I have a question and would appreciate everyone's honesty, since this forum is to teach and help us all achieve our fitness goals.

Minus those of you who are pre-contest(or maybe this does apply)....what do you do if you mess up on your diet?

I "mess-up" occasionally and everytime I do, I put myself on a mental rollercoaster. I feel EXTREMELY guilty and disappointed in myself afterwards...I am in a HORRIBLE mood for the rest of the day. I look at myself as a failure and mentally tell myself that this whole week of dieting and working out went out the window.
This is a constant mind game with me. I feel so proud when my diet is perfect, like my day was a sucess, but when I goof up, I feel like I am worthless.

Do any of you have this problem? What do you do? I have tried to write in a my "diet journal" when I feel like I want to splurge reason why I shouldn't but it's it's like I almost convince myself beforehand to mess up....I make up excuses why I can "this time..." and there goes my emotional rollercoaster afterwards.

Also, do any of you stress about your meals when you are visiting and out for the day? I get so caught up with eating my diet properly that if anyone offers me something, I get really difensive, like they are trying to sabotage my diet.

...like I said it is a constant mind game, and when no one around me does the same, they think you are "obsessed" and in turn make Me feel like I am.

PLEASE tell me someone has this problem? Am I the only one?

The bodybuilding/fitness lifestyle is certainly not mainstream, and it can get somewhat obssesive at times. You have to plan your meals around your day, but try not to plan your day around your meals. I'll admit its difficult to balance sometimes, but try to keep things in perspective.
As far as messing up on your diet, just blow it off. You can't change what you've already done, and stressing over it just released cortisol and other stress hormones that will furhter hurt your progres. Avoid cheating, but if it happens, just move on and eat right at your next meal. Also don't try to compensate at the next meal by eating less...then you're just blowing two meals instead of one (two wrongs don't make a right!). An occasional cheat is not going to significantly hurt your progress, especially if you are not dieting for a contest.

"You have to plan your meals around your day, but try not to plan your day around your meals"

Just wanted to pull this quote out from your message because I thought it was a very valid point.

Lara

DCandy said it best

Jason Theobald

www.geocities.com/chezburger10/JASONTHEOBALDBIO.html