I have 3 frames of mind........
 

1. The "I can't go over my calories I'll bring my own food everywhere or just be very careful and work extra hard to rid the extra cals."

2. The "I'm almost over my cals so I have to be VERY careful or my weigh in will depress me."

3. The "I'm already over so who cares now. I might as well keep treating myself and get back to it Monday."

I need to get back from number 3 to number 1. I was SOOOO good last spring/summer and I know what it takes so why can't I find that spot again?

lol, sounds like my 3 states of mind. I kinda blew it food-wise yesterday, and it was hard not to keep going and going and just making it worse.

I truly sympathize but I don't know how to identify the magic moment that will boot us back to #1 or #2.

When I'm at #3 - or even #4, which is to say calories? what calories? I NEED that food now, I deserve it! - I can't even begin to image 1 and 2; some days I think I want to get back, some days it just doesn't enter my head.
By the same token, when I'm being mostly 1 with strong slices of 2, I honestly can't remember what being at 3 feels like. Of course I remember that there have been 3 or 4 days but I don't remember feeling what they feel like.

Sorry that's not much good, just wanted to offer sympathy and a hug. (Both of ya!)

#3 is the exact reason that no diet ever worked for me before. I would always just give up, say I deserved a treat. Just ended up gaining 100 pounds.

Maybe you should think about your calorie rations on a weekly basis rather than a daily. Say to yourself, if I go over by 200 calories today, that's 200 calories less I can eat the rest of the week.

You're missing #4: I'm over my calories. I'll continue on (right now) with healthy choices. Screw Monday or "tomorrow."

You are so right. I need number 4.

Me tooo..... precisely. We just gotta work on it, and maybe not be too obsessive, cuz I think that helps cause the downfalls.

#3 is something I've participated in a majority of my life! I can't stand it.

If you go with the "every little bit counts" saying, maybe that could help you to stay on board.

I totally agree! I always wonder how I can so easily go from one extreme to another! I don't get it! I am also working on not being both ways. I think it is good to be in between.. not obsessing about food while dieting and not binging like food is going out of style. I am hoping to learn how to eat like a "normal" person.