Hello

Today I am dehydrated, tired, with a mild upset stomach, and 4 1/2 lbs heavier. I know I overindulged but 4x3500=14,000 cal extra. I think not. But I am looking forward to eating much more sensibly again. Inspite of the gain, we all did have a wonderful time with many laughs.

I just can't limit my food during a 2 day party being held at my own home. I accept that. I guess that I will plan to mindful about 345 days a year but accept and deal with the consequences of the mindless eating of the other 20days a year. Anyway back on program and even glad to be on again.

Maryblue-congradulation on your improved fitness. Always feels so great not to be huffing and puffling.

Gina-controling late night eating is a big step. That was a source of a hugh amount of cals for me in the past. I used to believe I could not sleep if hungry. Plus I loved to eat alone and no one saw me eating those rich treat. I now sleep even better now with out the full stomach. I had alot of false "logical" ideas for that unhealthy habit.

Bill, powerful stuff about sticking to your plan and ignoring the crackers and rich soup in the resturante.

L-I have the work book on order also- Hope your flight is OK and you have a chance to recuperate before returning to work.

Veonica and Girly hope all is well with you both.

Mary Blue: First of all what a great day you had yesterday! I have always been one of those people who just had to know is X allowed? And I couldn't start until I was sure that I knew I was suppose to do. The one slip and I felt I was failing . . . then on the the next diet. It is really silly. If I would just relax and let eating less work for me I would probably be thin by now--maybe I wouldn't have ever gained.

Sue, I think that is a really healthy attitude. I am glad you had fun!

I am doing ok. I had company this weekend too Sue. My sister and her two boys and teenage daughter came over. It was a lot of fun! I did ok while they were they but afterwards I binged a bit. I tried to figure out why and I realized that I do that often when I entertain. I think I get a little nervous.

Hey everyone! I've been doing awesome with the exercise but not so great at eating on plan. Last weekend was my birthday and my SO made me a german chocolate cake with chocolate ganache too. Needless to say it was delicious and very hard not to eat the whole darn thing myself. One of my friends made me a cake as well and I did end up throwing that one away after she left, so I think Beck would be proud of that, haha! ;) As far as non-scale victories, I've had a lot more energy lately and I've finally found a time where exercise fits and I don't put it off for another day and another and another.

Gina - Where in Iowa are you from? I just moved to Ottumwa a couple of months ago, I definitely feel ya on the lack of healthy restaurants, I think that's the worst thing about this town as compared to somewhere larger, like Des Moines.

LawMom: I live near Sioux City. It is beautiful weather here!!

I am going to check in tomorrow. I am exhausted at the moment. Night!

Best ever potluck choices
 

hmmm... Will use this September thread and see if it posts as September 32nd :)

Achieved my best ever eating choices last night at my monthly potluck snack before a volunteer meeting. I usually just keep eating as late comers arrive with new dishes. Can't find the starting place to assess all the items available, choose the really special, and serve myself a single plate.

But last night I pulled it off, stopped eating at about the same amount of food I would have eaten at home. Don't have a satisfactory explanation why it worked last night but not the previous times.

< just using this group as my diet coach (per girlythin's idea) until I face making that choice when I reach that program-day >

Sue "How do the rest of you folks balance the No Choice card and real life?"
One example: last week there was a celebration with many desert like options. Normally I congratulate, chat, and comfortably take nothing to eat. But DW said it was the best pecan pie she had ever tasted. So... I chose to take a thin slice with joy. Cut back a bit at my next meal. However, I do worry about your point "I guess it can be a slippery slope for addictive types -like me. Going from modest treat to mindless treats"

Gina "Am I taking a step in the right direction or is this against what the Beck Solution teaches?? I am not saying that I am not going to try to eat within my points but that I am ok with going over--I haven't failed."
I do wish that some wise person gives you an answer. The flexibility path has worked for me for these first two years, but I do worry that it's like following the Ten Commandments (except, of course, for #5 and #6, on which I'm flexible).:(

Veronica "Regarding the NO CHOICE card, I'm not finding that one to be very helpful either. I am finding my meal plan helpful, but I have to admit that I use it more for a guide than a strict plan. If I'm not hungry for one snack I don't eat it and I may insert that food somewhere else in the day or something fairly comparable. I think the saying "Oh Well" to things that I sort of want or to the "unfair" feeling is a lot more helpful."
Guide works for me. Somewhere near the end of the book Beck suggests that a meal plan can consist of planning to choose from a set of known items. This works for my breakfast. I choose in the morning by how I feel then, but I choose from my known set of breakfasts.

Maryblu "...if there is ONE THING I KNOW...it is that "perfection or nothing" mentality about dieting is the biggest trap, the #1 downfall of ANYTHING else..."
Sounds like this whole board is searching in the same direction.

Hi to all,

Kiddos to many for their changes and success.

Bill- very impressed with potluck choices. A food stimulating environment with a shady past (overeating) and you making such positive healthy change.

Veronica-happy birthday. Throwing a cake away is great. I used to eat anything with sugar in it- finding enjoyable exercising is so important. I bet you study for hours get your degree and getting to move again is feeling wonderful. Exercising for me is one of those things I often have to push myself to do, but when done I feel better and really see the physical improve over time.

Gina-Houseguest are so much fun and so much work. I also can get a bit nervous and at time overtired with them. I love their arrival and also love them leaving and getting a quiet house again. I used to binge to reward myself for all my hard work after they left-particuliarly if there was any thing sweet/high carbs left. Those treat must be gone. I am working on feeling and understanding I really need a rest not food. I am tired not hungry. It is such a core response for me to eat instead of understanding I need a rest.

I have lost over 3 lbs of the quick gain. The best I can say that the overindulgence was really unconfortable and that last nights veggie/fish dinner was so appreciated after all the overeating.

There is much addiction in my family-mainly food and alcohol that I find Beck and other information about changing the patterns in the brain so helpful. Things are not so all or nothing but understanding that slowly I can change some of the unhealthy patterns give me great hope. I am also using some meditation to replace food for emotional calming. There is research that meditation can change the brain so the individual feels greater calm and compassion. I feel that these helpful tools will stop me so that i don't hit the slippery slope of addiction going a 100miles an hr for months/years again in my life. Plus one of the 1 st cards I made reading Beck was my personal whys I want to lose weight which helps me refocus and get back to improving my health.

Big hi to Girly and Liannie and Maryblu

much success to all
sue

Hi~

I'm still around. Pretty much just maintaining my initial loss of 4.5#s, but haven't been staying on plan for a while now. I'm doing lots of positive things, and at the moment I refuse to worry about it. I'm so busy. I think distraction is my best technique right now...just eat and move on to the busy-ness.

Shout out to my "old" comrades Liannie, Sue, and Maryblu. :hug:

And hello to the newer-comers. It's great to see the interest in Beck.

girly~

Bill: Today is September 33rd (: Good job at the pot luck. You said you don't know how you pulled it off . . . maybe it is becoming natural for you. If it is that is GREAT! That inspires me more than anything.

Sue: Good job on taking off the 3 pounds. I sometimes overeat when I am tired also. I never understood that was what I was doing. It is especially hard to deal with when you just can't sleep (lethargic but not tired)! Anyway, I think I am coming down with something and I am pretty run down. Here is what I would do for a response card:

When I am tired I cannot focus like I need to. I don't like that feeling so I use food to distract myself and/or to try to gain some energy:

I don't like it when I can't control my energy and focus but I have to decide: I can eat when I am tired or worn down and gain weight or I can learn to tolerate negative emotions (or soothe them myself by doing something else) and get thinner. It take 10 minutes of activity to gain energy.

Girly: I hope things calm down for you and I am glad that you are still doing well!

I am not doing great yet. Actually, I am a bit out of control. I wish I could find an online coach. I did get ahold of the beck coaching and they said that they are working on an online program and ecoaching. It would be great! I sent them another email asking what their timeline was and I haven't heard from them.

Later! Gina