what is considered cheating?...

[Arielle]

Hello all,
I've been cheat free for 13 days now! But, part of me, feels like that's a cop out, because I still drink coffee and diet soda. Plus, I know of at least one time where I ate too much cheese, a couple times I had alcohol, stuff like that.

What's your take on all this?

[kealoha]

Re: what is considered cheating?...

I'm fairly strict. I consider coffee cheating. I consider alcohol cheating. I consider going over my total allotment for veggies each day cheating. I consider eating too much cheese cheating. I consider anything not on the list of "acceptable foods" cheating, even if it doesn't put me over my carbs for the day. I go by strict measurements and if I go over at all, for myself, I consider it "cheating." Admittedly though, I'm a tad bit obsessive.

[Arielle]

Re: what is considered cheating?...

Yeah, I think you are right, Kealoha. But, I am still proud of myself for not going off and eating all the carb ladden foods I used to eat (breads, pasta, etc). I am going to try cutting back on those things (coffee, diet soda) and hopefully eventually I will quit completely.

[slimndown]

Re: what is considered cheating?...

That's a dangerous question to ask around here......

These may be considered cheating but had been allowed on the induction list: diet soda (amount of sweetener limited), 1-2 cups of coffee - and preferrably caffeine free (note that the cream is limited). Most items are considered cheating if they are of the processed variety (LC bars, diet sodas, LC ice cream) and can be used a a crutch for your cravings for sweets. You're safe if you stick with unprocessed meat, allowed servings of allowed veggies and caffeine free tea after drinking your water allowance .

[2big4mysize]

Re: what is considered cheating?...

when the board was young the cheat free logo andchallenge was created. the rules were you and you alone decided what you were going to call cheating ( and boy did the definition of cheating vary between even mods) and then you policed yourself.

Since you feel you were wrong to have those foods then you know it was for you cheating. Clean it up cause once you start acceptoing cheating as an ongoing thing it gets easier and easier to allow the not allowed foods to get into your hands and mouths. Remember it was Dt Atkins himself who in rule 5 wrote do not eat anything not on the acceptable foods lists not one bite!

[Elsie150]

Re: what is considered cheating?...

Some of those foods could or could not be considered cheating. However alcohol was a definate NO NO. So..yep..you cheated. But good on you for not going completely off plan and giving up. Now you can be cheat free from this moment on!

[Kent]

Re: what is considered cheating?...

I think the definition of cheating like 2big says varies between person. What I deem as unacceptable might be allowed in others, like the notion of "free" days. For me, if it wasn't on the list or was limited by the list, I was cheating if I partook or overate. The strictness worked for me as it kept me steady and there were few judgement calls. The caffiene thing is something you will have to determine for yourself whether the risk of stalls, cravings, and blood sugar interaction is worth it. It might be something you could add back in later after the first 14 days too.