OK, I did pretty darn well through Thanksgiving: traveling for a week, staying with relatives, eating holiday meals. Weighed myself today, only up 2 pounds, I can handle that. But I did have sugar for the first time since Sept. 29 and I tell you this: it's like picking up the crack pipe for me. I've been having cravings, but I've been ok, fighting through them....until TODAY!

We've had various sickness in the house all week with the kids and I finally caught it. I've been feeling sick these past couple of days and not eating or shopping or preparing meals (stomach flu will do that to you) the way I normally do. I've been so exhausted taking care of 4 sick kids and feeling lousy myself.

I think what happened is I finally felt better tonight, but there wasn't any good food in the house for me to eat and I was STARVING! So I just did something which I haven't done, not even ONCE since I started SB: totally pigged out. Ate cookies and a cupcake! What the??! I've been able to pretend this food isn't even in the house all this time and now tonight...??

I've got to jump back on the wagon tomorrow. Any words of wisdom, encouragement or sympathy would be very, very welcome. I need some help here! Thanks, VioLynn

Good evening! And now for your pep talk.

You are OK! You have done great through the holidays and this is your first indulgent evening in a long time. And I bet you don't want to go entirely through life without one here and there.

You will get up tomorrow. You will hit the store. You will get the on plan food you love and you will be right back on task. You won't even bother dwelling on tonight because how is that helpful?

I do totally feel for you. It takes a little bit to just shrug it off, say oh well, and realize in the entire scheme of healthy living - a minor blip.

Drink lots of water. Know you are going to feel bloated and a bit sugar hungover and that it will all pass. Pep-talk that healthy loving mind - tomorrow will feel great.

Drink water, loads of it to flesh it out. Get back on Phase 1 for 2+ days and get over it and keep moving forward.

We all have our slips, but the great thing about SBD is that you CAN get back up again and get right back on the wagon. It's best to do a few days of Phase 1 to get rid of those cravings that have been stirred up, and then just continue with Phase II.

I hope your family is starting to feel much better and all the sickness is behind you. Good luck!

You guys rock. Thank you so much for all your kind and encouraging words. Exactly what I needed to read this morning.

RIGHT BACK TO IT, THEN!