OK, I need to confess. I ate french toast today with syrup - only one piece. It looked awesome and it was.

Now, back on track. It's the only straying I've done in forever, so no bother. My weight did go up slightly, but I won't count it until Saturday.

Um, to clarify - the weight wasn't the french toast - I haven't weighted since the FT.

I weighed in at the doctor's officed Wednesday. UP 1/4 pound. No bueno...I'm going to pretend it was afternoon water weight and retention. It really was 103...

That said, I know I haven't drunk nearly enough water, not enough veggies, had way too much artificial sweetner, and have eaten too many "sugar-free desserts." And it's been too hot to walk even late afternoon or early morning. I'm afraid I'll kill myself and my dog! Must do better this week. Working on it.

How's it going, everyone?

WE CAN DO THIS!

One of the reasons I didn't lose is I'm eating after 8 p.m. I'm eating Atkins legal snacks, but the portions are LARGE and I eat more than one "snack." For the most part, I don't post them 'cause it's so ridiculous. I'm ashamed of what I consume after dinner.

It's out of control, not helping my weight loss efforts. I'd really like to STOP eating after dinner entirely...Atkins legal or not. Any suggestions, please. This is a long-term problem - not new. I do it whether or not I'm on Atkins.HELP!

P. S. I'm also a life-long insomniac, so please don't tell me to go to bed and go to sleep. I so wish I could. I've used food to "help me sleep" for years. I think I learned it from my dad; he did it too. Or did I inherit something in my body chemistry that makes me want to eat so I can sleep?

It's 10am and my house is still below 80 I love it! I haven't opened doors or anything ... Last night the house went down to 75 and I had to Get out my long pants and take off my shorts - that shows how unusual the heat has been when 75 makes you cold lol - and it is nothing here compared to where you guys are .. I truly hate summer

Sandy - everything here is hideously expensive and the only benefit to it is when we travel everywhere else seems cheap .....

And remember as much as we want this weight to fall off overnight it is a learning process that will take time and it sounds like you know the changes you need to make to make this week better. Especially the water I swear that is so important and something so simple we tend to discount it. But when we are done we will have the habits ingrained in use to keep it off...well I should say I will have it ingrained since I have so far to go I have lots of time to learn it ....

Thank you, Rho. I HATE water, but I know I lose nicely when I drink enough of it. I'll make it a priority this week. I appreciate the reminder and the encouragement.

Oh I so understand where you are coming from - I have insomnia too - and it sucks....

I made a conscious decision to not eat after 8 when I started this time - but if I absolutely have to have something I have 2 standbys - I'll have 6 olives (prompted by the heat and sweat I'm sure - making the need for something
salty) or I will take a cheese stick (one of the Kraft cheddar ones) and make a cheese crisp in the microwave - I cut it into 8 pieces and do it for 60 - 65 seconds on a piece of parchment. It satisfies the need for crunch and taste that I get occasionally. But it is occasionally not the norm. It was a hard hard habit to develop -- oh I also found that I can occasionally have a cup of decaf that I make a bit sweeter and lighter than I normally take and it tastes like coffee ice cream but I think I have only done that 2 or three times since May but it helped in a pinch. Maybe start out with one of those suggestions - I would do the cheese one myself - and replace the snack you have been having with it ... Oh I read that you can take the cheese before microwaving it and sprinkle some flavors on it - I haven't done it because I don't want to make them too much like crackers that I would crave them but it is an option. Or try for a protein snack like ham rolled up with cream cheese spread on it - a few slices that you then cut the roll into 3 or 4 pieces to make it seem like more..

I've been alternating plain water with crystal light that I dilute - I put half a glass of CL and half a glass of water - sometimes you really need taste in the water to make it go down easier

Hey Sandy, just wanted to chime in and say I am a lifelong insomniac too. I would lie in bed for 3 nights and be awake from 10pm to 6 am without one wink of sleep. After 3 days I would get a little crazy and finally my body does shut down. I took many different types of sleep meds, OTC and prescribed. I finally got off of everything May 13 this year after 11 months of weaning off of them. I used books on cognitive behavior therapy and good sleep habits to help me. I have to go to bed at the same time each night, including weekends, no alcohol, dark cool room, Sound machine or hypnotism tapes, sleep mask, 1 hour before bed--no TV, bed only for sleep, and now I get about 6 hours, waking up every 2 hours or so. I have been working on it every single night and it does get better.

I really understand how frustrating this problem is. My family would say, just relax, or just try to sleep, or don't try to sleep and you will just finally sleep. Well that isn't the problem. My mind has the hardest time of shutting off. I have to try to stay very stress free before bed. I don't take calls or watch TV one hour before bed. If I mess up it can make the next few nights of sleep horrible.

Insomnia is such a big problem but most think Big Deal, so you didn't sleep. It can become pretty chronic but there is hope.

Well about low carbing....I am down 6.4 lbs in the 12 days I have been on Atkins. That seems great compared to a low calorie diet but for low carb it doesn't seem as easy as it was the first time around. I think the 40s are harder than the 30s for weight loss.

I am going to keep working on it, no matter what. I do feel most of my cravings for sweets are really low.

I have a history of "not getting tired" to go to bed. I'll stall around until the last minute and later on even laying down. I know that's not the same as insomnia - but setting a routine helped that. TV off, PJ's on an hour before bedtime, washed up and ready. Sort of an unwind hour with maybe reading or talking. It helped. Of course I didn't maintain it so I can't be on a high horse about it.

My favorite bedtime snack in cool weather is flavored hot tea with splenda or stevia. Otherwise, distractions can help with snacking - get a hobby that makes you use your hands. I usually work on coupons or play on internet while watching TV. My mind is too busy to think munching unless I'm actually hungry.

I know it is a little late to join - but I'm in. I used Truvia in my coffee this morning - not half bad. I'm flying home to visit family mid-September and would love to be down 10 pounds by then.

Welcome, Ktangerine! Glad you've joined us. You can lose those 10 pounds, for sure!

I've been off the board for several days. I'm stressed out to the max about going back to school. It always makes me "nervy." This year is extra "nervy" because our new principal is doing things very differently; I even have to move my stuff across campus. YIKES!

I have done much better with staying on plan: drinking more water, staying out of the heavy artificially sweetened candy, desserts, etc. I do plan to try diluting my Crystal Light with more water. Why didn't I think of that??

I'm going to try very hard to focus on being glad I have a job. I definitely am ready to get paid! My big challenge this week is shifting everything into planning and eating away from home since I'll spend long hours at school and commuting.

As always, thanks so much for your encouragement and support. Have a great week everyone!

Well down a pound on weigh in day, and now I'm up 2 lbs lol. Don't even want to talk about what I ate this weekend. Went out with family Friday night, and a wedding Sat.,so lots of food! Eating really strict all week so hopefully I can get that 2 lbs back off!

I get it, I'm like a yoyo on the scales, but today was CHEAT FREE, so I'm hoping for good results.

I'm in