Another Lightbulb Moment

  •   #1  
    Hat Trick's AvatarHat Trick , 09-20-2008 10:09 AM
    So I've pretty much been maintaining my 19 lb. wt. loss since June. Summer, for me anyway, is harder to lose. My routine goes out the window with the kids home, vacations . . . well, we can all relate to vacation wt. gain , my oldest going off to college, etc. So I was a happy clam to maintain. But my kids started back to school three weeks ago and here I am, still maintaining. Hmmmm, I thought I'd be kicking it into high gear at this point. Last night the lightbulb went off, and it was 150 watt bulb. In a nutshell, I have been failing to use the 'N' word. Do I want these chips? Yes. Do I need these chips? NO! Do I want this ice cream? Yes. Do I need this ice cream? NO! Do I want to eat three servings? Yes. Do I need to eat three servings? NO!

    So simple really. Everyday cannot be a 'free' day, right? I'd kind of gotten into a slippy-slidy pattern of 'just a little here and there' of stuff I need to back off of for awhile. While eating this way may work for maintenance for me, um, I'm not quite done losing weight yet! Just using the 'N' word more frequently will surely get my derailed wagon back on track, right? How duh can I be? 'Just say no' has worked for me in the past; no reason it won't work for me now. I just need to remember to actually use it. Oy.
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  •   #2  
    Mrs Snark's AvatarMrs Snark , 09-20-2008 10:22 AM
    Ah, the "NO" word, I know it well.

    You'll be back to losing right quick!
    Reply
  •   #3  
    JayEll's AvatarJayEll , 09-20-2008 12:09 PM
    Wow, that's IT!!! You got it! Thanks for reminding us that it really can be that simple. Sure, we may WANT all kinds of things. That's not the point, is it?



    Jay
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  •   #4  
    Kelbrina's AvatarKelbrina , 09-20-2008 12:19 PM
    Good advice! I've always been so bad at using the "N" word in any situation, I'm a pushover.

    Do I want this reese's cup? YES! Am I going to eat it? Probably.

    How do you get better at telling yourself no?
    Reply
  •   #5  
    sh3l5's Avatarsh3l5 , 09-20-2008 12:51 PM
    NO!....
    its a word im starting to use a lot....
    that as well as running to the bathroom to brush my teeth!....
    Reply
  •   #6  
    Hat Trick's AvatarHat Trick , 09-20-2008 01:11 PM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kelbrina
    How do you get better at telling yourself no?
    Practice, practice, practice!!

    Start small and work you way up. Say 'NO' to just one thing today. Tell yourself you can have it tomorrow but just for today, no. I have gotten into a slightly 'mindless' thought process lately when it comes to counting calories and saying no and well, I haven't lost any weight! Honestly, I feel like a dork cause I kind of forgot that -- I control what goes into my mouth; I have the choice to eat it or not; I am in charge, not that dang bag of Doritos!
    Reply
  •   #7  
    Lori Bell's AvatarLori Bell , 09-20-2008 01:53 PM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kelbrina
    Good advice! I've always been so bad at using the "N" word in any situation, I'm a pushover.

    Do I want this reese's cup? YES! Am I going to eat it? Probably.

    How do you get better at telling yourself no?
    If I'm feeling weak, I listen to a Play-list I made with tons of very motivational (for me) songs. One in particular that comes to mind is Rodney Adkins, "If you're going through ****" Helps every time!

    ETA: Smells also trigger an emotional response. If I'm feeling low, I will often spray on some terribly sexy (and expensive) perfume. I don't feel like pigging out when I smell great...LOL
    Reply
  •   #8  
    JulieJ08's AvatarJulieJ08 , 09-20-2008 02:13 PM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Lori Bell
    ETA: Smells also trigger an emotional response. If I'm feeling low, I will often spray on some terribly sexy (and expensive) perfume. I don't feel like pigging out when I smell great...LOL
    Nice trick! I totally get it.
    Reply
  •   #9  
    JayEll's AvatarJayEll , 09-20-2008 06:40 PM
    Of course, it helps not to have Reese's pbutter cups in the house when starting out...

    Jay
    Reply
  •   #10  
    dlphnmomva's Avatardlphnmomva , 09-22-2008 11:02 AM
    What??!!!??? Every day is not a free day???!!!?? Well there is my problem!

    Seriously, that is my problem. I tell myself.... if did so well, one little cheat will not hurt me. That would be fine if it wasn't half the week. I know where you are def coming from when it comes to the NO word.

    I am with Hat Trick too. I have to learn that I control what I eat. There was a motivational mantra in another thread that I really liked. "I've come too far to take orders from a cookie"
    Reply
  •   #11  
    avi0903's Avataravi0903 , 09-22-2008 11:36 AM
    Thank you for the reminder: Just Say No!
    Reply
  •   #12  
    Taurie's AvatarTaurie , 09-22-2008 11:52 AM
    I've bee on the same boat since I came back from a month long vacation. It is a slippery slope. Fortunately my gym is starting the fit for life competition, so I'll have to say NO from now on.
    Reply
  •   #13  
    Heffalump's AvatarHeffalump , 09-22-2008 03:34 PM
    Yup, yup, yup. Thanks for reminding me of this crucial little word, HatTrick.

    NO, I don't need three different after dinner snacks, even if they are all healthy and portion controlled.

    NO, I don't need to eat all of my maximum calories every day, just because I can. Especially since I tend to go over them on the weekend anyways.

    NO, this minuscule blister on my foot does not incapacitate me and excuse me from skipping my running two days in a row.

    NO, I don't need that weekday glass of wine to relax me. Wine is for weekends.

    NO, I'm not too busy to fix myself something healthy and to eat it slowly.

    All of these things are NOT how I lost 30+ pounds. Enough already!
    Reply
  •   #14  
    tigerchic89's Avatartigerchic89 , 09-22-2008 06:51 PM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hat Trick
    Practice, practice, practice!!

    Start small and work you way up. Say 'NO' to just one thing today. Tell yourself you can have it tomorrow but just for today, no. I have gotten into a slightly 'mindless' thought process lately when it comes to counting calories and saying no and well, I haven't lost any weight! Honestly, I feel like a dork cause I kind of forgot that -- I control what goes into my mouth; I have the choice to eat it or not; I am in charge, not that dang bag of Doritos!

    love it!!!
    Reply
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