Why did I fall off the wagon?

With over 6 months into a great weight loss (almost 35 lbs), sure I have had cheat meals, cheat days, cheat items but I always logged them, cut back calories the next meal or next day and usually ended up with a weight loss weigh-in! But for whatever reason, I have totally gone nuts the last 8-9 days! I do well throughout the day, as I bring my lunch to work and my dinners are fine but then I get into my old habits of eating all night long! I'm confused! How could I have such control for 6 months, see GREAT results and now allow myself to do this! SIGH! I gained 2.2 lbs last week so I thought that would have been a wake-up call but these last 2 days into my new weigh-in week haven't been much better! HELP! :) What do you do when this happens?

Replies

  • misti17
    misti17 Posts: 106
    Ah sugar pie, get a hold of it now. I don't know what to tell you, but I can tell you this, I did the same thing and that little rut lasted 3 months! I was so mad at myself. didn't gain a lot of weight back, but what I noticed was I wasn't as tight. That pissed me off, and I just started thinking about bikini season, how much better I felt skinney, if I looked at bad food, I said to myself "skinney taste better", so sugar, take it from me, I'm mad that I lost those 3 months, and it kills me to think of what I would look like now if I hadn't done that. You are only a week into it, so c'mon girl, grab the bull by the horns and do this thang!
    You look really good by the way!
  • More stress in your life? Maybe its stress eating
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    We aren't perfect, but the good thing is you came on MFP and admitted you are struggling -- this means you are AWARE of it which is awesome.... So remind yourself why you are here, what your goals are, and get back to it girl!!!!!!!

    I read a girl's post on here once that said ' deciding to lose weight isn't a one time decision, it's one we make many times each day' ...... SO TRUE!!!!!
  • jrodx2
    jrodx2 Posts: 203 Member
    I think you need to take a moment and refocus. Bring your mind back to how good you felt during those six months, the progress you made and the results you had. Everyone goes through a bad spell at times but the difference is that some people will let it take over and others won't. Be the one that doesn't! You can get back to where you were, you just need to get back the same motivation you had before.

    What about setting some new rules for yourself. For example, no walking into the kitchen after a certain time? I'm thinking somewhere around the hour after dinner is done. If you don't even allow yourself to enter that room during a time your cravings tend to get the worst of you, that could help get you back on the right track.

    Good luck and don't give up!


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  • Don't waste time trying to figure out why. That's just a diversion. Get back to eating right. Just do it.
  • jennifer52484
    jennifer52484 Posts: 888 Member
    When this happens i tell myself that I know what i need to do to get back on track. Cheat days for me are an exception to the rule not the rule.
  • chachadiva150
    chachadiva150 Posts: 453 Member
    Maybe it's how you are viewing the entire experience. You keep saying "cheat meals and cheat days." There are no such things.

    There is nothing to "cheat on." Be accountable for everything that you eat and make it fit within your program. Want some cookies? Fine, count them and put them in your food diary. See where they fit with your overall day. No need to deny yourself of anything. Just count it.

    Are you exercising? That always generates extra calories in your daily total. You could afford to have a couple of snacks at night that way.
  • KimALesperance
    KimALesperance Posts: 20 Member
    I feel your pain. I do more often than I like to admit. I think part of it for me is frustration. I get mad at myself for not screwing up my diet with something bad, and what do I do? Stand at the refrigerator door looking for something to snack on. I know its all mental, and the grand scheme of things, it wasn't that big of a deal. But I beat myself up with it....and use it as a reason to let myself have one more bite. Then I feel bad, go to bed, and swear I won't do it again.

    I'm beginning to notice a cycle with myself. I do great during the day, but I am totally famished when I get home and I grab what ever I can find. I try to get my workouts done early in the morning, but that gets my body revved up and I don't think i am eating enough during the day in order to sustain myself. I am usually exhausted more now than I ever use to be.

    At this point, I have decided that while doing my ChaLEAN Extreme and Turbo Fire, that I need to up my calories. I am not fueling the fire that should be fueling me. So....I'm gonna give it my all and smash through this stupid plateau I have been living with for far to long.
  • maryloo2011
    maryloo2011 Posts: 446
    Bump... I seemingly need to read all this advice later tonight.
  • vallemic
    vallemic Posts: 278 Member
    Thanks everyone! Wow, this site is great for encouragement! To answer one's question, yes there has been more stress in my life so I'm obviously stress eating! And like someone else said, stop trying to analyze it, it's just a diversion, JUST DO IT! And like someone else said, don't let this get out of control over 3 months!!

    Oh, and when I talked about cheat meals, cheat days, cheat treats, what I actually ment is that I haven't been living on lettuce and celery over the last 6 months :) I have been incorporating yummy foods that I like (like cookies, pizza, burgers) regularly so that I would not feel deprived and fall off the wagon :)

    But seriously, THANKS everyone! Going for a run... :)