Sorry to hear about your crap week, cq. Try not to hate yourself - with everything going on, it's no wonder you had to eat what you had to eat. Tomorrow is another day, and that wagon is there waiting for you!
Thanks, everyone, for your congratulations. People were asking what 'plan' I'm following. Well, I worked one out for myself, because I have the issue that a couple of people posted about today - I am addicted to high-carb, high-fat treats, I can't eat them in moderation, and if I try to cut them completely the cravings drive me mad and eventually derail me. It's happened countless times in the past. So I'm calorie-counting, on an 'average' basis. For the last few months I've been averaging 1200 a day. That's with a combination of 'light' days (1000-1100 calories made up of healthy, balanced and fairly low-carb meals), 'light plus treat' days (meals as on light days, but with a planned treat, working out around 1500-1700 calories), and occasional 'indulgence' days when I don't worry about healthy eating. The general principle is that treats and indulgence days should be earned in advance by the requisite number of light days, and slips from the wagon should be paid back later! When I started out, my average calorie count was higher and I've gradually reduced it. Planned treats at the start would be 3 or 4 kit-kats or crunchie bars or 3 or 4 bagels or croissants. Now I'm satisfied with a treat of 2 bars or 2 bagels, or a 150g bar of chocolate (Milky Bar is my current favourite). Indulgence days are now much fewer and further between, and much less indulgent, than they used to be. But my fall off the wagon the week before last showed me that I do still need them occasionally, or I start to feel deprived.
Walking has been really important - the outdoor exercise makes me feel positive and optimistic, and cuts down on time available for binging!
I'm definitely planning to stick around, Henrietta, you haven't seen the last of me! Now starts the maintenance plan, which is definitely not back to my old ways. On the basis that I keep my activity levels where they are (which I will, because walking is my new addiction) then I think I can afford to increase by 3500 calories a week. I'm planning to spend half of that, so about 250 a day, on slightly bigger portion sizes and more fruit for snacking. The other half will be for treats - a bit more often and perhaps a bit more indulgent. I will keep a very firm eye on things for the next couple of months, and intend to keep on with weekly weigh-ins until I'm confident that things have stabilised, or to make any adjustments that are necessary to maintain my current weight. Eventually I hope to move to monthly weigh-ins. But I am resigned to the fact that this is lifelong - eating and weight are always going to be a big deal for me, and I'll need to keep working at it.
To those who think you can't get to your goal weight, or it will take too long - when I started out I was convinced I would be happy to reach the low 11s if only I could stay there. I told myself I would be thrilled to get to the 10s, and ecstatic to get to the 9s. I never really thought about getting to the low 9s, and it only started to look possible around the end of May. A couple of weeks ago I was toying with the idea of keeping going a bit longer for the thrill of getting into the 8s. But I've decided against - I'm more than happy with where I've got to, and I'm ready now to eat a bit more and start on the next chapter.