What is cheating??
For eight months I had no candy, ice cream, cake blah blah blah.(I did have some homemade cookies at Christmas) I am 9 months out now and I have had small bites of candy and such. What do you consider a cheat and what is a treat? I am not on a diet, so how can I cheat? I am a normal person, who watches what she eats. I try to make the best decision and always plan ahead. Do you feel guilty if you eat a piece of cake? or do you just consider it a treat because you do not eat it everyday? Is this something that we struggle with at first and then come to the conclusion that it is OK to eat real, normal, unhealthy snacks(once in a while)? How do we find the balance? I do not want to Never eat something again just because I had wls. That makes no sense to me.
That is what I have been thinking lately, what are your thoughts? And where are you in this process. And what did people say to you the first time they seen you eating something "bad" after wls? Tell Me, Tell Me.
Thanks,
Cheryl
That is what I have been thinking lately, what are your thoughts? And where are you in this process. And what did people say to you the first time they seen you eating something "bad" after wls? Tell Me, Tell Me.
Thanks,
Cheryl
Cheryl --
Like you said.... this isn't a diet. This is life. So "cheating" doesn't seem like a word that fits into that mindset.
I believe that the people who have an "all or nothing" attitude about the food they eat are the ones in danger of the biggest falls. Nobody can say that they'll never eat another piece of chocolate for the rest of their lives -- well, you can say it, but then what happens when you eat a piece of chocolate? Are you so devastated at your so-called failure that you give up completely and go off the deep end? I think having such absolutes lead to disordered eating and an unhealthy emotional state.
My goal with this surgery and throughout the past 2.5 years of my WLS journey has been to develop a healthy relationship with food. I care about myself and my health so much more these days. And because I have a respect for my body and the decisions i've made to live a healthy life, it's easier to make healthy choices when it comes to what I eat, how I move and how I think. So yes, I'll eat a piece of cake or potato chips or a Hershey's Kiss --- but I'm not eating half a cake or a whole bag of chips or a handful of Kisses. And I'm also eating plenty of healthy foods in the rest of my day's menu to accommodate a Hershey's Kiss here and there.
My goal is to make healthy choices in my life 90% of the time. And that 90% needs to cover food, exercise and emotional health --- so if I'm slacking on workouts, then my eating better be 100%. But if I'm working my butt off with exercise, then my eating can be at 90%. I also have a life-motto to Live Without Regret. So if I overindulge in sweets (like at Christmas time) I don't beat myself up over it or regret my decisions. I just get up, dust myself off and move forward. Every decision I make in life leads me to where I am today and if I want to be in a certain place a year from now, then I know that the decisions I make today must lead me to that spot down the road.
Food is not bad or evil, it's just food. If I eat something unhealthy, I don't call it cheating. In fact, I don't even call it a treat (that gives the impression that it's a reward and I no longer reward myself with treats). It's just part of life. People eat chocolate. I'm a person. So I'm just being human and living my life.
Pam
Like you said.... this isn't a diet. This is life. So "cheating" doesn't seem like a word that fits into that mindset.
I believe that the people who have an "all or nothing" attitude about the food they eat are the ones in danger of the biggest falls. Nobody can say that they'll never eat another piece of chocolate for the rest of their lives -- well, you can say it, but then what happens when you eat a piece of chocolate? Are you so devastated at your so-called failure that you give up completely and go off the deep end? I think having such absolutes lead to disordered eating and an unhealthy emotional state.
My goal with this surgery and throughout the past 2.5 years of my WLS journey has been to develop a healthy relationship with food. I care about myself and my health so much more these days. And because I have a respect for my body and the decisions i've made to live a healthy life, it's easier to make healthy choices when it comes to what I eat, how I move and how I think. So yes, I'll eat a piece of cake or potato chips or a Hershey's Kiss --- but I'm not eating half a cake or a whole bag of chips or a handful of Kisses. And I'm also eating plenty of healthy foods in the rest of my day's menu to accommodate a Hershey's Kiss here and there.
My goal is to make healthy choices in my life 90% of the time. And that 90% needs to cover food, exercise and emotional health --- so if I'm slacking on workouts, then my eating better be 100%. But if I'm working my butt off with exercise, then my eating can be at 90%. I also have a life-motto to Live Without Regret. So if I overindulge in sweets (like at Christmas time) I don't beat myself up over it or regret my decisions. I just get up, dust myself off and move forward. Every decision I make in life leads me to where I am today and if I want to be in a certain place a year from now, then I know that the decisions I make today must lead me to that spot down the road.
Food is not bad or evil, it's just food. If I eat something unhealthy, I don't call it cheating. In fact, I don't even call it a treat (that gives the impression that it's a reward and I no longer reward myself with treats). It's just part of life. People eat chocolate. I'm a person. So I'm just being human and living my life.
Pam
My Recipe Index is packed full of yumminess!
Visit my blog: Journey to a Healthier Me ...or my Website
The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman. ~Lysa TerKeurst author of Made to Crave
Pam once again your wisdom is so appreciated.
"When we stop running away from the situation that is scary - that is the moment we discover how strong we really are. So, acknowledge your strength...rejoice in it...and start breathing in life, as the beautiful, strong soul (being) that you truly are." - Rachna Sirtaj.......Love & Peace
Cheryl,
I completely agree with Pam. I did not have WLS to be on a 'diet' the rest of my life. I've already dieted my entire life so far. That being said, I am mentally just not there yet and this is something I am working on right now. Mentally, I still feel GUILTY when I eat 'bad' food. Last night, for example, I had a bowl of potato chips. Felt guilty, guilty, guilty!! But why? I was well within my range of calories for the day so although it was maybe not the healthiest choice, it was perfectly okay for me to eat them. But in my mind, I felt guilty.
I struggle with this daily and really need to work on it. I attend Pam's support group meetings and I've had this discussion with her before how I'm scared to eat sweets, etc. I really want to get to the point I can eat EVERYTHING in moderation without feeling guilty, including sweets. For me, I really think it's because I have been heavy all of my life and have overeaten so badly in the past and gained weight that I have this guilt thing going on. I want to have a healthy relationship with food and be able to have a cookie and not worry about gaining weight or feeling guilty. I'm just not there yet mentally.
Nan
I completely agree with Pam. I did not have WLS to be on a 'diet' the rest of my life. I've already dieted my entire life so far. That being said, I am mentally just not there yet and this is something I am working on right now. Mentally, I still feel GUILTY when I eat 'bad' food. Last night, for example, I had a bowl of potato chips. Felt guilty, guilty, guilty!! But why? I was well within my range of calories for the day so although it was maybe not the healthiest choice, it was perfectly okay for me to eat them. But in my mind, I felt guilty.
I struggle with this daily and really need to work on it. I attend Pam's support group meetings and I've had this discussion with her before how I'm scared to eat sweets, etc. I really want to get to the point I can eat EVERYTHING in moderation without feeling guilty, including sweets. For me, I really think it's because I have been heavy all of my life and have overeaten so badly in the past and gained weight that I have this guilt thing going on. I want to have a healthy relationship with food and be able to have a cookie and not worry about gaining weight or feeling guilty. I'm just not there yet mentally.
Nan
Nan
HW 300 / SW 280 / CW 138 / GW 140
Hit Goal 4/2/2010
I allow myself anything I want.... in moderation. I'm lucky, I will dump on a certain amount of sweets, it varies depending on what I'm eating so I listen to my body. But I also listen to it with 'good' food too. I try not to squeeze in the last bite of anything, salad, chicken, protein shake.....I don't squeeze in anything, again I listen to my body.
I am by no means an authority on this journey, but I am 2.5 years out and if I see myself gaining I get on fitday for a week or so and get myself back in line. That is what has worked for me so far.
On the other side of the coin. My husband is a very black or white person when it comes to food (he had surgery March '09) and he struggles soooooo much because of it. For him one bad day can throw him into weeks of bad choices. Then he's gung ho again (I call it anal thinking), not eating 1 calorie more than he should. Holiday's, Birthday's be dammed, he's 'on'. To me that is way to destructive and impossible to follow..... not real life.
Your doing great, have a treat here and there, but more importantly listen to your body and you'll continue to do great.
Edie
I am by no means an authority on this journey, but I am 2.5 years out and if I see myself gaining I get on fitday for a week or so and get myself back in line. That is what has worked for me so far.
On the other side of the coin. My husband is a very black or white person when it comes to food (he had surgery March '09) and he struggles soooooo much because of it. For him one bad day can throw him into weeks of bad choices. Then he's gung ho again (I call it anal thinking), not eating 1 calorie more than he should. Holiday's, Birthday's be dammed, he's 'on'. To me that is way to destructive and impossible to follow..... not real life.
Your doing great, have a treat here and there, but more importantly listen to your body and you'll continue to do great.
Edie
You don't have to have a lump to have breast cancer!
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
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WOW Edie
I didn't realize your hubby had surgery too. that is really nice.
I didn't realize your hubby had surgery too. that is really nice.
"When we stop running away from the situation that is scary - that is the moment we discover how strong we really are. So, acknowledge your strength...rejoice in it...and start breathing in life, as the beautiful, strong soul (being) that you truly are." - Rachna Sirtaj.......Love & Peace
Nan,
Im am SOOOOOOOOOO right there with you . How far out did you start eating food that wasnt so good for you ? Im getting a bit scared because a few months ago I never even thought about eating chocolate or a piece of candy, now I think about it and every few days I seem to have it to .
It scares me to be honest with you. I'm 9 months out and feel almost no restriction in my puch anymore, Of cource certain food I feel constricted.
Tee
Im am SOOOOOOOOOO right there with you . How far out did you start eating food that wasnt so good for you ? Im getting a bit scared because a few months ago I never even thought about eating chocolate or a piece of candy, now I think about it and every few days I seem to have it to .
It scares me to be honest with you. I'm 9 months out and feel almost no restriction in my puch anymore, Of cource certain food I feel constricted.
Tee
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