I can go a week or two following the plan, measuring, counting, then I go out with friends, plan what I will eat, then when I get there, out the window the plan goes, I order the chicken wings everyone else is having, order a few beers ,eat some fatty fried appetizers,then the next day feel guilty and wonder if I will ever "get it".Sure, I go back to plan today, but the damage is done,I will not lose weight for a few days again. Are my old habits just lurking in back of me and I have learned nothing about portion control and picking the right foods??At least 1 or 2 times a month I am doing this.If its not wings, its too much pasta when I go out to eat. Going out to eat is a real diet killer for me. But I also want to be able to make this a life time plan, but why can't I say no while I am in the losing phase and wait for maintainance to do the chicken wings??

I know exactly what you mean. My biggest challenge with LAWL is being in control of my meals. When I'm at home I can plan out exactly what I'm going to have for each meal, when I go out my good intentions go out the window. The compromise I've made with myself is to allow myself one splurge per week. Not a splurge day, and not even really a splurge meal - I still try and follow my LAWL guidelines as closely as possible and make the right choice with my foods, but I may allow myself an extra piece of bread, an extra fat serving, etc. It seems to work for me. Also, on the days that I'm going to splurge I usually skip my LA Lites. (those are definitely a reward for me - yummy) and drink lots of water. YMMV

UGH...I could have written this post. I have done so well for two weeks. Last night we went out to dinner with friends. I even planned ahead by searching the menu online and deciding what I would order, and that is what I ordered. But I helped myself to the fatty appetizers, the bread, and a few bites of dessert....then I came home and felt like crap. I'm still so mad at myself.

Today's a new day. We can't take back what happened yesterday. I'm just going to try to drink a river of water today and make sure I get a good workout in. I hope that someday I will find the willpower that never quite made it into my system!

This may not be the best idea or what you want to hear, but when I first started, I pretty much stopped going out. I know this is my weakest area. I know that I am pretty much asking for it if I go. After awhile on the plan, I have ventured out to a few places that are on the menu plan. I actually really enjoy the Applebees tilapia. I have become stronger by easing back into eating out. I also have virtually quit drinking, since I know that once I have one, I don't want to stop at one. Not that I have a "drinking problem", but more like an "LAWL drinking problem". I enjoy the taste of beer and really love it with wings or nachos. By keeping away from it altogether, I am having more success.

Also, since we have so many events coming up with the holidays, I have chosen which ones I must stay POP, and which ones I will have a treat.

We had a discussion before about what is a "special occasion" meriting a little derailment from the plan. That varies for everyone. Certainly something that is only available once or twice a year is a worthy splurge. In my opinion, bar food isn't. It will be there waiting for me when I get to maintenance. Dinner out with friends may be special, but not special enough to give up your lifestyle changes. Anniversaries, annual vacations, maybe your own (not DH's or the kids') birthdays can be special. But you need to decide if it's worth it. Knowing that you are going out with friends, but that you have Thanksgiving coming up may give you more strength to stay OP while with friends, if you know you have another occasion coming up.

Hereicome and Shell - you will both be at your goal weight within a year if you stay OP. Just keep telling yourself that next year you will be able to have more freedome. This is just a few months out of your life. You can do this!

I think that if you choose when you will go off plan - ahead of time, not when you are in a restaurant ordering - you are prepared for the consequences and the guilt is minimized. Nobody expects you to quit living while you are losing weight, but you do need to realize that there is eating to lose weight and eating to maintain. If you keep eating to maintain when you are out, you won't be losing.

Well said Cassie!
You are so right, it's so easy to "give in" when eating out that I have curbed my eating out too. I want to lose the weight so badly that I am willing to give up eating the bar snacks and restaurant foods I came to love so much. If I can't face eating a salad or healthy meal (fish and steamed veggies for example) then I just don't tempt myself.

It takes awhile to get fully into the LAWL plan when we've spent so much of our lives eating a completely different way. Don't beat yourself up just pick yourself up and move on towards making each day a POP day.

I have only been on the plan a few short weeks so I am still taking it one day at a time. When I get the urge to splurge I quickly try to divert my attention. I play silly games like brushing my teeth or hopping on the computer. Anything that will keep me from eating foods I shouldn't. I can say this, if I eat every 3 hours I am not hungry all day.

Good luck ladies...you can do it! Forgive yourself and move on.

Big hugs-
Debbie

.

so true, so true, so true. practice makes perfect

hereicome - do you friends know you're dieting and what the limitations are? Are any of them friend enough to hold you accountable to your word when you say, "I'm doing LAWL and I am making healthier choices"? My dh and I have been out a few times and we hold one another accountable. It hurts sometimes to have someone else say, "Is that a good choice?" or "Is that really allowed?", but I'm so thankful we can do it for each other.
Also, my friends are the same way - because I GAVE them permission to hold me accountable! Now, they are considerate of me when making plans and ask me if the menu is conducive to LAWL... they don't bring me "treats" like brownies and home made pound cakes any more - but they are the FIRST ones to mention my "new" outfit that I haven't fit into for years, or how they can tell I'm losing... And they are incredible cheerleaders for me. I love the feeling of POWER I get when I order healthier food than they do!!!!! It's kind of a "high" knowing that I'm "doing it"!!!!

I love what Debbie said - when I'm "wanting" something... sweet, salty, chewy, and it's not in my daily plan, I run to 3fatchicks! These ladies will keep you anchored and on the straight and narrow!

hereicome, Michelle, and anyone else in the same boat - YOU CAN DO THIS!!! You are sooooo worth the extra effort it takes to stay POP! You friends are going to be asking you how you did it in a few months if they continue to eat that junk and YOU QUIT eating it!
And lastly, remember that NO bad decision is worth quitting over! In the past, many of us have used failure as an excuse to give up... BUT NO MORE!!! Just getting back POP is a huge NSV for some of us after a fall... so
here's some

Now go get that lemon water and start writing those menus...

Thanks Pearl, If its just my close friends, they are good about having me picking out a place good for me. This was a once a year fling our big work groups goes to have. Still no excuse..maybe some more feeling bad about my choices will sink in eventually.

hereicome - I hope instead of feeling bad about "bad" choices, you'll be able to get to where you feel GOOD about "good" choices!!!
I'd much rather see you smile than frown!!!