Falling off the wagon? Who pays their dues?

skb12573

I believe in paying dues too but again, planning ahead of time so you do not accrue them is the best idea that I try to stick to. There will still be days I go over and days I don't pay the dues (usually because of time issues, I have 2 young children, a husband who sometimes works out of time, i work full time and i am involved in church). But in the end, it is about the accountability. If you rack up a big tab... you wont be able to pay up. Isn't that what got most of us into our situations in the first place?

NewTeena

There are definitely days that I will exercise a little longer in order to make up for an overage or to allow myself more calories for one more snack.

There's nothing wrong with that. I do it often.

Just last week, however, every day I kept having this feeling that I was being deprived. This was not the same as doing an extra 10 minutes to make up for eating a cookie. I felt deprived. So, by day 3 of this (just this past Friday), I just ignored the calories, and just ate. I ate everything I felt I was being deprived of. I ate more than double my calories. The next day, I went back to making better food choices. Today I recorded a .6 lb loss.

I do not feel guilty for the pig out day, it was something I think that I needed to do in order to maintain the long term success. I do have regular cheat days, but this was not one of them.

I think there's a difference between falling off the wagon and eating a cookie. To me, one is giving up, the other is a lesson in how to work it into one's day.

brooke0206

I think to each his own. Some people it works to pay their dues, it will make them realize that if they do it again they have consequences but at the same time I don't think everyone works like that. Some are able to let it go and get right back on track and do fine where others may spiral out of control. I don't think there is anything wrong win paying your dues if that's what works for you.

redcat17

This is my personal take on it, and anyone can agree or disagree as they please.

My PT wants me to gain six pounds of muscle and lose about twenty pounds over the next few months. She told me to do interval cardio three days a week and strength train four. She told be that too much cardio is counter-productive while trying to gain muscle (i.e. skinny fat).

So if one day a week I eat a few too many calories, I'm not going sabotage my fitness plan by working out more. My thinking is that working out is for getting fit, being healthy, and having fun. I don't think of it of a way to lose weight, because then it would seem like a job and I have one of those already.

SAMSON25

I applaud your accountability, discipline, and proactive approach to achieving your goals. As many have said, yes, one cheat meal/day wont kill, but it can greatly deter your goals esp. if it is weight loss. I agree with you 100%. If you can "pay it off" then why wouldn't you?!? Way to go! I implement the same approach and am confident that I do not have an eating disorder, nor am training myself to develop one. You did the occasional treat and enjoyed it, but then recognized that you had the chance to stay on track for your fitness goals, so you got off your butt and still made your day a success!

Good work in my opinion : )

majordlite

If I've already worked out for the day and I go over I won't work out again... but if I haven't worked out, and it's not specifically a rest day (i.e. I have an injury or just ran a race the day before) I will probably try to correct whatever dietary indiscretion I may have committed early in the day.

I do the same. I try to have finished eating my food for the day before I go to the gym in the evening...that way I know what I'm working with/against. I've been a bit neurotic in trying to stay under/on my calorie goals for the past few weeks, but I'm getting a bit better about letting things go.

Burlesque12

Are we not human? Making mistakes is part of the journey. What we learn from it is what matters. If someone keeps falling off the wagon, it's cause they are not ready for the hard work. It's not realistic to NEVER fall off though.
This isnt a job where one "pays their dues" for promotion.

JeepBaja

Are we not human? Making mistakes is part of the journey. What we learn from it is what matters. If someone keeps falling off the wagon, it's cause they are not ready for the hard work. It's not realistic to NEVER fall off though.
This isnt a job where one "pays their dues" for promotion.

Not only that, we are adults. I made a decision to eat more than I should. I made the choice to stay at home and watch TV instead of going for a hike. I don't have to justify it. I don't have to explain it.

I know the consequences.

The days of doing so are less for me because I am actively trying to eat better but when it comes down to it, if I choose to do something or not do something, I can only blame myself and be bitter about it. Or I can just accept what I did and move on.

LynC33

Why are people attacking David and getting all defensive?? Isnt this an open forum for people to air their views? I would not suggest starting a topic unless you are ptrepared to take the good with the bad, not everyone has to agree on everything. Different things work for different people.

Personally, I dont put myself in a position where Im going "OMG I just ate maccas Big Mac, I need to work that off asap". Life is too short to not enjoy the foods you love. No one is going to tell me I cant have chocolate, thats for sure. I plan all my meals in the morning so I know what my daily cal intake is going to be. If I know I want to have something sweet or takeaway, I just cut back on a few of the other things I was going to have to allow for it. Most of the time I manage to sit within my calorie intake. If I go over its probably around 10-50cals....nothing worth fussing over. For me its about balance.

If paying your dues works for you, then I say bravo, because its about feeling good within yourself, and if you feel better and happier after, its worth it.

osualex

I think it really depends. I am all for having a cheat meal/day once a week and NOT working it off, if not for your metabolism, then for your sanity. Otherwise, I eat what I want as long as it fits my calories and macros. If you want a treat every day (which can be a GOOD thing, and keep you on track) then just plan for it, there doesn't have to be any guilt with it. For example, I am eating fast food for lunch today as I have a very busy work day. Is this the healthiest choice? No, but I don't do it every day, plus it fits my macros and calories. I have no guilt, and I'm not changing my work out today to make up for it.

LFiestan

I do. I try to work off the extra calories but when im too tired i sleep and try to burn off more calories the following day.
I have cheat days btw.

Crystalchaos72

I don't ride wagons