Lost weight and feeling anxious about maintaining
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Anonymous
| I have worked really hard and have lost 20 lbs by exercising 5-6 days a week, giving up all alcohol, all restaurant dinners, all sweets except small portion-controlled things like a WW ice cream bar, and counting every calorie. Being really strict and rigid is the only way I can lose weight, and it has worked great for me. But now I am a bundle of anxiety about keeping the weight off. For example, we have a fancy birthday dinner with friends planned in a couple of weeks, and I'm already feeling nervous about it. I obviously want to be able to enjoy special occasions with food and wine, but have an irrational amount of anxiety about gaining back the weight I've worked so hard to lose. Anybody else struggle with this after losing weight? How did you deal with the anxiety? |
Anonymous
| Yes it is hard! Just give yourself permission to have a night off being so strict. Make up for it by eating less the day of the event and/or the next day. Don’t decide the next day just to give up because you had a big night. One big night won’t gain back the 20lb! |
Anonymous
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I find that if i "give myself permission" to eat for one meal it results in me falling off the wagon for quite a while - especially sweets - and put on a weight. So i opt for a "healthy" sweet like fruit salad or a sorbet which tends to satisfy cravings but dont make me crave more and more.
A lot depends on your personality. |
Anonymous
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I'm in a similar situation and find that I actually can't eat like I used to. I used to love dinners out and dessert was a must. Now, I'm stuffed by the time I get to dessert or find myself almost sick after a few sweet bites.
Don't stress too much! Enjoy your dinner out with your friends. Splurge, but don't go overboard and you might find that it's actually not that hard. |
Anonymous
| You’re counting calories, but what about macros? If you’re using MFP, look at the weekly average for nutrition and you’ll see what your currently average for protein, fats, and carbs. Instead of looking at calorie count, try making each day’s foods fit those macros. You can plan ahead to save carbs and fats for a special night out and eat protein and vegetables during the day. You can adjust the macros as time goes on to make some body composition changes or to allow you to gradually increase your intake (without gaining weight). |
Anonymous
I'm embracing and using the anxiety. If I have a great meal out, I eat clean the next day or week if it was a big weekend. There's nothing I deny myself but I've replaced volume with "tastes" I really want and it's working for me. I find I don't need a whole slice of cake anymore or a huge steak. The only down side is the food waste , e.g. I'll have one piece of pizza and eat the toppings off the rest or order multiple appetizers mixed between healthy and treats (most of which turn into take home that tends to be later tossed). But I don't care. If that's the price I pay for maintaining, it's worth it to feel like I do. (Not that I wouldn't rather donate the food I don't touch but there's really no practical way to do that.) |
Anonymous
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I recently lost 30 lbs but I allow myself a cheat meal once a week. By doing that I think I've staved off the anxiety about indulging from time to time.
If I'm going out to dinner or a special event, I'll usually eat very light and try to get a good workout in beforehand. |