One day's eating won't "ruin" anything. I say enjoy yourself, and drink as much water as you can stand over the next couple of days to help fllush any extra sodium, and get back on track with eating and exercising tomorrow. Plus you'll probably burn some extra calories today if you are running around the fairgrounds today.
If you are going to be successful long term, you gotta let go of an all-or-nothing attitude. It isn't about what happens on ONE day (good or bad) - it is what happens over LOTS of days. If you can get into healthy routines day-in-day-out, there will be room for the ONCE A YEAR fair food.
Also, feeling guilty and beating yourself up, and even worse, deciding that one day's eating justifies giving up on healthy habits altogether, is NOT PRODUCTIVE.
If you are reading this when you get home - I hope you had a great day and made some great memories, food-related and otherwise. And think about next year's fair experience where you'll be a lighter, healthier you, able to walk further without being tired/sore, etc.
I'm from the opposite camp. My advice would be to not eat ANYTHING there. I see this choice as two divergent paths: you can choose to stay on track, or you can choose to eat a bunch of crappy foods that will give you some mental satisfaction in the moment, but that are going to leave you feeling guilty and off-track. You need to decide which of those two things are better for you in the long run.
I went to the county fair back in December. It was almost physical pain to watch everyone in my family chowing down, not to mention the smells that taunted me on every breeze. I had a diet soda. A LARGE diet soda. It was literally the only on-plan thing I could have (even the corn cobs were all slathered in butter, making it a no-go for me). Yes, it was hard, one of the hardest challenges I faced in the last 2 years, to be frank. But, I left that night feeling mentally terrific and guilt free, and I lost 2 pounds that week.
As you can see, I'm not pulling this advice out of my a$$. I've been there, and I have chosen the harder path. It can be done. I just don't subscribe to the off-days or cheat-day philosophy at all. If you want long term success, you need to practice long-term successful choices day after day. That is not to say that you can't have ONE bite, once in a blue moon, but I feel that until you can say 'no' in the face of great adversity (like, a day at the fair) saying no to everyday things will never come easily (or at all...) and that is where the real long term challenge and success lies.
Why not choose your absolutely favorite thing, and eat ONLY that one thing?
It's a treat. It's a night at the fair. There's more than food there. Enjoy said favorite. Really savor it. Then go off and DO. Do the activities. Ride the rides. Have fun that has nothing to do with food.
This is life. It's not a diet. Life sometimes means having a treat. (At least in my world it does!)
It's also not permission to eat everything in sight with no mind about it. It's an opportunity to enjoy, and still have fun where the focus isn't all the food.
I'm from the opposite camp. My advice would be to not eat ANYTHING there. I see this choice as two divergent paths: you can choose to stay on track, or you can choose to eat a bunch of crappy foods that will give you some mental satisfaction in the moment, but that are going to leave you feeling guilty and off-track. You need to decide which of those two things are better for you in the long run.
I went to the county fair back in December. It was almost physical pain to watch everyone in my family chowing down, not to mention the smells that taunted me on every breeze. I had a diet soda. A LARGE diet soda. It was literally the only on-plan thing I could have (even the corn cobs were all slathered in butter, making it a no-go for me). Yes, it was hard, one of the hardest challenges I faced in the last 2 years, to be frank. But, I left that night feeling mentally terrific and guilt free, and I lost 2 pounds that week.
As you can see, I'm not pulling this advice out of my a$$. I've been there, and I have chosen the harder path. It can be done. I just don't subscribe to the off-days or cheat-day philosophy at all. If you want long term success, you need to practice long-term successful choices day after day. That is not to say that you can't have ONE bite, once in a blue moon, but I feel that until you can say 'no' in the face of great adversity (like, a day at the fair) saying no to everyday things will never come easily (or at all...) and that is where the real long term challenge and success lies.
My path is to not deprive myself of anything, but to limit amounts. When I give myself permission to eat something, suddenly, it has no power. I actually try to figure out which yummy thing I have the most taste for and get a small portion of that. Doesn't work for everyone. Some people have to abstain totally.
BTW, as much as we want to help, posting for help in a 15 minute period and then saying it's too late is expecting a little much on a forum. We *will* respond, but not that quickly.
I'm hoping no matter what choices you made today, you will continue on your journey and continue to post.
I had a great time last night. I did indulge a bit, but fortunately the fair made it a little easier, because some of the foods I usually go for had been discontinued (no more tempora veggies ).
I really supprised myself this year. I wasn't craving alot, and the only fried I had was a few bites of my sister's funnel cake. I had one sprite, which was because I had run out of water and there were no fountains around. (I guess I could have bought a bottled water...) Plus I didn't get fatigued when going up all the inclines and stairs.
Anyway, It was alot of fun and I didn't overeat! YEAH!
My path is to not deprive myself of anything, but to limit amounts. When I give myself permission to eat something, suddenly, it has no power. I actually try to figure out which yummy thing I have the most taste for and get a small portion of that. Doesn't work for everyone. Some people have to abstain totally.
BTW, as much as we want to help, posting for help in a 15 minute period and then saying it's too late is expecting a little much on a forum. We *will* respond, but not that quickly.
I'm hoping no matter what choices you made today, you will continue on your journey and continue to post.
Hugs,
Ratkity
Yeah, sorry about that. I thought I had more time but my sister decided we needed to leave right then. =/
I had a great time last night. I did indulge a bit, but fortunately the fair made it a little easier, because some of the foods I usually go for had been discontinued (no more tempora veggies ).
I really supprised myself this year. I wasn't craving alot, and the only fried I had was a few bites of my sister's funnel cake. I had one sprite, which was because I had run out of water and there were no fountains around. (I guess I could have bought a bottled water...) Plus I didn't get fatigued when going up all the inclines and stairs.
Anyway, It was alot of fun and I didn't overeat! YEAH!
Oh No! State Fair
).
