Somebody help me out here

[Droopy]

I went on a diet about 6 weeks ago. I cut out all the sugar, started drinking nothing but water, and started consuming no more than 2000 calories a day.

Well there's this new sports bar that just opened down the street from my house and I'm having a really hard time keeping from walking over there and consuming massive quantities of chicken wings and beer while catching a game. I'm picking up the Fat Dudes Anonymous hotline here and asking you all to talk me down.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. If you go to that sports bar, I'm going pay Skittles to come kick your ass.

Not really, but think about it this way. One trip to the bar will undo weeks of effort. Is it really worth it?

[flvegan]

2. Dude, as a personal trainer, sports nutritionist and vegan...

GO!!!!!!! 6 weeks? You deserve a good cheat day. Go snarf some wings, drink some beers.

BTW, stay away from the celery they offer with the wings. It's little more than empty veg calories and water.

Seriously...go, enjoy.

[Droopy]

7. If I end up going

The blame will be all your's. I have now been released of all personal responsibility.

BTW, that's not the kind of response I'd expect from a vegan. :)

[flvegan]

14. Groovy, blame me.

The nice thing is that you have not only the backing of a trainer and nutritionist, but also one of them freak vegan folk.

Seriously, if you've been "good" and "behaved" you deserve a cheat day, regardless of what it is. I'd be remiss if I suggested anything else. Veganism aside, I'm a professional and I don't bend my advice based on my beliefs.

Beer and wings...shit, I'm actually really, really jealous. Damn.

[XemaSab]

3. Any diet where you can't occasionally spoil yourself is doomed to failure.

As long as you promise yourself you won't do it often, I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy yourself and watch a game while drinking beer and eating wings. :)

[Droopy]

12. I don't know if you've ever had any bad habits

But I've had plenty and this is how it works when I decide I'll just cheat a little. A little becomes a little more. Then a little more becomes a moderate amount. Then a moderate amount becomes full blown eating a whole pizza by myself while washing it down with a six pack and having a pecan mudslide for desert followed by smoking a half a pack of cigarettes.

[AlCzervik]

4. don't do it Droopy, you've worked way to hard and you will hate yourself

in the morning. that sports bar will be there for a long time and really you've had wings before and you'll have them again in the future. Stay strong.
:hug:

[Omphaloskepsis]

5. Go for it..

Just try to avoid making a habit of it. You deserve a treat. Maybe you could take a hour long walk in the morning to balance things out.

[GOPisEvil]

6. You owe yourself a night out...just think moderation.

In fact, I bet if you go and have some wings, you'll eat less than normal. Just get back on the wagon tomorrow.

Deprivation leads to splurges and binges.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

8. If you only do it once a month or so....

I don't see the harm. :shrug:

[hfojvt]

9. Nebraska versus USC is likely to be too one-sided to enjoy anyway

Huskers will mop them up at home. It will be boring to watch.

[SeattleGirl]

10. I say go, and indulge yourself some for one night.

Not OVER-indulge, just indulge. Eat some stuff that is not on your list. Throw guilt out the window, just for tonight. Then tomorrow, go back to what you've been doing on your diet.

Anything that smacks of total deprivation is NOT good for you, ultimately.

Allowing yourself a "bad" day now and then can, I believe, keep you on track overall.

[Kali]

11. eat a big old salad or some calorie-free thing first then go and enjoy

order the smaller portions. Nothing wrong with a pile of chicken wings and a couple beers once in a while - hell schedule it for once a month or something.
Sorry - you were asking for help to NOT go. And I am not really one for weight loss advice, anyway. I am more about moderation and balance, not deprivation. (I'm still fat, though so what do I know?)

[Deja Q]

13. Moderation is the key. Don't deprive, but don't indulge as if there's no tomorrow.

Even if there is no tomorrow.

It's something I need to do too; but walking 3 miles per day will do more for me. And hopefully I won't sweat as much eventually too. :)

[Droopy]

15. YOU GUYS AREN'T HELPING!

Well a couple of you are. Actually, I think I'm going to be okay. I just weighed myself and I've put on 2 pounds just by thinking about chicken wings and beer. :)

I've lost 20.6 pounds in about a month and a half. I need to lose about 60 more. When I get down to my desired weight I'll think about a celebration.

[zanne]

18. Yup. Think about what you've accomplished so far.

Sounds like you're doing great. Don't screw it up.

[DarkTirade]

16. It's okay to let loose once in a while, as long as you can control the urge.

What I usually do it try to make up for what I eat with exercise. I know my huge appetite will be my undoing every time I try to diet... so I'll just make sure I exercise enough to burn any extra calories I get from cheating.

Which reminds me, I just had a couple of reese's peanut butter cups... I should get some exercise. :)

[trof]

17. OK, I use the 'bank account' method.

I'm on a 1500 calorie a day 'diet'.
I've been on it so long it's not even a diet anymore.
Just the way I eat now.

My mindset is "OK, I have 1500 calories to spend today. How do I want to spend them? Do I REALLY want that candy bar right now? Or would I rather have more of what's for dinner tonight?"

Sometimes I really want the Snickers.
Then I have to cut down on portions at meal time.
But usually not.
When you have a limited number of calories to 'spend' each day it's amazing how much you stop and think before you make a choice.
Works for me, anyway.
Good luck.