I just came back from a 4 day vacation yesterday evening and I feel totally disgusting and hopeless today *sigh*

We went to way upstate NY to this wonderful farm for rescued factory farm animals (SO SWEET and SO friendly and amazing!!). Anyway, I had assued beforehand that since we'd be surrounded by vegetable farms and fresh food, we'd have lots of great eating options and that I could find fresh and well-made foods... I was wrong. It was basically one gross, greasy meal after the next (except for our daily morning vegan breakfast). I also thought we'd be doing more exercising and moving around than we actually did -- we drove EVERYWHERE bc you can't walk -- it's isolated and everything is miles and miles away. With the exception of one day spent at a beautiful state park, I basically sat on my @ss all day for 4 days.

We're back now, and I am bloated and I feel SO SO SO disgusting. I know what I have to do is get right back on plan -- my eating today has been good so far -- and I need to start working out again, do some strength training and then some cardio, but I just feel SOOOOO discouraged and hopeless and absolutely disgusting in every way.

On top of everything else, I spent the last 4 days feeling like a total fat, ugly beast. My self-esteem was totally shot all vacation for some reason and I still feel like a disgusting beast right now. I spent entire days of the vacation complaining to my fiance ab how fat I am and how hopeless I feel -- I almost had a hissy fit, in public, after looking at a picture he took of me. I just feel totally hopeless right now -- I don't even know what the point is of trying anymore or of getting married or anything else in life -- I feel like a disgusting freak doomed to a life sentence of obesity and unhappiness with how I look.

I'm sorry to rant and be depressive but I need to vent. AND I need people to kick me in my @ss and tell me to stop it and put aside these feelings and just work out and plow through and get back on plan.

KLK, I'm not sure I have any major words of wisdom, but please don't be so hard on yourself. Think of how far you've come. Four measley days doesn't wipe that away, and it seems as if you are getting back on track, which is commendable. I completely relate to your point about the pictures. At least you looked at the picture. I am currently on vacation (just checking in for my 3fatchicks fix!), and my sister took a picture of me today. I told her to delete it (she has a digital camera) before I even looked at it. I know I'll be depressed if I look at it.

If it's any consolation, I think it's rare that anyone stays completely "on plan" during vacation. I, too, have eaten more than I would like, and I'm only on day five of a nine-day vacation! I realized something the other day, though: I am not going to let this derail me. This time, my plan is for life, so if I fall of the wagon, I plan to get right back on. And I can see that you're doing the same.

I think you're doing great!

Hi Lynn -- Thank you for your reply. You're right, of course lol. A committment to lose weight HAS TO BE more than just a "diet" -- it's changing your lifestyle AND maintaining that change despite set-backs, problems and fun things like vacations that will encourage you to indulge.

As for the photo -- the one I almost had a hissy fit over was on a digital camera too (I saw it right after my fiance took it). I look SO fat and flabby in it, but I didn't delete it bc it was otherwise SUCH a cool shot (of me at this amazing NY State Park behind a small waterfall, reaching out to run my hands under the water). Part of my problem was the picture and how fat/flabby I look, but the other thing was that i was EXTREMELY hot and sweaty and in the sun for hours, climbing up stairs (the park is mostly paved, but it has about 300 stairs and thus many long winding staircases) and those conditions (hot and sweaty in the sun) bring out my WORST side; the side that is self-hating and miserable and short tempered with everyone.

Have a great time on your vacation !!!!

I went to Florida for 2 weeks and gained 6 lbs. I am not sure what the heck went on. I didnt think I ate that much and we were always swimming and walking around. So sad!

Okay...

KLK, I think you know that anyone who can lose 74 pounds is winning the battle. I'm not going to even address your feeling like a disgusting beast, because that does not even merit a response.

You went away for four days... And it wasn't the way you thought it would be... Lots of people have found themselves in situations like that! Yes, it's discouraging. Is it the end of the world? Nope. Is it worth running yourself over with a truck?? Nope and nope again!

Now you listen to me, Missy! Time to stop that foolishness! You do not get to throw in the towel now just 'cause things didn't go your way! Stand up straight there! Show some pride! Are you or are you not a member of 3FC??

You know what you've got to do, and you know how to do it. Enuf is enuf, sister. 74 pounds down! Whether you lose another ounce or not, you deserve to find happiness in this life. Everyone does, whether they are skinny, thin, normal weight, overweight, obese, or even larger! And you deserve as much as anyone to succeed!

All right then. Are you going to keep working? If you give up now, it's on you! It's all your choice, no one else's. Hang in there with us! We are pulling for you! Come on! You know you can!

Jay

Yeah! What Jay said!!! Girl, are you kidding me?!?!? You have lost 74 pounds!!!! What an accomplishment!!!!

Relish in THAT and get back to the plan!!!! Be happy with what you have achieved and will continue to achieve!!!!

(Child, please.)

Vacation is a VACATION! You have lost so much weight don't beat yourself up. Whatever weight you might have gained couldn't possibly be because of ALL the food you ate. Remember each pound is 3500 calories! Drink LOTS of water eat a bunch of fiber and flush whatever may be backed up out.
(i tend to back up on vacation.. as I dont like going in public restrooms...)

I went on Vacation to disneyworld and did I forget my diet.. you bet I DID.. I had some pizza and fried dough and a really bad buffalo chicken salad in some kind of torilla bowl.. and I didn't beat myself up about it..because I knew when I got home I would continue on.

When I got home I went back on Phase one of my diet and continued to plough on. I ended up gaining a pound but it was quickly gone and then some in a week.

It is okay going off a diet here and there.. as long as you get back on

Just let me say, suck it up and get over it. You're not the first or the last person to go on vacation and have a rotten time/gain weight. You were only gone for 4 days!! How much damage could you possibly do?

And since when did how much you weight determine a person's worth? If you feel like a fat ugly beast now, you'll feel like a skinny ugly beast when you lose all that unwanted weight. Obviously your fiance sees through your exterior and loves you for who you really are. He just put up with your whining for the last 4 days, didn't he and you're still engaged and he still loves you, right?

Take a nice bubble bath, put on some make-up and a nice outfit and go forward confident and brave knowing that you are a beautiful, and in control woman who can and will win this battle and be stronger for having fought the demons that surface from time to time.

And take a look at your weight ticker--that'd make me do a happy dance!

OK, I'm back from vacation today, too. 8 days in Alaska--on a cruise. You know how they feed you on cruises!! Anyway, my scale is up 1.5 pounds however I FEEL so much bigger (so I can totally relate). Granted the portions are normal sized on this cruise--nothing over the top (but butter seems to be the best medium for cooking vegetables in). They've even done away with the nightly midnight buffet (only one "midnight" buffet--desserts only from 10:30-12:00PM) which we missed because we were on a roll in the casino!

So, we're in this together. Back on plan. Back to getting to goal. You can do it. So can I. Let's go for it!!!

YEP! What ISABELLA said!

I weighed pretty much my higest weight on my wedding day, and I'll deck anyone who says I wasn't a beautiful bride. I felt and looked like a princess (ok, a humongously fat princess, but I was the best d*d looking fat princess on the planet that day), because I was wearing the custom gown I'd helped design with my seamstress, and I was marrying my fat, handsome prince.

And you know how I knew I was beautiful, not just to me and my handsome prince? My skinniest, blonde, gorgeous coworker at my wedding (an aquaintence more than a friend) had tears streaming down her face at my wedding. Because happiness is what makes a bride beautiful on her wedding day, not the dress and not her figure.

Don't let your image of what you think you're "supposed to be," ruin that day.

As much as I want to lose 200 more pounds, I would not change a thing on my wedding day - not even my weight. That fat princess met her fat prince, and are living happily ever after. And while weight loss for both of us is part of our happily ever after, I wouldn't unwish any part of that wonderful day.

At it's worst, fat is just fat. Fat can't make you truly ugly. Only mean-spiritedness can make a person truly, to-the-bone ugly. A gentle and giving spirit is always beautiful to those who know HOW to see. If no one at your wedding but you and your fiance see that beauty - that's a terrible loss for all of your guests, but a much greater tragedy would be if you were the only one NOT to see your beauty on that day.

Exactly - and what Jay said too .

Hey KLK,

I just got back from a road trip too. Ugh. Why is white bread toast with butter and jelly like crack? Why did I choose a Butterfinger for a snack (doubly naughty since I usually boycott Nestle). McDonalds for lunch---gross...and no I did NOT get a salad.

But it is just a blip. So, I feel gross too but tomorrow is a new day! I shall eat lots of protein and fruits and veggies, pound water like I live in the desert (which I do!) and go for a nice long bike ride. And then repeat each day this week and by Thursday, even the water retention will be history.

Remember it is what you do *most* of the time that counts. You know how to do this. All that matters is that you get back on plan. You and me together, 'kay?

LOL

Hi -- you're definitely right ab flushing out my system -- I've been sucking back water and eating lots of vegetables and taking it easy on the salt and foods with lots of sodium. AND I worked out yesterday and today too, so I feel better psychologically as well (and less hopeless!).

I hope you had fun at Disney World