Just celebrated my dad's birthday -- we went out to eat, had dessert there, also had a birthday cake. An enormous, three layer, dark chocolate birthday cake.

To make a long story short, I haven't been eating well.

Yesterday and today the scale reads 131.

I can't afford to do this to myself! I knew I wasn't eating well and I somehow thought I could (maybe?) get away with it...?

Anyways. I need to get back on track.

And change my ticker

I've never been able to get away with bad eating either (darn it!), so welcome to the club. OK, Dad's birthday is over, the cake is gone, and you're back on track, right? Do you have some exercise planned? Have you planned meals? Do you have good food ready to eat?

You can do this! Three pounds is nothing and you can get rid of them with no problem, so long as you focus. You know how to do this -- just look at how far you've come!

Likewise...you can SO do this! What's done is done...look ahead and plan for success!

nineteen, it's ok to have a "treat" now and then. We all must learn how often we can have a treat and maintain our desired weight/health level. This was just one meal. Don't be so hard on yourself! It's how you eat and exercise the majority of the time that determines your health level. Take a deep breath and stay OP!

As Meg suggested, it's times like these that I find having a concrete food & exercise plan does me the most good. If I've eaten something I feel I shouldn't have, I always feel more positive after a good workout and then my better eating follows the workout. Getting enough sleep helps me find motivation too. You can do it!

I have no problems having the occasional treat (not a weeklong debauchery in Vegas though, sadly). I would weigh yourself again in a week to ensure it was a TRUE gain and not some random fluctuation caused by sodium or hormones or who knows what else.

I agree with Glory. I had a bad night a couple weeks ago and gained 2 pounds over night. It was gone the following day. Don't beat yourself up over one meal--just get back with the program.

It wasn't just the one meal. The one meal turned into leftover dinner, leftover birthday cake, etc. The weight gain is real. I just plain and simply haven't been eating well. Ugh.

Oh well, today is a new day....

Ahh, planning. Yeah. I need to plan for the rest of my day today.

I know 3 lbs. isn't the end of the world, but I feel SO down on myself.

How do you guys pick yourselves up after you relapse a bit?

Hey, I'm on the last 10 pounds of a 15 pound relapse, so I understand your pain!!! I just had to set it in my head and do it. I remember trying and trying to get back with it and finally I just said "this is it" and dove right in. I did, however, have to wait for a lull in my "social" life (meaning no more house guests, no birthday parties for several weeks, etc.). Up until I dove back in, I was totally not following any plan (and probably got 5 of those 15 during a very short period of time).

Heh, it is impossible (for me at least) to NEVER gain weight and to ALWAYS eat "perfectly." That just isn't going to happen for me. There will be fancy dinners out and birthday cake and the buffet at the Paris Hotel in Vegas.

After three years and many many 1-4 lb blips on the scale, I am more calm about it because I KNOW, really KNOW that I can fall back into my healthy habits and return to my goal weight. I don't really "pick myself up" I just let my normal way of eating return. I plan meals, I pack lunches, I try to limit how much I eat out, I don't drink much booze etc etc.

The weight is usually gone for me in 3-4 weeks

That makes sense, Glory. I hope that happens for me, too -- that in time I'm able to realize that, hey, slight gains WILL happen -- and as long as I go back to eating well, I *will* be okay.

I planned out food for the rest of the day and I'm sticking to it.

It's a good feeling to have a plan.

Nineteen,
Repeat after me: It's only ONE MISTAKE. It's not the end of the world. As you said, you just need to get back on track. You can do it! Just don't beat yourself up over making one bad choice.

Thanks Goalsuccess -- I know you're right.

I weighed in today at 130.

Progress!