PonysPlants - Great looking week! You have made so much progress in building healthy habits, Naomi. Generally speaking, the prevailing pattern of behavior necessary to sustain a given outcome (and a particular point of equilibrium) will be the same overall pattern of behavior that achieved those results. That isn't to say that one can't occasionally include some more calorie dense foods; but rather, that habits should remain consistent overall. Personally, I've continued to adhere to the MWL 10-Point Checklist while in "maintenance."
josietheschnauzer - Well done, Elsa! The Pleasure Trap is powerful, right? Like you, I used to regularly include olive oil as a "healthy" option; what a distance we have come from our starting point.
belcimo - Difficult weeks are almost inevitable, and yes, sometimes that will look like a hot mess.
Try not to think of this as a failure, but rather a part of the process and something with lessons to offer. Most important is to get back on track as soon as you are able. Having a clear set of "relapse protocols" established can really help, by making a plan ahead of time you reduce the load on yourself during the times you are feeling most depleted and vulnerable. Running out of adherent food is a problem that has a clear solution, right? Hang in there!
birdy birdy - Progress in the right direction! The powerful effect our immediate environment exerts over our decisions and behaviors is, as you observe, amazing. Consequently, anything we can do to make it more difficult to access troublesome foods will often help support our efforts. That can be a challenging path to negotiate with our families and housemates, requiring trial and error, creativity and, ideally, cooperation from those around us.
squealcat - Down 2.6 pounds! Clearly, you had a very consistent week, Marilyn. I think you are so right that having adherent foods that we really enjoy prepared and ready to go is absolutely key for success.
I think your point about giving yourself "permission to feel cranky" is insightful; oftentimes, we are attempting to counter and overrule powerful drives steering us toward calorie rich foods and that isn't easy, so occasionally feeling irritated is reasonable and understandable. Keep watching for those things that work for you, and make them a part of your routine.
HoustonJason - Fantastic! Particularly considering the challenging circumstances! I'm glad to hear things are starting to return to normal. I think you are exactly right that the best way to achieve the outcomes you are seeking is by continuing to focus on consistent adherence to the recommended pattern of behavior.
Hope410 - YAY! 8 Yeses on the checklist! Running out of adherent food is a good challenge, because under most circumstances it has a clear cut solution. Would it help to set an interim exercise goal that definitely feels quite attainable, even if that means the goal is less than the recommendation? Something like committing to walk for 30 minutes on 3 days, and building that into your schedule. Sometimes getting a "win" that moves us in the direction of our broader goal can be quite motivating.
Rebecka22 - Nice work keeping those indulgences confined to Valentine's Day, rather than spilling out across the week. Definitely worth making a point to remember when our body gives us powerful feedback about our choices. I'm sharing some resources below that should help with your cholesterol questions (particularly
The Benefit of non-HDL: Putting a Low HDL in Perspective).
Artista - Hooray for TEN
Yeses! I think the determination, thoughtful perspective and reasonable attitude you are applying to your efforts is right on target. Enjoy the Moroccan soup and continue your positive patterns!