If the Burger King and Taco Bell runs aren't worth the consequences, why do I keep falling into that trap? Obviously, it's because I have had good experiences with them before. When I was having those good experiences, though, the food wasn't working against a specific goal I was trying to achieve. Yes, Taco Bell is excellent when I am drunk at 2 a.m. Yes, pizza is amazing when I have nothing to do for the entire day, but it's just not worth it right now.

During past off days, I was eating shit just to eat shit, like it was my duty. It was as much a part of the diet as the salads and turkey sandwiches. I thought off days were the safe house that would give me the strength to get to the next level. They were the water cups during a marathon, or a campsite during a weekend hike.

That definitely wasn't true. Sunday was my sixth straight day of eating healthy, but it isn't like I wanted to cheat more Sunday because I ate healthy on Friday. No; every day is its own entity with its own rules. Sometimes the urge to cheat is will be there, sometimes it won't. It really has nothing to do with how long I've held out - at least I don't think it does.

Why am I putting so much stock into the off days? Well, because it seems like I should, you know? It seems like I am depriving my body of things it likes, so I should take time out to indulge. Sounds good, right? That's really not how it works, though, because now I am treating my body better and giving it more of what it needs to work. So why should I go against that grain?

Off days should not be done just to curb a sudden craving. Instead, they should be applied correctly, when they can be appreciated. That's what I think I learned.

P.S. Right after I wrote this entry, I decided to order the Biggest Loser Cookbook from Amazon. I'll let you know how that goes.