88) Removing all locks!

We are removing all locks from the kitchen today!

We unlocked the refrigerator and his own snack cabinet at the end of March and he has been keeping his BMI in a decent range (23ish, 88th% now) and he looks and feels healthy.  He has been eating moderately, there have been almost no reported incidents of food sneaking (only one known to us in the last several weeks), and we've seen a greatly diminished display of food intensity.  He is managing his own snack foods well and appears to be ready for the freedom of having access to unlocked food in our house.  Up until today, the only remaining locked cabinet has been the family snack cabinet which contains all but Sasha's snack foods.  Today we plan to remove the lock from this cabinet as well so now the entire kitchen will be open.

We have been sticking to a mostly lower carb eating plan since we see it as a permanent lifestyle change but we fudge from time to time with keeping tortilla chips or ice cream in the house (if we are hosting a party or if there is a special occasion, for example).  During our transition into the unlocked food, we will avoid buying these "special treat" items so as not to tempt Sasha and make it too difficult for him.  If he appears to handle the unlocked food and is able to still keep his weight stable, we will consider re-introducing an occasional higher carb item so that he can learn to handle these more tempting foods and (hopefully) be able to eat them occasionally and in moderation as well.

Am I nervous?  Yes, it is always scary when we expose Sasha to the next step of food freedom. I am always worried that he will regress, take advantage of the new freedom to overeat and gain weight, or that we will start getting into battles over food again (if I detect increased eating/food intensity on his part and start to become the Kitchen Bitch again)... But am I also hopeful?  Yes!  I have optimism that we all will learn to handle his freedom, perhaps imperfectly at first...however, I think we will get there with time and practice.

Needless to say, this change marks a momentous and exciting achievement for us.  As we are approaching the first anniversary of starting oxytocin (May 14), it feels like a dream come true that we are even considering the removal of locks from the kitchen.  Only one year ago, I felt that we were all doomed to living a life in the HO prison.  And now... I can anticipate freedom!  Oh, what a difference a year with oxytocin can make!