I spent nearly 2 years using Self Matters to tackle all the stuff to help me to work out Key 4, step 2. I focused on hobbies and other incompatible activities. I've bought closure to so much stuff in my life that I'm now at a point where I've already been living most of the new life style already. That if I continue to try and force myself to tackle the portion control & menu planning, I will never get it! 
 
It's like for the last 4-5 months I've been hitting this wall. When I focus on it, I began to write a tape/script that has now become what I've been working so hard on letting go of. I finally found the words that I needed to hear and it was an AHA moment for me. 
 
A few months ago, I realized that when I just did what came in my head, I was able to do it. But if I sat down and planned on doing it, I would wake up the next day and not focus on it. The more I tried to do it, the more I began to feel blue cause I couldn't get myself to do it. 
 
In THE 15-SECOND PRINCIPLE by Al SECUNDE, he writes that the more we focus on getting rid of the negative, the more it stays with us. When I read it, potato chips came into my mind - the fact that for the last 5-6 weeks, I've not purchased any chips. Chips represented to me the need to shutdown emotionally - which is what chips do. I didn't plan on it, I didn't see it happening - it just was another small tiny step I'd taken to weight loss. So, I'm going to stop trying to focus on what it is I need to do and just focus on doing. 
 
I know that sounds strange, but I've reached a major milestone here. I've obtained so many of my goals already that now, it's just time to just allow myself to be nice to myself and get off my own back. Good thing, I learned to NOT FEEL GUILTY - that was hard too and I really didn't do anything to change it but remember Dr. Phil's words about not feeling guilty or shame when I didn't move fast enough, or learn it on the 1st or 10th attempt. To acknowledge that I am doing it and focus on that instead! 
 
And the best part of all, I'm living the life style. It may not be 24/7, but it's damn close. It's the coolest thing! I really feel good about me!