When I used to binge or fall off the food plan wagon, I’d stay down for a while. If I’d abstained from compulsive overreating for a while, sometimes these binges were huge and I stayed in relapse a lonnnng time. It is much easier to stay on the horse than remount.
As discouraging as it can be for me to slip and screw up my food plan now, it is very encouraging that I appear able to get myself back on track fairly quickly. I’ve already bounced back from the bread binge. As planned, I’ve chosen foods that are easier on my stomach. Take today, for example. I started with a protein drink for breakfast. I had a few roasted peanuts as a mid-morning snack. At lunch I had some homemade tomato soup. In the last afternoon, Greek yogurt and strawberries made a nice snack. Tonight’s dinner — a few forkfuls of lowfat egg salad and some homemade broccoli soup with a sprinkling of low fat cheddar. For an evening treat, I ate a Skinny Cow ice creamish sandwich.
At no time did I eat compulsively or overdo my portions. Not only do I feel physically better, but my emotional state balanced out a good bit, too. Booyah!
This was my first effort at making broccoli soup. It was “Organics share delivery day” at work and my share included some fresh, organic broccoli. I love broccoli soup, but usually it’s made with cream and lots of cheese. I went online to find a soup recipe that nixed the cream. I figured I could cut back on the cheese myself without reading instructions. I also bought myself an immersion (aka stick) blender. Love this gadget! It works, it’s easy and it’s smaller which makes for easier storage.
The soup turned out reasonably yummy. I have a couple of small, single-portion containers in the fridge and a larger container in the freezer for the future. Looks like I’m set for the next few days!
Lessons learned: Falling off the wagon might hurt, but it doesn’t have to keep you down. Don’t use a screw up as an excuse to give up. If you fall off of the wagon and don’t climb back in, you can’t start moving forward again.
Something to remember.
Weighty Matters 
I think stumbles are an important part of the learning process. If you’re never tested, you don’t develop strategies to cope. You are changing your behavior for the rest of your life; at some point it’s going to be tough. Knowing that you’ve handled problems before and learning what works for you will keep you on track. Getting right back on plan makes a stumble a non-issue. Good for you.
Egads
Yay you! What progress you’ve made! Do you feel fantastic about it? Are you rewarding/acknowledging yourself for these things you’ve learned and put into practice? I’m practically doing a happy dance for you over here.