3:00 p.m.

Your post reflects my exact thoughts, Bethany. But you are making progress and that is huge! You savored those two cookies, and in my book, that is one giant step in the right direction because I know how easy it is to mindlessly eat half a tray. Keep up the good work!!

Something I've struggled with my entire life is mindlessly over eating. Just like any addiction, I needed to find the when and why to my unhealthy habits. So I did an experiment. For the last few days I have been tracking when I eat, what I eat, and how I feel when I'm eating it. I am astonished at what I've uncovered! Mornings are always fabulous; I eat very healthy and at consistent times. Then 3 pm hits like a bomb to destroy my entire day. Usually the boys are asleep, and I'm tired and bored looking for a quick pick-me-up, which ends up as sugar and may give a momentary high only to drag me even more in the dirt when it's over. I feel rotten afterwards and my dinner is then ruined but I somehow manage to still stuff myself. After the boys go to bed I go through the munch, bored, and tired process again. For three days now I've seen this pattern reoccur and it's time for it to end. But, like Bethany, I need something to turn to.

I've tried pampering myself, i.e. taking a bath or painting my nails; I've tried cleaning and organizing; I've tried getting out of the house and even going for a drive. These things work well, but I've also noticed that by avoiding my tendencies I become so hungry that the next time I eat I inhale anything edible in my reach.

So here is what I am going to try: Mommy's Snack Shelf. I am going to dedicate a cupboard shelf to just my snacks and when that 3 pm, or whenever, low comes I will ONLY go to that shelf and pick something from there. This is an experiment and I will post my progress.

As for my evening bad habits I have enlisted the help of my lovely husband. He has decided to get on board with my journey to fabulous! We have been taking time in the evenings to work out together like going for a run before it gets dark or doing a workout video after the kids are asleep. He's doing very well at patiently motivating me to work harder.

Each day is getting better and better. I can't forget this.