stuck with it until Thanksgiving, now can't get back on track

[Anonymous]

I had an event over the Thanksgiving weekend I wanted to look good for. I was doing intermittent fasting/lower carb for a few months up to the event. It wasn't all that difficult to do and I felt pretty good about myself at the event. For a few days after the event, I allowed myself to eat foods that I wasn't eating for the past few months. Stuffing at Thanksgiving, then leftover stuffing, a few pieces of candy at night, etc. I don't regret allowing myself some treats, but it's been hard for me to get back on track since then.

It's not even that it's the holiday season that's difficult--we haven't had any holiday parties or anything yet. It's just the small daily things I'm allowing to creep back in--some pasta here, some rice here, a few pieces of candy there. I feel more bloated and not as good as I felt before.

Please motivate me to get back on track!

[Anonymous]

Tell yourself that you are going to do a 16-8 fast starting tonight. You won't eat again until tomorrow afternoon. When you do eat it is going to be a well planned out meal with proper portions.

Don't overthink it. Just get back on track. We ALL fall off of it from time to time - just get back on.

[Anonymous]

There is getting back on track, and then there's trying to force something that is not going to be sustainable for you for the long run.
this is why diets and schemes are tricky. You don't want to stick with them for a lifetime.

do you really see yourself not eating candy and pasta and beating yourself up every time you slip up for the next 30 years?

the truth is, eating these things once in awhile is actually not going to hurt you or set you back. If you're eating candy 6 times a day. Yeah.

I would just find a way I will letting these things into your diet. So that you can make changes for lifetime

[Anonymous]

You can do this. I had one of those days yesterday. I had some chocolate which I've been trying to avoid in the roll-up to Christmas. It pushed me over the daily calorie limit I' want to hit.

But .... today is a new day! OP, you can do this. Start with today. You can do anything for one day, right? Today, you are going to eat fruits, veggies, high quality proteins and avoid the foods that make you feel bloated and farty.

You got this.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I’ve mostly been able to stick with the IF (18/6), but it’s the carbs and candy that have crept back into my diet. Last night I made a conscious choice to not have the pasta with my meal that I had made for my kids, so that’s a good start.

To the PP—I know I can’t avoid those foods forever but they’re a slippery slope for me. Eating those foods gives me “permission” to keep eating them. It’s been a habit for me for pretty much forever. I find it’s easier to avoid them and once I’m in the habit it’s just second nature. Once I get out of that habit then it’s like a free for all. So I just need to get back on track. I’ve been able to lose like 1 pound a month on that regimen (I have an extremely low BMR) so I was happy with my progress. I have about 10 pounds to go to a normal weight and slow and steady wins the race for me. -OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is getting back on track, and then there's trying to force something that is not going to be sustainable for you for the long run.
this is why diets and schemes are tricky. You don't want to stick with them for a lifetime.

do you really see yourself not eating candy and pasta and beating yourself up every time you slip up for the next 30 years?

the truth is, eating these things once in awhile is actually not going to hurt you or set you back. If you're eating candy 6 times a day. Yeah.

I would just find a way I will letting these things into your diet. So that you can make changes for lifetime

I allow myself to cheat a little on the weekends. I am also going to allow myself some eggnog and cookies right around Christmas. I know the scale will register them. I know that I can take the weight right back off. BTDT. NBD.

I will fill my plate with the foods that my body does well with and I will take little tastes of foods (like mac & cheese) that I enjoy but really have to limit. A treat is a treat - something to have only very occasionally. For me starchy/sugary foods are treats and need to be treated as treats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. I’ve mostly been able to stick with the IF (18/6), but it’s the carbs and candy that have crept back into my diet. Last night I made a conscious choice to not have the pasta with my meal that I had made for my kids, so that’s a good start.

To the PP—I know I can’t avoid those foods forever but they’re a slippery slope for me. Eating those foods gives me “permission” to keep eating them. It’s been a habit for me for pretty much forever. I find it’s easier to avoid them and once I’m in the habit it’s just second nature. Once I get out of that habit then it’s like a free for all. So I just need to get back on track. I’ve been able to lose like 1 pound a month on that regimen (I have an extremely low BMR) so I was happy with my progress. I have about 10 pounds to go to a normal weight and slow and steady wins the race for me. -OP

You are almost there! Keep going!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. I’ve mostly been able to stick with the IF (18/6), but it’s the carbs and candy that have crept back into my diet. Last night I made a conscious choice to not have the pasta with my meal that I had made for my kids, so that’s a good start.

To the PP—I know I can’t avoid those foods forever but they’re a slippery slope for me. Eating those foods gives me “permission” to keep eating them. It’s been a habit for me for pretty much forever. I find it’s easier to avoid them and once I’m in the habit it’s just second nature. Once I get out of that habit then it’s like a free for all. So I just need to get back on track. I’ve been able to lose like 1 pound a month on that regimen (I have an extremely low BMR) so I was happy with my progress. I have about 10 pounds to go to a normal weight and slow and steady wins the race for me. -OP

Me, too. The sugars hit my brain and my brain says "EAT MORE" ... and I do. It is easier for me to avoid altogether as well. And really, avoiding candy isn't actually going to harm anybody (that's for the PP). Ever. If OP can avoid candy forever she'll be all the healthier for it.

[Anonymous]

I'm another one that has to avoid sugar and simple carbs. Both leave me craving more unhealthy food.

In the morning drink a full glass of water. Then have some protein to start the day. I'm not a breakfast person, but having some kind of protein in the morning helps me to make better choices throughout the day. Sometimes it will be a protein shake, other times it will be eggs, ham or even leftover meat from the night before.