What Wagon?

Everyone has heard, used, or abused the fun 'ol saying, "falling off the wagon". I hate this saying. I don't see a wagon anywhere, Laura Ingalls isn't sitting on the couch next to me, so what the heck is everyone talking about? Why is it so hard to simply say, "I screwed up"? It's almost as if we are trying not to offend our own self. Seriously people? Man up!

Today, I screwed up. My normal calorie goal is about 1,200, I set my www.myfitnesspal.com (love it) food diary at 1,300 and I generally hover somewhere between 1,000 and 1,300. Today, so far, I'm at 1,767. Yes you read that correctly, seventeen hundred sixty seven! How did this happen you ask? Well... I blame it on food day at work, but really it's all about my lack of self control.

I firmly believe that you should never put yourself in a position of feeling like you are being deprived of something. I am not by any means saying go ahead and eat that entire pot of macaroni and cheese, or 3 slices of decadently sweet and creamy cheesecake. I am saying that if you want to have a treat every now and then, and it works into your daily goals - have some (not the whole thing!). This is easier said than done.

Did I have to eat that delicious strawberry cupcake, or the scrumptious chocolate chip cookie, and that chocolate overload brownie? Of course not! Did I enjoy it? Hell yes! Do I regret it? Perhaps a little. I mostly regret that I allowed myself to give in to the temptation. (In my defense it was sitting there all day whispering "eat me".)

One thing I have working for me is that I no longer have the ability to eat an entire pot of macaroni and cheese in one sitting. However, it is still quite possible to completely blow your daily goals. It's important to remember that having weight loss surgery is a tool to help you lose weight. Its not a magical cure for obesity, you will still have to work hard to accomplish your goals... just like everyone else. We all screw up, its human nature! So when you do, don't beat yourself up about it... admit to yourself that you've done it and take it as an opportunity to recommit yourself to your goals and (as my friend Megan said today) hit the reset button.