mammagumba -
I'm glad you're finding this space helpful. I have ice cream/chocolate problems occasionally too. The thing I've found most helpful are the sugar free ice pops (15 kCal); sugar free ice/cream pops (you know, ice pop on the outside, fat free ice milk inside (20 kCal); and sugar free fudgcicles (40 kCal each). I can have two of those in any assortment per day and it has basically no impact, though I rarely have more than 1 fudgcicle. Sometimes I pick up the low cal ice-milk/sandwich/pop whatever things as you picked up, too. They're good! but I sometimes have problems resisting their siren lure, so I don't buy them regularly. I bet it's especially hard with kids at home!
Ammi -
TSM. I avoided TSM for the first three and a half months of my weight loss. I knew that I was doing things right. I read EVERY label and didn't lie to myself about the calorie content of my food. I was very, very strict with my diet and intensely focused. I mentioned earlier my "combat mindset" trick for avoiding high calorie, processed foods while grocery shopping. I first noticed my weightloss in the way my clothes fit, then friends and acquaintances started noticing and complimenting me. THEN I started with the scale, with the recognition that I had to deal with its ups and downs, that there would be ups and downs, and that they were okay. My habits were by then engraved, the loss noticeable, and the new habits weren't something I would give up on b/c of the numbers on a scale. Also: my home was purged of bad foods (except for a few raw ingredients for baking. I love to bake.
I miss it a bit).
So: now I'm back and forth on TSM. I now find it quite useful as a tool when I'm dragging, a bit depressing on occasion, and a source of elation. I see it move regularly, but I'm still surprised by it. I don't know how you are going to work it out, I'm sure you can find something that will work for you...
