Rubbish willpower!

[NotSkinnyYet]

I need someone to slap me in the face with some will power. I joined SW 4 weeks ago, had a 5 pound loss my first week, 1 pound loss my second week and gained 3 pounds last week.

The past fortnight has been utterly shit. My husband and I have gotten to the point were we are discussing a trial separation as all we do is argue, we're both unhappy etc etc. I had two takeaways and a meal out, didn't go too overboard but I know why I put on. I almost didn't go to group because I knew it would be a gain, but I'm glad I went and stayed. Anyway, this past week I have been really good. I have craved something but I'm not sure what it is. Cake/lots of chocolate/takeaway. So far I have refrained from having any of it, stayed in or below my syns and tried to stay focused on speed food. This week has also being rubbish, my FIL was admitted to ICU at the start of the week so we have done a lot of back and forth. I do a 60 mile round trip Monday - Friday anyway for work but two days this week I've done 160 mile round trip each day to visit FIL

We bought some finest chocolate chip cookies on the way back home and my one is sitting there staring at me. I really want to eat it and have a bit of a binge, but I know I will regret it and I really want a good loss this week to get my half stone. The problem is I know I will keep on craving stuff..I really want to just have a blow out but know it will ruin the week I've had with weigh in being on Tuesday. Someone talk some sense into me please!

[MisForMumNotMaid]

You've taken the biggest challenge. Walking in the door and staying to group. You've seen and faced a gain head on and stayed to group. You do have strength.

It takes time to break habbits and craving/ comfort eating is one of these. You're no doubt tired. Physically and emotionally so that cookie is calling out 'go on reward yourself, you deserve alittle treat, look at all this you're going through, look at the support you're offering'. The reality is eating it is punishing yourself. You need some control on the elements of life you can control.

Think of how you'd like to feel about your body. What dress do you want to be wearing to Christmas parties. Who do you want to be?

Think about alternative mini rewards when you need a boost. When did you last do a home facial, buy some nice bubblebath and have along soak, buy a new lipstick, sit and read a glossy magcover to cover with a mug of fresh ground coffee.

[NotSkinnyYet]

Thank you Mis! [Flowers]

Well I've still not had that cookie. Filled up my water bottle with some sugar free Robinson's and haven't had anything else. I'm feeling quite proud of myself (I really really realllly wanted that cookie!), as I'm about to head off to bed. I've such a long journey ahead of me that if I can keep on track like this I may have a fighting chance of getting there!

[NotSkinnyYet]

fail

[MisForMumNotMaid]

Well done - meant in a completely non-patronising way. Each little achievement adds up. Some days/ times of the month the cravings are worse than others but over time you'll work out distraction tactics that work for you.

Try not to look on it as a really long journey - could lead to emotional eating. Break it down. Roughly each stone is a dress size. Think when I'm a 20/ 18/16/14/12/10 etc I'm going to do X, I'm going to feel great. Make sure you reward yourself. I bang on about rewards but I'm convinced a lot of eating is emotional and we eat to celebrate, eat to commiserate, eat because we're tired, eat because we're under the weather.

We need to find a replacement for that thing that food emotionally compensates for.

The risk of getting into any new eating regime is that we punish ourselves for the days it doesn't quite go to plan, we all have them, yet don't celebrate the ones that do (and these far outnumber the bad) so after a while it feels very much like you can't win and just eat to compensate. Life is only ever okay/ as expected or bad - never good. Where actually look at you, you've had a couple of fantastic weeks and a few days that were more challenging. Overall you're closer to your target so should be proud.

I lost 2 of 6 stone before a holiday last summer and felt really good and in control. It made me walk taller and dress more confidently. Some of the photos aren't bad either considering I still had a long way to go. Do you have any shorter term targets that you can celebrate and feel good about the bits of the journey you have achieved?