I have continued my diet streak now for 187 days. Since I took the prior to 637, I don't think about my streaks much these days—I should. There was a time I found pride in making 86 days.

Again, I once proudly wore this T-shirt:

(front:)

(back:)

I loved that shirt (even if now it is in a landfill—"on to Cincinnati") because it captured a summary of all the times I earned it, that I dug deep and made the play. And within its subtext, it told a story of when streaks were snapped. Yet, in my shame, I inserted another coin to play the game. That was the early tagline to my site: INSERT COIN.

I say all of that because I almost snapped my streak yesterday. This week has been challenging. Yesterday, it all reached a singular point as I traveled metaphorically through a murky stretch of woods. I addressed a bit of it in the proceeding post.

This moment underscores how untrustworthy a feeling can be. In the moment, it feels like I can roll with it. A part of me says, "Yeah, you know that Little Debbie snack cake with the creme? That'll totally make you feel good!" But, I've been down that road...I never win when I do. Short-term fun for what? And if it was a single moment, sure, it would just be a blip on the trail. But, it is at the minimum a 3-month tumble that takes just as long to rest. And there goes half of my year in this tug-of-war to just wind right back at the startling line with a 0. So, that is why I refrain. In those weak moments, I gotta trust the decision I already made, that I feel better when I win.