Hi!, Flaxseed, LOVE your name!! I also am retired and as you might say in the sticks. I'am spending the next six months on a mountain top in northern Arizona where we hope will be cooler that the valley of the sun. I donot know anyone here, it is a very very small community and only a couple of small business's. I would like to be your Buddy as we do have a few things in common.
Because I have had really good luck with the SBD maybe some of the things I did to get where I'am now might help you. When I started I ate NO prossessed food of any kind[nothing out of a package] only fresh vegetables and very little meat[red]lot of chicken and some fish[in foil],no salt. I'am a hot and cold black tea drinker{can't drink green as I have a thyroid problem] I eat jello for dessert as was only 10 calories [only thing I watched calories of] also if I was having anything that might have sugar[eat NO sugar stuff]. My husband is a diabetic so that helped both of us.
If you follow SBD you should be happy with the results, I do find it is good to reread SBD information as often as you can, not only does it refresh your mind it also gives feeling of doing something RIGHT and GOOD for you.Of all the diets I have tried this seems to be the most satisfing. Hope this has been a help, I'am on my computer each day so please talk to me and we can help each other. Creampuff