It's okay, Linda...we all have days like that. Try not to beat yourself up. Just remember how you're feeling now next time you want to go off program- i find that really helps me!
I was at a function last night and all there was to eat was caesar salad, bread, and cheese stuffed pasta with sauce. I ate it, but I didn't eat dessert. I also didn't drink. I'm sure there were good choices you made yesterday, so try to focus on those. They'll keep you motivated to make better decisions tomorrow!

Also- did you enjoy the dessert? Because I've had a few this week that were not "diet" desserts(i.e. a whole brownie, and a few bites of bf's cake at a birthday party), and I enjoyed every bite . I just counted them into my points, because life is too short to not have dessert!! My leader says if you really want something, you should use your flex points to have it, otherwise the craving will destroy you. So I think you did the right thing by using your flex points!

You can make it 2 more days without flex points- I believe you can do it!! I also believe this will get easier the longer we do it. One day at a time!

I was reading through some of the comments from people who have been successful at losing a huge amount of weight over a short period of time. They all said they never went off track with eating, not even a little bit.

I can't say that. I go off track on a daily basis! Every morning I tell myself that this is the day when I'll be entirely on track. But then life piles up on me, I get distracted, yadda-yadda. What I do to prevent slippage is to keep my home environment as free from illicit temptations as possible. That way, if I'm going to go over on my calories, it's going to be with something that has extra fiber in it, or is a non-starchy vegetable, and absolutely not processed. There's only one evil lurking in my kitchen, the butter in the freezer for emergency use only. I only like it on toast...and there's no toast in my house either!

I just got the GoWearFit armband thing. I love it! If I go over my calories for the day (2100 max), then I have to exercise it off, 25 minutes on the treadmill at 3 mph for every 100 calories. I know I can be committed to that.

For some reason, at the end of the day, I am more prone to snacking, so I have to compensate. I don't know why I eat more in the evening now. I didn't always do this. I think I'm just mentally more tired, probably thirsty, and I'm avoiding going to bed (getting a divorce now and feeling more lonely of late). I don't feel like I'm losing my resolve to lose weight, but I'm definitely weary of the battle.

Georgia

My blog: http://half-the-woman.blogspot.com/

Geoblewis: This must be a very tough time for you!
For snacking and meals I always try to suggest preplanning and premaking. A night you have free make a big meal that's healthy that you can heat up through the week to save you time. Also, start getting rid of temptations from your home. At some point, just throw it away or give it away, but get it out of the house. Don't do the "I'll only eat a little bit each day...", Just get rid of it!
It does take a while to get into a normal routine of eating healthy and staying within the bounds each day.
I really wouldn't recommend getting into a routine that when you go over your calories you exercise. That's a slight form of bolemia and it teaches yourself that it's okay to eat that one last ... because I'll just exercise it off.
You really should just start exercising because you want to, not just based on food amounts. And you will wear yourself out very quickly if you're exercising regularly and then adding more exercise because you overate.
There are some days that we all go OP. It's easy to do. You just move on and start the next day. You'll slowly find yourself getting into a routine of eating right the majority of the time instead of the minority.
Also, if you're finding that you're not feeling full that may mean you need to add more whole foods. Start increasing your fiber intake. Eat more Whole Wheat, brown rice, beans, veggies, flax meal. This will help you to stay full longer. Not to mention that these things are very healthy for your body!!

This journey takes time. You're going to need extra energy to do this the right way. Don't wear yourself too thin!! Keep up the good work and I hope this helped..

PrimaB, yes I did enjoy that dessert.
I have to share that I am never sure when a weight loss of gain shows up on your body. Today is my weigh in day and, as usual, I got on my scale this morning and saw that it has gone down a bit. So, if I shared a huge "Chocolate Stampede" dessert with my daughter and husband on Saturday night and totally blew it, wouldn't I gain weight? Ha! I just will never figure it out. : )
Of course, by 4:30 this afternoon when I do weigh in, I could have a gain. My weight fluctuates throughout the day.
Georgia, I think those people who made statement about not ever "cheating" were lying. No one could be that perfect, unless you gave up total control of what you eat to another person, don't you think? I was saying that and imagining being at some health spa place, where a dietitian carefully planned every bite that went in your mouth and personal trainers were like drill sergeants making you run and work out each day. I know most humans are not that perfect. I forgive myself and so should you. I would think that a normal person would just pick up and move on after going off program. That is what I have done since my cake on Saturday night.
Now, I am looking back and saying it was totally worth it. Why? Because if I had not had it I would not be feeling badly and might have done worse. At least we split it three ways.
tdi, I agree with your thoughts!

Hi Linda- how did it go at your weigh-in?

I'm down 1.6 today- wahoo!! I can't believe it, since I ate cheesecake and a brownie this week...It just goes to show how irrational my body is.

binging will only set you back further than you need to. imagine that you lost and continue on the plan. There are always plateaus for everyone. YOU WILL LOSE. you will.

I was down 2 pounds this week, best I've done in a long time. One thing I did that was kind of smart was to re-read the first week booklet. I really paid attention to the "filling foods".
However, today I drove up to my daughter's college to see a show she was singing in and took her to dinner. I tried to order smart, but a few things happened.
Firstly, I did remember to ask for margarine instead of butter on my baked potato, but they didn't have any. I ended up eating it with butter. Haven't had real butter in a long time and it did taste good, but that was not the best thing. But, considering what places load up mashed potatoes with and how high fat fries would be, I think that was still the best choice.
Also, I ordered a salad and didn't know that it would come with cheese, bacon bits and croutons. I should have asked. So, I didn't eat them all but still will end up counting flex points.
This coming weekend, we are going to my in-laws. Seems like every time we visit I gain weight. I'm going to try hard to write everything down and get in some exercise.

2 LBS!! Amazing!! Congrats

Thanks!
I've got to get in some exercise today and throughout the next few days to combat eating a few extra things. We're going away for the weekend and visiting my in-laws. It's always my downfall as she loves to feed us! I hope weather cooperates for a walk on the beach or something like that. The live near the ocean and it's always pleasant to visit where they live.
I'm hoping to stay in my points range for the day as well, it's always a challenge.

She ate one brownie and one piece of cheesecake.. that really doesn't qualify as a binge. That qualifies as.. she wanted a treat and at something.
A binge would've been if she at without control the brownies and the cheesecake. But she seemed to show total control!

Good job Prima and Derry!!

It's a phenomenon I think. Have you guys looked at the Wendie plan? I did some research of my own. Wendie started doing the varying points each day because she found that on the weeks she ate the most of her flex points and did have a treat or 2, she lost the most. The weeks when she didn't use her flex points, she didn't lose and at times would gain.
Our bodies do need a little extra sometimes. Especially when we're exercising and decreasing our calories.
One thing I do is the day after I use some flex points, I only eat my 22 points and if I gain activity points, I'll use some. Because interestingly (also learned from Wendie) is that your metabolism sky rockets the days you eat more. It increases enough so that the next day when you drop your points, your body still thinks you're eating the same amount. The body gets extremely efficient when you eat the same amount and exercise the same each day. So varying it some days really helps a lot!

Keep up the awesome work chickies!!

Thanks, TDI!

I actually didn't even realize jooanie's post about bingeing was directed towards me- and you're right, TDI, it was just one piece of cheesecake, and one brownie, and I worked them into my daily points. I'm really not a binger- in fact, I haven't binged once since I started, nor have I used more than 10 flex points in a week. Sorry if there was any confusion there!

Thanks so much for the info about the Wendie Plan- I've heard of it, but hadn't done any research myself. It sounds a lot like what I've been doing, though, and it definitely seems to be working for me. I didn't lose as much when I dipped into my flex points (actually, i think i just maintained) but eating I do see good results when I eat all the APs I accumulate. This week I'm going to see how it works to save up some APs and indulge on one day, as I've just been adding 4 APs to my daily point target. My body is clearly very sensitive, so I guess we'll see how it works out...

Thanks so much for the support, you guys! It's kind of funny, but I was more excited to tell you all about my 1.6 lb loss than my boyfriend..haha!
You're all awesome

I've given a great deal of thought to the Wendie Plan recently. The week before last when I was absolutely perfect and ended the week with 8 unused flex points, I gained .4. Then, last week, I used all my flex points and had a very special dessert and lost 2 pounds. What gives?
I know there is no science that tells us when our efforts actually pay off.
I have accepted that I shall follow this program and do the best I can do to stay in my points range and use my flex points. I also accept that there will be birthdays, anniversaries, parties and things like that. I also accept that there are going to be rough days where I lose control and can't help myself. But, what will get me where I need to be is a constant regular effort to follow the program. So, on those days when I fall off the wagon, I have to get right back on the next day after dusting myself off and forgiving myself.
I'm in it for the long run. I know that, in time, the success will come. Plateaus will come as well and I accept that part right along with it.
The Wendie plan makes some sense but I am not intentionally following it. I can relate to the theory that the body gets bored with the same old foods all the time and sets itself on maintenance and when you shake things up, then weight will come off. I also can relate to thinking that the body thinks it's being starved and wants to hold onto weight and when you have a little extra then it kind of realizes that it's OK to let go of some weight as the "famine" is over.
It's good to think.

Prima, I know what you mean about being more excited to tell us about your loss than your boyfriend, I'm like that too!
The others will say, kind of, "oh, that's nice honey" and then get back to thinking about something else and we all are dancing with joy and they don't get it.
We put lots of hard work and thought into what we are trying to accomplish. Believe me, it's always on the back of my mind all day, ever day.
We are going away for the weekend. We'll be visiting my in laws. I'm about ready to shower and pack. I hope to get in a swim (they have an indoor lap pool, kinda cool) and a walk to counter balance how my MIL feeds us all the time.
We'll be back around lunchtime tomorrow and my husband and I have planned on doing some yard work. That will help to balance all the extra points.
Plus, I promise to write down everything and if I can't figure out all the points, I'll do the best I can and estimate.
I mean business here!

Ooo! I dream of someday having an indoor pool- that sounds great!

It sounds like you have a good plan in place, Linda- all you can do is do your best under the circumstances. I definitely find it stressful and challenging when I'm eating at someone else's house!! BUT, just remember that you did SO well last week! Even if you don't lose that much again, you'll know that you did your best and didn't get out of control.

have a great visit, and enjoy that pool!

Thanks.
Sure wish my budget would allow for a pool too, but it's nice to visit there now and then and get to use it.
I'm worried about weigh in today, but even if I have a gain I will know I did my best.