Why the heck did I do that?

MireyGal76

I have been around goal for about 6 months. I was tired of logging my food, and thought I'd try and see how I did on my own without logging.

I have managed to stay close to goal, but it's been a yoyo - up 7, down 5, up 6, down 3, whereas when I was logging, I was pretty steady around the goal mark. I know some of this is cyclical weight, some of it is water weight.

But what I did realize is that my thinking is getting skewed again... and this past weekend, I had a slap in the face that has caused me to decide to start logging again...

I had gone to boxing two nights in a row... which meant I put up a burn of about 1600 cals in two days. I went shopping and thought, hey... I've worked hard, I'm going to treat myself.

So I bought my weakness treat... Butter tarts.



I brought them home and had one. No biggie, I'd worked out. It was all good. Cals in vs Cals out - should be fine.
Then my kids started acting up. And I was feeling stressed. So I had another.

Then it was bedtime snack... and well... I'd gone boxing, right? So I had a third.

The next morning I had the fourth.

And then... I looked at the calories. And realized that each butter tart was close to 400 calories.
I had essentially eaten away all the work I had achieved by busting my *kitten* in boxing.



I felt sick. (Some of it may have been due to the fact that was a LOT of butter tart... LOL)

My point is...
It's really easy to "reward" ourselves for work we've done in the gym with food treats... but if we aren't counting our calories, or at least paying attention to them... then we will quickly sabotage our own hard work... and not even realize we are doing it.

"I don't understand why I didn't lose any weight this week? I put up massive burns!"

Oh wait...
I ate 1300 calories in the way of 4 butter tarts.

dirty_dirty_eater

Or...you can celebrate the fact that you can get past the occasional nutritional indulgence without the usual penalty because you kick so much *kitten*!

firstjog11

That made me smile! How true.

frankiep73

I get it. We use food as a reward before anything else. Good for you for seeing the error of your ways... now, to just remember that when we are out shopping!

jackpotclown

hey it happens, glad that you're aware....I've been there and fallen back many times \m/

_crafty_

But I'm gonna bet you probably enjoyed your workouts. You weren't doing them JUST so you could eat so it really wasn't a wash/waste of time and effort.

SpeSHul_SnoflEHk

I do this all the time, and I track. That's why I have been in maintenance mode when I shuold be trying to shed the last 15 pounds.

gabbygirl78

I have found that logging is crucial for me also! You really don't realize how many calories you are consuming throughout the day unless you log everything you eat! I was amazed to find out that I was eating over 4000 calories a day before starting this diary. I would say, " I don't know why I am gaining weight! I don't eat that much!" all because I wouldn't eat big meals but I would snack through out the day on low fat but sugar laden snacks. This was an awesome topic! Thanks for sharing!

miss_jessiejane

I want to know what a butter tart is.

_firecracker_

Polished off the cookies last night and decided to not face the music and stopped logging. Not quite as much damage...they're small cookies...but the point is the same. To be conscious of our patterns.

jlapey

Well, at least you didn't eat MORE than you burned. Sounds like maintaining to me.

MireyGal76

I want to know what a butter tart is.

dirty_dirty_eater

I want to know what a butter tart is.

So, fat and sugar with just enough flour to hold it all together. Looks awesome.

MireyGal76

I'm not worried that I'm going to get fat.. but eating like that causes me to gain mental fat quickly.
I struggle with feeling obese in my mind, and when I eat crappy, I gain insane amounts of mental fat.

And it's not just the butter tarts. Those are an example. I've been justifying poor food choices because "I work out". And I am lucky because I work out so intensely that I am still maintaining...

But how many of us don't work out enough to burn off the rewards we give ourselves?

The fact is that I will be much healthier and happier, both in my body and in my head, if I make better food choices.

For me, logging = awareness, and better choices.

UsedToBeHusky

I log every day and I still do that. :laugh:

UsedToBeHusky

I want to know what a butter tart is.

MireyGal76

I want to know what a butter tart is.

INORITE???
*pleasure shivers*

Trechechus

I log every day and I still do that. :laugh:

Me, too. And when I know I've gone over, I just don't finish my diary, which is helping no one...

UsedToBeHusky

I log every day and I still do that. :laugh:

Me, too. And when I know I've gone over, I just don't finish my diary, which is helping no one...

Yeah, sometimes when I have gone so far over... I just stop logging. *hangs head in shame*

TheCaren

We've all done it. Bought garbage food with the best of intentions to ration it, or eat one portion and share the rest, or whatever. And then eaten the whole dang thing ourselves.

Today's a new day. Drink a glass of water and move on. By the way your profile photo is amazing!

UsedToBeHusky

I want to know what a butter tart is.

INORITE???
*pleasure shivers*

I'm actually imagining in my mind what that bad boy must taste like. I have a terrible sweet tooth.

Where could one obtain such a horrendous diet-destructor?

MireyGal76

I want to know what a butter tart is.

INORITE???
*pleasure shivers*

I'm actually imagining in my mind what that bad boy must taste like. I have a terrible sweet tooth.

Where could one obtain such a horrendous diet-destructor?

bakery department in every freaking grocery store here....

fbmandy55

I log every day and I still do that. :laugh:

Me, too. And when I know I've gone over, I just don't finish my diary, which is helping no one...

My downfall. Once I start that it's hard to stop. But finally, after MONTHS on a roll with about 7 days of logging and staying under! Kind of gave me some motivation to keep going.

MrsBobaFett

I want to know what a butter tart is.

That looks totally worth it!

michelejoann

I want to know what a butter tart is.

I want that.

UsedToBeHusky

I want to know what a butter tart is.

INORITE???
*pleasure shivers*

I'm actually imagining in my mind what that bad boy must taste like. I have a terrible sweet tooth.

Where could one obtain such a horrendous diet-destructor?

bakery department in every freaking grocery store here....

US?

jogy

The problem I think is that we still have the bad pattern of rewarding ourselves with food. Before I had my kids (and had more money), I would reward myself with a new piece of clothing (always on sale). Wasn't good money wise but was good weight wise. I think we should find other ways to reward ourselves. BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW WITH WHAT! If some of you have ideas, I am soooooo opened to them!

michelejoann

I see, the butter tart is a Canadian thing.

Much like a shoofly pie here in Pennsylvania. Except with molasses.

gabbygirl78

I want to know what a butter tart is.

So, fat and sugar with just enough flour to hold it all together. Looks awesome.

OMG I just maxed out everything , gained 5 lbs, and went into a diabetic coma just looking at this picture! EVIL.....E-V--I-L!!! :devil: :noway:

JenAndSome

I'm not worried that I'm going to get fat.. but eating like that causes me to gain mental fat quickly.
I struggle with feeling obese in my mind, and when I eat crappy, I gain insane amounts of mental fat.

And it's not just the butter tarts. Those are an example. I've been justifying poor food choices because "I work out". And I am lucky because I work out so intensely that I am still maintaining...

But how many of us don't work out enough to burn off the rewards we give ourselves?

The fact is that I will be much healthier and happier, both in my body and in my head, if I make better food choices.

For me, logging = awareness, and better choices.

Great point!

Mental fat is a great way to describe it. I was trying to explain to the bf last night why him deciding to fry our whole dinner (fried chicken, fried mushrooms, fried pickles) was not a great idea for me on a day when I didn't do any exercise. His only response is that one day won't make you fat. Well, no. Not one day, but I will feel like I have failed somehow if I go over my goal. So we compromised. I baked part of the chicken and had it over a salad and still ate the mushrooms and pickles.

sillygoosie

This is why I'm easing up on myself lately. You look absolutely amazing and you shouldn't be beating yourself up over an overindulgence. Seriously. Look at your abs. Look. At. Them.