This is my cry for help, LOL. My SOS.
I've been on the plan for 3 weeks. Lost a total of 15 pounds so far (at least another 35 to go though). Today has been an emotionally trying day for me and typically, I run to fooooood for comfort (my husband is a pilot and is not home right now to "talk me down" lol) Anyway, I took the kids to McDonald's drive-thru for some chicken and I swear it took all strength in me to not order my favorite #1 meal.
I feel like ordering a pizza and gorging myself.
Someone tell me they go thru this too? I ate my JC dinner and a salad, and a super-sized diet coke (from McD's lol) .... but even though I'm 'full' from dinner, I just want to sit down and gorge myself.
Anyone??

We all have times we feel like that. The only thing you can do is find something else to do to take your mind off of food. Surfing the net, talking on the phone, stuff like that, but something that I do is go shopping for clothes and when you see you can't find anything that fits right it takes you mind right off eating. Or another one...lol...look at yourself naked..lol...works for me!

Thanks Aspen for responding, lol. I may have to go strip in front of the mirror. That will definitely deter me from a binge, lol. It ain't pretty just yet. :-)
THANKS.

Brushing your teeth or chewing a strong-flavored (sugarless) gum helps me!

of course you want a big mac, or at least you think you do. it would be so anti-climatic even if you did answer to this desire. we have all done this at some point in time. it's not worth it. i had a stare down with my sons' Doritos on Friday. i won! you can do this!!
you know i once read the the number one impulse, spirit-lifting purchase is a new lipstick. you might do that?? if you can. there's always walking (i know, woo hoo)

THANK YOU GUYS. Seriously. I'm guzzling this extra large Diet Coke instead. I think I will bust out some peppermint Extra gum here in a minute, too, once the soda is gone. I really appreciate it. Thanks.

I'm hungrier today more than usual too...maybe it's the holiday weekend all based on food?
I just made a smoothie: vanilla yogurt (1 milk), 1 c strawberries (1 fruit) and ice cubes...didn't need sweetener because the fruit was so good...
Try that....it's a large glass and feels decadent!

I sooooo know how you're feeling. I've been doing this for about 9 months now and every now and then would like to just go grab some of my old comfort foods. Or just be able to eat whatever and how much I want! My biggest thing when I got to halfway and could do Meals On My Own was that I went out and bought hamburger. I immediately separated it into 3 oz patties and on my first day on my own, you bet your life I made a cheeseburger! It was the best thing I've ever tasted!
Hang in there. It does get a little easier to pass things up, however, it must be especially hard for people like yourself with kids. But, you came here first. I think that deserves a big pat on the back! Congrats!

What about a kids meal with a diet soda? Would that have sufficed? Is that even allowed? I thought I read that in the Dining Guide...or am I just out of my mind. hehe, it wouldn't surprise me!

Yeah I think I read where you can have a cheeseburger and a diet coke. That may have been a good solution. The thing I'm so, so worried about is falling off the wagon, and not having the inner strength to get back on. I feel like if I fall off - I'm failing and I just cannot fail at this. There's a history of heart disease in my family, and I'm really overweight and scared that if I don't make the change NOW, I never will.
Sigh... long day. Thanks again everyone, for being there.

Hi Melissa! You are SOOO not alone in this. Everybody has their weak moments when they think they can't take it anymore (and McDonalds is a biggie for me, too - my 170 lb. hubby can pack away those quarter pounders with ease - makes me so mad!!). I have that same fear, also - that once I cheat a little, that's it - no more JC. But, there's an awesome tool out there to help, and you already found it - these boards!! I swear these boards are going to be the difference for me this time. I've already had a few very stressful days that, in the past, would've spelled the end for me. But, I logged on here, wailed my butt off and, thanks to the responses I got from the wonderful people here, I felt better! And, I got through it. You can (& will) too!!
Hang in there...we're all pulling for you!

Melissa - As previously stated, you're NOT alone in this - we've all been there! It sounds like you did pretty well in that drive-through. You should feel triumphant. Some people can do the "have a small cheeseburger and diet coke" route and not go off program. I personally can't do that. If I go off, then my mind plays games with me. I am NOT going to give my mind the chance to do that to me this time!
There's a motto painted on the wall at my JC center - PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION! I thought it was a really good "mantra" to repeat to myself, when I DO have something I shouldn't. Although on this program, that hasn't been very often at all.
Hang in there and come to the boards as often as you need to! The people here have made ALL the difference for me - I check in everyday to two specific threads and I feel accountable to someone that way. Plus I've gotten really good ideas too.

Okay, confession time. I had a total brain fart earlier this week. One evening the little girl across the street delivered the Girl Scout cookies we ordered from her months ago.
Yep, you know it. I didn't even allow myself the time to think about it. I dove into those Samoas and polished off all 12 of them that night. 1200 calories blown to the wind... and onto my butt.
I have no idea why I did it. I wasn't hungry or even yearning for something to snack (ahem... pig out) on. I didn't enjoy the experience while it was happening. It was self-destructive behavior, plain and simple.
There is an upside, however. I learned my lesson.
I am not flogging myself. I am simply moving forward. I am being careful to keep within my calorie range, drink lots of water and exercise well for the rest of this week.
We'll see what the scales say on Wed. No matter what, I learned an invaluable lesson, which is a big win.
Progress, not perfection.

I know this is after the fact but the Dining Out Guide shows a Big Mac as 3 starch, 2 meat and 5 fat and is 560 calories and 30 grams of fat. I had a craving for one a couple of weeks ago but when I saw this, it made me steer clear.
Try to stop and think of how you will feel after you induldge.

here's a suggestion - I was STARVED when I got home today - so I took a head of cauliflower, cut it in half, and cut it in little pieces - started frying it up in a pan with onion, garlic cloves, red peppers, balsamic vinegar, Mrs. dash, I can't believe it's not butter...salt and pepper. And I ate IT ALL! But it's all free food. So now I'm stuffed, but not off the plan.

Give it a try!
Laura

i too sometimes crave a burger. a small cheeseburger from mcdonalds and a side salad does the trick for me. what i need to steer clear of is Popeyes - I love their chicken!

No Butts - Your Girl Scout cookie story hit home with me. That didn't happen this year (thank goodness), but it has happened other years (when I wasn't doing JC). We've all been there with similar stories, haven't we?
I went to a festival with DH on Saturday. We took our own food - salads, and the JC chicken salad kits, plus water. It wasn't too bad. LOL It occurred to me, though, that I wasn't having as good of a time as usual. I had a light bulb moment - I used to go to those types of events and the food was the best part! Isn't that pathetic? I guess the food was really what I was going for! This time, the greasy food was not an option and at first, I wasn't having as good of a time. After my lightbulb moment, I had much more fun! LOL It dawned on me that I had to make my own fun (which I did) and enjoy what the EVENT is FOR (gee, what a concept) instead of what they serve there! DH and I did great - and we lost more weight - we weighed in today. Boy, were we excited! So guess, I'll have to reprogram myself whenever an event is coming up.

Go rent Super Size Me ....... you'll be over that McDonalds craving real fast and for a long long time.
It's normal to crave things.. I find that munching on a dill pickle helps curb some of those cravings... I know it doesn't sound like it's something you wanna grab at the time - but it does help.

I just bought the dining out guide last night. I take alot of day trips instead of a week long vacation and want to be able to just stop and eat "regular" food sometimes. I too love Big Mac's and yeah they are baaaaddddd. What I have done instead is buy,
McD's hamburger - 2 starch - 1 meat - 1 1/2fat
McD's cheeseburger - 2 starch - 2 meat - 1 1/2 fat
McD's Quarter pounder - 2 starch -2 meat - 2 1/2 fat.
As you can see we are well within the limits on starch and meat for a lunch or dinner, but going over a little on the fat or alot more on the quarter pounder. To make up for the extra fat I will eat veggies like carrots and celery instead of salad and save the fat that would have been a dressing to use for my burger. Like others have said we need to find a way to adapt some of the things we love to work for us and this may be a way to help you.

ReadingTeacher -- you crack me up! As I read your post all I could think of were summer fairs. What's a trip to the fair w/o sausage and peppers? You mean I'm going to have to enjoy the 4H exhibits instead? (J/K I love the fancy roosters.)
BTW -- Despite my HUGE gaffe with Girl Scout cookies last week, I managed to lose 5 pounds!! Lots of water, adhering to the plan and mucho exercise seemed to have bailed me out of trouble. Whew. I dodged a bullet.