I had finally gotten my diet right where it needed to be to continue to exercise at the level that I want to and keep losing weight. Then I got sick. Now, I’m working my way back to my exercise level, but still eating the added calories—which add up to a couple extra pounds. Oops. Anyway, I’m gonna get that back to the balance that it needs to be. No big deal, I’m not upset about it, just thought I’d share that I oopsed it and will be unoopsing it. (My spellcheck wants to scream right now.)

My question for you guys is, how do you fix an oops like this? I’m gonna eat more veggies, less red meat and maybe walk the dogs when my hormones are screaming for chocolate (yes, all at once—pity my family). What have you done that has either worked, or not worked?

Let’s Dish.

Bree

I don’t consider it an ‘oops.’ All we can do is give 100%.  Our 100% is a different level when we are sick versus when we are healthy.  You did your best.  Celebrate it.

First off Bree, you didn’t slip up, you had to lower your amount of exercise when you were sick, and you were probably had larger appetite when you were sick.This is minor,it will take you no time to get back to where you were. It also recommended that every three months or so you take an “exercise vacation” meaning you stop for a week to two weeks, consider this your vacation. When my father passed away I didn’t get to the gym for 2 weeks, I gained 8 pounds. It took me probably 3 weeks to get back on track. Please don’t beat yourself up about it, take the experience and try and make something positive out of it!

Bree

Life is full of oopses.  Especially when you are as close to your goal as you are now.  Consider it a practice session for when you are at maintenance.  A 2 to 3 pound weight fluctuation is normal.  Just consider it a minor blip in your weight loss journey. 

As you get closer and closer to your weight goal, consider making your goal a range instead of a single number.  You can use your minimum weight, your ideal weight and your maximum weight.  Aim low, be happy just to be within the range.  You will learn to relax, have fun, allow yourself a little flexibility but you build in checks that will keep you from regaining the weight you worked so hard to lose.  I would rather cut back a little and lose 1 or 2 pounds over a week or two, than work at losing 5 pounds or more.

Hi Bree,

Yeah, what they all said.  *grin*

Seriously, a few extra pounds in the grand scheme of things isn’t going to make much of a difference in your long-term plans.  Sure, it may take a few days or even a few weeks until you’re back on track, but you’ll definitely be back on track.  You’ve got all the tools you need to get there, and you know how to use them.  Take a few days or however long you need to get back into your routine, and then pick up where you left off. 

Chin up, Bree!  We’re all cheering for you!

Julie

You guys are great. I’m really not upset about the blip, just now better informed.

I have decided to stop playing super woman at the gym for the rest of this month, and reevalutate my routine in April. I’m not stopping, just not going to do 4 sets of everything then run for 45 minutes and walk the other 15-20. I’m doing 3 sets and walking. See, a slight cutback.

My diet is back in my control. I loaded up on veggies and fruits, and am eating those instead of the sundae. Not the same, but I did find 100 calorie slim-a-bear ice cream treats that satisfy that need without blowing my calorie budget. I’m also back into eating more in the morning and at lunch. I keep mistakingly thinking this is a bad thing. I know, I know. When I eat less in the first half of the day, I eat way too much in the supper hour. So unhealthy. Now I’m back in stride and feeling in control again. I hate getting sick.

Bree

Don’t over do it   You may wind up over compensating for a set back and end up getting hurt or burning out. Just get back to what you were doing before for you got sick and then slowy add if you want. It shouldn’t be a race

I thought I’d add my own Oops here rather than start a new thread.

Friday my daughter-in-law was making some more cookies. (Remember just a couple of weeks ago how proud I was only to have one.) Well, she was interupted and put the dough in the refrigerator. All weekend, every time I walked past the kitchen, I stopped and ate a spoonful of cookie dough. It wasn’t until I weighed myself Monday morning (and I was up 5 pounds) that I realized what I’d been doing. It honestly never occurred to me there were calories in that dough!  Talk about your Ooops!

Deb - You’re human after all

I thought the rule was if it isn’t cooked, it doesn’t have any calories.  You mean that’s not true?? 

Seriously, I really doubt that you ate enough to cause a 5 pound gain, that would be 17,500 calories.  There may be something else going on with your weight, maybe some water retention too.  I’m sure you’ll be right back on track this week and those 5 pounds will go away.

Hi Deb,

Yeah… everything that Paula said.  I don’t have much to add, but I just thought I’d lend my voice in support.  You’ll be back down before you know it.

Cheers,
Julie

Thanks guys, I think the best part about this whole Oops was that it didn’t cause me to come crashing down as I have been known to do in the past.  Perhaps I truly have given up the drama after all!
Cool! 

That’s what I picked up when I read this post.  You had a moment of weakness, gave in to temptation (cookie dough is good sin).  But you just picked up and moved on.  No dropping to the depths of dispare.  The exercise is working.  It’s cfhanging more than your weight.  It’s changing your brain chemistry and making it easier for you to bounce back emotionally.

Exercise is the best medicine.

Jackie

BTW - I have to disagree with Paula. It is a well know fact that cookie dough eaten in it’s unbaked form will put at least 5 pounds back on and two inches to your belly.  It’s very potent and dangerous stuff!  ; )

Hi Bree, Deb........

Caught on to this thread late, but agree with everyone’s approach.....

Over the last month or so, I have been eating a lot during the dinner time.....I’ve lost weight during that time though so I’m not sweating it......it just seems that it would be healthier to even out the consumption throughout the day, and less before I go to bed.......

I agree with Paula about the ‘range’ when you set a weight goal.....I have been reading about ideal triathlon’s body composition, and looking through weight charts ect......Most of the professional atheletes in the sport have much lower body fat (mines 15.2 this morning)......My goal for the May 20th tri in Encinitas is 145 lbs....14.5 BF%....within 5 lbs of that, and with a .5 BF%.....so if I’m 148, I’m still at my ‘goal’

I still watch my weight ..... my calorie intake (daily)....but I can tell when I’ve consumed to much, even before I put it into fitday......my body tells me......(hmmm maybe it was the wine?)

After all, this is an entire life journey we are on, so what’s a little ‘oopps’ now and then?

I’m fairly sure we all have our oops moments. I’m still stuck at 137.8, so I need to increase the intensity of my workouts and blow through this sticky spot. This weekend should be a good one for exercise, I’m hoping my gym will be open. We’re not planning a huge Easter dinner, so that won’t be an issue. I did buy a bag of Milky Way Caramels because I had a lapse in judgement. I think that’s my little oops, I didn’t gain anything, but didn’t lose either.

But here’s a cool thing that happened to me last night. I’m calling it my Paula moment. I had done the oops thing and ate mostly chocolate for calories during the course of the day, then during the tornado watches and warnings last night, I jumped on the elliptical and watched the news of impending doom while sweating (not eating). By the 30 minute mark I was so hungry I could feel that warm sensation and started to feel a bit weak. I’m stubborn and finished the 45 minute program I’d started and was famished. So I hit the fridge with a vengence. I binged on carrots, then had a double serving of brussel sprouts. I also wrapped 2 pieces of turkey breast lunch meat in 2 pieces of colby-jack cheese and savored that. It wasn’t til later that I realized that I didn’t go for the ice cream, or carbs that were right next to the things I did grab. I was in that blind hunger mode and grabbed carrots!

Yay, me.

Bree

I like the weight range approach, too.  Especially with Deb increasing her weight work-out.  I know I am in the minority here, but I weigh myself once a month in maintenance mode.  And I weigh once at the beginning of a new challenge and once at the end.  I measure myself once a month.  I track my exercise progress daily. 

I think this is especially true for people who have a lot of weight to loose.  You have to make the switch from food being there for comfort and to add a little excitement to your life to being something you consume to get your energy.  It is really hard to break those old habits.  Looking at food as an oops or a mistake or a slip just causes a cycle of feeling like a failure.  You feel bad and you need comfort and around we go. 

But the best news was that Deb didn’t let this effect her work-outs.  Bree got back into her program.  The food was just one decision amoung many you made that day.  It wasn’t about whether or not you were good or bad or failed or succeeded.  You just ate a sweet and nothing more.  It was a treat, not comfort or filling a void.  It was just cookie dough. 

Bree:  Regarding the chocolate: I say don’t fight the craving.  I have always had very, very strong chocolate cravings at certain times of the month.  More research is being done on chocolate now and we are finding all kinds of positive benefits.  I keep some of the really dark chocolate squares (65% cacoa) in the house.  The new Hershey’s truffles are great.  Abby loves the ones with the caramel center.  We have one square daily.  You would be amazed at the power of that one little square to help you resist bigger, fatier temtation.  I read a study this morning about how cacoa keeps arteries open.

My Great Grandmother was Cherokee, an herbalist and a healer. She live to be 116 andwas very active up until the day she died.  I remember when I was a little girl she would take me into the woods around her farm and show me the herbs and explain their medicinal value.  I have a very strong interest in herbal and plant medicines.  Cacoa is very old knowledge that is now being re-discovered by Western Medicine.  Don’t feel bad about the chocolate.  Just make sure it’s dark and not loaded with too many other things like sugar and trans fat.  One a day especially during your cycle.  Think of it as a supplement.

Jackie

Now that’s a supplement that won’t need to be added to the pill organizer in hopes of not forgetting. Thanks Jackie.

Bree