Q: In the past, what has caused you to get "off track"? What hasn't worked? Was it hour-long workouts six times a week when you hadn’t worked out in months (or years!)? Was it jumping into eating 100% clean instead of slowly easing into it? Was it being 100% perfect on your diet plan and not leaving any wiggle room? Was it second-guessing your ability to lose the weight, even though logically you know it’s just a matter of time and healthy habits? Was it believing you can’t lose weight at all? Really scan your brain for every factor that has held you back!

A: I'm addicted to food. I'll have a bad day, get stressed out, be bored, or just need to feel positive emotions and I'll turn to food. I'll overindulge, and even though I may feel bad about myself, I'll choose the positive feelings that food gives me over the negative feeling I get for doing that to myself. I feel deprived when I can't eat what others are eating - even if I know it's not healthy. I hate having to order salads or healthy foods when what I really want is something indulgent and unhealthy. I know I can work moderate amounts of junk food into a healthy lifestyle, but I'll want it all - not just a portion or a taste. Then it will snowball and I'll feel REALLY awful about myself, and get back on track again. I guess I've got the "all or nothing" mindset - I'm either 100% healthy and on track, or I'm eating the entire world.


Q: What caused you to be successful? What are some things you want to implement from your past experience and some things you want to leave behind? For example, do you want to make an effort to get right back on track when you have a "bad" meal? Do you want to aim for 20 minutes of exercise 5x times a week instead of an hour every single day? Do you want to consciously work hard to eliminate negative self-talk? You make the call, Sweet Stuff. This is ALL up to YOU. :)

A: I want to find a balance. I want to live an enjoyable life - which equals going out to the occasional happy hour with friends, having celebrations and fun vacations complete with treats - but balance it with healthy choices within a healthy lifestyle. I've been successful using an 80/20 plan before - being on track 80% of the time, which usually equals one day per week when I'm allowed an indulgent meal or treat. The weight doesn't come off as fast though, and I start to feel negatively about myself. I need to consciously work hard to eliminate the negative self-talk too. Sometimes I put so much pressure on myself. Maybe once per week is just too much, and I need to move to am 85/15 or 90/10 plan instead.

I'm feeling frustrated by just writing this blog, because I'm afraid it's inevitable for me to fall down again and succumb to my food addiction. It's so hard for me to say no when I want something. I do really well with being totally in control- tracking my calories ahead of time and sticking strictly to that plan. Anytime somebody asks me to go out, I get really panicky because I think "Well, there goes my calories for the day! I can't fit what I want into a reasonable plan, so I'm either going to have to turn them down or toss my plan out the window today". I need to focus on my affirmations: LOSING WEIGHT IS EASY. I can do this. Why am I stuck in this all-or-nothing mindset? And why do I love food so much?!?!?!

Affirmations. That is my plan. Affirmations and self-love.