In need of some positive reinforcement

[newoutlookonlife 46]

Hello, I am here to out myself. I have had an amazing journey so far but for the last two weeks I have slipped into an old bad habit. A little history.. I am 4 months post sleeve,I am down 72 lbs which is amazing!! I feel like a million bucks! Three weeks ago I hit a stall. I was okay for the first week but then the second week I was getting discouraged and it was Easter...so I had a few chocolate eggs. let me just say that I know my loss has been huge in that short period of time and I am by no means complaining but I never expected the psychological impact a stall would have on me.. I haven't gone one day since without eating at least one chocolate egg. My worst day would have been 6 mini chocolate eggs which is nothing compared to what I used to eat but still it is leading me down that slippery slope that I don't want to go down. I am very thankful for my sleeve, I have awesome support, I have a therapist and support group which I have been using. i have an support group on monday and a therapist appointment in to weeks so i am looking for some extra support in the mean time. I just can't seem to make it one day without one damn chocolate... I track my intake everyday and even with the chocolate I haven't been over 800 cals, 50 carbs or 15 grams of fat so my twisted mind is telling me its okay...even though I know that's the old tricks coming out.. Really what I am looking for is some positive reinforcement, psychological motivation, any things you have done in the past to help reset this mind frame. Thanks in advance

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

You know what you have to do.

You are doing so well, you don't want to start up with bad habits or open the floodgates to other slider foods and justifications. Toss the eggs, get them out of your reach and start fresh tomorrow.

You got this! Good luck !

[Shelley9 36]

I've been doing exactly the same thing, but I have found one difference this time - 2 or 3 eggs and I am satisfied. Since this is a new way of life, I am going to allow myself a tiny indulgence rather than beat myself up about not eating chocolate. As long as the rest of my food plan is on track, and I am aware of 'my slippery slope', I think I am able to find a balance that works for me. So far so good.

[vickyl 8]

I've stopped losing!! 6 weeks and nothing! I'm 3 months out and lost 25 lbs. I'm beginning to become desperate.. 80 gms Protein daily! Gym.. Work full time..

[SkinnyMalink 44]

I track my intake everyday and even with the chocolate I haven't been over 800 cals, 50 carbs or 15 grams of fat...

Have you been specifically told not to eat chocolate (or foods with sugar) by your doctor, therapist, or nutritionist? If not, I think the biggest harm here is not the chocolate but your angst and guilt over it.

I allow myself a certain number of "fun" calories per day. I am very strict about tracking my calorie consumption and expenditure and usually schedule up to 10% worth of “comfort food calories” every day.

What I do to prevent going overboard is I enter all my food for the day into myfitnesspal.com in advance. What I mean is that I decide what I am going to eat every morning and then enter all my meals in the morning while I'm drinking my coffee. At that time (when I'm not too hungry), I decide what treats I am going to eat for that day. Sometimes it's Cookies, or cake, or even a Baby Ruth candy bar. But I plan everything in advance and I strictly stick to the plan for that day.

Unless you have been specifically told by your healthcare professionals to avoid chocolate and all other sweets, you might want to rethink your position on this. My doctor specifically told me not to avoid comfort foods as this can lead to excessive frustration and binge eating. This moderation approach has worked for me for almost two years now. I have been 8 pounds under goal for over eight months.

Also, I am not a doctor or nutritionist but it seems to me that 800 calories per day are not enough unless you are fasting (I follow the Fast Diet to maintain my weight loss and eat 600 calories on fast days only). You may be putting yourself into starvation mode, which would explain the stall.

I suggest you speak to your therapist and nutritionist about moderation and what your optimal total number of calories per day should be. After my initial and quick weight loss of 35 pounds, I lost the remaining 43 pounds at about a pound and a half per week. I was very happy with that because I was able to eat around 1800 calories per day on that program.

[T'snewstart 251]

Hi well I can sure understand the frustration you have been feeling. I personally am a chocolate lover. So I have incorporated 1 chocolate pure protien bar into my daily intake of calories. If I want more I will have SF pudding. If I have regular sugar it's hard to get off of it. It's like a drug...... I have to just bit the bullet and resist. Anyhow, currently the protien bars, sf pudding and sf hard candy have worked for me. And I have a roommate that has sweets all over and I am not even tempted. Hope this helps! Best Wishes Tina

[Takingcontrol 467]

So you indulged.....we ALL do! It's only human! Now, throw them out & continue on! The biggest thing is you realized that you were headed in the wrong direction...unlike previous times!! I say that's a NSV!

[newoutlookonlife 46]

Thanks for the advice and support.. Today is a new day

Pre tracking in my fitness pal is a great idea! I have done it at times to help prevent me from eating something I thought wouldn't put me over... My doctor has not said stay away from chocolate per say but moderation. I was allowing the occasional treat so that I wasn't so tempted and I was doing good with that until recently. I guess what I feel the most guilt about is not necessarily the fact that I ate the chocolate but that I am on the slippery slope of emotional eating.. I say that because yesterday when I posted about this I used the chocolate to feed my anxiety I was having in that moment . The important thing is that I recognized it, that's a big step.

Onwards and upwards now. Thanks for supporting my vent