Need some advice/venting.....

Jaimee & all the other post-holiday munchers, I KNOW without a doubt that I am going to want something sweet now & then...sometimes, more 'now' than 'then'. So....I ONLY keep sweets in the house that are sugar-free. I look and see what a 'serving' is and that is all allow myself. Besides sugar-free cookies & sugar-free candy, I also keep sugar-free popcycles, sugar-free fudgecycles, sugar-free ice-cream, sugar-free pudding & jello mixes, and Smart One's deserts. If I don't want to eat the sweet, but drink it, I also keep sugar-free Nestle for chocolate milk and sugar-free hot chocoate mix. I also keep skim milk in the house. Key thing for me: If it's not sugar-free, I will not eat it. People talk about how they don't have a problem with sugar....I don't know if I do or not, and I do not want to know. I am just going to assume I do. You see, whenever I 'dieted' before, I failed because they were so restrictive. Finally, I'd be at a party or something, and totally blow the diet. Think I'd get back on it the next day? Nope. I'd give in and then give up. I'm not going back on that yo-yo. I'm hypoglycemic so that pretty much nixed any noodles for me. As Linda said though, stay away from 'white'. If you just gotta have some pasta, take a look on the shelves at the grocery. Get a better pasta! There are wheat pastas, veggie pastas, low-carb pastas. My advise to anyone trying to lose weight: Spend more time shopping for better food. Read labels. Get the low sugars/low carbs/low fats/lo calories. Get the brown breads/pastas. Experiment with veggies. If you're drinking whole milk, switch to 2%...if you're drinking 2%, switch to skim. Start using 'light' miracle whip. There are so many ways to cut calories! I WISH I had been smart enough to figure all this out pre-op! Also, exercise is very important. I know time can be an issue, but even if it's parking a little further from the store entrance to give you more walking steps. Wear a pedometer so that you can measure how well you are doing and target an improvement each day. Put some good upbeat music on a MP3 to help keep you motivated. Weather bad and no treadmill? Go to the mall. LOTS of walking space there. I also have hypo-thyroid, but I haven't seen where that affects my exercise as long as my synthroid levels are correct. Only my darn feet & feet surgeries have! But...I'll be back to work next Tuesday and am looking forward to getting back into the swing of walking!! Jaimee...Happy Holidays. Sherri

Sherri~ I can always count on you for an uplifting, positive and inspiring response! Thank you for taking the time to read my cry for help and for posting such a nice response and advice! I have a major sweet tooth and you just gave me a ton of ideas. I'm planning on going to Meijer tomorrow after work to buy some sugar free popsicles, pudding, etc. I'm the same as you with diets; I figured that I screwed up today so why even bother. Thanks again for your response!! Jaimee