There are a few things I won't give up

I feel a little guilty for admitting this but I am unwilling to give up:

Starbucks Toffee Nut lattes (about 2 per week).  They are 200 calories (non-fat, light or no whip)

Bag of Baked Lays (small Subway size, 130 calories) - about 2-3 times per month

Wheat Thins (only 1/2 serving per day or 8 crackers).  My husband hides the box for me.  :)

Pizza (ham/mushroom) on ultra thin crust (1-2 slices about once per week)

6-8 ounces of occasional regular pop (couple of times per month)

Being able to "keep" a few things I love (in moderation) makes me feel NORMAL.

However...I have no issues giving up cereal, cake, pie, sweets, ice cream, french fries (along with most fast foods), white bread/rice/pasta, heavily fried and creamed foods.  I love brown rice and am learning to live with wheat pasta.

Why feel guilty?  If you can fit them into your diet - in moderation and as planned, which it sounds like you're doing - then I don't see an issue with it.  If you were eating these things out of control, then there would be a problem.  So, relax and enjoy!

My treat of choice is a Starbucks venti soy decaf latte.  They are 220 calories each (with 11 g protein!), so I don't do them very often, but I'm not giving them up completely!

Hey, no one said we had to give up everything that we like!

You are a grown adult, responsible for your own decisions.  There are no "rules" that you are breaking in this life changing process.  There are decisions you make, and some of those may or may not be detrimental to your success.  Each person has to write their own story-this is part of yours.

I've never considered anything off limits to me.  The first year, when I was losing, I was a "by the book" girl.  I followed the recommended plan to the letter-but I knew once I got to maintenance I'd reintroduce some of the things I love, in moderation, because to do this the rest of my life, that is how I would have to live.

Same with exercise.  I knew the only way I'd do it forever is to find things I like-I will not make myself do things I don't enjoy.  Must've worked...I'm almost 5 years in as a regular exerciser!

Please never feel guilty about making decisions on how you can be a success long term....while they all may not work, if you don't try, you'll never know.

I feel guilty because Starbucks, chips, and pizza are not listed in my plan and I am to stay away from those foods.  But I won't.  

I gave up items like those but found healthier replacements.  I used to always get starbucks chai tea latte but now I order  decaf organic chai and I look forward to it just as much.  Also, it is much cheaper over starbucks

Kevin

I gave up everything but half and half in my coffee. That, they'll pry from my cold, dead, pudgy fingers.

Umm--and popcorn, homemade, with PB2 or nutritional yeast.

In my opinion it is better to stay with your doctors plan until you lose most of your weight.  After that it is your decision to add and adjust what you like. I'm sure that every intelligent person can understand that if you go back to your old habits you will gain weight.  I haven't had pizza or a coke for 1 1/2 years but it doesn't mean that I don't want them, I have found substitutes.   I used to bake brownies and eat 1/3 of the pan..right away, now one pan is cut into 36 pieces and I may eat 2, and that isn't very often.  The purpose of the whole journey is to change old habits not to deprive yourself of enjoying your food ever after.

I'm early into the process, but I ready know there are things from my "previous life" that I will incorporate back into my diet.  Those things will just need to be in strict moderation and offset by exercise.  We have to use this tool that we've been given very wisely and strive to live a healthier life, but we should also be able to live like normal people - just normal people making good decisions most of the time.  Guilt is a very strong emotion and not one that promotes a healthy attitude towards food/ diet.  

Kevin, I found decaf/sugar free chai tea latte in Kroger by the coffee and tea I mix it half and half mith my nonfat vanilla carbmaster milk. YUM!