I decided something last night.

Last night at Weigh****chers I was thinking about my behavior at night after my husband goes to bed. I save a couple of points to have a treat after he goes to bed because I love that time of being alone and I don't have to talk to anyone, can watch what I want to on TV without considering anyone else and eating has some sort of connection to all of that. Haven't quite figured out what that connection is, but the problem is that once I have my treat that I have planned for, quite often I start to think about other foods. I'll be real quiet and head for the kitchen. It is like I'm sneaking the food. FROM WHO!?!?!?! ME????? It's weird. Well, one gal at the meeting was talking about a similar type of problem that she was dealing with and one suggestion that was thrown out was to replace that behavior with something else like stretching. I love the feeling of stretching so I thought that I might try that. Then I had an even bigger/better? idea...if I don't save the points for a treat and I eat everything I've planned for before he goes to bed, then I could just start stretching while I'm watching TV and maybe that could become my new comfort thing. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Tonight is my first night to try it. Thanks for listening. Mary

Mary, Sounds like a great alternative. I don't eat at night very often but every now and then I think I want something when I know I shouldn't. The next time that happens I am going to give stretching a try. It always feels so good that it just might work for me too. Good luck to you, keep us posted on how it works out for you. Maren

Hi Mary, I like very much that you have conversations with yourself like I do. I think half of the battle with our weight has been all of these deals we make with ourselves, all the negotiations around food. It is an unsettling behavior and working on it is a daily struggle. Every night I have sugar free pudding and light whipped cream with a sugar free fudge pop shoved into the concoction. I love my dessert. I don't think there's a night in the past 6 months since I discovered it that I haven't had it. My boyfriend and son laugh at me because it's quite a mound of whipped cream on top of pudding in this little 6 oz coffee cup. I also don't let anyone else eat the whipped cream if there won't be enough for my snack!! Sadly, about half way through I am full and I throw most of it away, but I really truly enjoy this ritual that is mine alone. So don't deprive yourself of something unless it's truly going to sabotage you and make you do something more that you'll regret in the end. Donna

Hi Donna.......... I love the light whipped cream !!!!!!! Where can I find the sugar free pudding in the grocery store ? thanks Phyllis..........

Hey Phyllis! Oh gosh, I've been eating the sugar free pudding almost the entire time I've been on my program. In the grocery store it's in the pudding/baking aisle. I buy the chocolate, vanilla and cheesecake. I mix the chocolate and cheesecake, one box a piece, and make about 8, 1/2 cup servings. They are in small cups that way, so portioned out nicely. They also have pistashio and I think lemon and perhaps tapioca??? Not sure, I'm kinda hooked on the chocolate and cheesecake. Make it with skim milk and I think it's like 60-80 calories per serving. Try it!! Donna

Now that we're "admitting" things... I've been VERY good about straying from my plan... eating the right foods at the right time of day, etc etc. I stay away from junkfood -- sweets and fast food really. But... this week I cracked down and had some french fries. They were in front of me... and I just really wanted the taste of french fries... later on I realized that I wanted the french fries for the TASTE -- and ONLY the taste. So do you know what I did?? I put a few in my mouth... let my mouth water all around them, chewed them up.... and then spit them out. I didn't even think about it really... it just HAPPENED. I went, "Pthewy! I don't want that crap in my system!" It was really remarkable... my body took over where my brain had failed me. Wow. -CJ

I applaud all who can throw something away when they are satisfied. That is why I use pretty much just the small pre-portioned stuff. Way to go!! Mary