Giving into Temptation

Hey,

Today was my first cheat day since I have been on the plan and I am both mad and proud with myself. I am mad because there was no reason for me to give in, really. I am proud because unlike cheats in the past, I did not go into a self-destructive eat-all-you-can mopping tirade. (Jeni’s encouragement at the precise time helped with this, admittedly…)

Well, here is what went down:
I had a very small bowl of oats, about 3 spoons of fat free yoghurt to it and about half a nectarine. The breakfast was small cause that’s all I had left from the last time I made oats and I really didn’t feel like cooking this morning! I convinced myself to hit the gym before work (good idea!) and needless to say, by the time I got to the office – I was starved. I ate a protein bar (yum!) but again by 10:30 my attention span was dwindling. I tried all the diversions in the book – drink water, go to the balcony for a breath of fresh air, talk on the phone, but really… when you are hungry, you are hungry. At 11:00 I ate my lunch – chicken & roast vegetables but thankfully, I felt quite sustained after that. Only at 14:30 did I reach to the now-tollerable meal replacement shake. And my first slip – I just HAD TO have a cup of coffee! Then came trouble number two – there was a mini-party at the office and the pizza they had really smelt divine… I had a slice…
I wasn’t hungry and no one was “encouraging” me (you know how the office ladies can get some time – “Have some, come on. Start the diet tomorrow again”). There was none of that. I don’t even know why I did it. I immediately felt horrible about myself and the feeling of failure was overwhelming. Once again, I was sure I can do nothing right and I might as well stop trying. I am not fooling anyone after all.

But then, I called Jeni and told her about it. I know it feels ridiculous now, but I was on the verge of crying! And she put it all in perspective for me!
I ate a delicious “clean” dinner – chicken breast and vegetable stir-fry and prepared all my meals for tomorrow. I will do great then!

Melissa

Jeni:

How many of you have never cheated on a diet or fallen off the exercise and healthy eating proverbial wagon? This is, of course, a rhetorical question.
Believe me, even body builders and fitness competitors veer off course from time to time. That is not really important. Yes, I will say it again: THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT!
What IS important is how fast you get back with the program. That’s what makes a winner and that’s what it takes to reach your goals. It is not possible to get it right all the time. It is not possible to never have cravings, especially for us girls who have to battle all these hormonal roller-coasters in our system. It is not possible to NEVER give in to them. And that does not make you a loser!

Do you think David Beckham scores every time he kicks the ball? And despite that he is pretty good at his game.

And that’s what I want you to do. Believe in yourself! OK, fine, you slipped. So what? Don’t make this your excuse or your license to go on a binge. That’s the attitude that will take you to the top! Good luck!

Jeni