Ok guys, I have a confession to make.... I ate way too much junk today. Hubby and I havent any time together in weeks so we went out to dinner. Our appetizer was fries smother in cheese and bacon with a ranch dip, then I had the philly cheese steak sandwich with fries and gravy. Granted, I only ate half the sandwich and a few fries then gave the rest to the garbage disposal (ie my husband), but it was a caloriefest nonetheless. Now don't think I'm relapsing and that I am going to start to inhale every calorie in sight, but do you ever splurge like that and feel like you just gained it all back? Seriously, I am looking in the mirror and I see the me before i lost the inches and that all my hard work was in vain. I know this can't happen from one meal, but its how i feel.

yes. im sure it is how you feel but realistically you couldnt have put all the weight back on. start from now and get back on track. dont torture yourself by weighing yourself now or overdoing it with exercise. just do what you normally were doing. everyone gets off track once in awhile. its when we dont get back on track is when it becomes problematic.

Part of losing the weight is developing a healthy relationship with food. And yes it is OK to treat yourself every now and then. But remember as Jenn said it is just one meal and a treat is an occassional thing.

Examine why you made the choices that you did: Was it that you just had no willpower when you got to the restaurant? Then may be this early in the game you need to make sure you don't put yourself in these types of situations too often (try to choice a restaurant with a healthier type menu). Or were you too hungry when you got there?

Or did you make this choice because this is your favorite food and you have worked hard and this was a reward for all the hard work? It is OK to treat yourself occassional and let me guess before you started would you have eaten everything? If so by not finishing the whole meal you've made progress and eating less of your favorite foods (ocassionally) is an OK way to treat yourself. A hgher calorie meal every now and then mixes up your metabolism (keeps it out of starvation mode).

One of the things that I have done to combat some of the temptations of eating out is to try to strike a balance. I love philly cheese steak so I would order that but I'd have it with a green salad and for go the appetizer.

The whole lifestyle change thing is a learning curve and even questioning the fact of what you ate is a step in the right direction!

i'm spending all day next saturday at a sports bar. i'll be eating chicken wings and drinking beer for around 6-8 hours. i fully expect to gain 1 lb that day... the alternatives are to not go or to not eat wings and drink beer both of which are completely unacceptable.

one step back, two steps forward!

From April 7- 15 I will be on vacation with my husband and 16 friends. We are going to an all inclusive resort in Cuba. And what do you think I will be doing!!!! I have earn it...I have worked hard since Sept 2007 and this is my reward. Yes I will try to exercise while I am gone and I can't drink for 14-16 hour straight....lucy if I can drink for 2 hours!!! I will also try to make good choice in the restaurants most of the time but hell I will be on vacation!!!

The plan will be to get back at it when I return. I have an appointment booked with my PT for April 16 to get back into my regular routine! There are time in life that necessiate one enjoying oneself...the key is to get right back at it!!!

Enjoy your wings and beer Dave...I will be enjoying my week in the sand and sun!

sounds like a good plan kathy

another dave-why do you have to eat and drink for 6-8 hours? cant you balance it and set a goal to maintain your weight?

Thanks everyone!
I feel much better! It was definitely not a loss of willpower, it was more like I saw it on the menu and was like "You know what? I have been good all week, dang it I am going to reward myself!"

I think it was more that I had finally lost 3 pounds on the scale after a month and a half and was scared I screwed that up. But I am not stepping on the scale till Thursday, once I've had a little time to redeem myself

I've been eating crap for the last week, and I haven't gained at all, amazingly.

Spring break sucks.

Oh well, back on track tommorow.