What happens if I overdo?

We've all done it.  We've had days where no matter what we eat, or how much we eat, we want more.  I think this is a diet fact of life.  Accept it.  The difference between success and failure is in what you do when you spend a day eating everything in sight.

When this happens, it's so easy to get discouraged.  I've done this and it's gotten me fatter.  I get discouraged, hate myself, then continue to eat the next day, and the next day and the day after that.  I've eaten through several months and ended up 60 lbs. heavier.

What have I learned from this?  I've learned that I need to accept that some days, food needs to rule.  I've also learned that food can't take control every day.  When I have a day where I can't seem to get enough, I've stopped beating myself up over it.  I'll eat anything and everything for that one day, but the next day, I get right back on track.  What happened the day before shouldn't be an issue.  What matters is what happens the next day and the day after that.

In the beginning of my weight loss journey, I noticed that there were quite a few days out of the month where food was all I could think about.  As the time went on, I noticed that I wasn't having those days as often.  Now, I think I have a day like that once every few months.  When it hits, I indulge.  The next day, I exercise.

I've said it before and I'll say it again:  If you keep depriving yourself of the foods you love, you're going to snap.  Set a goal for yourself.  If you love cheesecake, tell yourself that you won't have cheesecake for one week.  When that week is over, ask yourself if you could wait another week for that cheesecake.  If the answer is "no", go get it!  If the answer is "yes", then give it another week.  

There's also another trick that I've learned from Weight Watchers.  I remember my first leader telling us that if we feel hungry, especially after eating, that we should wait 20 minutes before eating anything else.  In that 20 minutes, have some water.  In most cases, you'll no longer feel the need for more food.  If you do feel the need to eat more, try having a salad or some fruit.

Just try not to sabotage yourself.  Remember, one day doesn't ruin a weight loss plan; it's what you do the next day that matters.