I am probably going to be able to count the nice, perfect sunny days on one hand this summer (AUGUST 2nd BEING ONE OF THEM). So later today I will be taking advantage of the sun. This ‘live it up while you can’ attitude got me thinking about things in terms of food (of course).
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I (and probably many of you) have attempted “food challenges” or “diets”- whatever you want to call them, that tell you to eat a specified diet for so many days. When I try to do this I always start the week off great, aaaaand then the weekend comes.
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This happened when I was doing the Whole 30 challenge. I am so good all week and then the weekend comes and something will come up. In my head will be a constant battle between two forces.
“But you feel so great being good all week” ,“It’s really not that hard to just say no” ,“Wine isn’t going anywhere…it will be around next month too”
VS.
“Why are you even doing this? You’re skinny enough”, “YOLO”, “How often do you get to see ______________, just get what you want”, “There’s no reason you can’t enjoy yourself”
Usually, the second set of voices wins. And I end up regretting it. Usually I get back on track the next day and everything is fine. But I do suffer physical effects of indulging like bloating, sick stomach and more cravings.
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Enjoying myself at Red Lobster ^^
It got me coming to the conclusion that social events and being social is the only thing that makes me ‘cave’. If it’s a Tuesday night and Austin is sitting next to me eating peanut butter fudge ice cream- I could care less. I will be perfectly content with my Carrot Cake Pudding. It’s not even an option to cheat. At all.
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Seriously, go make this^^
But if it’s a Friday night and some friends ask us to a bar, I’d really rather just enjoy myself instead of sitting cooped up on my couch by myself because I can’t drink or whatever. I’ve also had a lot of wedding related functions, and I find myself saying that I need to fully enjoy these moments and not obsess over food.
And I think I just have to come to terms with that, and not feel guilty. This is what works for me- staying super strict during the week in order to enjoy myself on weekends. In my mind it’s worth it. I’d rather enjoy myself then obsess, worry and stress over not eating/drinking this or that. My question is this- what makes YOU cave- is it stress? Emotions? Just seeing the food? Or is it a social issue like mine?
That being said- I’ll probably be enjoying some cocktails on one of the only nice days we’ve had this summer!
Pencils and Pancakes 
My weaknesses are pizza, red velvet cake, and french fries!! lol allowing myself the occasional splurge but all and all sticking to it! I wrote a post this morning to help encourage others to get healthier in honor of Father’s Day – thanks for encouraging others by sharing your journey!
Blessings,
-Jen
http://thelilyandthemarrow.wordpress.com/
I eat very clean and mainly paleo but on the weekends tend to cave a little more. If I’m in control of it and don’t over do it i don’t feel as bad. I believe in a 90/10 or sometimes 80/20 way of eating rather than trying to follow a strict diet. With that said, I’ve been thinking about giving the Whole 30 a try but am not willing to give up my wine 🙂
Exactly every time I start I get to the weekend and I have no resolve! I agree with 80/20 as well.
Right now I would say stress. Social situations are big though. I can say that social situations have done me in the past 10 or so attempts at “dieting.” My father-in-law is a great man, and is very generous with his dinner portions and ingredient list… (Literally, he’d cook for an army and then we’d feel bad about all the waste. We don’t need 16 hamburgers for three people! We don’t need the frozen corn cooked in an entire stick of butter! One side starch is fine – three options are not needed.) This didn’t help me when I attempted weight watchers, or Medifast, or Atkins type diets…. it has undermined me almost every time.
Dining out is a challenge too, because I over think it. I figure someone else is cooking and I have no control to what they do (years of working at a restaurant plague me – for example veggie burgers are worse than regular burgers for you when dining out because they DEEP FRY them prior to grilling in order to help them keep their shape on the grill.)
I also always feel deprived if I get a chicken caesar salad, while others are having filet mignon or a huge bowl of chicken riggies. :-\
So for me, it’s STRESS, SOCIAL SITUATIONS, and places where I am not granted 100% control over my food. (Yep. It’s a control thing).
I usually don’t stress eat….It’s mainly a social thing. This weekend I’ve actually been on track (the benefit of having no friends). With my in-laws I actually just had to start saying ‘no thanks’. Feelings are hurt but it is what it is!
I’ve tried the no thanks. I will continue I guess. See where it goes.
I’m trying this new thing where I don’t ‘diet’ I want to eat intuitively and not have bad and good foods as exactly what you said happens to me. I was counting calories for ages but then I’d have on/off times with it, I had a lot of success with it but I don’t want to spend my whole life counting every single calorie. As you put it YOLO 🙂
For me I’m trying to get in touch with my emotions and work out when I’m eating not because I’m hungry but because I’m bored/stressed or other. Not easy but definitely better for the long term.
I’ve hear of intuitive eating but I haven’t really bought it. I can’t be too intuitive right now since I have to fit in my wedding dress, lol. I’ve just discovered the 80/20 thing on weekends works for me so I’m gonna roll with it.
Lol that is fair enough. Intuitive eating apparently you can start by gaining a couple of kilos whilst your body evens out. Definitely something to try post wedding dress 😉
I’m working on intuitive eating too, but it’s REALLY hard after being on a diet consistently for the past 10+ years.
I agree – pre-wedding is probably not the best time! You have enough on your plate without having to do major soul searching 🙂
The hardest thing for me is when I have the food in the house or am around it. I typically don’t indulge on things that are ‘overly’ indulgent (for me: cheesecake, anything made with Oreo’s, anything covered in a ton of cheese) but if there are brownies, ice cream or pumpkin pie – I’m SOLD! Also, whenever I start eating too much peanut butter (aka 4+TBSP at night) I stop buying it for awhile. I know I probably shouldn’t be as strict on myself but I just can’t trust myself to stop eating sweets if they are in the house. I have a HUGE sweet tooth!
STRESS STRESS STRESS. Stress is the hardest for me. I can happily chat at the bar and sip club soda. I can happily sit next to someone eating a brownie.
The most difficult time for me is when I’m trying to do schoolwork. Our apartment is kind of small, so the only writing surface is our kitchen table. Anytime don’t want to do homework (um, every time), I end up snacking to avoid it. It has gotten to the point where I *must* study at the library.
Still working on this