Don't break the Seal

Steve was in our group for a while.  He had lost a great deal of weight.  I remember him talking about his love of popcorn and that on maintenance he was allowing himself a little popcorn, but only when he went to the movies, so it was okay.

Several weeks later he reported an upswing in movie attendance and popcorn consumption and he said that the inclusion of popcorn in his maintenance plan was a mistake, it was a food that he should not have "taken the seal off of."

So, we have come to talk about the foods we have put aside as ones that are trigger foods, or ones that imply you look at how many calories are in the bag or box, because it is likely that it is the entire bag or box that will go, if the package is opened at all as we are aware of our inability to limit our consumption of these special foods.

For me, these foods might trigger a warm feeling of my childhood, perhaps of toast at breakfast before school, and thus, bread and toast with their covering of butter is a food I need to keep sealed up.

I offer you this "in process" poster called, "Don't Break the Seal." Please use it to keep you on your plan and to keep certain foods away, for the time being.

Do it, Breaking the Seal will undermine your efforts.

How does it make you feel?

Yes, you want that cookie.  Think about how you felt the last time you gave in and bought that cookie and ate it.  You weren't hungry, you wanted something that that cookie represented.  The delicious first bite, those close conversations over a cookie with Mom, the "license" it gives you to sit alone at the coffee shop?  Seriously, though, how did you feel?

I know that I felt terrible.  Not only was I disappointed with myself, but also I was quite sickened by the sweetness.  I ate it, I felt stupid, sick and regretful.

When I wanted that cookie the other day, I remembered it.  I did not stop at the bakery, I did not buy the cookie, I did not eat the cookie, best of all, I did not feel bad.

That made me feel good.

In the fight, Fanaticism is Easy Moderation is Hard

Having a shake at breakfast and lunch is the only way I lose weight.  Not the most generally applicable plan, but with one meal available I am able to go out to friends and have grilled chicken and veggies out if needs be.

Remember how you felt during a fast.  Think about how easy it is to have all your decisions made.  Get back to that.

I am down 6pounds.... I hope to break this plateau this week if I can put in a solid week of 2 shakes, 1 meal.

Remember fanaticism is easy, moderation is hard.

Update: March 2015, I am in week 7 of renewed fanaticism and it is working well.  it is that voice that helps you pass up the temptation.  I don't eat cheese, I don't eat carbs, not a little, none.

I offer you this in process poster to help you in your maintenance path.

Going for your goal - give yourself a gold star

We must make 25 decisions a day about food.  What am I going to have for Breakfast?  Will it last?  Protein?  What am I doing for lunch?  can I get a decent lunch?  Do I pack a lunch?  How many ounces is that piece of chicken?  Wow that scone looks good, I want to buy that with my coffee...

No, I will wait...


Ah !!! Give yourself a gold star.

So here is the idea,  you know those push buttons for counting people?  or maybe the image of a button giving you morphine?  no wait... how about just the smiley faces and gold stars of our childhood.  So you make a goal, clean out the house, eat mindfully, eat only 1200 calories, exercise, whatever.  You make choices all day.  here is a day for me:

So, I got up at 7 and made a shake instead of leaving without breakfast *****  good for me.  I stop and buy a coffee and put in half and half - - - maybe 3 negatives, but I want to buy a scone and I don't ****  good for me.  I park away from my office to get a walk in *** good for me.  There was a coconut cake in the conference room  I look at it and walk out of the room, ***  good for me.  I stop by the kitchen two hours later and cut a piece but it is a 1" by 1" piece rather than a piece that might be 4" x 4"  not so bad *...

okay get it?  It is like I had a slider switch and slide it to the right for things I do to advance myself towards my goal and to the left for the things that do not foster my goals and by the end of the day if the slider is more positive than negative, I am moving toward my goal.

This doesn't respond to how fast or how well, or how true, etc... it is do you have a goal (to fit into a size 14 dress for wedding in June) and every one of the decisions you make all day long either moves you closer or further from that goal.

Again this could be a page of a screenplay or a drawer of  clothes awaiting cleaning.

Think about the many many decisions you make everyday about food.  It is no wonder we liked the Fast, no decisions at all except the flavor of the shake (soup) that might fill the need to eat.

There is great knowledge that came from the fast that can be used in the maintenance plan.  Think about it.