Chocolate Rush!

The week before Valentines Day was a challenge and I must finally confess to cheating a little! It's so hard to resist those chocolate candies coming at me from every direction!

*

Nonetheless, I still made some progress. For one thing, I didn't allow my cheats to convince me give up and believe I'm too weak to be successful. I got right back to eating right, which has never happened before. I tend to have an all-or-nothing personality.

*

For another thing, I managed to lose another 2.4 lbs, making it a total of 17.7 lbs. gone in 6 weeks. And I don't want it back!

At Monday's department chair meeting the table was laden with bowls of pretzels and Cheez-its, but the real temptation was bags of peanut M&Ms strewn about. I love M&Ms, but I was able to resist.

*

Wednesday night Jacob baked 2 pans of from-scratch brownies. (He took one next-door to say thanks for plowing our driveway.) The heavenly aroma filled the house and made my mouth water, but I stood strong.

On Thursday in the teachers' workroom I found 12 hand-dipped candies (see above photo) in my box. It was left for me by our church Relief Society presidency. My friend Nicole and I were sorely tempted, but she broke out her Atkins peanut butter cups and we managed to resist.

*

But then I took the candies home to give my kids. Before I knew it, I'd eaten 3 delicious chocolate-covered cherries myself. Hey, it just seemed rude to give away all 12 candies when someone worked so hard on them!

Last night our home teacher brought us a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies, another of my favorites. I could hardly bear it, so I ate half a cookie before I handed the plate off to my children.

*

So yes, I did cheat, but they were "controlled" cheats like I've never managed before. I can honestly say I've never stopped at just half a cookie in my entire life!
As for the chocolate cherries, in the past I would have said, "Okay, I blew it," then gone on to have spaghetti and garlic bread or something equally carb-loaded for dinner, telling myself I'd start again in a week or so.

*

So I do consider these to be small victories that I hope will help me do better as I approach my goals.

*

Besides, I lasted an entire month before I weakened, and it took a chocolate-centic holiday to make me do it. I think that's not too bad!

*

Now I am back on the horse--at least until Easter!