Sometimes it's not so hard...

Every time I lay off sweets, I lose my sweets craving in less than two weeks. There is a distinct difference from the craving feeling I have when I allow sweets to be a daily experience, often more than once a day. During those periods, to tell myself know feels like a struggle. But sure enough after some abstinence- and this includes an allowance of a daily acceptable treat- to say no feels easy, like a no-brainer. 

The only time my sweets desire flares up is when I am very, very hungry. The trick is to have snacks available. And, to remind myself like a small child, no, you will be fine once you eat. I had to do that last night. I had to work late, and I'd run out of snacks. It was about 8pm when I hit Whole Foods looking for dinner, and I was STARVING. I just wanted to get a little rice to go with some leftover beef & veggie stir fry I had at home. I really, really wanted rice- that was also the hunger talking, but I think grains are acceptable for me every once in awhile. While in the store, the sweets were caaaallllllinggg to me! The baked goods! The refrigerator of single serve vegan delights. The cookie isle. I kept repeating, you're just hungry, you've done good on sweets for 3 weeks now, no, no, no. Once you have dinner you won't even care about this stuff. 

I beelined to the check out before the child-me could outwit the adult me, and got out of there with just my planned purchases. 

After dinner, I was FINE and almost went to bed without my acceptable treat. Then I wanted it later, and that was just fine! 

Despite being more successful, finally, this September, I do not expect to reach my 1 by 10/01 modified goal. I lost a half-pound, then through the week it would be back, then down, then back, then down. This morning I was 1/2 lb down from the day I set the goal, way at the beginning of the summer, to lose 10 by 10/01. Yikes!

I haven't been working hard on my diet for four months, so I can't be mad about it, just do better. I have been getting my habits in gear this September, so I just need to focus on keeping it up and I know I'll see the results. As long as I'm consistent, and I intend to be. I so don't want to end 2012 at a higher weight, or the same weight, that I achieved during 2011! That would be sad- ZERO progress in 2012 after a terrific 2011.