I'm just curious what everyone considers to be on plan or perfectly on plan for themselves. I've been doing this for awhile and am still trying to work that out for myself. Do you have certain health guidelines as well as staying within your calorie range, point range, etc? I know this will vary depending on what your plan is, but I'm curious to know everyone's answers no matter what plan you're currently working!

On plan for me is sticking within my calorie allowance, or not going too far beyond it. Though I'm rarely on plan

Staying within my calorie allotment and not cheating.

Perfectly on plan?

Eating not only within my calorie limits, but getting at least 25% protein, and not more than 30% fat. Getting enough calcium, eating at least 7 servings of fruit and veggies and not eating a lot of processed foods.

Also, a perfect day involves getting in a decent amount of exercise.

How many days am I perfect? Not a lot! At least something is off almost every day. But that's okay -- it gives me something to strive for.

Perfect for me is eating within my calorie range with not too many carbs and a 45 minute run with some weights. Something is always off, I think I'm "perect" MAYBE 2-3 days a week, if that.

As someone who struggles with perfection issues and is a very "All or Nothing!" kind of girl, I try to teach myself that absolutes like staying "perfectly on plan" are not what I need to strive for. If I did, I would get bogged down and fail. Fast and hard, as I have so many times in the past.

A day where I have done well and stayed on plan, to the best of my abilities is where I have kept within or very close to my calorie limit, drank enough water, took my vitamins and got some kind of exercise.

If I go a little over, as I did yesterday, or I didn't exercise, I can easily consider that a failure for the day. I can start letting my thought processes go in a very destructive and self-abusive direction and next thing I know, I am in the throes of a full-blown binge. I have to constantly remind myself that this process is not about being perfect. It is about learning how to live a healthier lifestyle. And about achieving a healthy, normal weight for me. Whatever that weight ultimately turns out to be.

• Staying in my calorie range
• Balancing my calories - 40/30/30 (as close as possible)
• Exercising - at least some every day
• 64 oz. water
• Multi-vitamin and calcium supplements
• 25 g fiber
• 7 hours of sleep

I am rarely POP, but I'm probably 90% at least 90% of the time

Staying in my calorie range. Drinking 2-4 32 oz bottles of water. Exercising at least 5 days a week.

on plan: eating only beachy food
PERFECTLY ON PLAN: eating only beachy food in recommended amounts

i'm often ON PLAN
I"m never PERFECTLY on plan

On plan: staying within calorie limit and exercising

Perfectly on plan:
making my nutrient ratios
staying within calories
exercising
eating clean foods

I try my best to stay perfectly on plan. For me that means:

At least 45 minutes daily exercise
Eat clean within my calorie range, plenty of lean protein, no refined carbohydrates, tons of veggies
Drink tons of water
Take my vitamins and supplements

I give myself 3-4 rest days per month, but still consider that to be perfectly on plan. Those rest days are important too!

I don't have many days that don't adhere to these guidelines. Occasionally something comes up, a holiday, a party and I won't eat so clean (but stay within cal limits), but I've always exercised and followed my other guidelines on those days.

For me, it's staying within my allotted calorie range and nutrition plan, exercising, and drinking my water.

But, I also consider "Perfectly On Plan" those days where I am faced with a social challenge, say dinner at a relative's house out-of-town (happened very recently), and I must come up with some alternatives to what they are all eating. I feel POP when I am successful enough to do that along with feeling no guilt whatsoever.

Whenever I'm on a "plan"...or just my weight loss efforts in general, if I can strive for at least 90% of what I want to do every day, I feel successful. Rarely is anyone 100% perfect every day. It helps to tell yourself over and over, "It's not all-or-nothing, it's do the best you can as often as possibe." GOOD LUCK!

Having beer left in the fridge at the end of the week.

The idea of perfectly on plan kinda bugs me, because there is so much focus on little things you did/didn't do, way out of proportion to all the good things you did do that day and all the other days that week, month or whatever. Not that I don't understand you have to be on top of the little things to stay off the slippery slopes. But something about that focus always feels not quite right to me. I'm working on finding the balance.