Almost fell: but compromised!

[CrimsonMama]

Last night. It was a Friday night! Always a good feeling day! Despite the extra chores. Knowing there is no work Saturday so you can stay up a little later if you wish.

The kids had friends over to sleepover so they were up in their rooms. I completed all my exercise for the day and just had a happy hour of study time (actually over an hour for once!). And usually next is my time to check in with my teen for some one on one time, then my younger daughters turn, reading hugging and getting her ready for bed.

However as they had friends over (and would be up late anyways) I suddenly got an urge for a takeaway! With my extra time I was thinking I could relax and watch extra TV and TV and food has always been my downfall!! I can't watch TV without eating!

Nowadays I watch TV only during my two meal times - 4pm and again at 6pm - for about 30-40 mins. Or I watch TV whilst on my treadmill. So it is kind of a reward to exercising as its the only way I get extra TV time without needing to eat!

Anyways... I struggled at the start of this week to get back on my diet so a little voice was telling me its a bad idea! But I really wanted to relax with some TV!

So what I did first was make a list. Pros and cons.

Pros to having a takeaway

* It tastes really good!

* It will feel really good!

That's it. All I could think of for the pros.

Cons.

* It will break my willpower.

* I will have to start again trying to get on track!

* Its expensive!

* I will put weight back on!

* It takes a long time to come.

* I will feel bad/guilty after.

So after my list it showed me that the pros really weren't worth it. The feeling good part would only be temporary. And so many cons!!

But I was still wanting SOMEthing! So I made the decision to make a snack that - instead of going way over my calories - will just take me to my maintenance calories.

Where I am trying to lose weight I am on 1500 calories a day. On maintenance I can have 2100. So I made up a snack plate of up to 600 calories.

That way I should remain the same weight rather than put on a ton. And as my weigh in day is Fridays I still have all week to lose a lb or two.

I had my snacks, enjoyed my extra TV time and could go to bed with a clear conscience! A good compromise I think!

( by the way my snack was a cheese and onion toastie, a curly wurly, 2 Jaffa cakes and 2 cheddar biscuits.)

[Iwilldothisthisyear 3kg Restart Feb 2024 Restart June 2023]

What a great idea , well done . I will try that next time I’m tempted xx

[Tiggerr]

Amazing that you were able to pause, take some time out and come up with that list. That shows great willpower in itself.

Great that you could find a solution that worked.

Keep it up and good luck for the coming week

[CrimsonMama Restart June 2023 in reply to Tiggerr]

Thank you! It was definitely an eye opener to find I couldn't think of any other pros but lots of cons! And I feel so much happier today than I would of if I had 'failed' my diet by going over by a 1000 calories (as takeaways usually are) and seeing all my hard work this week disappear with maybe 5lbs up on the scale. That regret would probably have made me give up this whole weekend, binge even more and then be back to square one on Monday!

But instead I am feeling good and ready to crack on this weekend!

[Tiggerr in reply to CrimsonMama]

Nothing left to say... Woohooo!

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 10 kg in reply to CrimsonMama]

Hun we have never failed until we stop trying!

[Wordsworth2]

Hi CrimsonMama,

I love the whole 'pros and cons' thing you did to stop the takeaway. Understanding the lack of benefits of something is a great idea to stay on track. And then to compromise was a stroke of genius!

I think being moderate is a great way to a healthy lifestyle and ensuring we get the nutrients, and occasionally giving in to a craving (moderately) stops them and helps to keep you on track.

Well done on not having the takeaway and thanks for the tip on how to avoid having one!

Have a great day.

Stay strong!

[Stalk Restart Jan 2024]

What a good idea, CM, I bet you really enjoyed that snackplate!

[gman1961 Restart April 2024]

Using the pros and cons helps in any situation, well done for staying strong .

Have a nice weekend.

Gary

[Caroline62 6 stone]

That’s great thinking well done CrimsonMama you did good . 😊😊

[Hidden]

Brilliant! Well done you!

[Subtle_badger]

Well done.

If I had ordered the takeaway, the wait - which can be long on Friday night - would have given me time to regret my decision. Regretting food decisions before you have even had the pleasure of the food is miserable.

And what a genius "snack"! Nothing you could feel deprived about.

[Servi Restart June 2023]

I must say - well done you! A great display of willpower. I'm not sure if could be so strong. And a brilliant compromise.

[CrimsonMama Restart June 2023 in reply to Servi]

Well... It would have been better to have stuck to my 1500 calories. But if I was gonna go over I am pleased it was only by my max calorie allowance.

Not sure if that counts as willpower? Lol. But I'm working on it!!

[Servi Restart June 2023 in reply to CrimsonMama]

yes you may have been over but it would probably have been a lot more over with a takeaway.

[S11m]

Technically - if you do not collect it, it is not a "Take-away" - and if you had used your legs to collect it - you would have had exercise, and not so much delay.

As I lost weight through IF, my weight is very stable - and I have to eat to keep up to my target weight - so I have thought about collecting take-aways.

healthunlocked.com/fasting-...