Molly: I liked that Beck quote. Making mistakes is part of the process of learning to maintain weight.
Kitkat: I hope you are feeling better. Everyone here has days where they get off track or are unmotivated. Like you say, there may be struggles, but underneath it all is a strong will and effort to push through and stay on track.
I have had days where I am uncomfortable with some up pounds. However, the change for me is that in these 2 and one half years, I do not tell myself to give up and blow it on a binge.
For me a phase of maintenance could be a cycle of complacency. You have all of your healthy foods, habits, exercise, going very nicely. Then a few pounds creep up and then do not just go down. So you might allow yourself to be complaisant instead of immediately attacking the problem. However, there is no choice but to end the complacency and to fine tune your life until those pounds go down.
Gazelle: Thanks for your kind words. I hope your week is going well.
Momto2cs: compassion for yourself is so true.
Shawsy: wine was very nice and long months without it.
Cindy: You have a supportive coach who can think out of the IP box.
Ishbel: It is not easy. The registry vows that it will get easier. I was reading a blog talking about that very subject..that maintenance was not easy. I was surprised at the number of people who jumped in and said they agreed..some who had been maintaining for 4 or 5 years. I like your attitude that it is ok to be hungry, to say no and to be different.