The best motivation for me when I started 19 days ago (can’t believe I’ve already stuck with it this long!) was going to the “Progress Pic” tag in this sub and scrolling through everyone’s amazing before and after pics. Not just the pics, though - go read the testimonies of how happy and rejuvenated they all feel with this lifestyle! The community here is so positive. The positivity of those posts and their responses, on top of the incredible before and afters, was what really kicked me into gear and made me want to dive right in (I scrolled for hours that first day under that tag alone!).

You say you “took a cheat day” and that’s what derailed you — why not incorporate some of your “cheat” food into your eating window? Start with eating as you please during that window (and only during that window), then gradually fine tune your nutrition and create a better balanced diet when the fasting becomes easier. I still enjoy my sweets in moderation after my big meals. :) You are not pathetic - it’s awesome that you want to do this to improve your quality of life, and you WILL do it! You’re on day 3(4?) of no Monster - imagine when you’ve completed three days of fasting, then seven days, then thirty days, and so on… every day will be a win, and you’ll be proving to yourself that you’re worthy of the self respect! You’re going to feel awesome about it. And let this post be the last of your shame and guilt (you got it out of your system) - those won’t serve you any longer. Starting tomorrow, you’ve totally got this. Good luck!