Question:
Ok, I fell off the wagon...now I feel terrible!
During Thanksgiving, I was an angel and did not falter from my food plan. Then I went on vacation to Hawaii for almost 2 weeks. I was pretty good while there plus I was exercising & walking on the beach daily. Since I got home 11 days ago, I have completely "fallen off the wagon" as far as food is concerned. I've gained 7 rotten evil pounds and I feel just awful. I know how to get back in the swing of things and get the weight loss going again but the guilt is just eating me up. How can I make myself feel better about making mistakes like I did? I am so afraid of gaining my weight back!!! I don't want to be out of control like before. Help! Thanks. — Jennifer A. (posted on December 30, 2002)
December 30, 2002
Jennifer,
You have to let this go....if you don't, you won't move on. Instead of
beating yourself up over this "slip", use this as a learning
tool!!! Turn this into a positive for yourself instead of a negative. You
said that you know how to take the weight back off, so go for it...but in
the meantime, don't let guilt take over...it's not worth the time and
effort. Instead, use that energy to focus on getting back to where you wish
to be! All is good in Jenniferland (giggle)...let yourself enjoy life!!!
Love and light,
— medium
December 30, 2002
First, pat yourself on the back for losing over 100 pounds since your
surgery, AND, for being good at Thanksgiving, AND on vacation! Could you
have done any of that pre-op? I know I couldn't have. Now, lets tackle
those evil pounds..Falling off the wagon happens. IT HAPPENS... Your a
brave person to come here and admit it and I for one admire you for fessing
up. I, too, will fess up to gaining a few over the past few weeks-I blame
my work for putting out all that holiday food every day, and forcing me to
eat it! (only joking- I blame me, of course, for not staying away from
it..) Anyways, we both know what we need to do to reverse this situation
and make it happen. We have already taken the first step-fessing up. Now,
for me, I have made an early New Years resolution (2 days early). Starting
today, I have decided to change the snacks I have (fruit and popcorn
instead of candy/cookies), add an extra day of treadmill to my schedule (4
instead of 3 a week), cut back a little on the carbs (salads for lunch
instead of sandwiches) try to add a protein drink a day (not doing too well
there) and pushing more water into me. I think if you sit down and look at
what caused you to gain the 7 and just do the opposite, TAKE CONTROL, you
can do it. Another suggestion-do you have a support group to lean on?
Sometimes they can help enormously, just to let you know you are NOT
alone.... Feel free to keep in touch with me if you'd like.
— Cindy R.
December 30, 2002
No worries, honey! You've just proven you're human. We didn't have the
surgery to be on eternal diet. Normal people go up and down sometimes and
since our goal is to be normal wego up and down sometimes too. I was very
good at Thanksgiving and even pretty good at Christmas but my evil husband
brought home a huge amount of Christmas goodies from his office the day
after Christmas and not only did I fall off the wagon but it ran over me
and ran over me again when it backed up to see what it hit the first time!
After my reckless eating I realized that I had to get all that "good
stuff" outta there! It was actually an eye opening experience for me
that I must continue to be diligent about keeping healthy food in the house
and that it's always an ongoing process. Don't beat yourself up - we're
all human. I'm VERY proud of you!
— ronascott
December 30, 2002
You did not have this life-changing and life-saving surgery to be thrust
back into the dieting lifestyle. You are already successful. You have
been on vacation and holidays so it harder to stay on the
"wagon". All that is over now. My doctor always says if you
fall off the "Wagon" then start again. Go for a day or so with
clear liquids only then start with protein, protein, protein. Lots of
water and exercising and NO Grazing! You can do it! Don't give into the
feelings! Just go with what you know. Good luck!
— Sherry B.
December 30, 2002
You did not have this life-changing and life-saving surgery to be thrust
back into the dieting lifestyle. You are already successful. You have
been on vacation and holidays so it harder to stay on the
"wagon". All that is over now. My doctor always says if you
fall off the "Wagon" then start again. Go for a day or so with
clear liquids only then start with protein, protein, protein. Lots of
water and exercising and NO Grazing! You can do it! Don't give into the
feelings! Just go with what you know. Good luck!
— Sherry B.
December 30, 2002
You did not fall off a wagon....you are not on a wagon....you are on a life
changing journey...you just stopped at a rest stop ...now get back on the
highway...simple as that. Quit being so hard on yourself...
Your tool is still there ...use it.
— Oldsoul
December 30, 2002
I haven't even had the surgery yet, but I feel similarly to you right now.
I have gained 5 pounds in the past 2 weeks (I'm doing optifast as part of
insurance requirement to wls). I have decided that just because I chose
old habits (crappy, high-fat and sugar foods, and lots of it) the past few
weeks doesn't mean I have to give up now. Hang in there -- you have done
so well! And as others have pointed out, you're human, and have acted like
a "normal" person. What is normal now is to go back to your
regular, healthy routine, and the pounds will come off, I swear. Good
luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
December 30, 2002
you are normal - you made a mistake - probably a mistake that anyone in
your shoes would have made. just don't dwell on it. get back on track and
before you know it, those 7 pounds will be gone.
— [Deactivated Member]
December 30, 2002
Beating yourself only makes it worse. Now dry those eyes and start doing
what you know you need to do. You have already made some positive steps.
You are still getting the water and the exercise. Keep that up. Remember
there are plenty of other people willing to knock you down, you don't need
to lead the pack. Keep up the good work. Oh and just to avoid temptation.
You can send me to Hawaii for you. I will reluctantly make that sacrifice.
heheh
— snicklefritz
December 30, 2002
Pick yourself up, shake off the dust, and get started again without looking
back. It's happened to the best of us. Besides, no one says we have to
stop LIVING or ENJOYING life. You said yourself, you know what you have to
do. So DO IT. You know you can. Been there. Then you have this
awakening. We've worked too hard. Gotta get back on track. No problem.
Happy journey.
— Annie H.
December 30, 2002
Take it one day at a time, one meal at a time. Make THIS meal high protein,
low carb. Make THIS day an active one. If you look at it this way it is not
so overwhelming. One failure does not ruin the future. I figure that if I
eat lots of rice with my dinner tonight, I don't have to worry about it
because of all the other nights I have eaten very little. It all evens out.
Just make sure it evens out in your favor!<p>Sometimes carbs beget
carbs. I don't know what exactly you mean by falling off the wagon but for
most of us that means excess carb consumption. Try eating an all-protein
breakfast and some protein each time you eat. It has really helped me stop
craving carbs as much. Not that I don't eat them, sometimes more than I
ought to. But, like I said, it all evens out. Good luck to you!
— ctyst
January 1, 2003
Original poster here. I've already lost 5 of the 7 pounds I gained and
feel so much better. *phew* Thank you all for being so encouraging! It's
very cool to have a group of caring, helpful friends here. :o)
— Jennifer A.
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