Re: I lose my edge and caved

Well said! Actually it was Rob that started that thread on Eat to Live, and it inspired me, so thanks for that.

I can't really add more to what Willow said on the emotional side, I agree with what she said, but here's some practical advice that may help.

Financial problems are something that lots of people are going to face soon so you are not alone. There is no denying that can be very stressful, especially if you have responsibilities such as a family. I don't know if you are in the UK or USA but this website http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/
is absolutely fantastic at dealing with these issues, particularly the Support Forums . It is UK, but maybe there is a US equivalent if you are US. Having said that, they will go out of their way to help I am sure. Take a look at their forums at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/
This is a really really good site, and it will point you in the right direction.

On eating, as you may have gathered I am going to do the ETL plan too. However 8 inches of snow, which London cannot cope with, delayed my shopping trip. Not that I regret that, because I have a fridge full of stuff which I love and need to finish. One of my biggest problems is the statement "OFF LIMITS: between-meal snacks", I do it all the time. By the way did you read that article "What if My Family Does Not Want to Eat This Way?" in Chapter 8? "Debra and her husband had a family meeting to enforce the rule that any unhealthy food would be kept in one cupboard and in the refrigerator in the garage." As you have a family, maybe this sort of thing would apply to you. But maybe not, as you implied your kids eat healthily. Either way - "no temptations in the house" is something I am aiming for, maybe you could do this somehow.

I guess you may be feeling a little depressed, or as if the whole world is on your shoulders. Well, that's fixable too. I felt down over Christmas when my 83yo Dad was taken into hospital with pneumonia, and my mother had Alzheimers. It happened at a time where I was very busy. In January it all piled up on me. I saw my doc, I did a questionnaire which said I only had MILD depression, which surprised me because I felt like I was falling into a bottomless pit. I guess it's relative, as I normally feel great. His solution? Take up sport. Instead I used my exercise bike. On my doc's suggestion I also rang a local charity and they told me what I knew anyway, that I was not dealing with issues. One call was enough, I was up and running again, but I needed to hear it from someone. I was told to buy a diary, make a to-do list, prioritise things etc. Then I did the left right brain test here //www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1346633#i
and this one http://www.blogthings.com/areyourightorleftbrainedquiz/
and I found I was primarily right brained, so I found this time management plan http://lsc.sas.cornell.edu/LSC_Resources/TimeManagmentforRightBrain.pdf
which is good advice for me. So, if you feel depressed and don't get the support you need within your family, maybe get some support elsewhere. But I guess you are already doing that, by posting here. You seem to be doing lots of right things actually, to give yourself due credit.

Lastly I think the people who strive for the highest goals often have the hardest time, so that explains why you feel so bad. Look at all the people with 2.4 kids who sit watching telly all day watching TV adverts and ignoring their health, they are happy. They know no different. No gain without pain, as it were. Maybe, something like that anyway.

Anyway, rant off, hope you feel better today. And thanks for your inspiration on the Eat to Live Diet, which I hope will work. Hope some of this here helps you in return.