Went to the movies with hubs last night. Before the movie we stopped at our favourite wine bar, where I had two glasses of wine, plus a good helping of gourmet chips and nuts (served free with the wine orders). Having already eaten a dinner's worth by the time we got to the movie theatre, I refrained from ordering popcorn -- for the first time in my 57 years. Instead, I got a large Americano coffee. I survived. I was even able to enjoy the movie.

Small deal, but it's always empowering to rise above deeply ingrained habits. Makes me think I can chip away at other habits that are getting in my way.

Freelance

That IS a victory! There is no habit that is unchangeable, and that is very empowering indeed.

Wow, that is great!

Awesome! That in of itself is a victory as well as it symbolizes the changes you have made and will continue to make to be a healthier you.

That is great. I, too, have taken to getting a coffee when hubby and I go to the movies. I splurge on 10% cream (half and half) when I'm there, since I usually have milk in my coffee at home (or black).

A small victory worth celebrating.

Next time, have dinner before you leave home. Ask them to take take the nuts and chips off the table as soon as they put them down, get a big cup full of iced water to take into the movie. And try to arrive not too early at the cinema (unless you have to to get a decent seat). I have noticed that its when you arrive early that you think you need to eat something (even though not actually hungry but you see everyone else doing it and think you should too) but if you have nothing with you, you never get hungry at all. Not that i think there is anything wrong with taking a coffee in either.

If you mentally prepare yourself in advance for what you are going to do, its quite easy to deflect any tempting thoughts and ideas straight away. If you don't prepare yourself, you are much more subject to give in to whim.

When i go to the city, (i live in the country) if i don't want to find myself eating all day long, i need to do a fair bit of mental preparation. And now i know which eateries i can go to to avoid the worst types of food as well as out of control appetite. I also take along a piece of fruit for unexpected hunger.

Enjoy your victory!! Enjoy life!

Hmmm, I don't think I'm there yet (if I ever will be). I really enjoyed those nuts and chips, as well as my coffee. (They were high-end vegetable chips, by the way.) I like to keep one foot in the eat-to-live camp and the other in the live-to-eat camp. I don't think I'm up for a maintenance regimen of all health and no fun. But that's just me.

F.

Congrats! I hope one day I can skip the m&m's at the movies! What did you see?

Pattience, freelance is maintaining, she doesn't need to be that restrictive

Really great job! So nice that you could have some fun without going overboard. The wine bar sounds like a nice indulgence and you kept it all in check! I'm jealous!

Good for you!!!

We saw the Coen brothers' latest, "Inside Llewen Davis." I gave it an 8 out of 10, my husband only a 4. (Standard Hollywood action movies bore me mightily; I much prefer the slow-paced, quirky stuff.)

F.