Reina Estrella's Journal, 01 January 2008

Yep we all have had cheat days. But it's important to get right back up instead keep cheating over & over. Hang in there. 

Maybe have a cheat day set up ahead of time - like on Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day or a birthday party you might be attending. I might cheat next on the first week of March when my Dad, his twin sister and their brother all celebrate their birthdays on the same week on one day...I cheated on Christmas Eve big time lots of cookies... but got right on track the 26th and the weight started melting off within another week. Stick to it and the weight will come off with this diet I've lost thirteen pounds, not really 9.8 since the first week I didn't register correctly under Atkins... keep going and you wiil do well! 

It sounds to me like you have difficulty controlling your "cheats" so my answer is just don't do them. If you view this as a lifestyle change rather than a diet you will realize that cheats just aren't part of the program. Yes, we all eat things we shouldn't from time to time but you may want to wait until you get to pre-maintainence before you even try to eat something off plan. By then you should have a good solid understanding of what you need to do to lose the weight and keep it off. I recommend getting a number of cookbooks so that you can find recipies for de-carbed versions of some of your favorite things. You really CAN do this!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR...today is the first day of a new year..and a new start..time to dust yourlf off and get bck on track and hit that goal you want to achieve..you already kno what you need to do, you just have to go that extra step now and take it to the next step..after that it becomes a habit..and from ther...anything is possible... 

Hey girl. Don't fret... last year is over and now is a great time for a brand new beginning! I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that you didn't gain alone. It's time to get back to business. Just be thankful for the time you had, the holiday, and friends and family... but now, it's time to focus on the diet and exercise again. You'll do it!!!!! 

I try not to have "cheat days" but I do allow myself up to one "cheat meal" a week, that way if I want to go to dinner with friends or family, it's fine. Even when I go out to eat for my cheat meal, I ask for a doggy bag right away, and put half of the food in there (my husband will usually eat it the next day). That way, I'm watching my portions! Cheating only works if it is planned. If I cheated everytime I felt like it, I'd end up off of my lifestyle change, and gain back those few pounds I've worked so hard to lose! Don't worry about the weight you gained last year. Just look forward to how much you can LOSE this year! 

Great attitude! You go girl!!! 

This time of year is tough to stay strong, I know! I dug myself a little 30lb hole from XMAS of 2006, and now are getting back on the horse and riding. I lost about 50 lbs on Atkins a few years ago, and am going to give it a go again. Almost from the beginning, I made some modifications to the diet, as I know myself well enough to know that I just do not have the will power to give up...chocolate or chips forever. Soooo, I take one day off each week to have a dinner where I can eat anything I want. Interesting, it helps get through the week to know that on Sat I can have my hearts desire - and then find I could only eat just a bit of it after the first few weeks. To get through the rest of the week I usually make a plan and do some cooking on Sunday. I found that if I had to think too much about the diet during the week I got frustrated. If I have things in the fridge or cabinet that are "safe" I did ok...that is my plan for this time too, I have hope I will see some good results. Getting a little long in the tooth, and losing is getting harder. 

The holidays are hard, but now they're over and you can get back to your plans. It's amazing how one episode of cheating can lead to others. Good luck! 

I know it's hard. I fell into that trap too. Let's do this thing and get back on.