It has been about 2 months now of no dieting at all. I am eating what I want when I want, and I find I am eating less overall. I feel less inclined to want take-out and junk food. My cravings are less. I feel happier, no feelings of defeat and shame for what I'm eating. I am also not weighing myself on a regular basis. In the past I would weigh every day and then get upset. It didn't matter what the scale said I would be unhappy with it, even if I lost weight I would blame myself for not losing enough.
Just because I am not on a diet does not mean I'm eating like a maniac. Here's a typical day for me. Breakfast was cereal loaded up with almonds, banana, blueberries, coconut, and dark mini chocolate chips. Snack was half a banana with my preschoolers. Lunch was a bowl of Beef/bison soup that Hubby made last night for supper. Had 3 larabar bites for dessert. Just wanted something a little sweet afterwards and these did the trick. Dinner tonight ended up being whatever I could find; it was fend for yourself night. I had toast with coconut nut butter and jam along with some blackberries. All I had to drink today was water but some days I will have tea or coffee. If I get a little picky tonight and want something later it will likely be a bowl of chips. I found avocado oil chips and love them. Very tasty and not full of questionable ingredients.