So I've lost 28lbs in 3 mos on this diet and it's been easy and wonderful. I have been 100% OP the entire 3 mos......until last Wednesday. I decided to "reward" myself for being so dedicated as I've never been this dedicated to a weight loss program in my entire life. I only have 12 lbs left and figured why not. So Wed night I splurged, then was OP Thursday till dinner then I went off again, Friday back OP till dinner. I'm having all these emotions, one part of me is like "just get OP and get off the 12 lbs". Then the other side of me is like "oh I want some variation" and why not. Suddenly ive gone from 100% self discipline/control to 0%. i cannot resist anything!! I'm also having a hard time with seeing my body for what it has become. I love the way I look in clothes but sometimes naked I think I still look overweight. I know this is absurd, I'm wondering if I'm subconsciously trying to mess myself up because I'm not comfortable in my new body yet? Does this sound crazy? Has anyone else experienced this? Advice? Thanks for any help, I really don't feel good about staying at this weight, I want to get down to goal, but it suddenly feels impossible.

Monica: We all go through some pretty wicked body image issues. For me, I got to almost "normal' weight and now I'm like do I realy want to lose more? I chose to eat somewhat more normal food, still no bread or fruit, just more milk than what is recommended, and I now have peanut butter when I'm craving something sweet, it's the Skippy Natural and is only 4 net grams of carbs. My weight loss is staying pretty steady, but like you, after three months I am ready for a little bit of "normal" so I'm adding what I can without compromising my weight loss. I don't drink glasses of milk, just use it heavily with my coffee, and only get a spoonful of peanut butter once in a while, but it feels a little more normal and that works good for me.

Hi Monica, have you seen the other thread today on dealing with losing weight and body image...there are some good comments on there. You arent alone, but you need to no sabotage yourself. Pretty soon that dinner will turn to lunch and dinner then snack lunch and dinner and the next thing you know you will be back to the drawing board. I have not met you but there is no doubt you are healthier at the weight you have achieved, think of your health, and are you really treating your self when you are using food for the treat?
I have a friend who sent me a little blurb today....it said "Stop rewarding yourself with food, you are not a dog"

think about that....try rewarding your self with a pedi, or new outfit or if you enjoy cooking a nice new appliance for the kitchen...you can get through it, and the sooner you do the better off you will be!

My two cents...

It is your body and your choice...make the right one for you!

Thank you so much for some reassurance that Im not completely crazy. I did not see that post/thread, what's the name of it? I'd love to see what others said.

Oh! And I love the dog quote! I LOL'd literally! Funny looking at it that way!

I agree, I'm doing it to be healthier for sure. I need to set up a better reward program.

Thats freaking awesome!!!

at OP, I get that alot. When I am tired, its the most difficult. I just try to take a few minutes of quiet time and try to refocus. Remember your worth it!

Hello,

It is not that you want to be fat, it is just that it is super duper hard to go back 100% after a cheat.

It happened to me, after I lost about 50 pounds being 100%, I decided to take a Christmas break, and now we are in July and the break went on and on.

I always try to go back, but second time around is just too hard.

Nevertheless, I never give up, so keep on going

It may be different for you, but I know that the second I think "I've got this. I can handle a little something extra/different." I am sunk. So many of us have such an emotional dependence on food and all kinds of weight/food/body image baggage. My ultimate goal is to not be SO black and white all or nothing about food-- but to get there, I know that I will have to go through each phase--no short cuts. Remember why you started this program in the first place, and how wonderful it will feel to be at your goal--especially after you pulled yourself together and got back on track! Slip ups are part of life. If you don't have them, you can't learn how to move past them. Fingers crossed for you! You can do this.

Get OP asap! That's your only choice. I believe lots of us still feel "fat" in maintenance, I do.

Certain foods are highly addictive. Caffeine, booze, bread and sugar are among the most challenging. Sometimes just one bite or sip of one of those items leads you to wanting more and more and more and more.

But, if you want to stop this diet now I would strongly urge you to phase off and phase off quickly. The reason I say that is because proper phasing off could reduce your chances of packing the weight back on. And you worked too hard to get to where you are at now.

It's tough. The hold some of these addictive substances have on us is very, very powerful. When the body wants bread or sugar or even something fried, that's what it wants, it's very hard to override it.

Would it be possible to clear out your pantry so you reduce temptation until you can get back on course? This diet is too hard and too strict to risk a backslide and then feel like you have to start over.

Also, maybe wear the smallest jeans possible for now. Sometimes grabbing for a larger size keeps you from choosing different foods. Imagine those too small jeans getting looser and then needing even a smaller size.

Hi Monicakay, here is the link to the other thread. http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...ight-loss.html

It was a very good read!

Thanks everyone for all the support and advice. It is greatly appreciated and has definitely helped! I have cleaned out my pantry (and closet to get rid of the big clothes). Today is my weigh in. I'm going to talk to my coach about my past week "slip up". But starting right this moment I am 100% back OP! I'm going to start getting on here more regularly for support through those tough times. I completely agree with everyone, I only have 12 lbs left and it's absolutely worth that wonderful feeling of putting those smaller jeans on and them fitting with no "hang-over". I think the emotional issues and addiction to those types of foods just really took me by surprise. I don't know why I thought I could just lose the weight and that there would be no emotional issues associated with it. On the positive side it has encouraged me to look more inward and try to reflect on why I have these addictions and what triggers them. Blue jewel- that thread was so informative and made me begin to cry as it hit close on a lot of my feelings. I think I might try to seek out a food/eating addiction counselor to help me not repeat this process for the rest of my life. Thank you everyone so much!! Y'all are the best and so supportive when a girl needs it!

One of the first things that I did when starting OP is to make a list of rewards for myself for every 10 lb lost and every 30 days on program. The rewards range from manicure (first 10 pounds), new earrings (20 lbs), high heels (one-derland), new bedspread (6 months), and yarn (30,60,90 pounds, I Lurv me some knitting).

I always have at least 2 goals I am working towards and I no longer need to think of food as my reward. I am hoping to hit my 30 pound goal and my 60 day goal next week- Yippee yarn for a new sweater and fabric for throw pillows -- I'll be in skinny crafter's heaven! (skinny being a word that changes meaning in my life).

I suggest you make yourself a similar list. Put your rewards as close together are you need to get your mind back to the idea that rewarding yourself is not something that should make you less healthy.

GREAT IDEA KRISTINA!!! I am going to make my list right now! Thanks!

Monica, speaking from a strictly psychological viewpoint.

Many of us have been conditioned to believe that the road to success involves risks such as "getting one's hopes up" - which threatens to lead to disappointment. And many of us, especially if we've been subjected to verbal abuse, have been told we were losers our whole lives, in one way or another. We have internalized that feedback and feel that we don't deserve success.

So, essentially, the closer you get to goal, the more uncomfortable you feel about actually achieving it, so you start to sabotage it.

You can do this.
You deserve this.