Does anyone take a day off?

YES!!! Everyone deserves a cheat day / day off. If you don't allow yourself this, you will go crazy. Any diet will tell u that taking a cheat day every now and again is ok. :-)

I definitely wouldn't beat myself up over it - you are human after all! I've done it on occasion for the same reasons you mentioned. Bottom line, ONE day won't hurt you. It's the focus you put on that one "slip" that leads to giving up and going back to old habits.

My suggestion: Let it go!

Yes, and my day was today. Dinner and dessert at Chili's with friends put me further over than I've been in months but I had fun and I'll be back on track tomorrow.

I feel like I've took the past week off, and it's showing (and not good either). I find it's definately easier to slack off when not logging regularly, and even diligently. Have a long way to go! Not beating myself up TOO much though -- the pounds are doing that for me.

I have done it! When I went on my scrapbooking retreat--it was just to much of a hassle to try to do everything on my phone and guess at the calories in the food we were served. I think the key is to not let it derail you. I have let that happen to me. I would have one day that was just a total loss--and let that totally derail me. This time around, I have told myself that there will be days when I will be over my calorie goal and/or not log things in. I just have to get back on track. Besides, I think a cheat day is not a bad thing. It can help us stay on track and not get discouraged. You are doing great!!

I've only been on MFP for a little over 30 days and I've logged everything I've eaten. That does not mean I haven't been over my calorie goal, I have a few times and I will again (like Wednesday for my monthly book club get together, and then the Saturday after that when we celebrate a friend's 40th b-day at a nice restaurant). I will exercise those days to earn as many calories as I can, but nothing overboard. As others have posted, this is for the long haul and I plan to enjoy life while losing weight. But I do want to track if I have internet access to "keep it real" so to speak.

Yes I take every Sunday off. No exercise and no logging. I do not go crazy with food I just don't stress about it. Works for me and it also allows my body a day to rest from working out.

Definentely, just pick up where you left off and get back on the boat! Nothing wrong with eating some stuff you want to every once in a while!

I've taken a handful of days off in 7 months...I log what I eat for the most part to hold myself accountable, and I get right back on track the next day.

Don't beat yourself up...life happens!

:happy:

I def do! But I also STILL log it. I dont intentionally take off days they just happen sometime (like yours). I find that when I DONT log it its tough for me to motivate myself to get back into things, esp if I've been seeing results. When I do log though the horror of my day stares me in the face and that motivates me to get back on track the next day. Making sure I keep it to an off DAY and not an off WEEK :P

I think logging everything even if it's a bad day will help to keep you in check.

I think this is key. Taking a day off is important sometimes. Nothing worse than being miserable during the holidays watching everyone enjoy the good food and having to exclude yourself. It's just important to remain accountable for your days off.

This past week had my only day where i said F it, and even then it only lasted for one meal. I had an unexpected opportunity to go out with someone from work and I just wanted to have some fun without worrying about it, and it was worth it. But the past 3 days since then I have compensated by just eating the bare minimum. I am weak and i know how easy it would be for me to go back to just eating whatever I want. I dont have it in me to take time off now though. I'm highly compulsive and have managed to break the bad habits of food consumption (no snacking, watching calories, no starving, no overeating, portion control) but I know that if I start to slack i can drift in that direction very fast. I am literally terrified right now of stopping this forward momentum and not being able to start back up. Does this mean that everyone is this way, HECK NO. I just wont let myself take any steps backwards for about another 120 lbs.

I have done it! When I went on my scrapbooking retreat--it was just to much of a hassle to try to do everything on my phone and guess at the calories in the food we were served. I think the key is to not let it derail you. I have let that happen to me. I would have one day that was just a total loss--and let that totally derail me. This time around, I have told myself that there will be days when I will be over my calorie goal and/or not log things in. I just have to get back on track. Besides, I think a cheat day is not a bad thing. It can help us stay on track and not get discouraged. You are doing great!!

Other than the scrapbooking retreat part this totally describes me! The one thing I've finally learned is that a bad day doesn't have to ruin my eating habits for months (or years). I'm finally able to relax and enjoy myself while still making positive changes to my diet and lifestyle.

I took the night off last night. I did well in the day, had a nice low-cal breakfast (egg/broccoli mini-frittatas), burned 777 calories cleaning and walking (errands). Then I hosted D&D at my apartment and provided all the snacks. I tried to provide healthier snacks: bruschetta, baguette, hummus, pitas, sweet potato chips, nuts, etc. But I ate a lot, and it all added up. All in all, it could have been a heck of a lot worse and I only went over by a few calories (because I had burned so much earlier).

I tracked it all. So at least I was accountable.

No cheat days here. I know how I can go overboard with something, so I stay on target with everything. I even exercise everyday. My "rest" day just involves some house chores or walking.