I am not an all or nothing guy. What I do when (not if) I have those "out of bounds" or beyond category moments is that I have the angst, the emotion and then shrug my shoulders and move on. I ate way way way too much over the week-end but that is said and done. I made mostly good decisions about breakfast with a couple of hard boiled eggs and a bit of fruit but too much of some other stuff. I knew I had two special dinners but didn't know the second one was a "buffet" with lots of great choices. Don't know why I ate so much. coming home always helps because I eat my usual foods at home.

Not likely to have back to back dinners next year. For me I guess it is live,learn and move on. When my weight was going down toward a healthy range I had on average 1 or 2 unplanned for or out of bounds moments. per week. So I told my group that I "fumbled the ball" 50 times while losing and was told "well you are off the team". I then said I picked up the ball 51 times.
Kinda a weak analogy but the point was that I was persistent not perfect. Some folks don't care as long as they have "the points" but I did things a bit differently. I don't mind if I eat more or special items but I want it planned a bit in my mind and not just an unplanned overindulgence. what I don't do is dwell on it. Motivation?? Not sure. I had no motivation to join but followed some friends into WW unexpectedly during a morning bike ride. I never had that "newly wed" this is exciting and sexy honeymoon. I have also not been very far down in the dumps either. For me that equates to some sort of lack of motivation but I do the process anyway and figure out how to enjoy the trip albeit in a moderate way.
If I have to wait to be let's say excited about doing something I will miss out on a lot.
I don't think of it as if I am doing a 90/10 approach but what I eat is probably similar to that in a sense.
Sorry I ramble.

I think you've touched at the core of long-term lifestyle vs. short-term weight loss diet. I can't pretend to know the answer, but what I try to tell myself is that one off-plan day doesn't define a week. If I get sloppy and don't track for a day or two, I can always regroup and recover. As wise GoaDies know, this lifestyle is a lot like horseshoes and hand grenades: if you consistently get close, you'll win over time.

"How do you keep motivated to do what you know you need to do...especially on those low days...when you really don't give a flying flip at a rodent's behind?"

I replaced my work day dress pants two weeks ago, and went with the smaller, just-a-little-bit-snug fitting size rather than the room-to-indulge-a-bit size. Knowing I will have nothing to wear to work if I have more than a day or two of not caring has done more to curb my late night mindless eating than all the thinking, planning, and strategizing I have done to this point.

I agree gadgetgirl. If I had to wait until motivated to brush my teeth or comb my hair it wouldn't happen so much. Habits will take ya places that no motivation can. One reason the old 16 weeks or 7 weeks etc was rewarded in WW.

Jimb376mfp wrote: »

Also I find that NOT doing the right thing one day makes it easier to not do it again the next day. Bad habits are formed just like GOOD HABITS by doing them EVERY DARN DAY!
So just remember whatever you do it's easier if you do it every day. Good or Bad.

Boo yah!!