Post-weightloss guilt?

[Anonymous]

Over the past year I lost a substantial amount of weight. I was very strict with my workouts and even more strict with my diet. While I’m still losing weight at a slower pace, I’m now allowing myself more leeway; I occasionally take an extra day off of working out, I’ll have a dessert/drink or two a week. But I feel overwhelmingly guilty afterwards, like I’m doing something wrong. Has anyone else experienced this, and how did you segue yourself into this transitional period without the guilt?

[Anonymous]

I’m with you, OP.

I try to remind myself how far I’ve come, that I’m not “that person” any more, and that part of being kind to myself now includes rest and frivolous food.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you are confusing guilt with another emotion? I know I would be nervous about returning to my old eating/ drinking/ not working out habits. Giving yourself permission to overeat or skip workouts is a slippery slope.

[Anonymous]

You have to flex every now and again for your new lifestyle to be sustainable.

[Anonymous]

Add the extra day off and extra dessert/drink to your plan so it doesn’t feel like cheating when you do it. Just writing something down can have enormous power to our psyches.
Congrats, OP; well done.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Congratulations! It is okay to have a dessert or drink here and there. Savor the dessert. Savor the drink.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP who said this is a slippery slope. But I think it is a slippery slope to disordered thinking. You are more than what you eat or drink. An evening, a day, a weekend of less than stellar thinking doesn't mean you won't achieve your health goals. Once you are at your goal health parameters, it will all be about balance. You are learning to flex that muscle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you, OP.

I try to remind myself how far I’ve come, that I’m not “that person” any more, and that part of being kind to myself now includes rest and frivolous food.

Ew. You are the same person you always were, only now you ingest fewer calories and exercise more. Don't look at your past body with such revulsion. Look at yourself as someone who deserves to take care of herself -- exercising and eating in a way that makes you feel good. And that includes rest days and the occasional ice cream sundae.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m with you, OP.

I try to remind myself how far I’ve come, that I’m not “that person” any more, and that part of being kind to myself now includes rest and frivolous food.

Ew. You are the same person you always were, only now you ingest fewer calories and exercise more. Don't look at your past body with such revulsion. Look at yourself as someone who deserves to take care of herself -- exercising and eating in a way that makes you feel good. And that includes rest days and the occasional ice cream sundae.

Yes, and for me, “that person” didn’t GAF about herself. It wasn’t always that way, and isn’t now, but I reverted into “that person” for a few years, and I really put myself last. It wasn’t about weight, it was about my mindset at that time. I’m really not her any more, and hope to never be again