Why Is It Hard Some Days but Not Others?

I have really struggled on and off this past month. But the struggle is so intermittent that, for me, it is hard to figure out and solve. Why, on many days, is it no problem to "eat less, move more" but other days I just have a hard time turning down high carb foods? Why can I go for days or weeks eating no junk at all, keeping my calories and carbs low enough to feel good and have more energy, walking 5,000+ steps a day and biking 25 minutes a day... but then, someone offers me a piece of pizza or a cookie and in that moment instead of using my head and saying "no thank you" I smile and say yes, eat it, and then crave more? On days when I wake up and skip breakfast and just have coffee until lunch, have a protein shake or a salad or some baked chicken for lunch and a healthy meat and vegetable dinner, I feel good. I have energy. I get more done. I don't think about food. But on days when I wake up without much sleep, in a bad mood, or just tired, if I happen to run out the door for some appointment then all I can think about is a sausage and egg biscuit and some orange juice? If I give in I feel SO much better immediately... headache gone, mood better, perkier and "happy." And then 30 minutes later the heavy feeling sets in, I am too tired to go for a walk, I don't have any motivation to get anything done, and a sandwich for lunch sounds like just the ticket to start feeling better again.

I have cycled like this for years, on and off. I know the "answer" is to never give in. Just make those foods off limits. If my eating plan of choice is low carb, just don't eat high carb stuff. And that is pretty easy most of the time for me. But then there are days... oh it feels like I just can't deal with it today. You know?

I know all I can really do is try and make those stretches of healthy eating longer, and the giving-in less frequent. I know from my Medifast days, my South Beach days, and my calorie counting days that I can go for MONTHS without a single instance going off my plan. Why, then, have I never gone YEARS? Why is it that after months... three, six, or ten... everything seems to fall apart and I don't have the strength or the tenacity to keep sticking with it? It's weird. It all comes down to a split second decision to put something unhealthy into my mouth, or not.

For now I am still educating myself on nutrition and eating for better health. I ordered some better multi-vitamins that I hope will be beneficial. I'm biking 25 minutes a day no matter how my eating is going. I can't wait to hear what my doctor has to say in a week.




Weight Loss