What Ruins My Diet?

I like going through diet and fitness forums all over the Web to share my experience, and I found a topic that asked, "What Ruins Your Diet?" But rather than answer it there, I figured I do owe my BelleToday blog an overdue update, so I'm taking it here instead.

Over the years, I found that NOTHING ruins my diet.

Not even my favorite chocolate-covered toffee popcorn and nuts.

Not even late-night alcohol and junk food binges.

Not even filling up on steak or roast beef and eating myself to a heartburn at buffets.

Not even going off exercise for extended periods, like I am now, while I'm (still) injured.

Here's the thing—I paid my dues by losing weight steadily and slowly, incorporating good eating habits most of the time, exercising regularly, and allowing myself the occasional treat.

This is my kryptonite

I am still stunned whenever I return from a food-filled weekend trip and see my weight hasn't changed. It's a different story, of course, when I'm on a month-long vacation, but I go back to my previous weight with almost little effort when I return home.

But I know that the main thing that helps is, despite knowing this, I still don't go entirely off track. I still keep my treats and cheat days in check. I still eat healthily and reasonably most of the time. I still find ways to exercise and move.

And I do all that without much thinking, because it's all already natural to me. Because I spent so many years doing all those, that they've become habits and routine.

I get antsy when I lay off exercise for a week. I feel sick when I eat way too much junk food. I also trained my body, and likely my mind, to feel those limits and crave for my good habits when I lapse.

Right now, I'm avoiding dessert for the week, because I know I have a buffet to look forward to this weekend.

I'm not always good with my diet and exercise, but it's such a relief to know that I can occasionally afford not to be.