When embarking on and moving through the life-changing journey of weight loss surgery it is essential you have fair expectations on yourself. Always try treat yourself with kindness and compassion.

All too often I hear stories of extreme guilt related to eating choices – this guilt is not positive or productive and it will not serve you well!

YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE PERFECT!

There are times you are going to deviate from your intended eating plan and that is ok! Eating is not always about nutrition and weight – it is social, it is enjoyable and it contributes to the quality of our life. Small amounts of indulgent foods eaten slowly and mindfully and truly enjoyed are an essential component of your ultimate success.

However, at times these small amounts may blow out, indulgences may be eaten when you are emotional or distracted and this can leave you regretful. Don’t be too hard on yourself, focus on what you can control and get back on track at your next meal or snack time. Remember each meal is a new opportunity to get it ‘right’, to nourish your body and to achieve your goals.

IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION

Can you to listen out for any guilty internal thoughts related to your food choices. Imagine saying them to a good friend. Now turn those thoughts around - you can’t change what has happened so focus on what you can control, that is, the very next meal or snack.

It can be useful to ask yourself.

• What were the triggers or events that lead me to make that food choice?
  
• How can I plan to decrease my vulnerability next time I am in that situation?
  

Let us know how you go, and remember when it comes to food, guilt is a wasted emotion.

wonderful topic.....it was years ago that I realized My Actions or Failure to Act produced a lot of my own 'guilt'.

Somehow I've moved beyond those cloying disappointments and energy drains. The more 'active participation in my OWN life' I undertook, the less guilt I had to drag around.

'Guilt' for me was like 'credit card debt'. I cut up them things in 1994 and haven't looked back. As a result my own 'discretionary income' seemed to rise as my debt load dwindled.....no sin of overspending, no guilt/sorrow/poverty of spirit.

In any case, the motivator for personal growth was that dank compost-cake of disappointment and despair with a thick frosting of guilt. Some of the reason I was able to break free of that emotional sugar/fat/overload, was taking the WLS steps and early support from Lap Band Talk.

Love this article. I try to make sure that if I feel guilt, its in the form of acknowledging a mistake, rather than feeling ashamed. I think of the former as a step moving forward, while the latter keeps you trapped in the past.

If I make a mistake, I make sure I keep it contextualized. Yes I caved in to a goowy brownie. No I am not an uncontrollable failure. And I let the guilt go so that I can actually enjoy the goowy brownie affair, move on and commit to an extra workout that week.

When I catch myself having a staring contest with a potential mistake.. I try to ask myself, if I let this happen, how am I going to feel about it tomorrow? And in most cases, the brownie is first to blink and I walk away knowing I made a confident choice.

Gotta love blinking brownies.

Guilt sucks....don't go there!!!