Great article and good thread.
On the emotional eating side, RTM definately helps as you are dealing with real food, not just packs - Abstinence really is like a cocoon sheltering you from so many feelings and challenges that RTM introduces you to in a gentle, controlled way.
Post RTM and in the 'real' world it's so easy to say "I'll do this, or that" but to be honest after a couple fo months you slip so easily into everyday matters that food, and eating become less and less important. They are 100% of our focus on LL.
However, at the end of the day we are all the same people we were when starting LL. We all still have the same desires regarding weight as well as anything else, and (whilst sometimes we may need to consciously think about them), we all have the same needs to be fit/healthy/slim that were such strong motivators when we started the diet.
We do need to examine emotional eating, but TBH I think that if we feel we will overcome it through CBT we are deluding ourselves. What we MUST settle for is a recognition of the triggers, and be able to stop a lapse from becoming critical. That in my mind is true success.
On the RTM issue, please, please, please don't even think of skipping RTM; at the very least complete the first 8-9 weeks, you'll be amazed at how your feelings and thoughts change. Trust me, it willbe the best bit of the diet.
