The title says it all really, but i'll fill in the details for you.

I've been on plan for about 2 1/2 months now, in that time I have only gone off plan once, and i've lost about 20lbs, which for me is incredible. The other day after visiting my granny in hospital, I wandered past my local indian restaurant (it does the best indian food, and they throw in free drinks and a discount) and I decided to get myself my favourite takeaway: Chicken rogan josh, pilau rice and a garlic naan bread.

I don't feel guilty about having it as I enjoyed every mouthful and know i won't want another one for a long time. Miricle of miricles instead of it being a craving that I want every week I now think of it as a treat to be had and enjoyed every so often! proof that my attitude towards food is changing for the better.

The scales weren't my friend the next day (I went up 2lbs) I started at 204.4llbs and I went up to 206.4lbs. But I am very happy to be back on plan and am enjoying my salads, soups and stirfries once again.

I do think treats and eating food you enjoy every so often is important as I have friends, colleagues and acquaintences who are obsessed with their diet, it is all they think and talk about. We go out for dinner and drinks and they're the people that order the healthiest thing on the menu then barely touch it. Now being careful about what you eat is so important, but when you diet its really hard to find the balance between enjoying food to much or not enjoying it all.

Congratulations on your excellent loss so far!

I have lost 30-odd pounds by saying on plan at all time except for special occasions like weddings, camping trips etc where I eat what I want. I was supposed to stop losing at 25 pounds but eating as I do, I have still kept losing and kept re-setting my goal weight & don't know where I will ultimately enter Maintenance.

So the "eat on plan/enjoy the occasional diversion" approach does work. I totally agree that when enjoying an off-plan meal, savour every mouthful. I would, however, beware of unplanned, impulsive meals like you had, as they can lead to abandonment of one's effective new eating habits.

That having been said, if you can get back on plan after a great meal like that and keep it up till the next (hopefully planned) deviation from your usual careful eating, that should be a style that takes you to your goal! You have done really well so far so I suspect you will continue in the same way.

Congrats on your weight loss so far!

Loved the title of your post. Glad you enjoyed your curry!

I completely agree with you, treats once in a while are good. I always find that that I helps me enjoy my "diet" foods more as well.

LOVE Indian food Sounds like a delicious cheat day.

I've been able to keep eating it by avoiding the na'an and rice. I can still have my curry and my saag! Just a thought so you don't have to feel deprived.

I think that's great to do every so often as long as you can get back on plan afterwards... and it sounds like you did! I doubt you actually gained the 2 lb too... it's probably mostly water weight from the carbs/sodium. It's pretty impossible to gain 2 lb in one day.

Girl I feel ya! My b-day is Friday and my parents are taking me to my fave restaurant for dinner tomorrow night. I am going to order my favorite food, eat a huge slice of my cake, and not going to feel guilty about it at all. I am going to enjoy myself this weekend. I have been OP for almost three months as well and I have lost 36lbs. As long as we get back on track I see nothing wrong with it

I want to be slim more than anything in the world at the moment, but I don't want to become one of those people who is afraid of food. Its fine as long as it's not a binge, and its not every single week. I think even dieters need a life