The problem every time I diet is 3. Yes, you read that right. 3 is the problem.
It seems, after years of research conducted by me and the junk food industry of America, 3pm is some type of mystical witching hour over which I have little to no control. Each day, 3pm arrives with minimal fanfare (which is good, because it’s quiet. My students are gone for the day) except the blaring of Bugles (the crispy kind) and Pretzel Proclamations. I have zero ability to resist the Call of the Wild blueberry muffins in my freezer or pass up invitations from Mayor McFry to hit the drive through on my way home. (It’s not even really on my way home).
From 4:30 in the morning til 3pm, I’m the patron saint of control. Really. I don’t always plan healthy breakfasts but I end up stashing one away in my lunch bag to eat at school before the kids arrive. I have been really diligent about getting a healthy lunch together in said bag as well. I’ve only been out for lunch once in approximately a month and a half–which is a major coup considering the girl at Arby’s and I were on a first-name-on-the-debit-card basis. But when 3 comes, all hell breaks loose. I even have reasonable, healthy snacks at home, but I eat too many. I get in this frenzied state of…tomorrow the world will end…must pack on pounds to survive winter conditions…or…tonight there will be a rush on Twinkies and I must eat every one in the box now to keep my family safe…or something equally inane.
I believe this is mental conditioning…at its worst. I don’t think healthy snacks are the answer. I’ll just eat more of them. I need to figure out some meaningful way of spending that dead zone of time between after school and dinner so that no food comes within a 50 mile radius of my mouth. Hmmm…I’m up for suggestions.