I NEED A KICK IN THE ....

....you-know-what!!!

This past weekend I acted like I didn't have surgery almost 10 months ago. I didn't eat a lot but I ate stuff that I hadn't touched since surgery. Stuff like Cheetos!! WTH? I wouldn't touch Cheetos even before surgery. Or Halo top. I know icecream is a trigger so why in heck would I get it? It was almost like a switch turned off in my brain and I was no longer vigilant. I'm getting too ****y for my own good. I feel good in my clothes, I don't stand out in a crowd so the devil on my shoulder tells me to venture out menu-wise and try things.

Argh! I don't wanna be a regain story, I still have weight to lose to get to goal. I don't wanna go down this road. I need to go back to basics and get rid of those "cheat" thoughts. Please tell me if you have gone through this and what you did to get back on track.

The only thing that ever works for me when I make a deviation into carbs is to immediately go as low-carb, high protein as possible and white knuckle the cravings for more carbs. If you do that for a day or two you won't be as tempted anymore.

This is also what works for me - I tend to fall off the low carb wagon over the weekend due to socializing or chaotic schedules but then resolve to keep on the straight and narrow over the week and so far it's worked ok. I'm not going to beat myself up over three bites of the family birthday cake I had yesterday (even if the scale is up a bit) but I'm going to get rid of all the sugar and grains today!

you can do this - I believe in you!

I agree with the other comments, for me it's those carbs! I think it is great that you are addressing the concern now and not waiting for there to be an issue.

I agree with everyone and just want to reiterate not to get angry at yourself or beat yourself up. BE KIND to yourself as this is a normal occurrence and something everyone deals with (skinny & fat people) at some point. Myself, I ate way too many simple carbs this past weekend so I need to reign it in by focusing on protein and non-starchy vegetables this week. This is what works for me to lessen/halt cravings for unhealthy carbs and processed food.

I go as lo carb as possible, high protein. tons of water. up the fiber/fat.

You realized and stopped. Get back on the wagon and like Erin says white knuckle it.

Trigger foods suck. Even at four years out I still can't have things in the house. Like I think my head is cured. I try to tell myself you can eat in moderation. Nope I can't have stuff i the house like that.

Whats a trigger for me is watching the food network. I can be not hungry watching it then something looks good and I start to get head hihunger. I can actually watch chopped since most of the stuff is just slopped together.

I also avoid all cooking shows., most every recipe calls for multiple things I can't include in my diet...by the time I remove and replace those, I have a whole different recipe! LOL

Everyone has different eating issues. and will learn to make trade offs..with them selves..Avoidance is certaintly one way to avoid bad mistakes.

.. I can't drink/use any milk products/save one.. a whole lactose free milk. which I use, one oz.daily for coffee creamer. any increase in the amount of it ( is not pretty).

I don't use soy,legumes(-stomach issues.and frequent gastritis)...Last summer I was able to add one ounce servings of ice cream, 2-3 times ..for the first time in 10 years.(.I also had to take 5 lactaid tablets.)..I am grossly lacking in almost every enzyme for digestion...secondary to surgery and repetitive gastritis.

Have finally gotten a handle on that by adding massive amounts of enzymes... the ones I were taking were not strong enough/right ingredients....

Ok STOP kicking yourself, there are plenty who will do that for you.

The ball is in your court. It is on you. You know you better than anyone. I think we all have had a challenge similar .

I include some regular foods, in very tight limitation occassionally. They are usually a huge let down...unless it is something I have cooked and know is healthy, but still DIFFerent! Just because a food is not in your regular intake does not eman you can't ever have it again, but that you will tightly control what you eat within guidelines to amitain your tool and weight. Just know that some of those foods will trigger cravings, and everyone is different. You will have to watch and record what your triggers are and avoid those as you learn which foods .

Cheetos, I used to love them ,( but not often, once a mo/so no addiction there..)and hostess cupcakes... I was out , about 2 months ago,and my blood sugar bottomed out...had to have something fast to get it up..all i could find in the store i was in, was a chocolate cupcake, that i could chew... It tasted like plastic!. I ate the cake part only after i tasted the rest.. It has been 23 years since my surgery, after a food makes you sick enough times, it kinda helps reinforce...It is not good for you.I can probably count the times i have eaten these 2 foods on both hands..combined... plastic hostess cup cakes killed the desire for it the next time i passed the cupcake counter..LOL

Get back on the road. Do what YOU need to do..Go back to your high protein and low carbs. Do your diet diary. Complete your fluid assessment and intake ledger.. track your weight loss, and assess where you want to be and set your new goals....maintain at a lower weight? or just more fit?

See if you can isolate what triggered the "vigilant switch being turned off".. for me it is food fatigue. Changing up your menu every day will help with this... I often cook foods for 3 days- 2 days in a row. I put portions for one day,from each recipe, in the freezer, marked. and alternate the other portions....

....day one i have meal #1, .. On day 2 =meal #2..... day 3 meal #1, .... day 4=Meal #2..

. I have two meals reserved cooked in the freezer.I rotate them out with the next recipe.That way i have three recipes over 9 meals.(i use these for lunch/dinner) Breakfast is always breakfast foods.

.Day 5 i will make/Meal #3 for 3 days.( again reserve one/or 2 for freezer).

.day 6 is meal #1 ....and day 7= meal#2. .. day 8= 3# meal day 9= an prepare meal number 4 or eat from recipe #3

Carb cravings? , B complex sublingual 2 cc a day stops my carb cravings in 2 days.It was recommended by my nutritionist.

Thank you for all your great suggestions.