Help!!! I need some encouragement today!!!

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Posts: 923
2/4/12 12:49 A

Please, DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP! That's just preparation for really overeating! Besides, it looks more like a one time treat. We can have those. Just don't make it a habit or escalate.

Sounds like you are under some major stress right now. Understandable you'd rely on food for comfort. Hope you ca learn some other behaviors, too, to expand your choices. 'Cause life sure can make us long for comfort sometimes!

Posts: 87
2/3/12 11:47 P

Someone once told me to look at these episodes as "feedback, not failure" in order to learn from them for the future.You might want to ask yourself what was going on when you made the eating choices you weren't happy with. Were you in a hurry, overly hungry, tired, or feeling deprived? What would you like to do differently the next time around, and how can you plan to actually do it?

Most of all, be kind to yourself.Recognize all of the good changes you have made and are making and remember, it isn't one meal or one day that has gotten so many of us to the point where we need /want to lose weight. You can get back on your program immediately and keep moving forward. Good luck. You can do this!

Posts: 20
2/3/12 8:28 P

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You are absolutely right...I have made myself feel so bad about eating that one thing...that I feel defeated...and that just leads to bad things. I needed to hear what you are saying!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write, you have no idea how great it feels to not feel so alone in this.

Kelly

Posts: 33
2/3/12 5:52 P

Don't be so hard on yourself. Personally I have lost more weight not having any foods that are off "limit". This took me some trial and error to figure out. I want this to be a lifestyle of mine and not a diet. If I want something I eat it and move on from there. I find if I don't I end up eating more because it doesn't satisfy what I actually wanted. I then will adjust what I eat the rest of the day so that its nutritious, but not so high in calories or fat. Not to mention some days a salad just won't cut it....
Keep up the good work you have already done!!

SparkPoints: (114,526)
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Posts: 17,591
2/3/12 4:07 P

KAUTHOR,

You didn't do anything wrong ! One meal or even one less than perfect day or week of eating will NOT make or break your healthy lifestyle. Don't associate food with guilt. that's not healthy. There are going to be days you eat more than others for many different reasons. As long as you eat right most of the time and watch your portions, there is absolutely no reason you can't have some chicken cheesteak once in a while.

Spark People has never been about deprivation. It's all about moderation and portion control. So, as long as you don't eat cheesteak every single day, once in a while is okay. Did you enjoy it ? If you enjoyed yourself, what's wrong ?

The fact is, you don't have to be perfect to be healthy. I can't imagine living a life where I wasn't allowed to eat something because I was afraid I'd gain weight. that isn't healthy either.

What to do ? You just eat a little more mindfully for the rest of the week. You don't beat on yourself. You don't punish yourself with extra exercise either. You ate the food. You log the food. You move on.

Posts: 20
2/3/12 4:03 P

I have been doing so great....and yesterday I made a really bad choice. I had a chicken cheesteak for lunch with sweet potato fries:( I am so mad at myself...I have worked so hard to eat healthier and start getting a good exercise routine (walking). I know that I have to just let it go and move forward...I am just down today and there is nobody around to encourage me..:( My husband of 8 years abandoned us 6 months ago...and I am determined to get my life back where it needs to be physically as well as emotionally.