I have been doing my old "ostrich" approach to my weight for months. I knew I had gained and was afraid to get on the scale. All my clothes still fit, so it didn't seem like a huge, pressing issue. In 3 weeks, I'm headed to Seattle to visit some friends - it's much cooler there, jeans weather. I haven't worn jeans all summer, so I had a paranoid flash yesterday I had better BE SURE my nice jeans still fit. I'm glad I did - they were too snug (they still buttoned/zipped) to wear.

So, I told myself I HAD to get on the scale this morning and the scale read a scary 137 - I have gained 7 lbs.

Just to be whiny - the weight gain does suck because I still eat pretty carefully. Still with the granola and yogurt for breakfast, a home made salad almost every day for lunch, still cook most dinners. But, I've been "sliding" on the specials - I had nachos in Las Vegas, I've ordered pizza, I didn't pass on birthday cake at work for a coworker. I splurge on a weekend meal and lately the splurges have gotten bigger, I get biscotti with my latte too often.

But still! I don't eat fast food, don't drink soda, don't eat scones or muffins or chips! It's amazing how the little things really add up in a mostly "healthy" diet.

Of course, I don't exercise and I plan to remedy that - I am headed to the gym in an hour!

I felt really bad about the scale this morning, but I am reminding myself it is a number, not a judgement. The important thing is to get back on track and get back into those jeans before the weather starts to cool down. I did change my life, I am a healthier person - I just got kind of spoiled with my first 3 years of maintenance because it was so easy to maintain! Of course, I don't think I ever slipped in so many treats.

I wish I didn't love food so much. Also, lately, I've been super hungry a lot. I eat the same foods (on a daily basis) as usual, so I don't know where this hunger comes from. It makes it so much harder to stay on plan when I eat a snack and I'm hungry later. I guess it's time to experiment a little with the protein/fiber of my meals.

Sorry for typing so long, I am not really upset, just trying to focus! I plan on joining the "no excuses" thread and hyping up the vigilance

Congratulations for getting back on track! It's funny how avoiding something, even for a little while, makes it seems bigger and scarier. Although I'm not in maintenance (long ways to go yet!), I feel like I'm in a similar boat. I just have been away from home a lot lately and not really eating my own food and my own way. I would just snap back to plan, except I'm kinda changing my plan (moving toward vegetarian and cutting way back on dairy), so the plan isn't already there all nice and ready for me .

I think the best thing about eating better until you go to Seattle will be not just weight lost, but being solidly back in the right frame of mind .

Thanks for posting. Everyone says the key to losing and maintaining is not perfection, but always getting back on track. It really helps to see that it's true, not just hear the words.

I think this is very wise!

I also wanted to say it was very smart (and brave) to try the jeans on with enough time to do something about it.

You'll be back in those jeans quickly.

Anne

Thanks for sharing this. It helps to see the successful folks' struggles and realize they're just like our own. Congrats on taking your head out of the sand.

Glory - Thanks for posting this; it's good to see how an experienced maintainer handles a weight creep.

It's particularly relevant to my current situation. As I approach the three year mark on my journey, I've just noticed that the portion size of snacks is slightly growing. E.g. hummus in not just a thin flavoring on my toasted pita, but a good gob. And protein shakes added on days I lift weights do give me protein - but also calories. So I've seen a couple of pounds creep back on. I've been pleased in the past that I could absorb small exceptions, but the body notes regular exceptions and responds with weight gain.

Good luck getting back on track.

Thank you for posting this, Glory

Those 7 will be gone in no time!!!

You caught the creep early, so congrats to you on owning up to it. So many times in the past I kept my head buried, and that's why I ended up at 250.

Nip those little 'extras' in the bud and you will be back in those skinny pants in no time!

You're back on track, that's the most important part. You'll get where you want to be in no time.

You can do it Glory!
I agree with the others-- you are so smart to nip it in the bud before your clothes don't fit and you have farther to go.
I sometimes catch myself with more treats and splurges and have to remind myself that this is what got me in trouble in the first place and it just isn't worth it.
Now I usually allow myself one treat or off meal plan on the weekend but TRY not to do too much more than that. I am probably going to get frozen yogurt today as my treat. If I plan for it and really enjoy it, I feel like I get more out of it than just mindlessly saying yes to this and that.

Have fun at the gym, Glory!

Thanks for posting, Glory! It is a great reminder to all of us how easy it is to let those little mindless indulgences add up. DH and I had a conversation last night around the fact that we will probably need to weigh daily for the rest of our life. Weekly weigh-ins can be deceiving - we can rationalize a small increase with "water weight" or the like.

I'm betting that you will be in those jeans again very soon. Hope you had a WONDERFUL workout at the gym!

Thanks guys, I DID work out! The machine said I burned 300 calories (which I take with a grain of salt).

I ate healthy all day (and actually used FITDAY!! again). Tonight will be tough - dinner with my aunt in uncle who are in town for a conference. They suggested Italian. Please, let me stay OUT of the bread basket, I know I can make Italian work!

You can do it!!!

I really admire your courage, Glory! Really, when you *know* things aren't where they should be and you still face those snug jeans, that just shows that you can do it! Biscotti be gone!

Thanks for sharing Glory. You are an inspiration to us maintenance newbies. You've caught the creep with lots of time to get back comfortably into those jeans. Good for you !

Speaking of jeans I have a pair hanging on my clothes hooks in the bedroom, right near a full length mirror. They are a snug but comfortable fit for me at 130-132 lbs .

I put those jeans on 2-3 times a week in the morning and take a long look in the mirror. How the jeans fit is a reinforcement of how good I look "skinny" and a warning if I'm starting to splurge a bit too much with the food extras and they're feeling too tight .

I think we all need our own version of my "jeans", in addition to the scale, to stay on track. It's so hard to be mindful all the time, but if that's the price for being skinny I'm there!

Dagmar