You didn't "Fall Off the Wagon".

Tooter · 03-07-2008, 09:29 AM

Get that out of your mindset. It's not all or Nothing.

It's all about Choices. So, you made a poor choice, eh? Why make it a bigger deal that what it really is? It's just one poor choice. There is no "Wagon" you fall off of that instantly turns the rest of your Choices into poor ones. You truly have a "Fresh" Choice, every time you eat something.

Refuse the old mindset. It's not "All or Nothing" and you are not "Good or Bad".

It's just "Choices". Strive for the "Better choice", but if you make a "Poor" one...Acknowledge it, let go of it and move on to the Next "Choice" and make it a better one.

That's how you stay on "Track". It's not magical, it's not "Will Power"....It's just taking it "choice" by "choice" and refusing to look at it as All or nothing.

I just wanted to encourage those people who feel like they "Fell off the Wagon" and can't get back on. There is no "Wagon". Only choices.

Don't let your Mind play games with you, by putting Guilt and excuses on you.

After all... It was only a Choice.

Now, go out there and make your next Choice a Better one!

pbptm · 03-07-2008, 09:33 AM

Sound advice

jezzie · 03-07-2008, 09:34 AM

I always thought it was a strange way to explain it.

"It's wasn't my choice. I'm not responsible.
I tripped and my face fell into a chocolate cream pie."

AllieCat0817 · 03-07-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tooter

Get that out of your mindset. It's not all or Nothing.

It's all about Choices. So, you made a poor choice, eh? Why make it a bigger deal that what it really is? It's just one poor choice. There is no "Wagon" you fall off of that instantly turns the rest of your Choices into poor ones. You truly have a "Fresh" Choice, every time you eat something.

Refuse the old mindset. It's not "All or Nothing" and you are not "Good or Bad".

It's just "Choices". Strive for the "Better choice", but if you make a "Poor" one...Acknowledge it, let go of it and move on to the Next "Choice" and make it a better one.

That's how you stay on "Track". It's not magical, it's not "Will Power"....It's just taking it "choice" by "choice" and refusing to look at it as All or nothing.

I just wanted to encourage those people who feel like they "Fell off the Wagon" and can't get back on. There is no "Wagon". Only choices.

Don't let your Mind play games with you, by putting Guilt and excuses on you.

After all... It was only a Choice.

Now, go out there and make your next Choice a Better one!

THANK YOU. This KILLZZZZZMEEEEEEEE to read 'I fell off the wagon... again'. UGH. Thank Tooter. Especially this part:

Quote:

It's just one poor choice. There is no "Wagon" you fall off of that instantly turns the rest of your Choices into poor ones. You truly have a "Fresh" Choice, every time you eat something.

SOMEBODY needed to say it! And you did very well.

junkfoodmonkey · 03-07-2008, 09:42 AM

Good advice. People are prone to perfectionism, they think they have to get everything right first time, all the time. But nobody can be perfect. One slip doesn't mean the whole thing is a wash.

Look at it this way, say you're walking along and you trip over your own feet. Yes, you momentarily failed at walking. Does that mean you're going to give up walking? Of course not. You dust yourself off, and continue on. (Possibly with the words "I meant to do that" directed at anybody standing around smirking.)

Danipower714 · 03-07-2008, 09:44 AM

Excellent advice Tooter!

AllieCat0817 · 03-07-2008, 09:49 AM

I admit to having an 'all or nothing' attitude during weight loss and I think it helped me. It is NOT a good maintenance mindset at all though, and I no longer have it.

Either way, there IS NO WAGON TO FALL OFF OF.

txjewel · 03-07-2008, 09:50 AM

Thanks! We need to be reminded of our "choices"!

mamagiff · 03-07-2008, 09:51 AM

Great post!!!

sugarless4life · 03-07-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

I admit to having an 'all or nothing' attitude during weight loss and I think it helped me. It is NOT a good maintenance mindset at all though, and I no longer have it.

Either way, there IS NO WAGON TO FALL OFF OF.

Yep, me too. I know myself quite well and if I don't do something "ALL OR NOTHING", then chances are, I will fail. I know that doesn't work for everyone though. Tooter is right, its ALL ABOUT CHOICES!

Betty

CurlsNCuffs · 03-07-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

I admit to having an 'all or nothing' attitude during weight loss and I think it helped me. It is NOT a good maintenance mindset at all though, and I no longer have it.

Either way, there IS NO WAGON TO FALL OFF OF.

ALLIEC.......this is ME to a T!

It helps me to - ALL or NOTHING....that's just me!

lisabinil · 03-07-2008, 10:32 AM

Johnny Bowden writes about this in "Living the Low Carb Life". He says to take the word cheat out of your lowcarb vocabulary. Somedays you eat lower carb and some days higher carb but you always strive to eat the healthiest you can and don't constantly beat yourself up over the choices you make.

FeeFee · 03-07-2008, 10:35 AM

[COLOR="Purple"]Thanks for this post Tooter. It makes alot of sense, and its inspiring[/COLOR]

LeanLioness · 03-07-2008, 04:21 PM

Love this thread!!!

Charski · 03-07-2008, 04:25 PM

YEAH! I completely agree. Also why I don't like the word "cheat" - you can't cheat anyone but yourself, so why not call it a CHOICE and ditch the guilt - move on - keep your eye on the PRIZE - better health, less weight.

No cheating, no falling, just CHOICES! YAY Tooter!

fawn · 03-07-2008, 05:04 PM

Great post Tooter!
It is in fact about choices.
Choose to feed yourself well.
Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy future.

faithgirl · 03-07-2008, 05:14 PM

I was just thinking about this yesterday. When I first came to these boards it seemd like everyone was putting these little statements in their signature: __ days cheat free. Then an entire fight broke out over one woman who was in a place away from home and there was nowhere to get anything lowcarb, so she chose a whole grain cereal to eat and mentioned it in a thread. So many people called her out on it and argued with her that she could no longer say she was cheat free. I thought, my gosh, she did what she had to do and made the best decision she could make in that situation.

Even Dr. Atkins said he would occasionally eat in the CAD style if he had some event he had to be at and didn't have very good lowcarb choices. Did Dr. Atkins fall off the wagon? NO! He made this a lifestyle, and that is how you do it.

FloridaShell · 03-07-2008, 05:16 PM

You are so right Tooter!

Rory8343 · 03-07-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithgirl

I was just thinking about this yesterday. When I first came to these boards it seemd like everyone was putting these little statements in their signature: __ days cheat free. Then an entire fight broke out over one woman who was in a place away from home and there was nowhere to get anything lowcarb, so she chose a whole grain cereal to eat and mentioned it in a thread. So many people called her out on it and argued with her that she could no longer say she was cheat free. I thought, my gosh, she did what she had to do and made the best decision she could make in that situation.

Even Dr. Atkins said he would occasionally eat in the CAD style if he had some event he had to be at and didn't have very good lowcarb choices. Did Dr. Atkins fall off the wagon? NO! He made this a lifestyle, and that is how you do it.

Thread Jack
I pray I will always have too much to do to ever argue with anyone over their BB signature!

I think I will add this to my positive affirmations list.

momov2boys · 03-07-2008, 06:02 PM

Awesome post, Tooter.

Thanks for this very important reminder!

Rory8343 · 03-07-2008, 06:11 PM

Good post, got me thinking.
Yes choices imply letting go of guilt and they also imply accepting responsibility. "Falling off the wagon" has a accidental ring to it. As in "Gee I don't know what happened I was just sitting there minding my own business and BAM I fell off the wagon, Didn't even see it coming!"
I think at this point in the journey I like taking responsibility. Well I don't like it, but that's what real grown ups do so I guess it's about time!

So I guess I feel it's balance again. I need to accept responsibility for my choices but move on, no sense wallowing in pity or guilt.

Rory8343 · 03-07-2008, 06:17 PM

For the word geeks this is where the phrase came from fall off the wagon - Google Search
"ON THE WAGON - "The original version of this expression 'on the water wagon' or 'water cart,' which isn't heard anymore, best explains the phrase. During the late 19th century, water carts drawn by horses wet down dusty roads in the summer. At the height of the Prohibition crusade in the 1890s men who vowed to stop drinking would say that they were thirsty indeed but would rather climb aboard the water cart to get a drink than break their pledges. From this sentiment came the expression 'I'm on the water cart,' I'm trying to stop drinking, which is first recorded in, of all places, Alice Caldwell Rice's 'Mrs. Wiggs of the Caggage Patch' (1901), where the consumptive Mr. Dick says it to old Mrs. Wiggs. The more alliterative 'wagon' soon replaced cart in the expression and it was eventually shortened to 'on the wagon.' 'Fall off the (water) wagon' made its entry into the language almost immediately after its abstinent sister."

Maggy · 03-07-2008, 06:18 PM

LOVE THIS POST

Thank you for the reminder!! Keep going forward!!

faithgirl · 03-07-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rory8343

Thread Jack
I pray I will always have too much to do to ever argue with anyone over their BB signature!

I think I will add this to my positive affirmations list.

Having that all or nothing mentality sometimes makes you do crazy things I guess...

London · 03-07-2008, 06:39 PM

Great Post Tooter!

AllieCat0817 · 03-07-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rory8343

Good post, got me thinking.
Yes choices imply letting go of guilt and they also imply accepting responsibility. "Falling off the wagon" has a accidental ring to it. As in "Gee I don't know what happened I was just sitting there minding my own business and BAM I fell off the wagon, Didn't even see it coming!"
I think at this point in the journey I like taking responsibility. Well I don't like it, but that's what real grown ups do so I guess it's about time!

So I guess I feel it's balance again. I need to accept responsibility for my choices but move on, no sense wallowing in pity or guilt.

I so so love the way you said that. I love it. Yes. Choices imply accepting responsibility. 'Falling off the wagon' sounds accidental....'

Quote:

Gee I don't know what happened I was just sitting there minding my own business and BAM I fell off the wagon, Didn't even see it coming!

Love that. No, no pity or guilt! Keep it movin!

sugarless4life · 03-07-2008, 07:09 PM

Exactly. No one "accidentally" falls face first into a chocolate cream pie.

Betty

Rory8343 · 03-07-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarless4life

Exactly. No one "accidentally" falls face first into a chocolate cream pie.

Betty

Well now I fall down a lot. You should see me in Yoga, or better yet when I did dog agility. But so far, I will admit, I have not been lucky enough to fall face first into a chocolate cream pie! But if I do... I'm eating some of it sister! Talk about a message from the universe.

AllieCat0817 · 03-07-2008, 07:18 PM

Rory you are funny. I just like how you put that about accepting responsibility for a choice instead of making things sound like an accident.

jacksmixedtape · 03-07-2008, 07:47 PM

Beautifully said, to the Tooter and others. The all-or-nothing mentality was the biggest obstacle for me on this WOE! One cookie or candy bar or ____ does not destroy all of your hard work, and does not make 2,000 calories more of ____ okay. You just gotta mooove on!

03-07-2008, 09:29 AM	#1
Tooter Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 10,777 Gallery: Tooter Stats: 5' 6" and 128 lbs	You didn't "Fall Off the Wagon". Get that out of your mindset. It's not all or Nothing. It's all about Choices. So, you made a poor choice, eh? Why make it a bigger deal that what it really is? It's just one poor choice. There is no "Wagon" you fall off of that instantly turns the rest of your Choices into poor ones. You truly have a "Fresh" Choice, every time you eat something. Refuse the old mindset. It's not "All or Nothing" and you are not "Good or Bad". It's just "Choices". Strive for the "Better choice", but if you make a "Poor" one...Acknowledge it, let go of it and move on to the Next "Choice" and make it a better one. That's how you stay on "Track". It's not magical, it's not "Will Power"....It's just taking it "choice" by "choice" and refusing to look at it as All or nothing. I just wanted to encourage those people who feel like they "Fell off the Wagon" and can't get back on. There is no "Wagon". Only choices. Don't let your Mind play games with you, by putting Guilt and excuses on you. After all... It was only a Choice. Now, go out there and make your next Choice a Better one!

03-07-2008, 05:14 PM	#17
faithgirl Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ca Posts: 4,612 Gallery: faithgirl WOE: dunno	I was just thinking about this yesterday. When I first came to these boards it seemd like everyone was putting these little statements in their signature: __ days cheat free. Then an entire fight broke out over one woman who was in a place away from home and there was nowhere to get anything lowcarb, so she chose a whole grain cereal to eat and mentioned it in a thread. So many people called her out on it and argued with her that she could no longer say she was cheat free. I thought, my gosh, she did what she had to do and made the best decision she could make in that situation. Even Dr. Atkins said he would occasionally eat in the CAD style if he had some event he had to be at and didn't have very good lowcarb choices. Did Dr. Atkins fall off the wagon? NO! He made this a lifestyle, and that is how you do it. __________________ Kathleen

03-07-2008, 06:11 PM	#21
Rory8343 Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 13,075 Blog Entries: 12 Gallery: Rory8343 Stats: 20W/16M/8 WOE: Atkins is the Man! Start Date: January 2003 Start again November 2007	Good post, got me thinking. Yes choices imply letting go of guilt and they also imply accepting responsibility. "Falling off the wagon" has a accidental ring to it. As in "Gee I don't know what happened I was just sitting there minding my own business and BAM I fell off the wagon, Didn't even see it coming!" I think at this point in the journey I like taking responsibility. Well I don't like it, but that's what real grown ups do so I guess it's about time! So I guess I feel it's balance again. I need to accept responsibility for my choices but move on, no sense wallowing in pity or guilt. __________________ If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? You are love itself when you are not afraid. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

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03-07-2008, 09:33 AM	#2
pbptm MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: U.K Posts: 1,344 Gallery: pbptm Stats: maintaining 112 lbs WOE: zc Start Date: 2003	Sound advice

03-07-2008, 09:34 AM	#3
jezzie Old Wise One Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Hudson River Valley Posts: 39,754 Blog Entries: 78 Gallery: jezzie Stats: choosing to be scale-free; WOE: YOU:on a Diet - Dr. Oz Start Date: 05/22/07 - lightbulb; started YOU at 209.	I always thought it was a strange way to explain it. "It's wasn't my choice. I'm not responsible. I tripped and my face fell into a chocolate cream pie."

03-07-2008, 09:42 AM	#5
junkfoodmonkey Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 3,976 Blog Entries: 51 Gallery: junkfoodmonkey Stats: Start: 242 Now:150 WOE: Atkins Maintenance Start Date: Nov 2003	Good advice. People are prone to perfectionism, they think they have to get everything right first time, all the time. But nobody can be perfect. One slip doesn't mean the whole thing is a wash. Look at it this way, say you're walking along and you trip over your own feet. Yes, you momentarily failed at walking. Does that mean you're going to give up walking? Of course not. You dust yourself off, and continue on. (Possibly with the words "I meant to do that" directed at anybody standing around smirking.)

03-07-2008, 09:44 AM	#6
Danipower714 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,556 Gallery: Danipower714 Stats: 210/149/120-125, 5'3'' WOE: South Beach Start Date: August 2007	Excellent advice Tooter!

03-07-2008, 09:49 AM	#7
AllieCat0817 Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southeastern Coastal SC Posts: 12,189 Gallery: AllieCat0817 Stats: 213.5/136.5/140 WOE: Atkins Maintenance Start Date: 5/23/03	I admit to having an 'all or nothing' attitude during weight loss and I think it helped me. It is NOT a good maintenance mindset at all though, and I no longer have it. Either way, there IS NO WAGON TO FALL OFF OF.

03-07-2008, 09:50 AM	#8
txjewel Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 851 Gallery: txjewel WOE: Atkins	Thanks! We need to be reminded of our "choices"!

03-07-2008, 09:51 AM	#9
mamagiff Bike Tart Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: right down the road from Bong Recreation Area! Posts: 38,492 Gallery: mamagiff WOE: Switched to Atkins Start Date: 3/24/08	Great post!!!

03-07-2008, 10:32 AM	#12
lisabinil Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: suburbs of Chicago Posts: 10,754 Gallery: lisabinil Stats: 214/194/180 287 in 00 WOE: Lc for optimum health Start Date: SBD 3/5/07,Atkins 4/18/07	Johnny Bowden writes about this in "Living the Low Carb Life". He says to take the word cheat out of your lowcarb vocabulary. Somedays you eat lower carb and some days higher carb but you always strive to eat the healthiest you can and don't constantly beat yourself up over the choices you make.

03-07-2008, 10:35 AM	#13
FeeFee Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 222 Gallery: FeeFee	[COLOR="Purple"]Thanks for this post Tooter. It makes alot of sense, and its inspiring[/COLOR]

03-07-2008, 04:21 PM	#14
LeanLioness Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Du Quoin, IL Posts: 5,638 Gallery: LeanLioness Stats: 240/199.4/120 WOE: Primal BluePrint Start Date: August 5, 2009	Love this thread!!!

03-07-2008, 04:25 PM	#15
Charski Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Central Coastal CA Posts: 13,200 Gallery: Charski Stats: 174 (WW)/130/150 goal 5'5" 56 years young WOE: ATKINS! now and always.... Start Date: 5/03	YEAH! I completely agree. Also why I don't like the word "cheat" - you can't cheat anyone but yourself, so why not call it a CHOICE and ditch the guilt - move on - keep your eye on the PRIZE - better health, less weight. No cheating, no falling, just CHOICES! YAY Tooter!

03-07-2008, 05:04 PM	#16
fawn Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12,099 Gallery: fawn Stats: sz 18/4 WOE: Whole organic, free range, wild caught, pastured Start Date: February 7, 2000	Great post Tooter! It is in fact about choices. Choose to feed yourself well. Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy future.

03-07-2008, 05:16 PM	#18
FloridaShell Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 5,720 Gallery: FloridaShell Stats: 163/128 sz 4-6/? WOE: My own way of l/cing Start Date: 1/2/08	You are so right Tooter!

03-07-2008, 06:02 PM	#20
momov2boys Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,612 Gallery: momov2boys	Awesome post, Tooter. Thanks for this very important reminder!

03-07-2008, 06:17 PM	#22
Rory8343 Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 13,075 Blog Entries: 12 Gallery: Rory8343 Stats: 20W/16M/8 WOE: Atkins is the Man! Start Date: January 2003 Start again November 2007	For the word geeks this is where the phrase came from fall off the wagon - Google Search "ON THE WAGON - "The original version of this expression 'on the water wagon' or 'water cart,' which isn't heard anymore, best explains the phrase. During the late 19th century, water carts drawn by horses wet down dusty roads in the summer. At the height of the Prohibition crusade in the 1890s men who vowed to stop drinking would say that they were thirsty indeed but would rather climb aboard the water cart to get a drink than break their pledges. From this sentiment came the expression 'I'm on the water cart,' I'm trying to stop drinking, which is first recorded in, of all places, Alice Caldwell Rice's 'Mrs. Wiggs of the Caggage Patch' (1901), where the consumptive Mr. Dick says it to old Mrs. Wiggs. The more alliterative 'wagon' soon replaced cart in the expression and it was eventually shortened to 'on the wagon.' 'Fall off the (water) wagon' made its entry into the language almost immediately after its abstinent sister."

03-07-2008, 06:18 PM	#23
Maggy MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,463 Gallery: Maggy Stats: 158/123/125 height 5'5 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 3/05	LOVE THIS POST Thank you for the reminder!! Keep going forward!!

03-07-2008, 06:39 PM	#25
London Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 4,711 Gallery: London WOE: Atkins Start Date: 1/06/03	Great Post Tooter!

03-07-2008, 07:09 PM	#27
sugarless4life Atkins Ambassador Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 12,480 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: sugarless4life Stats: 5'3 / 100 pounds / 53 yo /maintaining for 7 years WOE: Lost it with Atkins / RUNNING to keep it off! Start Date: January 19, 2002 - NEARLY 8 YEARS ON ATKINS	Exactly. No one "accidentally" falls face first into a chocolate cream pie. Betty

03-07-2008, 07:18 PM	#29
AllieCat0817 Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southeastern Coastal SC Posts: 12,189 Gallery: AllieCat0817 Stats: 213.5/136.5/140 WOE: Atkins Maintenance Start Date: 5/23/03	Rory you are funny. I just like how you put that about accepting responsibility for a choice instead of making things sound like an accident.

03-07-2008, 07:47 PM	#30
jacksmixedtape Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: going to school in NC Posts: 3,422 Gallery: jacksmixedtape Stats: 160/140ish, 5'11" WOE: gluten-free whole foods Start Date: May 2007	Beautifully said, to the Tooter and others. The all-or-nothing mentality was the biggest obstacle for me on this WOE! One cookie or candy bar or ____ does not destroy all of your hard work, and does not make 2,000 calories more of ____ okay. You just gotta mooove on!