Hello everyone,
I have not posted over here for awhile and felt my recent progress might encourage others.
I am on step three and have been doing well with timing on lunch. Dinner has been ok but becomes trickier for me because of socializing.
My sister is having a birthday dinner for me and texted me to ask what time would I like for people to come over.
Now in my family, eating is always not until at least 7:00. Everyone sits and drinks with appetizers for at least an hour.
Normally, I would have said- "anytime that is best for you." (I have been a very bad people-pleaser.)
I did not do this . I texted back: "MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE 5:30."
That was it, no excuses, no further explanation, no apologies. I just answered the question.
Kind of like what Kathleen says- just do breakfast or what ever is the simple answer to sometimes ridiculously long and off the point questions that I have asked.
Another improvement- I am going away and staying at a lake with my husband's family. I called ahead, said that I had some dietary restrictions and would be bringing some of my own food.
I asked if the host would like me to pick up anything for them. I explained briefly that I needed protein at every meal and needed to eat at regular intervals. No big deal. I now feel more relaxed about going and bringing food and do not need to hide or keep explaining.
Somehow the courage to do these things just came, I guess from doing the food. What used to seem so daunting was actually just fine.

Copper