Day 10--Monday, February 9: Mandarin cup.

Diana, you have an impressive streak going, keep it up! I will be curious to hear your report on the Chopra book. Not much of anything has helped me so far. I definitely saw myself in Geneen Roth's description of the psychological motivations of "permitters," but her books seem to be written almost exclusively for her other category, "restricters." At this point, I am hoping my solution will come in the form of a book about recovering from trauma and stress, and once I can heal from that, the weight loss will be natural and permanent. That's my great hope, but it has not happened yet.

Day 11--Tuesday, February 10: Mandarin cup. I wanted chocolate strongly last night even after having my mandarin cup, but I fought off the desire with a banana. Also patting myself on the back for having salad for dinner, a good choice after so much gustatory regretfulness lately.

Any one else up for a challenge?

28 days challenge of NO p.m. snacking (4 pause days allowed).

Feb. 1; Ready to accept the challenge! NO p.m. snack, but a lovely cup of tea!
2; No p.m. snacking
3; No p.m. snacking - but had a mid day sugar & crash. I feel icky tonight.
4; No p.m. snacking - liking the row of no snacking stickers on my calendar, a good start to a good habit.
5; No p.m. snacking
6; No p.m. snacking - but midday had way to much of a goody that I baked for my dh, ugh!
7; No
8; No
9; No p.m. snacking - but would like to even though not hungry, Hum?
10th - pause day #1
Feb 11th/day 10- No snacking - challenging tonight.


Dr Geri, Nicely done last night, good decision.

Day 12--Wednesday, February 11:Mandarin cup.

Pause Day--Thursday, February 12: I saw this coming and enjoyed the sweets, but it will make this weekend more challenging, since I do not want to spend another pause day for a while. I hope I can resist the desserts Saturday and Sunday.

Diana, how are you doing?

Any one else up for a challenge?

28 days challenge of NO p.m. snacking (4 pause days allowed).

Feb. 1; Ready to accept the challenge! NO p.m. snack, but a lovely cup of tea!
2; No p.m. snacking
3; No p.m. snacking - but had a mid day sugar & crash. I feel icky tonight.
4; No p.m. snacking - liking the row of no snacking stickers on my calendar, a good start to a good habit.
5; No p.m. snacking
6; No p.m. snacking - but midday had way to much of a goody that I baked for my dh, ugh!
7; No
8; No
9; No p.m. snacking - but would like to even though not hungry, Hum?
10th - pause day #1
Feb 11th/day 10- No snacking - challenging tonight.
12th/day 11 - No snacking
13th - pause day #2 - too many goodies, but less now :yikes: I will have to focus this weekend also. I am planning a pause day next Fri on my b-day and it would be nice not to use all my pause days this month. In General I could use more focus. I seem to be popconish, bounching from one thing to another. Am gonna log off after this thread and try to get am exercise in(that would be a nice start to the day).


Dr Geri, This is for both of us this weekend :dust: we CAN do this!

Pause day 3--Friday, February 13: Not good. I stayed home from work already dealing with fatigue, then I got the news that a family member had died. There was the grief of her passing, the anger at not being told until two days after she was gone, and the frustration of being three time zones away and not being able to attend the funeral. My husband came home with a package of sugar cookies, and I inhaled five of them. I barely tasted them, and what I did taste wasn't particularly good. But I ate my entire half of the package one after another as I paced the kitchen talking and crying. My husband even said before I picked up the first one, "But what about your mandarin challenge?" And I was so upset I said "Forget the mandarin challenge." Well, I actually said something more profane than that. So here I am with nine more days to get through with no pauses left, and incontrovertible proof that my overeating is emotional. I could still defeat this challenge instead of compounding my stress by being defeated by it, but I will definitely be needing that dust.

Diana, I hope you had a great exercise session and are doing well saving up your next pause day to celebrate your birthday. We both have resolve to make today a new day with better choices!

Day 13--Saturday, February 14: Mandarin cups after both lunch and dinner. Was not upset or tempted by the doughnuts my husband brought into the house. Back on track.

Day 14--Sunday, February 15: The challenge did its job. Today my husband wanted to go out for ice cream. I decided I would stay in the car so I was not tempted to get some myself. Instead of getting ice cream alone, he opted not to go at all. Better choice for me and for him, too. Seven more days to make it through with no pauses. I want to beat this challenge despite the difficulties.

Any one else up for a challenge?

28 days challenge of NO p.m. snacking (4 pause days allowed).

Feb. 1; Ready to accept the challenge! NO p.m. snack, but a lovely cup of tea!
2; No p.m. snacking
3; No p.m. snacking - but had a mid day sugar & crash. I feel icky tonight.
4; No p.m. snacking - liking the row of no snacking stickers on my calendar, a good start to a good habit.
5; No p.m. snacking
6; No p.m. snacking - but midday had way to much of a goody that I baked for my dh, ugh!
7; No
8; No
9; No p.m. snacking - but would like to even though not hungry, Hum?
10th - pause day #1
Feb 11th/day 10- No snacking - challenging tonight.
12th/day 11 - No snacking
13th - pause day #2 - too many goodies, but less now I will have to focus this weekend also. I am planning a pause day next Fri on my b-day and it would be nice not to use all my pause days this month. In General I could use more focus. I seem to be popconish, bounching from one thing to another. Am gonna log off after this thread and try to get am exercise in(that would be a nice start to the day).
14th/day 12- NO snacking
15th/day 13 - NO snacking - I think the challenge was working both days, I grumbled but complied. How do I incorporate this 365 days every year? This has got to be standard thinking.

Dr Geri, Good for both you and hubby :D, servings while out tend to be big as well, so two pats on each of your backs!

Day 15--Monday, February 16: Mandarin cup. I know what I need to work on for my next challenge -- mandarin cup plus no potatoes. Potatoes are contributing to my problem and I consume so many of them in so many forms. But I have to get through the next six days with no sweets first.

Diana, good job on allowing the challenge to work over the past two days! There should be room for grumbling.

Any one else up for a challenge?

28 days challenge of NO p.m. snacking (4 pause days allowed).

Feb. 1; Ready to accept the challenge! NO p.m. snack, but a lovely cup of tea!
2; No p.m. snacking
3; No p.m. snacking - but had a mid day sugar & crash. I feel icky tonight.
4; No p.m. snacking - liking the row of no snacking stickers on my calendar, a good start to a good habit.
5; No p.m. snacking
6; No p.m. snacking - but midday had way to much of a goody that I baked for my dh, ugh!
7; No
8; No
9; No p.m. snacking - but would like to even though not hungry, Hum?
10th - pause day #1
Feb 11th/day 10- No snacking - challenging tonight.
12th/day 11 - No snacking
13th - pause day #2 - too many goodies, but less now I will have to focus this weekend also. I am planning a pause day next Fri on my b-day and it would be nice not to use all my pause days this month. In General I could use more focus. I seem to be popconish, bounching from one thing to another. Am gonna log off after this thread and try to get am exercise in(that would be a nice start to the day).
14th/day 12- NO snacking
15th/day 13 - NO snacking - I think the challenge was working both days, I grumbled but complied. How do I incorporate this 365 days every year? This has got to be standard thinking.
15th/No snacking
17th/No snacking
18th/No snacking -Day 16

Dr Geri, Yep, one thing at a time & as we know, that can lead to the next good step. I lifted this morning, hoping this may be that next good step taken more often.

Day 16--Tuesday, February 17: Mandarin cup.
Day 17--Wednesday, February 18: Mandarin cup. A co-worker left some rich-looking chocolate cake out for everyone to share. I would have never, never passed that up if I weren't so focused on slaying this challenge. Only four more days to make it through. The last two will be the hardest.

Diana, you are crushing your challenge! You have the momentum and history of good choices to reach victory. Hold on through the second half of the month free from evening snacking!

Day 18--Thursday, February 19: Mandarin cup. Miserable 13.5-hour workday after Wednesday's 14.5 hours, and an upcoming weekend full of nothing but work. Feeling sucked dry. But that chocolate cake remains in the office still untouched by me.

Sending you wishes for perseverance and healthiness, Diana.

Day 19--Friday, February 20: Mandarin cup. It's clutch time-- get through this weekend with no sweets, and I'll have a victory to celebrate. Balling my fists with resolve to make it through the two last and hardest days of the challenge.

Diana, hoping all is well with you and your challenge.

Any one else up for a challenge?

28 days challenge of NO p.m. snacking (4 pause days allowed).

Feb. 1; Ready to accept the challenge! NO p.m. snack, but a lovely cup of tea!
2; No p.m. snacking
3; No p.m. snacking - but had a mid day sugar & crash. I feel icky tonight.
4; No p.m. snacking - liking the row of no snacking stickers on my calendar, a good start to a good habit.
5; No p.m. snacking
6; No p.m. snacking - but midday had way to much of a goody that I baked for my dh, ugh!
7; No
8; No
9; No p.m. snacking - but would like to even though not hungry, Hum?
10th - pause day #1
Feb 11th/day 10- No snacking - challenging tonight.
12th/day 11 - No snacking
13th - pause day #2 - too many goodies, but less now I will have to focus this weekend also. I am planning a pause day next Fri on my b-day and it would be nice not to use all my pause days this month. In General I could use more focus. I seem to be popconish, bounching from one thing to another. Am gonna log off after this thread and try to get am exercise in(that would be a nice start to the day).
14th/day 12- NO snacking
15th/day 13 - NO snacking - I think the challenge was working both days, I grumbled but complied. How do I incorporate this 365 days every year? This has got to be standard thinking.
15th/No snacking
17th/No snacking
18th/No snacking -Day 16
19th/Pause day #3- a day earlier than planned.
20th/No snacking- Day 17
21st/ No snacking - Day 18
22nd/ No Snacking - Day 19
23rd/
24th/
25th/
26th/
27th/
28th/

Dr Geri, B-day on Friday was interesting, the big 60. Still trying to wrap my head around that one, wow. Had a nice dinner and evening over at a friends. I have one more pause day and 8 more days this month, so gonna try to hold off on any more pauses for as long as possible. My plan is to start food journaling again on Sunday to help me account for foods eaten throughout the day.

You can do this weekend Dr Geri, I'll hold that positive thought for you. Two more days to complete this cycle ---JUST DO IT!:D