[Snoofie]

Today I spent the afternoon at my grandmother's; I stayed with her while my mother went to get groceries. The bad part about being over there is that there's always good stuff around to eat (read: cookies and cakes....lol.) There was a bag of "chocolate haystack" cookies there, and I was feeling a bit peckish....and before I knew what I had done, I had devoured three of them. They're not very big, mind you, but still. *L* And of course, I didn't have my WW calculator with me so I have no idea how many points they were.

And so of course, I was beating myself up over having eaten them, because "oh my god, they're cookies, they're chocolate, how could I, oh my god!" You know what I mean.

But then, after I got home, I started thinking. Really thinking. And I realized: okay, I ate those three cookies and I have no idea how many points they were. But up to that point in the day, I had only eaten breakfast anyway, which was 10 points, and then the cookies, and then dinner (which was 6 points.) I have a daily points allowance of 29. So with breakfast and dinner, I only ate 16 points, which leaves me 13 points...even if those cookies were 4 points each, that still brings me in at 28 points.

And ****, then I realized: even if I did go over my daily points allowance, I've exercised every day this week, and I haven't used any of my 49 weekly points, so what the ****? So I ate three cookies. It's not the end of the world. I eat well 90% of the time, and I exercise every day, so if I want a cookie (or three!) I'll damn well have it, and I'm not going to feel guilty about it. Last week at my weigh-in I had lost 2.6 pounds, and that was after having cookies AND cake at my grandmother's birthday party. The only difference then was that I didn't even think about it, let alone beat myself up over it.

So this week's weigh-in is tomorrow night, and if I lose, I lose. If I gain, I gain. But if three small cookies have that much of an effect on my progress, then I can't blame the cookies. The work I've been doing in terms of exercise and food choices should be enough to cushion the "blow" of an occasional not-so-great choice.

It's just been an adjustment realizing that this REALLY isn't a "diet", and that if I want this to stick for the rest of my life, I *can't* deprive myself of things I like (like those chocolate haystack cookies, oh my GOD they're to die for.)

Sorry for the novel I've written! *L*

[Jinksie]

when im out, and dont have a calcultor with me (i actually dont carry it with me, when i should), i write the info down on a piece of paper.
I did that with a soda the other day

[KimberlyP]

Don't beat yourself up! I know that's easier said than done but you have to change the way you think. There have been times where I went on crazy binges, in fact I went on 3 last week but I planned them. I didn't feel bad at all! In the beginning I thought I had to be perfect 100% of the time and I realized that even if I had a major slip up, I could get right back on track and learn to deal with it.

You most likely racked up some Activity Points and you have your extra 49 which will cover the extra calories. Don't sweat it!!

[seagirl]

Although spending 1/3 of your daily points on cookies isn't necessarily a good idea... I try to make sure I've gotten my healthy food in for the first 25-29 points before I start having treats.

It isn't the end of the world, and it sounds like you have a very good plan in place.

[catahoula]

I know exactly how you feel. Today my fiance had two root canals and two crowns. So needless to say, he was a lil grumpy. I didn't feel like cooking and asked him what he thought he would be able to eat if I got take out. He said pasta with sauce. So I called our usual Italian take out place and placed our usual order. Which for me was chicken Alfredo. I didn't even realize I ordered it until I was driving to go get it. I just ordered it out of habit. So, I ended up eating it. But didn't eat all of it. I am pretty depressed/guilty about it. But at the same time, life goes on. It's not the end of the world. And I'll try to do better tomorrow.

[dragonlady1978]

This is exactly why I'm in love with WW. The guilt and deprivation factors are so much less than other plans. If I want to have something-anything-I can just budget it into my points without the negative feelings I'd usually associate with cheating or going off-plan. Without those feelings or that deprivation, I feel so much better about my ability to do this permanently.

There is nothing wrong with having some cookies every now and then-life without that as a possibility ever is kinda depressing.