A cupcake. You would not believe how much of an impact this simple treat has had on my weight-loss journey. It's quite interesting because before I began losing weight, I really was never moved or tempted by cupcakes. I would much rather have indulged in a piece of cake, preferably Carrot, Red Velvet or a refreshing piece of Key Lime Pie. Cupcakes were a tease to me. Little did I know, this was all about to change.
I can remember the day my battle began with cupcakes. It was a battle that I would ultimately win, however it doesn't seem that way in the beginning. It was in February of 2011. I was about 3 months into my weight-loss journey with Weight Watchers and I had been doing rather well. I had begun to figure out a way to stick to my daily target of points and not feel particularly deprived, all while losing weight at a healthy rate each week. It was my employee's birthday and I decided, as a treat, I would bring her cupcakes to celebrate her day. Keep in mind, this was MY decision to buy the cupcakes.
When the time came to open the box, everyone dove right in and grabbed their treat while I retreated to my office and indulged in my 2 point WW mini bar. I smiled to myself as I celebrated my victory of passing on the cupcakes. Then, out of nowhere my employee, who's birthday it was, came into my office with something in her hand. I could smell it as soon as she entered my space. What was she doing? How could she enter my sacred space with such a sinful indulgence? Is she really trying to see me fail? I couldn't think straight. And then it happened; the perfectly frosted cake of deliciousness was placed on my desk with a loud thud. Okay, so it really didn't make a thud, but it sure felt like it.
Panic began to surge through my body. I could feel my will power beginning to melt away with every passing moment. I heard her say the words, "You forgot your cupcake." Then the battle began. "Oh, I'm not going to have a cupcake," I said. "I really don't want one." As I heard the lie come out my mouth, my desire begin to increase and I could feel myself beginning to salivate. "Do it for me," she said. "It's my birthday. It's not like you eat like this ALL the time." We began to go back and forth arguing our cases to the death. Finally she said, "Fine. I'm leaving this here for you." As she turned and walked out of my office and shut the door, I believe my heart stopped at that moment.
I sat there just staring at the cupcake. I started to take deep breaths, thinking to myself, "I don't really want this cupcake. If I just sit here long enough, it will pass." I began to tap my fingers on my desk and bite my pen. All the while the cupcake seemed to grow larger by the second.Then it happened...I tore into that cake like I hadn't eaten in at least a month. When my employee came back to check on me, the only evidence that was left of my battle with the cupcake was a few crumbs on my desk. She smiled at me with a knowing look and left.
I was thinking about the decision that I had made. I felt so guilty and pathetic. I felt as if I had set myself back and all the progress that I had made on my weight-loss journey up until this moment didn't mean a thing. Then I remembered something that I heard at my Weight Watchers meeting that week. Some members had mentioned that they were using their 49 extra points allowance to have treats throughout the week. I had prided myself in the fact that I had NEVER used any of my extra points. I had been able stay within my daily points without ever having to use any extra. I decided to figure out how many points my cupcake cost me. After determining that I had spent 14 points, I knew that if I wanted to eat for the rest of the week I was going to have to use some of those extra points. So I accounted for my cupcake. Believe it or not, I actually felt better. I had acknowledged what I had eaten.
That week when I attended my Weight Watchers meeting, I was extremely nervous about stepping on the scale because I knew about my battle with the cupcake. I held my breath, "Here goes." To my surprise...I had lost weight! I couldn't believe it. I was so shocked. I shared my cupcake story with my leader and the other members in the group. As I was describing what happened, I realized that what I was feeling was a result of deprivation. MY INNER SKINNY CHICK says: The way you lose your weight is the way that you will have to maintain your weight-loss. If you lose weight by deprivation, and not treating yourself along the way, you will have to maintain your loss by doing the same.
From that point on, I have used my extra allowance to treat myself every week, even with CUPCAKES! I actually celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago and I planned to treat myself to a gourmet cupcake that was AMAZING!
The key to losing weight and keeping it off is not a life of deprivation or eliminating the foods that you love. It's about managing those foods and enjoying them in moderation.
Do you have your own story like my cupcake story? What are some of the foods that you love to treat yourself with?
I sat there just staring at the cupcake. I started to take deep breaths, thinking to myself, "I don't really want this cupcake. If I just sit here long enough, it will pass." I began to tap my fingers on my desk and bite my pen. All the while the cupcake seemed to grow larger by the second.Then it happened...I tore into that cake like I hadn't eaten in at least a month. When my employee came back to check on me, the only evidence that was left of my battle with the cupcake was a few crumbs on my desk. She smiled at me with a knowing look and left.
I was thinking about the decision that I had made. I felt so guilty and pathetic. I felt as if I had set myself back and all the progress that I had made on my weight-loss journey up until this moment didn't mean a thing. Then I remembered something that I heard at my Weight Watchers meeting that week. Some members had mentioned that they were using their 49 extra points allowance to have treats throughout the week. I had prided myself in the fact that I had NEVER used any of my extra points. I had been able stay within my daily points without ever having to use any extra. I decided to figure out how many points my cupcake cost me. After determining that I had spent 14 points, I knew that if I wanted to eat for the rest of the week I was going to have to use some of those extra points. So I accounted for my cupcake. Believe it or not, I actually felt better. I had acknowledged what I had eaten.
That week when I attended my Weight Watchers meeting, I was extremely nervous about stepping on the scale because I knew about my battle with the cupcake. I held my breath, "Here goes." To my surprise...I had lost weight! I couldn't believe it. I was so shocked. I shared my cupcake story with my leader and the other members in the group. As I was describing what happened, I realized that what I was feeling was a result of deprivation. MY INNER SKINNY CHICK says: The way you lose your weight is the way that you will have to maintain your weight-loss. If you lose weight by deprivation, and not treating yourself along the way, you will have to maintain your loss by doing the same.
From that point on, I have used my extra allowance to treat myself every week, even with CUPCAKES! I actually celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago and I planned to treat myself to a gourmet cupcake that was AMAZING!
The key to losing weight and keeping it off is not a life of deprivation or eliminating the foods that you love. It's about managing those foods and enjoying them in moderation.
Do you have your own story like my cupcake story? What are some of the foods that you love to treat yourself with?
ME AT CAMI CAKES (GOURMET CUPCAKE SHOP)
THE SWEET POTATO CUPCAKE THAT I CHOSE
This is such an awesome post. I'm so glad you discovered that you can sometimes have cupcakes - and eat some of your weeklies!! You look great, dear. xoxo
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