Twisted Thinking . . . I need help!

[zeraspride]

Okay, gang, here is my story. I am close to calling goal. I'm not even sure how important it is to me that I lose these last 10-15 pounds. I (think) I look fairly good and I know I feel great. Here is my problem. I'm taking a short weekend trip to Hilton Head Island over labor day weekend and already my thoughts are turning to all the yummy foods I have been chosing to stay away from. Especially potatoes. For some strange reason I want french fries. I don't crave them, like I'm going out to binge on them any moment, but I have been fantasizing about them off and on for a couple of weeks. I don't want sugar. That's gone from my life completely now but the spuds won't seem to leave me alone!

I feel like I need an intervention or something because now I'm "planning" to have french fries and chicken fingers on my vacation. Last year when we went to Hilton Head I was so proud of myself that I didn't indulge in any off plan eating but now that I'm pretty much at my goal, I am starting to think it's okay to have a "little." I'm just scared that I'll wake up weeks after my vacation and have gained half or all of my weight back.

I just need some reassurances, kicks in the booty or whatever words of advice you guys have to offer. I'm not one to even think of "cheating" normally, not even for special occasions, but it's almost like someone is whispering seductively "you are so close to goal, it won't matter, you can rest easy, eat french fries" in my ear. Help get my thinking back on track. I have these horrible visions of me not being able to fit into any of my clothes and having to buy bigger sizes. I do NOT want that to happen!

[karlak85218]

Okay gals she needs our help Let come up with a plan that will help her out.


Karla

[justmarvi]

Lisa, you're so awesome and I understand how you're feeling and as you say, you're one of my sheros too.

It's hard to accept and work maintenance, kind of like finally realizing a size M really does fit when it's so natural to pick up the 2X.

I thought of emailing this to you but then thought, what-the-hay, let's make this a real deal as we always do. Some will think no, don't eat them, some will think it's okay.....this is life.

I've done it both ways, decided to enjoy myself year before last and then fell on my face and regained weight.....

And last year didn't eat what I was craving and did the same thing when I got back.

For me, it seems I have to have a mindset of okay and I think I have it now, this woe is forever, this is going to be okay and then get right back on.

Since you've been so devout since December and done so good, what would be wrong with you having a serving of French Fries before Labor Day, like now if you want them? Make it a special occasion - planned meal, in a controlled amount in a safe environment not at an all you can eat deal. I probably would as this really is life and not death after a serving of french fries. Lucky us, we finally found a way of eating that let's us do just that and know it's okay. JMO

On my vacation, I just decided not to eat sugar desserts....I ate meats, bacon, cheese, veggies, salads, full fat dressings, eggs and fruit (even splurged on a little watermelon, 2 sourdough rolls and 2 small baked potatoes, 1 slice low carb cheesecake and a bite of sugar free cake. After we got back to Galveston, for my first meal, I had a bunless burger and an order of fries at Fuddruckers (they had looked so good on the ship) and they were awesome and I knew I was done with them and that's that....

I just feel like, for me this time, it's going to work and I want to get to goal but realize that there are days to be good, most being super good and then a couple here and there to enjoy something I really want.

I told my husband this morning while I was eating my boiled egg that my stomach was probably yelling, where the heck is the bacon I've been getting every morning...... but my mind knows that's over so there except at special times unless it's a little turkey bacon, and I was glad.

I don't want to lead you astray, but I think it's safer to have a serving of fries than feel deprived for that long........

Good luck with your decision, hope this helps.

Hugs,

Marva

[CarolynF]

Hi..I'm not SB, but I have done Sugar Busters, Atkins, etc..etc..and have hit goal..and
now am a few pounds away.

Okay: This involves some pre-planning before you go..Say to yourself..When I go
on vacation, I can either LOSE WEIGHT, STAY THE SAME OR GAIN WEIGHT..which
do I want to do?? If you want to gain weight..then eat how you used to..and it will
come back..if you want to stay the same..then eat to maintain..(If you want fries..
then the whole rest of the time, you are on plan), if you want to lose weight..then eat
on-plan..

The problem I see is that you said "Now that I'm close to goal"..Well...let me tell you
maintaining your weight is just as difficult as losing it..even more so because you are
thinner and can't eat as much..Being close to goal doesn't mean that you can go
back to your old ways of eating..But, if you chose to eat the fries, etc., then you
will accept the consequences of possible weight gain..It's a choice...and YOU are in
control of what food goes into your mouth..the food is not in charge of YOU..so take
charge..

[zeraspride]

karla - thanks for starting the charge to my rescue. Once I hit the "send" button on my post, I felt infinitely better for some reason. It's like I knew my SBD buddies wouln't let me drown in own self-doubt and you guys have not!

marva - hon, what can I say, we totally totally think exactly alike! You know what type of fries I was/am looking forward to having on vacation? Fries from Fuddruckers! So when I read your post, I chuckled to myself. Yes, I have been very very good and pretty much eat on plan foods and have for a year and a half. Yes, I know I have to keep my mind around the fact that this is for life. I couldn't believe how upset I let myself get today over even the possibility of having a french fry. I felt like I was somehow betraying myself and the tenants of our SBD program. But if this is going to be for life and I make the choice to eat something like a small baked potatoe or a small order of fries, I have to get my head around the idea that I haven't undone the 107.5 pounds I have lost. Could this be a step leading me down the road to gaining the weight back? Yes, it could. But the choice is mine. I have to remember that. Just like I get up at 5:00 just about every morning and work my butt off to get in shape, I chose what goes in my mouth each and every time. Thank you my very special friend. I'm glad you put your comments to me out in the open because maybe someone else is struggling with this and needed to read your comments. Don't worry that you might be leading me astray. I have actually had almost identical thoughts as you have expressed. I do like your idea of trying a small fry in a controlled and safe environment and seeing how my body reacts to it. I might not be able to handle it and then again, I might. Either way I will keep you all informed about my experiment. Again, you are truly the rock of our forum and I'm so glad you're here!!!!

Carolyn - thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about maintenance. You know, I used to not believe people when they said maintenance is as hard or harder than losing the weight. I always thought to myself how that could be but now that I'm so close, I see it's a balancing act to stay within a weight range and that like you said, now that I'm over 100 pounds lighter, I don't require as much food, period. I also like what you said about making a choice as to what I want to come back from vacation weighing - the same, more, or being down a pound or two. Considering I haven't lost any weight (I lose inches like crazy now though) in about 3 months, I don't hope for a loss but I would like to come back in my usual 3-4 pound weight range. I have to be willing like you said to accepte the consequences and figure out just what maintenance means for me. Thanks again for sharing your experience and thoughts with me. I appreciate it!

Anyone else care to share. I'd be happy to listen. Thanks all!

[anadday]

hey lisa you are coming my way!!!
i say if when you get here you still want them, have them but set your limit and have them only once. you have been a rock with your woe and if you want a couple of fries, i say have them, you could always step back to phase one if you felt like you needed too when you get back from vacation.
if you get to your vaction and decide you dont want the fries...then great, but i think if you come with the mind set that you CAN NOT have them and then do, it will put a downer on your trip.
you could always share an order with someone and just have a couple. enough to satisfy you.
hope this helps

[karlak85218]

Gals I knew that you would come to Lisa's aid.
We do take care of each other.

As you know the first french fry tastes the same as the last.
Count them out if you have to.

Karla