails to touch, whatever the circumstance. And on Friday I have a family funeral. It's a difficult one - I feel that I should be alongside my dh / sils / bils/ various nephews and neices but instead I'll be at the front facing them. I know it is of comfort to them that I am doing this and that I knew their loved one, but it still leaves me looking at the sad faces of people that I love :( Anyway, no worries, I have regualr supervision for exctly this kind of situation.
Treats: a birthday treat, Christmas. Yes it's all OK. But what is that treat really achieving? For me, a really fabulous home made, piping hot, roast potato - that's a treat. I will lovingly open it, let the steam rise, add salt and pepper - mmm. But a limp, luke warm, mass produced lump on an overpriced Xmas meal - no thanks.
And it is so easy to let the 'treat' culture overwhelm this way of eating. Once a week - fine. Once a day - pretty bad. Once a meal - disastrous - because we are maybe also eating some pretty high fat foods! Well that's my problem!
I am also trying to redefine the term 'treat'. Treat does not mean sugar. Treat does not mean bread. Treat might be some beetroot, or puy lentils, or adding peas to my soup. Goodness, those are some great treats (and incidentally they all add a bit of sweetness).