empty-nester here, 58, kids launched, and I'd built a nice little rhythm: 25-minute walk before coffee, Sunday batch-cooking, no more grazing while dinner simmers. Then I had to pause my weekly injection for a planned procedure. I expected appetite to creep back, but what really returned was the after-dinner restlessness. Around day nine off, I stood at the pantry eating pretzels without even putting them on a plate. Then I caught myself thinking about the drive-thru at 9 p.m., which I haven't done in months.
Meals are still smaller than my old normal, and my walks didn't vanish. It's the empty evening hour that feels noisy again. I'm not panicking, just taking notes. I made a mug of tea and sat on the porch instead, which helped about 60 percent. For those who had to take a break for a medical reason, what kept the break from turning into a full slide back?