diehard3's Journal, 27 September 2017

The battle between the mind and body is a constant one. Acknowledge it, moment by moment and remind yourself how far you've come. Much success to you! 

I'm blaming it on the change of season. I feel your pain and understand what you're going through. Every day I see how close I am to my mini goal, yet some how I manage to ignore what my mind is telling me, because ... Hang in there! We can do this if we believe we can.  

Thank you for the positive reinforcement Every night I go to bed and in my mind I am beating myself up for being so weak. To day I am fighting on the front line and so far I am making some progress.  

Get a rubber band, place it on your wrist and snap it when you are about to cheat. You will stop quickly. Experience is a great teacher. 

I'd like to make a couple of suggestions, if I may. I have been a sugar addict all my life. I had to give it up 12 years ago for health reasons but I still need "treats" to keep me from feeling deprived. The first thing is to drink water whenever you are craving something sweet. A lot of times your body will translate thirst into hunger. The second thing is to eat something with protein like a lowfat cheese stick. Still craving something sweet? I have found some sugar free snacks (no aspartame!) that help me feel satisfied. The first is fruit. Apples, nectarines, berries and other fruit is my go to snack when I want something sweet. The next thing I love is jello sugar free pudding cups. 60 calories each, I allow myself no more than one a day. I also like the Kind Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate bars, which are 200 calories each. I eat these when I need a good pick me up and it's hours until dinner. They taste great, have 8 grams of protein and only 17 grams of carbs. Good luck! I hope some of this helps.  

Also, start your day with protein like eggs or nonfat plain Greek yogurt with berries to cut down on sugar cravings. It really works. 

I understand how you feel. I've done it many times, saying I'm starting a diet but can't get through a day. I know that unless I'm really committed in my mind, that it won't work. I can tell when I am really motivated and committed and usually I need to wait until that happens to try a weight loss plan. This site, reading the posts and logging my food every day really keeps me focused. So does joining challenges. 

I've had the same trouble, but finally have completed 3 weeks LCHP. The first week was really tough, (white knuckle tough) but I finally did it. I will concede that the cravings are lessened not gone completely. Faith in my HP is key to any success. I went to a party on Saturday night and had 2 bites of a "flour-less" cake and 2 bites of apple pie. I was so afraid it would derail my momentum. I got right back to my WOE and have been ok. Every time we relapse it makes it harder to pull ourself out of the muck and mire. Deep down, you know you can do it again. Keep the Faith Sister....don't despair. 🥚 🥗 

I am having the same trouble right now. I got back on and lost 15 of the 25 pounds I gained from Christmas to May (it comes on a lot easier than it comes off) but it is fall and that is my worst time for dieting...I get SADs in the fall and between that and the body's natural tendency at this time of year to carb load for survival...I feel like I am fighting on all fronts and then there is candy everywhere for Halloween and Thanksgiving food blow out and Christmas and ....god sometimes the head just says WTF why bother...who is is going to hurt. Yeah...me two months from now when the scales show the damage. I have done it before and I can do it again. All you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try try again. And KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE..we are all trying and failing and trying and succeeding and trying and failing. Take comfort  

Maybe you all have an "inner bear" that is trying to come out in the fall? Not that you can use that as an excuse, but something to be aware of. It is common with SADS. Your body wants to put on fat, then hibernate. Unfortunately, we aren't able to hibernate... 

I don't know if what you post for your daily meals is complete, but if it is, I suggest you eat more and exercise more, even if just a walk. And come up with treats that satisfy. I love sweets and there are plenty of carb free sweets to choose from, I love chocolate and the Russell Stover sugar free bars are wonderful. I love pancakes so hooray for Carbquik. I know you are close to your goal which makes it harder to lose, but if you can't lose go for maintenance. I am five above maintenance now so very motivated! 

I love food as well. We will get though this 

Keep at it. I know you will meet the challenge.