Yay!

I've pretty much given up over the holiday period. I'm just aiming to keep my weight reasonably stable until the new year, and then start in ernest again.

Can't blame you; enjoy.

Kescah, if you are getting cramps when you diet, this points to not enough salt in your diet.

Too much salt is supposedly bad for the blood pressure.

Too little will give you cramps, especially (in my experience) night-time calf muscle cramps.

Lots too much will actually kill you, directly, but this is difficult for adults to do, because it is really hard to put that much salt down at one sitting.

And lots too little will also kill you.

Good point. I've had the same sort of problem in the past when dieting.

That's also why too much water in a short period (especially without food) can actually be a problem, it dilutes the salts in your body, which are essential for the functioning of your nerves and muscles. This is why sports drinks contain "electrolytes" (basically various salts), and why rehydration mix for diarrhoea patients has quite a bit of salt in.

Unfortunately, many people have taken the warnings about salt in their diet too far, not helped by the media which likes to divide the world into things that are good for you and things that are bad

As my mum always says, everything in moderation is good for you

Thank you Cynique and Paul, I will add a little salt to my food. Since I eat pretty healthy, I figured there would be good salts in the food in adequate supply. But I would enjoy a little extra salt. I really think I have a problem with my blood electrolytes. I suppose I could get that tested some way.