What do I need to do when I start getting sloppy to get back on track?

I got cocky this week and had way too many episodes of dark chocolate "because it's good for me and it won't be that bad". I saw the results this am. So now I'm trying to fill myself with loads of fiber and fresh fruit <sigh> and tell myself "the chocolate that's left in the fridge will not go bad if it has to wait a while... repeat: it will NOT go bad, you do NOT have to eat it right now..." <another sigh>

I jump right back into paying attention to everything I eat and do.

I've hung my picture in my overalls up in the kitchen....if that doesn't get me moving back in the right direction, I don't know what will.

I have numbers I look at every morning on my glucometer, they get me going back on the track quickly. My too tight jeans will do the same thing. My husband's saying, "we're having THAT for dinner, what a change" will do the back on track trick.

When your health is dependent on doing something, you tend to be able to get back on track easier than a dress size or number on a scale, in my opinion.

i usually guilt myself back on track.

but i am trying the Beck response cards. i think a theme for me is "freedom" , i.e. wanting freedom from counting calories, eyeballing portions, making selections based on health, etc. so my response card says " going off track is not true freedom, because you know you will be riddled with guilt, shame, extra exercise, etc...that is not freedom. that is actually building a tighter prison for yourself."

Fixes for my problem areas:

I need to weigh my portions.

I need to remember to distract myself when I'm stressed and I think, "Hey! I'll eat!" to cope.

I need to NOT sample dinner before it's cooked.

I need to NOT eat food that others bring in at work. Giving myself credit: This week alone, I did not eat brownies (from a boxed mix), donuts (not freshly made), muffins (from a boxed mix), cheesecake (from the freezer section), pie (from the freezer section), and cookies (that were oatmeal, which I don't really like). No wonder all the military people run three miles a day.

I need to stick to my exercise plan.

This is one that I struggle with. I get cocky from being in range week after week and then start drifting back into bad habits. The habit I go back to first is taking extra bites, licks and tastes. I KNOW that will get me in trouble in the long run yet I have a tendancy to start pushing the limits of what I know works.

Thanks to Beck, I have a special card for this justification thinking and make sure it's front and center when I'm getting sloppy. It's also in my usual rotation of cards as well.

I also generally beginning to repost in the "what's for dinner thread".