Wednesday, April 6th

"Nothing can pass my lips except fluids."  Thanks Linda, for this nugget to say to myself at those times!

This happens to me EVEN WITH my planned evening snack. I hate, hate, hate it when it does. I have two critical times in the day - late afternoon/early evening (basically 4:00-6:30 or so) and then 10:00 pm - bedtime. Sometimes I know that I should not put even a morsel of food in my mouth after school and I don't because I know it will start a massive graze. I go for coffee in that case - sometimes a protein drink. My late night solution is no longer working the way it once did because it's becoming a trigger to eat more. That was a tsp-2 tsp of old fashioned PB. I bought some herbal tea to drink instead of eat to see if that can be developed into a habit to replace the late night PB grab. 

While I hate for any of us to struggle, it's good to know that I'm not alone in all of this!   Sometimes when I'm craving something, especially in the evening, a cup of herbal tea or sugar free hot chocolate helps.  My other trick, if I can get to it before giving in, is to brush my teeth.  I'm lazy enough that if I've already brushed my teeth, I won't eat anything, since I'd have to brush again.  That trick works 99% of the time.  :)

When I get home from work is tougher for me.  That's why I try to get my afternoon decaf on the way home, so I'm drinking it while preparing supper.  Otherwise, I find it almost impossible to not graze mindlessly.

Thanks Shel!  It really is how I've lived a great deal of my life.  What is so sad, really, is that much of the time, I didn't even realize what I was doing.  Sometimes my inner "voice" would let me know that something wasn't right with my thinking or actions, but even then, much of the time I'd ignore that voice and do what I please.  Funny that I've known, for much of my life, that in other areas, when I haven't listened to that voice, things blew up in my face, and when I did listen, things have gone well.  I stayed in a toxic relationship years ago, instead of listening early on when there were red flags, and, sure enough, things ended badly with me being devastated.  I did listen when that voice told me (via feeling peaceful) that moving forward in a relationship with Jay, my husband, was the right thing to do.  So I know that "voice" is always steering me in the right direction.  I just need to listen!  :)

Sorry that you're struggling with the same kind of thinking!  But, being aware of what's going on, is the first step.  So glad you're recognizing what's happening.

Hugs, Mary

One thing that is along the same line (sort of 12 step, high power-ish) is that before sleep I go over the things for which I am grateful. I have discovered that I have much more to be grateful about on this WLS journey than I do to be upset by. It's a habit that helps me stay grounded in the positive. 

Good point!  I haven't done a gratitude list in a long time.  It really is helpful.  I think I'll try that tonight!

I do my 12 steps at least 10 times a day... literally 12 steps on the stairs of each flight,  and I concentrate on doing each step slowly and repeat silently in my head for step:

1- I

2-will

3- try

4- to

5- make

6- the

7- very

8- best

9- decisions (not just food BTW)

10- for

11- myself

12- today!

Whoa I slept late today!  Such a treat.  Scale is still down at 111. Interesting data but an anomaly for sure. Diane I virtually always do the full calorie version when I want one too. My thought is I might as well get all the pleasure. 

Looks like a lovely day out there so might take Violet out for a spin. 

Sleeping late is a good thing! 

I am curious to see if you actually settle into a 110-112 range. My guess is yes - a hunch for sure, but still a gut level hunch. 

It's interesting you would say that because I'm not sure I consistently eat 1500 calories daily anymore, which is what it took for me to maintain at 112 or so. If my weight stays lower, I will track for a few days to see for sure.