Cheat Day
 

Kayley,

I don't cheat. I had to turn off that mentality because I would crave whatever I was depriving myself of and would gorge if I started eating that one craved and precious morsel. Now, I make healthy choices that I can live with the rest of my life. For the first year, I didn't have cake or sweets, but it was not because I "couldn't" it was because I chose not to. If I have any of those things now, and usually I don't, I will have just a bite. (Honestly, each bite tastes the same and if you savor it and put it in your memory... you will be okay).

I kinda know where I am at calorie-wise on most days because I exercise a lot and it makes me less hungry when I do hard workouts and I know that I need to fuel my body. I also enjoy quite a decadent breakfast everyday, usually about 500 calories. I have yogurt and fruit with whole grain granola; or a spinach and cheese omelet, or oatmeal and yogurt. I usually have a coupla tangerines with breakfast. Having a big breakfast makes you much less hungry all day.

But back to the "cheating", I have read many places that you should not award your weightloss goals with food. If you need some bread, you should go to a bakery and buy a piece (just 1, if bread is your thing) and eat it. Or go to a restaurant and get a healthy meal and eat a bit of bread and the olive oil they usually serve it with.

I'm with Rebecca on this one. I do not count calories....the WW Core plan does not require it unless I am figuring out something that was "extra" points...but I am so selective on what I use those points on I usually know what I am keeping track of. I don't have "cheat days" either. If I am going somewhere that will be challenging foodwise (party) I make sure to eat first and if I must snack I hunt down the veggie tray or something like that...my best bet is to stay away from it, because as I rediscovered at a holiday party, if it within arm's length of me then I might just blow it without meaning to.

I do save up a few points each week for a little indulgence. That's a big part of what makes WW work is not feeling deprived. That's what you are supposed to use your Flex points for...it's what makes you sane. Lately my thing has been having a biscotti with my SF/FF latte after I WI. It's not a big deal but it's just a little something. My tastes have also completely changed and a lot of things that once held appeal for me no longer do. I can't really do sweets anymore and I gave up red meat (on my own).

It's all a question of balance. You don't need to give yourself permission to cheat, but from time to time you do need to allow yourself a little indulgence....it's what makes you feel more like making "healthy choices" and less like you are on a diet.

BTW, I use a computer program to track my calories. There are a few of them online -- I use CalorieKing, but there are others as well. It is pretty easy to keep track this way since they have a very extensive database of foods.

Back again...
 

Welcome back, Kay. I'm relatively new here, but have found a lot of information & support from these gals.

That's along the lines I was thinking of when I "cheat"...eat some bread or have a cookie...but not gorge myself, as I have no desire to do that.

Welcome back, Kay! I'm new here as well...have only been here about a week and a half or so, but I love it here!!! :)

Being able to share my successes with someone really makes me motivated...

Kayley-I don’t allow myself “cheat day” exactly for two reasons. First, I’ve been eating this way for over 4 years now, and I have literally starved to death the bacteria in my gut that can digest rich foods, and so if I eat them now, I get quite sick. Secondly, for me, when I go off, I have as hard a time getting back on as an alcoholic would after falling off the wagon. I have worked hard to shrink my stomach and to refocus my palate and taste buds, and just don’t want to make this stuff harder on myself. I prefer to “treat” myself with things other than food. I don’t put anything off limits, because that leads to other trouble, but I do try to limit my portions to something reasonable. I no longer use food as a reward because thinking that way is one of the things that got me into this mess in the first place. We always celebrated birthdays and graduations with going out to eat or making large meals. Now I celebrate by going to a museum I always wanted to go to, or an amusement park or movie now that I can fit in the seats. I spend the same money on going to a concert that I would on a fancy meal, and the memory lasts a lot longer.

Softy-I am only doing this by counting. I keep a food journal in a small memo book that fits in my pocket. I flip it open and write down everything I eat just like a waitress taking an order. After doing it for 4 years, I have most things memorized. It is a way of me taking responsibility for what I put in my mouth, and “owning” it. I write food on the left 2/3’s of the page, and exercise or emotions on the right 1/3. It helps me track what may be causing me to want to overeat. I saw a 70+ year old woman on a PBS show. She is a diet/life counselor in Hollywood, and has been since the ‘60’s. In the 50’s she lost weight by keeping a food journal, and has ever since. She allows herself a small piece of chocolate cake on her birthday. I figure if she could keep one that long, I am capable of doing it too. Besides, it really is the only thing that has ever worked for me because I seem to be incapable of normal portions without weighing or measuring things. When I get complacent, like I did over the holidays, I gain weight. I didn’t cheat, I ate the same things, I just relaxed on measurements, and tried to estimate, and gained 5 pounds. Counting calories does get tiresome, but so does being overweight.

Ammi-welcome back. We have missed you. Gaining weight over the holidays seems like a virus that is going around. I’m grateful to have survived the holidays with my sanity. I am down to my last box of packing, and this morning sewed the lining and gown together. All I have left is the trim and the sleeves and bottom hem. I have to make a run to the fabric store for trim because the yardage listed on the outside of the pattern was way short. It takes at least three yards, and the pattern envelope says you only need a yard. I thought it looked short at the time. Just a nagging little detail. I haven’t had any major ripping out kind of mistakes, so I consider myself lucky. Everyone seems to find the idea of me making my own gown bizarre. I even designed the wedding rings. I got them from the jeweler a couple of days before Christmas. Mine is a 6 ½, and his is 12 ½. My ring actually fits inside of his with room to spare. It is too big for my thumb even. The lady at the jewelry store wanted to know if he was that big all over. How do you answer that question.

Well, I need to get back to work. I have a big plane to catch in 13 days, and that gown isn’t going to finish itself.

Calorie counting
 

Catherine - That sounds like a FABULOUS idea! And I'm going to be treating myself to a concert in March...maybe I'll just use that as a reward...I never even really gave that a whole lot of thought, as simple as that is! :) I commend you on your weight loss...it's VERY impressive. When is the big day?!?!? :D

Joe_Anne - It's nice to meet you! I checked out the calorie king this afternoon, after I saw elmay post about it...might have to look at it again, as it seems quite extensive!

Elmay - How many calories do you allow yourself in a day?

I am going to change my signature and join you in your Valentines day goal! Great Idea!!!!!!

Kayley, my daily calorie goal is 2200.

Over the past 2 weeks, my high was 2600 and my low was 1550. I didn't count calories on the 25th, 26th, or 27th.

In the past 30 days, my high was 4000 calories -- on Andre's 3rd birthday when I was trying to "be good" and celebrate as well. That was certainly educational -- I'm sure that before I started this journey there were days I consumed 5000 or 6000 calories. My low for the month was 1300 calories -- that was in Tokyo where I ate a lot of Luna and Clif bars :)

I was hoping not to gain weight this month, but as it turns out, I've lost weight. I'll see how much officially when I meet with my trainer next Monday, but right now it looks like around 10 pounds. For now anyway, this is working for me and it feels like something I can keep doing for the rest of my life, for which I am very grateful.

Well I know it has been a little while since I posted...I am been so off track with my eating and have gained about 5 pounds but I am recommitting myself at the 1st of the year.

Catherine--Glad to hear that you are coming along with your wedding gown...Gosh only 13 more days til your flight...WOO HOO!!!

Ammi--Glad to know all is well....don't worry about eating bad....I have done the same thing....we can bounce back girl.

You all were talking about counting calories. I do mine through Fitday.com

Well I can't remember if I posted this before or not but I did get accepted to the nursing program and I start Jan. 6th. I won't be at home as much during the day which will be good because I won't have the urge to snack. I also had my HSG test done on Tuesday and I found out that my left tube is completely blocked so my chances of getting pregnant are 50% less than the average. The good news is my other tube is perfect so I can still get pregnant it just may take longer. My son is already 6 and he is dying for a brother or sister. :) Hopefully this next year I will be able to get pregnant.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!! Happy New Year to you all too. I will be getting back on track the first of the year.

Andrea

Elmay-- Way to go on the weight loss this month....I am sure it was hard since the holidays are always so tempting!!! :)