When Life Throws You a Bad Pastry (or Anything Else), Here’s How to Bounce Back
This Weight Loss Diary series features Pixie’s reflections on recovering from an eating disorder while losing weight in 2010 (and keeping it off for over 10 years). She shares honest, wisdom-filled diary entries from that time to inspire readers on their own weight loss journey. The entries are not chronological.
It’s week 6 of my fat loss journey, and I’ve been putting off my croissant craving for so long that I feel like I’m doing an amazing job sticking to my plan. I’m walking over 15k steps every day, and my calories hover around 1600-1700 kcal of mostly nutritious food. But now it’s the weekend, and today is croissant day.
Considering how close London is to Paris, and with all the French influence here, you’d think the pastries would be top-notch. That’s where I set myself up for disappointment. Ah, the curse of being a new Londoner.
There’s a local café—super trendy, hipster, and always with a long queue. Naturally, I think, “This place has to be good.” Today’s the day. I order my skinny cappuccino and the buttery croissant I’ve been craving. I even plan the rest of my meals around it—light salad for lunch so I can fully enjoy this treat.
The Croissant Catastrophe
But what I get is a joke. At first glance, the croissant looks perfect—golden, big, plump. You’d be fooled into thinking it’s going to be warm, buttery, and flaky. But no. It’s cold, squashed, and sad. What I have is stale bread masquerading as a croissant, with a hefty price tag to match.
Lies, lies, lies.
I take a bite, and instead of the sweet, buttery joy I’ve been dreaming of, I taste disappointment. The frustration is real. I saved my calorie budget for this, and there’s no room for a second attempt. This one had to be perfect. Now my mood is completely wrecked.
How a Bad Start Can Spiral
I can’t shake the bad vibe. It’s so easy to let one thing, like a bad breakfast, ruin your mood and send you into a spiral. Whether it’s stress, work, relationships, or yes, even a bad croissant, these frustrations push us towards comfort food or other unhealthy habits.
Instead of grabbing a store-bought triple-chocolate chip cookie (my second favourite thing after croissants), I decide to take a walk. I put on my headphones, tune out the world, and just walk my frustration off. I remind myself that yes, a bad croissant is a sin, but it’s only one croissant. It doesn’t control me.
No one has power over me—except myself.
Lessons Learned: There’s Always Another Chance
As long as I stay healthy and smart, there will always be another opportunity for an amazing croissant. Next time, I’ll do my research (thankfully, I’ve pinned a few good spots on Google Maps now—practically gold!).
When things don’t go as planned, I remind myself to refocus. I’m not letting a bad pastry drag me down. I stick to my plan for nutritious meals, follow through with my workout, and move on.
How to bounce back
I plan the rest of my meals on my calorie tracker to stay on top of things. My recipes are tasty, and having a clear picture of what’s next helps me avoid irrational choices when emotions run high. It works! I finish my walk (getting even more steps in), enjoy a whole wheat baguette and salad for lunch, and finish the day with a high-protein dinner.
Being resilient means adapting and not letting one disappointment define your day. Whether it’s a bad croissant or anything else life throws at you, there’s always tomorrow—and a better pain au chocolat out there waiting for me. 😉
If you’re looking for more inspiration, read more of my blogs here at Pounds off Pixie—a platform that’s all about sustainable wellness, not just quick fixes. You can also follow me on YouTube and Instagram for more tips and, of course, the occasional indulgent story. And don’t forget to grab my free Mindset Shift Guide—it’s packed with practical advice for rethinking weight loss in a way that sticks.