Which excuses did you overcome and stayed on plan?
 

I have been up since 3:15 a.m. and my appetite is through the roof, but I still worked out and stayed within my calorie range.

I have daily migraines but I didn't let it get me down today.

Which excuses did you push aside to stay on plan?

Hi there!

Sorry to hear about your migrains, I know wut a pain they can be!! Good on you for not caving thought! =)

I was on a binge marathon for 3 months which resulted in putting on 18 kg (36 pounds). I got back on my plan 27 days ago and on day 4 I started thinking "your birthday is coming soon (29/6) so why start now? You're fat anyways, start your diet after your bday!" It was a struggle for a few days but I refused to give in! I didn't want to add 10-15 pounds more!! Here I am now so proud for not caving and I had an awesome birthday while on my health plan =)

xx

Yasmin

With today being a holiday that traditionally involves grilled foods, high carb/calorie salads, desserts, not to mention beer, I thought about just chalking it up to a major cheat day. But then I thought -- hey, you're the cook and they've never turned down a meal yet. So, I redid the menu, and we're having grilled chicken and shrimp, cauliflower patties, potato wedges for the non-dieters, carrot salad, and a strawberry mousse with blueberries and whipped topping (red, white, and blue) for dessert. Even with eating lunch, I've managed to create a menu that will keep me under 1200 calories for the day!

One excuse I no longer use: "I'm up past midnight working on X assignment, so I NEED to refuel."

F.

That's a good one Freelance, and I've been slipping on that in the past few weeks. I tend to munch when stressed, and default to it. Never enough to regain, but enough to stall out in maintenance instead of continue losing. I've overcome the 'its been a long time, I need to eat' excuse in the past and now, again. I need to apply my brain to losing and not my whims :)

My dad had a stroke Sunday evening. I have such worry, stress, concern...

I gave myself a pep talk. I came to the conclusion that I can not control what is happening to my dad and how this all will end up but I can definitely keep control of my eating and exercising. I actually really pushed myself extra hard on Monday and Tuesday and have now been going my normal rate.

Besides the stroke, I am a single mom and I live in a state that is currently very hot and humid. I could easily use either of those as excuses and have heard plenty of excuses for each. So it's hot and humid, I walk 8 to 12 miles a day in my house with a mix of in-place and walking around the main area of my home. I am my son's main role model and I want/need to be around for him and I want to be able to watch future grandchildren grow-up.

aspen13, I'm SO sorry about your dad's stroke. My heart goes out to you! I'm so impressed with your dedication. I tend to turn to food in times of extreme stress but there's a quote that echos my feelings about stress related binges: If food is not the problem, then food is not the solution." I have to tell myself that today in particular because my special needs son had a very tough day and it broke my heart into a million pieces....I'm chewing gum instead of turning to a jar of Nutella or a box of See's candies someone brought over last Sunday. It is still unopened and I'm impressed with that.

Thanks for all of your responses. I find it so inspiring to hear of how others are overcoming their excuses and sticking with their plans no matter what.

I like this thread. I think sometimes we rely on excuses that we are not even aware are excuses. It can be helpful to see others spell out their own to give a different perspective on the choices we make.

The big one for me that really changed my weight loss process and made it possible to lose as much as I did was:

"I don't have time with my demanding job and busy life to cook and her healthy foods on hand and exercise very regularly."

I had to make time. I don't know how I could have lost the weight I lost if I hadn't figured out a way to have a healthy on-plan home-cooked dinner six nights a week, on-plan breakfasts and snacks on hand all the time, and so on. Or if I hadn't figured out a way to get to the gym at first 2-3 times a week and now 4-5 times, with additional exercise on weekends.

At first I did not have time, it's true, but I had to make time for stuff like this. I had to. And that did mean cutting back on other things I like to do. I do not get to pursue my main enthusiasm with as much devotion as I did back when I was eating my way up to 275 pounds. Between the cooking, planning, and exercising, I have about 12 fewer hours a to spend on it than I used to. That is significant! But it is a trade-off that has been well worth it.

Thank you, luckymommy!

Good for you for pushing yourself through your difficult time. I am so sorry your son had a hard day. I hope today is much better for him (and you).

This is a wonderful thread. Very inspirational.

I started with the "Oh you have a very busy day today, just do your workout tomorrow, eat better tomorrow, etc etc" but then I quickly told myself NO, stay on plan, you have been doing great this week and there is no reason no matter how busy I am to not eat on plan, and I can make room for exercise today.

I've used the " I don't have time" thing but also used the "I don't feel good" excuse. But y'all, that's a bunch of bull. Right now, I quite honestly do NOT feel good! But I'm forcing myself to eat right and exercise, because it will hopefully make me feel better! I was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease last fall, and I'm sure my extra weight is not helping matters in terms of how I feel.

I used to use the I don't have time excuse when I was working. Then I retired and used the "you've earned this down time, you can exercise tomorrow......or the day after." Well, it's now several years after, and I finally realized that time was just another excuse I was using. Now I'm in a routine, and it takes a major event for me to alter that routine.