I woke up early yesterday, having failed to fool my body into sleeping an extra hour as the clocks did their thing and rebooted ready for the dark winter months. I did however make good use of the extra hour, laying in bed for ages and contemplating the fact that I’ve been back from Cuba for two whole weeks – two fairly shit weeks in the grand scheme of things, with the last week in particular being a truly platinum-plated turd.
My general willingness to remember that I’m not that armchair-hogging food addict any more seems to have disappeared like a fart on a breeze, and I’m doing that thing where I’m refusing to look myself straight in the eye because I’m afraid of what I might see. For the few days leading up to the trek I was acutely aware that I’d taken my foot off the gas and made some dodgy choices, and whilst I was away my food plan went out of the window altogether. Neither of those two things would have been a massive issue. However. The two weeks since I came home have been a dieting car crash.
And you know what, I’d be the first to admit that I’m not very good with sums, but if I do a few quick calculations on the back of a fag packet I can’t avoid the reality of the situation I’m in…this isn’t just a bad few days. In the way that fuck-ups can run away with you like a freight train in a bad movie, this has morphed into a bad month.
I’ve been trying to think of ways in which to position it with myself so it doesn’t sound so bad and the most positive spin I can come up with is that I’m currently in hiatus between season one and season two. Season one was the start of this journey…begin the diet, find a voice, make some friends and build this awesome support forum. Find an adventure requiring focus and commitment, nail the plan and walk towards it as one big posse with the season finale featuring a finish line in Cuba. Season two picks up where season one left off, and it’ll take us right up to the point where the rest of my life can begin in a pair of size twelve skinny jeans.
The thing is, it’s not really a hiatus is it? The word hiatus suggests I’m pressing pause, kind of like a way to gather my thoughts and shape what I’m walking towards. Except that’s not what’s happening here, is it? I’ve fallen out of the naughty tree and I’ve put weight on…I’m struggling with my food plan and my head is refusing to play nicely. There’s a whole sub-story going on off-camera and that’s definitely not what’s supposed to happen when we’re taking a hiatus, at least it never did on Grey’s Anatomy.
It’s more accurate to imagine I’m living in a giant game of snakes and ladders, and right now I’m sliding down the back of the biggest fucking anaconda on the board. You know that one that always lurks right in the middle, and everyone in the game blows on the dice before they roll it when they’re in the general vicinity in the hope that it might prevent them from landing on that square..?
Well, guess who landed on the square. For fuck’s sake.
I didn’t see it coming but the more I reflect on the last few weeks, the more I think perhaps I should have, you know? Think about it. The trek was never supposed to be a thing in its own right…it was always a means to an end, something I signed up for as a way of staying on the path to Skinny Town.
And the fact that I brought it home was always going to be cause for celebration, given the amount of preparation I’d done to get ready for it. My mistake was allowing the Asshole voice to lead me directly to the I can relax now, it’s over! school of thinking, which was never going to end well. I could have prepared better for the fact that that might happen, and been ready for it. Note to self, that will ALWAYS happen because you have an Asshole who lives inside your head. It’s not rocket science, is it?
What I need to do now is figure out how to not let my bad month turn into two bad months, and then three. I can’t – won’t – go there.
First things first. I’m going to go to the Kingdom of Pain every day providing my work schedule allows me to get there…this week it does (although I’m away for the weekend which given the fragility of my food sobriety will throw up a new set of challenges but one step at a time, right?).
I had my eating under control last week between Sunday and Wednesday…it was the latter part of the week where it all went tits up. I was stressed, I couldn’t fit a work-out in and before I knew it the Asshole voice had snuck some all or nothing thinking into the equation…you can’t do THIS so don’t worry about THAT either.
Yesterday was better, in fact it was a good day. I worked hard in my circuit training class yesterday morning, I ate healthily, and I went to bed not having listened to any of the suggestions about popcorn or maltesers which were helpfully put forward by the Asshole voice as I was watching TV last night. Today I’m going to use yesterday as a blueprint and do the same again.
One foot in front of the other, and repeat, right? 🙂
Heya Dee–welcome back! Loved the Cuba pics. I wanted to warn you about what we call “the backlash” which happens every time a diet focuses on a specific event: reunion, wedding, trek through Cuban jungle… 🙂 — but, yeah… bot. What I wanted to say was, “Heads up, the backlash hits everyone.” The fact that it hit you actually means you are on the long-term program; it’s very much part of the process. You will recover and be on the way to Skinny-Jeans-Ville again. (In fact, the longer the prep for the event, the stronger the backlash. No worries… 🙂 xoMarg
Oh Marg you wise wise old owl, really it’s a thing? Really?? I feel better about it already. It’s so easy to fall into that lonely hole where it feels like just me…you guys are like balm on a grazed knee ?
oh look! there is my talisman from our Posse – i was needing something. Mimi, & Susan – hi Natalie, hi Jo –
I don’t want to revisit that old uck state of mind, eating the wrong way – the wrong stuff, skipping my weekly weigh day because I put something frankly unsatisfying in my mouth.
Let me refocus my food consciousness for this day. I cannot expect myself to produce a ‘sober’ year, month, or week, right? I can’t pull a skinny Forever-After out of a hat.
1. Let us not stop exercising.
2. Let’s not put off correcting course. I’m giving myself what Susan said, the safer-sounder-saner mindset I enjoy when I am not jigging spastically to the Shitbird Voice.
3. Remember to do the small & effective actions, no blasting off the launch pad with any extreme measures.
Fleury isn’t it just awesome having all our voices chirruping together again, holy moly I’ve missed this!!
One step at a time lovely lady, until the path is a bit less rocky under our feet. We’re stronger together, no question and we are all still here, in the game and facing in the right direction…we just need to build up a head of steam ?
Hi Dee, I tried to comment when you got back but I was a “bot”. Congratulations on your epic achievement. I’m so sorry you are struggling to find your sweet spot again. Having struggled with this myself for months I truly feel for you. It’s a scary place to be when you can’t just will that switch to flip. I’m pulling for you girl.
Thanks Jo, I really appreciate your support…and it’s so good to feel you all around me again! I’m feeling good today ?
Tried to post a few times but I was always a bot? First congrats on the walk…you are amazing. I don’t really have any advice but just that I believe in you and believe you can do this!! You are such an inspiration to me. You have not given up, you have a plan, you can do this!
Aw Cindy I’m sorry the bot police got you but I’m glad you kept trying! And thank you, your words mean such a lot especially when I’m digging deep to try and get back in the game ?
Getting back on track with your eating which, at this point is the most important thing look at a week of your eating where you were eating good and feeling good physically and mentally and repeat that week.
You have been on vacation for a couple of weeks.Now it is time to get back on track! You can do this! I know you can!
Thanks Susan, I’m full of determination today…yesterday’s reflections have been quite effective ?
Oh boy, am I missing the discussion, too! Frock, it feels so joyless just crossing swords with the Shitbird Voice all month.
Well here we are, I’d rather spend hours wading through and deleting all the spam than miss you guys as badly as I have been! We weathered the storm ?
A goal each year might help — like walking a marathon on every continent or something. Anyway, you don’t have to stay food sober for the rest of your life, just for today. Remind yourself of that every morning, and repeat through the day as needed.
Ah Mimi that’s really good advice. Right now that’s all I can do, one day at a time. And you’re right about the goal, Natalie just said the same thing. I’d thought my next goal might be a dress size related one but I’m thinking maybe I need both. I’ll give it some thought ?
Short post because the “you are a bot” monster will probably eat it again, the advice I’ve been trying to give for a few days is you need to get a new goal! Something to strive towards! Cuba is done, awesome, well done. Now find something else.
Hello lovely lady! Oh it’s so good to see you! I’ve switched off all my anti-spam software until I find a solution to this issue, because I’m missing our chatter! And yes, I do need a new goal. I’m pondering as we speak! ?