Having a hard day

It is only my 3rd day on the Optifast diet and the free foods are not cutting it. I have not cheated... but I could eat the rest of the mac and cheese I just fixed for my 4 year old I am really trying to get through thisbut all I have thought of today is FOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I am feeling so bad because I have to do this diet for 4 weeks and it is only day 3 and I could eat just about anything right now. I feel like such a failure Melissa

You are not a failure at all, you've made it through 3 days. I remember when I was doing those diets, they said that the hardest days were day 3 and 4 because you are going through sugar and carb withdrawal. So, you've just about made it through the hard parts. I know that you can do it, and don't even think that you are failing...you are a success just by endeavoring to do this. Good luck and let us know how it is going. I'll be cheering for you down here Mary

Mary, Thank you for your response. I forgot about sugar and carb withdrawls I can't remember the last time I didn't have carbs. I LOOOVVVVVEEEEEEE CARBS!!! I just hate feeling this way. i just want to have this surgery. I am counting my days. I know that this diet is to benefit me, but it sure is HARD!!!! Thanks again for your reponse!!!! Melissa

NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, MS MELISSA ... NOT A FAILURE AT ALLLLLLLL. THE 1st SEVERAL DAYS ARE THE ABSOLUTE WORST BECAUSE YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL. YOUR BODY IS SCREAMIN' ... BUT YOU'RE STILL STICKIN' WITH IT. NOW LISTEN, SWEETIE ... THIS IS A COMPLETE LIFESTYLE CHANGE ... THE BIGGEST YOU WILL EVER MAKE IN YOUR LIFE. BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, EVERY MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE IS NOW BASED ON A DECISION DIRECTED AT HEALTHY DECISIONS. IT'S TOUGH! SO, THERE ARE NO FAILURES HERE ... IT IS A LIFETIME OF LEARNING & SUCCEEDING & GOOFING UP & RE-EVALUATING & RE-ADJUSTING. NO ONE GETS THROUGH THIS WITHOUT MAJOR CHALLENGES & MANY, MANY MISTAKES. THE POINT OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS IS TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE HEALTHY & EACH DAY WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF SUCCESSES & MAYBE A FEW MISTAKES. PRETTY SOON, WE FIND THAT WE HAVE FEWER MISTAKES ... BUT, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PERFECTION. SO, LOOK AT ALL YOU'VE DONE RIGHT, MS MELISSA. 3 DAYS OF THE TOUGHEST CHANGE IMAGINABLE & FILLED WITH MINUTE-BY-MINUTE SUCCESSES. THIS ISN'T A "DIET" ... YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A CLEANSING OF YOUR SYSTEM & YOUR BODY WILL LOSE SOME INITIAL WEIGHT, BUT THE GREAT THING IS THAT YOUR LIVER WILL LOSE FAT WHICH WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOUR SURGEON & EASIER ON YOU DURING SURGERY. SO, EACH DECISION DURING THIS PERIOD IS A DECISION FOR YOUR HEALTH. &, IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE (SHOOT, I'D HAVE EATEN YOUR POOR CHILD'S ENTIRE PLATE OF MAC & CHEESE BY NOW) ... BUT, IF YOU DO MAKE A MISTAKE ... TAKE A DEEP BREATH, GET A GLASS OF WATER, SIT DOWN & RELAX FOR A FEW MOMENTS & START RIGHT BACK TO MAKING GOOD DECISIONS. THAT'S THE TRICK ... GET BACK ON THE HORSE RIGHT AWAY WHEN YOU FALL OFF. THAT'S WHY I WEIGH EVERY MORNING ... SO, I DON'T ALLOW MYSELF ANY MORE THAN 24 HOURS WITHOUT BEING ACCOUNTABLE ... THAT ENCOURAGES ME TO RE-EVALUATE & RE-ADJUST TO MAKE BETTER & BETTER DECISIONS. IF I'M GONNA GOOF UP, I'M NOT ALLOWING MYSELF TO STRING IT OUT FOR DAYS & WEEKS ... YOU DON'T WIN BECAUSE YOU NEVER MAKE MISTAKES. YOU WIN BECAUSE YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES ... &, THEN YOU GET HEALTHY STEP BY STEP. YOU'LL FIND THAT WE POST MORE ABOUT OUR MISTAKES THAN OUR SUCCESSES ... 1st TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS, BUT AS A WAY TO RE-EVALUATE & RE-ADJUST ... &, WHEN YOU AREN'T AFRAID TO ACKNOWLEDGE MISTAKES, THEY CAN'T TAKE YOU DOWN ... YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM & FIX THEM INSTEAD OF SEEING THEM AS THIS NEVER-ENDING BLACK CLOUD OVER YOU READY TO DESTROY YOU. I THINK WHEN WE GO FOR PERFECTION ... NOOOOOOOOO MISTAKES, WE ACTUALLY SET OURSELVES UP FOR FAILURE BECAUSE WE STRESS OURSELVES SO MUCH. YOU'RE IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL, SWEETIE. NOT TO STRESS ... SUCCESS IS FOUND MISTAKE BY MISTAKE ... BE GOOD TO YOURSELF & ENJOY THE JOURNEY. WHAT A SAD SITUATION IF YOU LOSE ALL YOUR WEIGHT & HAVE HATED EVERY DAY OF THE JOURNEY. YOU ARE A SUCCESS JUST BECAUSE YOU MADE THIS DECISION FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU, MS MELISSA. NOW, BIG BREATH ... PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE & KICK BACK THOSE SHOULDERS ... YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO THE BEST LIFE IMAGINABLE, GIRL! YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Lady D, THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!!!! I really needed that dose of reality. I know that this Optifast is only going to help me, it has just been hard today. I want to start being accountable for myself when it comes to what I put in my mouth...heaven knows I certainly haven't been accountable for a long long time. Thank you for your words of wisdom. I know I will have weak moments during this life changing event, but I'm going to try my darndest not to start today. I just keep thinking that I need to be as healthy as I can for this surgery, because no one can raise my 3 kids like me! Thank you again....now if you will excuse me I need to get up and get my bottle of water and do something besides sitting here feeling sorry for myself Melissa

WAY TO GO, GIRL ... FANTASTIC ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT ... YOU GET A GOLD STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S IT ... YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY!!!!!!!!

WOW! Lady D. said it ... wise words! I'm glad you made it over that tough spot. Melissa. Hopefully having to work this weekend, and be out of the house make will things go even smoother for you these next couple of days. I know how tough it must be at times, but if you need to ... come back and re-read Lady D's wonderful advice. "One day at a time, dear Optifast" ... ~ Dawn