So I've been on this weight loss plan for the past two months, and I've successfully managed to drop a dress size and lose 13 kilos, something that I've never been able to achieve in the past.

the good thing is, while I'm really happy to be on my weight loss journey I just feel like I'm under so much pressure NOT to screw up. My parents, my personal trainer, friends, family the like. I know I'm doing this for myself... it isn't about being slimmer and fitting into the right clothes, it is about my health and knowing that with every kilo I lose, the chances of my keeling over and dying of a heart attack are lessened, as well as developing cancer/diabetes/heart problems. I'm surrounded by these illnesses on a daily basis, and lost my aunt to Cancer nearly three years ago so I can see what weight can do to you and by doing this I know I am one step closer to being healthier and fitter.

But, I just want a day off and binge and eat whatever the **** I want to. I miss going to a restaurant and eating whatever the **** I want to. It wasn't even the unhealthiest option, but being on a paleo diet is so restrictive. I miss fries and potato chips and bread... OMG how I miss bread.

I had a mini cheat last weekend and I felt awful. I had an upset tummy and threw up everything eventually, but it wasn't where I'd choose to go eat. Now the dilemma is, should I and can I cheat tonight?

I'm just really lacking motivation, so much so that I don't even fancy going for a work out today. And that is seriously odd for me.

I posted a response and lost it before I submitted it -- so here I go....

Being on a restrictive diet is not for everyone. For me, those diets are a set-up for failure - for others, it's just what they need.

I was on every diet you could name -- they work for a while -- that is, until you eat some chips or cookies and then feel like a failure, and then go off on a binge, and regain the weight and then some.

I stopped dieting. We all know what foods we should be eating, and what foods we should avoid. So I started to eat sensible foods, and I limit my portions. If I'm feeling a little extra hungry, I bulk up my meal with extra veggies. I make good choices most of the time. But sometimes if I feel like having some chips or cookies, or some fried chicken -- I eat them - but I keep it under control and I don't do it very often. I don't weigh and portion my food - I use common sense. I seldom weigh myself. In fact, when I started this lifestyle, I avoided my scale. People started to mention I looked like I was losing weight - so next time I was at the doctor's office I did get on the scale and discovered I had lost over 30 pounds. I was thrilled because I was losing weight without dieting.

Read about Intuitive Eating -- there's a forum under "Other Diet Plans" - it's about eating when you are physically hungry, and stop eating when you are not.

I feel great doing it this way. Like I said - some people swear by "Diet Plans" -- but I can't take the restrictions. If you observe thin people, you'll see that they eat hamburgers and pasta, or anything they want -- and you'll also see that they often leave food on their plates too. Some people may post and say I eat too many carbs, or they'll say WW or Atkins works great for them.

Just take some time to analyze what you think will work for you, then go for it! Keep reading the boards for infomation and inspiration and support.

Good luck!

MaryGee

You and I started at about the same weight and I didn't convert the kilos to pounds to see what you lost but it seems like you got a good start!

There are days that I too lose motivation or just don't want to be on a diet anymore, watching what I eat and counting the calories, etc. etc.

But the alternative is to throw away all of my progress and probably gain more than I lost so far. I can tell you, it's NOT happening this time. I (and you) have worked so hard to get a grip on our weight, why would we stop now?

Even tonight, my husband had takeout for dinner (he gets it about once a month, he's doing so great). I can't have takeout, it's not on my diet plan. I gazed at his french fries and the bacon on his sandwich (yes a gorgeous french bread!) but I'll be damned if I am going to sabotage myself with "just 1" of anything not on my plan. NO freakin' way.

Now, you said you had a mini cheat and felt awful and sick afterwards. Isn't that enough to stop you from doing it for a whole binge day? Who wants to be sick and throwing up?

I say don't do it. But that is only my opinion. I think you have made great progress and owe it to yourself to be healthy. And I'm not saying never have a cheat meal, I just think it's too soon since your last one. And every time we cheat, it gets harder and harder to get back on track.

Good luck.

HI. First, you are doing great. Celebrate and OWN your accomplishments so far.

Processed carbs are generally a no-no, but if you're being distracted by your urges, maybe give in. I don't know much about 'Paleo', but are you getting in lots of greens? any beans? I personally think that a variety of natural, non-processed foods is a most healthy approach.

Remember that you ARE doing this for yourself, and whatever your approach is you'll pretty much have to maintain for good. Better to go slow and steady and keep it off than to do something you hate, lose the weight, start to eat unhealthy, and gain weight....

I gave in and ate what I wanted to eat. I went out with my friends to a posh restaurant and ate exactly what I wanted to eat. After I finished and put down my cutlery (I couldn't even finish the food on my plate - thank god for male friends with big appetites), I said that's it until I go to New York.

And the best thing was - instead of having sushi with rice I had some sashimi, instead of having fries with my scallops and calamari (no batter) i had boiled new potatoes, and instead of a massive chocolate pudding I had a fruit salad with yummy tropical fruits and a dollop of mascarpone cheese (not strictly paleo but not as bad as having a choc pudding).

I refuse to feel guilty after a binge. This was the best I could do, I didn't want to cave in completely that I felt terrible the next day like I did last time. I agree it takes you off-track but tomorrow morning I plan to wake up, have a paleo breakfast of eggs and almonds, and go to the gym. It's easy getting back on track, it's just hard staying on track when I was so distracted by my cravings. I was very hungry and tired and slightly stressed out when I wrote my first post, hence why I felt like I needed to vent.

Thank you everyone, and best of luck with your weight loss journeys.

Of course you did! You were out with friends! At a posh restaurant!

Personally, I think there is a world of difference to eating like this when out and in company versus at home alone with the cookie jar.

Eating out with friends is healthy. Regardless of content.

Dinner anyone?