I set a goal for myself to eat below a certain (net) calorie limit for 20 days. I thought that it would be difficult, as I usually approach the four-day mark with this sort of thing and then all **** breaks loose when the boredom and hunger set in. But this is the fifth day, and... I feel good! Really good. Even though the limit is at the low end, I'm not light-headed, still able to concentrate, and still able to exercise without feeling drained. And I don't have the stomach-full feeling anymore.
I just wanted to post a note because it was a pleasant realization for me that after the initial excitement of starting some sort of diet goal, it can be possible to sustain it without torture, and it can even be enjoyable. I think it's good to keep an "it's not so bad" perspective. That's not to say that weight loss is not work. But even work can be enjoyable, right?
The key for me is the limit of 20 days. If this were indefinite, I would have hit the oreos by now. I figure that after that many days, I'll reassess and figure out what to do next.