cmcavazos2 - Kudos to you for persistently working your way back to being on track! It can be really effortful to do so, right? Something that has really been helpful for me, Christine, has been to spend a little time putting together a "toolbox" of solid coping strategies that are unconnected to food behaviors. That way, when I have a tough day, or am faced with problems, I can turn toward that "toolbox" instead of seeking comfort in ways that are incongruent with my goals. I've found that getting really specific about what my "tools" are (what works for me) and having a clear list of what to do when I'm feeling overwhelmed is invaluable. Just an idea, that you might try.
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Keep striving toward what you want to achieve.
Gimmelean - 10 YESes makes for a solid week, and a GREAT way to start November!
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Carry on!
George Ohwell - Woo-hoo! Down 2 lbs! Nice progress in your practice of the recommended behaviors, and cheers to you for making headway in finding "comfortably full."
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May you have comfortable days, free from back & neck pains in the week to come.
Hope410 - And a drop of 2 pounds for you, too! Plus, you did pretty well sticking with the recommended foods, as well. Was the sandwich something you had been craving, or did it arise out of the late night situation? Get to the root in eliminating that little remaining deviation and make a date with yourself for some exercise and you'll be 100%!
squealcat - You are making progress in the right direction, Marilyn! Escaping the Pleasure Trap can be quite an ordeal. Building a habit of getting out of the kitchen after you finish a meal, and having a break in another room seems like a useful routine to test out. In general, the more you can set things up so that you don't have to rely on "willpower" the more successful you are likely to be. Having some of your favorite adherent foods prepped and ready for whenever you run into an obstacle can be really helpful, too. As you said, with continuing effort and attention "it will come." On you go!
BambiS - Welcome!
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Today is always the best day to get started practicing the recommended pattern of behavior, and that is a path toward improved health, too!
CUgorji22 - Hi! Welcome back to the group. Let me offer my condolences for the loss of your father. May fond memories of him bring you comfort during this difficult time. Setbacks are almost inevitable, but what matters most is what we make of things and where we find ourselves in the end, no matter the starting (or restarting) point. This time of year seems like an ideal time to reengage in the practice of MWL as your healing continues.
Health 1st - Well, as I remarked above, no matter what day it happens to be, TODAY is always the best day to begin. Here's hoping the days ahead are less taxing and stressful for you. However, if we wait for ideal conditions to get started we may be waiting indefinitely, no? Adhering to MWL isn't easy, but it can almost always be accommodated - we are eating food regardless, right? So endeavor to make that food ADHERENT. Keep things simple, and oriented toward the minimal necessary effort, and focus on the fundamentals. Small wins stack up and lead to bigger victories. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will experience the benefits; don't rob yourself of that.
texaslil - Offer yourself some compassion, Laila; it sounds like you did pretty well while traveling and managing a fluid schedule. I totally understand how demoralizing it can feel when the scale result seems inconsistent with our self-assessment (and our hopes and goals). Ultimately, though, our goal isn't about any single time we step on the scale, but rather building, practicing and maintaining a pattern of behavior that results in healthy, sustainable weight loss. The best way to do that is by adhering to the MWL 10-Point Checklist, and the more we can arrange our environment, routine, AND point-of-view in service of adherence the easier success is to attain. Focus on the PROCESS and the OUTCOME will take care of itself, given time + adherence. I know that is easy to say, but hard to do - if we stumble, we have to dust ourselves off and get right back on the path. Have a great week!
Noella - YAY! There you go! I think you handled the past week exactly right, you took a careful look at your adherence to the recommendations, adjusted as needed, and saw the results! Good for you and keep it up!