How do you live a normal life?

Posted on May 24, 2015

I love my rythm of eating. It's super healthy, it's super yummy, I feel completely full all the time, don't feel deprived at all, feel like I can truly make it a lifestyle, and I'm going down to a healthier weight. Perfection! Except...

It works fantastically for my day to day life. But I want a LIFESTYLE, and that means that, well, LIFE is going to happen at times. This weekend kinda had a lot at once. We went camping, and even though I ate veggies instead of chips, I certaily had hobo pie and s'mores and a breakfast burrito. And then it was my son's birthday, so we grilled out and I had a (thin) slice of cake and a bit of ice cream. So not my usual, but I felt really good about my portions. Plus, I had over 30k steps both days, so I had plenty of calories burned over.

And yet, when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was 2 lbs and 0.4% fat above where I "should" have been! Now, I'm fine with the weight (really!). I've been losing steadily, have somehow already made my 4%, and know that it will come back off in normal life. But it still depressed me - a LOT. Because life is going to happen, and while I'm fine with portion control, I'm not fine with deprivation and not actually living. I can't be gaining 2 lbs every time I go camping (which we will be a lot this summer. This is the summer of the camp). I can't not live life. I can't never go out to eat with friends, or have a celebratory dinner.

I don't know what to do. I was feeling so great about this, and now I'm so depressed. How do I live normally, making a true lifestyle, and still be healthy?

Comment Now!

Carol

05/25/2015 8:06AM

Back when there was still Diet Workshop an instructor asked us at a class to look at a year with her, to see how many days were "special" , days when we would want to suspend the diet and eat "normal". First we counted holidays, then birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, weekends, vacations, coworker celebrations, the list goes on and on. So while we think there are only occasional days when we feel entitled to overindulge, these days add up to a very substantial chunk of the year. The more friends and family you are blessed with, the bigger the chunk! This is the reality we have to face.I have one suggestion for the camping trips. Find an activity that you enjoy and substitute it when eating becomes the main event. Maybe bring a journal, write what you did that day, snap some pictures, put together a little book when you get home.

Alena likes this comment.

Alena

Thank you!

Julie B.

05/24/2015 12:32PM

I completely understand--life goes on even when we are trying to cut back on calories. It sounds like you made some good choices, which of course is a huge part of this journey. My husband was making a chocolate milkshake last night and I caved in--but, I chose a little tiny glass instead of the big mama size he was using and I considered that my little success. You chose veggies over chips--your victory even if the scale didn't cooperate :)

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