Breaking Up with Cookies (But Keeping the Ice Cream)

I’ve always said I’m a compulsive overeater. If food is in the house, I’ll eat it until it’s gone. At least, that’s the story I believed about myself. A few months ago, though, I ran a small experiment that challenged that old belief — and surprised me.

The Ice Cream Test

It started with a box of ice cream bars. Pre-packaged, portioned, easy. I I wasn’t sure they would last more than a day. But something strange happened: I had one… and then I stopped. I knew the rest were still there, waiting for me. But because I knew they would always be there, the compulsion eased. Dessert after dinner was possible without a full-on binge.

Building Momentum

With my new confidence, I tried adding pudding cups. No problem. Then candy. Still manageable. Then came cookies. And cookies, well, cookies are tricky. They’re technically portioned, but they’re also sneaky. I found myself eating more of them than I intended, even if I stayed within my calories.

The Cookie Dilemma

On paper, I was fine. I was staying within my calories. But in reality, those cookies were crowding out better food choices. Yes, I managed them most of the time, but sometimes “most of the time” isn’t enough. This week, I decided it was time to say goodbye to cookies.

Lessons Learned

This isn’t a failure. It’s feedback. I proved to myself that portioning works — with some foods. I can keep ice cream, pudding, and candy in the house and not let myself get out of control. That’s progress worth celebrating. Cookies just didn’t make the cut, and that’s okay.

Encouragement for You

If you’ve ever struggled with food, you don’t need to solve it all at once. Try small experiments. Notice what works and what doesn’t. Adjust. Let go of the foods that throw you off balance and hold onto the ones that fit into your life.

Sometimes healing looks like keeping the ice cream and breaking up with the cookies.