This may be somewhat silly, but in dieting ... or *lifestyle changes* .. I have tended to see things so black and white.

Either I stick to my caloric level for the day, or I just go crazy and eat everything in sight, blowing the whole day, and I forget about even tracking it. Thankfully, that doesn't happen too often.

What dawned on me the other day??

I can splurge here and there with those crazy days, eat junk food, etc .... without harming my diet.

How? Just stay within the bodies calories needs for maintenance --- which is pretty high anyway (at least 2000 to 3000 cals anyhow).

It just means that day will not be *credited* towards losing weight .. but neither will I gain it. Hence, guilt free LOL.

Anyhow, it just makes things like birthday parties or the odd times I have to eat out seem much more doable.

Yeah, you might even be suprised with a loss even in those times, as long as they don't happen to frequently. Your body still might shed a pound or two, just because it doesn't know what's going on for sure. But I agree with you, it does make the occasional splurge easier to swallow!

I recently realized this way of thinking about things too! Now, if I have a not-so-perfect day I don't think "Ugh! I've blown my diet!" Instead I think, "Well, I had one day not dieting this week, and six dieting!" as long as I stay within maintenance calories that day.

This makes me feel better about the fact that I've blown my diet this past week...2 graduation parties, a birthday party, and 2 fourth of july parties...ALL unhealthy BBQ food for the most part. I just feel gross about it, but at least if I look at it this way it doesn't seem quite so bad. Although we are having pizza for dinner tonight...haha. I'll just have to erase this week from my memory!