Diet fatigue

During this journey it's easy to get diet fatigue.  You become sick and tired of counting every calorie, getting on the scale with a mixture of dread and hope, depriving yourself while everyone else indulges - I can go on and on.

There is nothing wrong with taking a diet break.  If you are getting so frustrated and discouraged that it is making you miserable, it might be time for that break.  

There are a few things to consider, though.  Are you taking a LONG break?  If so, you should try eating maintenance calories.  See what you body thinks about eating the amount you plan to eat pretty much forever.

OR, are you taking a 1 or 2 day break?  That's what I did on rare occasions on my way down and it's what I do now.  In that case it's usually okay to over-indulge - by a LOT.

Here are the important things to consider - are you the type of person that can eat really badly - lots of sweets and carbs - and get back on track?  Or does eating something like that send you off the rails for a long time?  Only you know your history and what carby sweets do to you.  For me, I can eat that type of stuff and then it satisfies me for weeks afterwards.  But for some people it triggers something in their brain and LOOK OUT.

So will you be able to get on track after taking a break?  Are you mentally prepared to gain some weight?  Those are tough but real questions you have to ask.

And while we're on it, no decision you make has to be a FINAL FOREVER THIS IS IT decision.  If you choose to maintain for a while that is PERFECTLY fine.  Even if you have not arrived at your original goal weight.  Even if you are not the same weight as other people you see.  And guess what?  If you gain a few pounds, that is not forever, either!!

Some people are perfectly happy and healthy being ABOVE the ideal BMI.  And that is totally and completely ok.  If you have lost 5, 10, 50, 100 pounds, you have done FANTASTIC.  You have made sacrifices that other people never have and never will make.  

So take a breath, evaluate where you are.  Make some decisions, but remember, they are NOW decisions, not FOREVER decisions.  And please, be nice to yourself.

It makes me so sad to see people angry and frustrated with themselves and berating themselves for not being perfect.  Give yourself a hug for me!!