{"id":15288,"date":"2011-03-30T13:09:39","date_gmt":"2011-03-30T20:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=15288"},"modified":"2011-03-30T13:09:39","modified_gmt":"2011-03-30T20:09:39","slug":"why-wednesday-why-you-need-a-break-sometimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=15288","title":{"rendered":"Why Wednesday – Why You Need a Break Sometimes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A coworker told me recently that she took a break from Weight Watchers. She was feeling burned out and didn’t feel like counting her points, or making healthy food choices. So she took a week off. She said she saw a gain on the scale. I believe she’s back at the Weight Watchers program and doing well but she said she felt bad about taking the break.<\/p>\n

I’m here to say that sometimes you NEED a break.<\/p>\n

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For me, my lifestyle changes were less about being on a “diet” and more about changing bad habits so I don’t feel like I’m restricting myself. I don’t feel burned out with what I’m doing. I have in the past.<\/p>\n

When I first reached my goal weight (150 pounds) I needed a break. I had been so “good” for two years, restricting certain foods, counting my calories in a strict way, and I just needed a break from it. I thought I had it down–I thought I could stop counting my calories and maintain my weight loss. I was wrong.<\/p>\n

I stopped counting my calories for about 6 months or so. I was going through a hard time, felted really stressed and I had started taking Celexa. I took the Celexa for 10 months. That in combination with no counting my calories packed on the pounds. I saw the scale creeping up slowly but ignored it. I was also training for Hood to Coast. I ended up gaining 15 pounds.<\/p>\n

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This was an eye-opening experience. I realized that I’d have to count my calories probably forever (and I also realized that medications can alter my chemistry in a drastic way). I started counting my calories again, stopped the Celexa, and a year later finally<\/em> lost those 15 pounds.<\/p>\n

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15 Pounds Heavier<\/p><\/div>\n

Since that experience I realized that every once in awhile I need a “reset.” Instead of stopping ALL good habits for an extended period of time, I just do it for a day or two. I’ll stop counting my calories for a day or two and it’s the mental break that I need. Then I’m right back at it.<\/p>\n

Sometimes our exercise routines can get just that: routine. If you’re starting to dread<\/em> your workouts, you feel more stress about working out than you should, you don’t feel better after working out, you might be burned out<\/a>.<\/p>\n