Hello my fellow maintainers, I need your expert advice. I have a scheduled off plan dinner tonight, which I typically do once or twice a month. These are meals where I indulge and thoroughly enjoy myself with foods that I normally restrict because they are so tempting and not in keeping with my healthier lifestyle. I usually come away from my off plan meals, satisfied with the indulgence, but typically overfull. So, here's the dilemma, when I woke up this morning and weighed first thing, like I usually do, the scale showed a two pound jump. Now, my eating and exercising were 100% on plan yesterday (as they have been all week), and I even got in an extra 20-minute workout on my Gazelle last night just because I felt like it. So, I know in my head, that those extra two pounds are not real pounds, just a normal body fluctuation, but I can't help but feel a little freaked out about the prospect of following a two pound jump on the scale with a very off plan meal! Our plans are already set and cannot be changed, nor should they be just because my body decided to retain a little extra water today. But I'm scared that I'm not going to allow myself to enjoy this treat like I normally would just because of the damn numbers on the scale! I've been maintaining for about 1 1/2 years now and I'm usually very diligent with my eating and exercise. I plan these indulgences ahead of time and always make sure to be extra careful before and after so that I can enjoy myself guilt free. And now this is what I'm freaking over, two stupid pounds of water. How's that for twisted?! Do you guys think this "head stuff" will ever end?? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your support!
Beverly

I'm chuckling to myself here, Beverly, because you sound just like me having conversations with myself! Here's the rational Beverly: you KNOW you've been on plan, you KNOW it's just water weight, not fat, you KNOW you'll get right back on plan after your planned treat, you KNOW this strategy has worked for you while you lost 185 pounds ... OK, that's your rational mind speaking and it's making lots of sense.

But then there's emotional Beverly: OMG, I've gained two pounds and now I'm going out to eat and I'll gain even more and it's all downhill from here and in a week I'll put back on all the weight. It's that old emotional thinking.

You know which voice to listen to, right? My advice to you is go out and enjoy your planned dinner - and I hope it's a good one!, get right back on track tomorrow (which I know you would anyway) and stay off that stupid scale for a few days to let the weight fluctuations settle down.

Remember that 60% of your body weight is water, so if you weigh 135 pounds, you're carrying around 81 pounds of water around! A two pound fluctuation is only about 2% of the total and isn't statistically significant at all. So you're holding 2% more water - not really a big deal, eh?

Honestly, I don't know if the head stuff goes away or if we ever stop having these conversations with ourselves. But I DO know that you should go and have a lovely dinner!

I do the exact same thing myself. Don't let it stop you from having a good time. Just put your (negative) emotional self in a room, lock her up, and don't let her out until after your dinner.

Almost 4 years here, and it's still a constant head game. Go enjoy your dinner and listen to Meg's rational voice. Have a glass of wine, and don't listen to ANY voices!

Mel

So, I had my off plan meal like scheduled last night. I still chose the foods I had planned on, but I have to admit, I did hold back on the portion sizes I would normally have indulged in for a typical off plan meal. I feel good about it though, and I didn't have to endure that over-stuffed feeling that I've really come to despise. I really tried to enjoy every bite because I knew that I wasn't going to allow myself to go overboard. So I ended up being very satisfied with my meal, and with myself for allowing the treat despite all the "head stuff", yet still remaining in control. Thanks so much for your advice ladies; I don't know what I would do without you. Frankly, who else would even understand this kind of wackiness?? I am so thankful we have this forum.

P.S. Thank you for your confidence in me Meg, it's truly empowering to know that someone else believes in me that much.

Beverly

Isn't THAT the truth.

Beverly, I'm happy you got to enjoy your dinner. It sounds like you came up with the perfect solution.

Beverly - I have total confidence in you! I always read your posts with appreciation because you 'get it' - you know it might not be easy at times and you know it's for the rest of your life, but you know for sure that living without 185 extra pounds is so worth every bit of thought and effort that it takes to maintain. I'm so proud of you for taking charge of your weight now, while you'e young and have the rest of your life ahead of you. Trust me, you'll never look back when you're old and have any regrets about living your life as a slim, energetic, healthy person. And what a gift you've given to your children ... !

Hi Beverly,

You can be proud of yourself. You did the right thing.
Keep on going !

rabbit