Heed Rule #5 of Induction

[Greeneggs&ham]

Eat nothing that is not on the acceptable foods list. And that means absolutely nothing. Your "just this one taste won't hurt" rationalization is the kiss of failure during this phase of Atkins.

I have too many friends who think a couple of tablespoons of ketchup on a burger or a handful of pretzels won't affect their results. I'm seeing several posts here with a Weight Watchers mentality of "mistakes are OK and expected as long as we jump back on the wagon tomorrow."

Wrong! While it is certainly a good idea to get back on the proverbial horse as soon as possible, this WOE does NOT support the option of taking time off for even 5 minutes. When you "accidentally" eat a bowl of ice cream or a slice of pizza or a couple of beers, you are undermining your success and making it more difficult to lose weight in the future.

Essentially you are continuing on a yo-yo diet! Usually a yo-yo diet is thought of as jumping from one diet to the next every couple of months, but if you eat low carb for breakfast and high carb for dinner, you're just playing with a shorter string. Most nutritioninsts believe that yo-yo dieting is worse for your overall health than steadily eating poorly.

Have you read the threads on the STAC (second time around club) forums? Most there agree that losing weight on Atkin's is tougher the second (third, fourth, etc) time around. Surprise -- if you cheat and then start over, you've just moved into the "harder to lose" category.

Don't bother starting this diet until you can muster up the little bit of willpower to stay strong for 2 short weeks with NO CHEATS. It does get easier the longer you remain away from the illegal foods, but you have to be able to say "NO" on your own in the early stages.

The loving and compassionate responses to those who "goofed" has its place as we all want you to succeed, but the decision to change your eating habits has to be a "once and done" mentality. Sorry that I had to be the one to say it, but as a parent, I'm learning that often times the truth hurts a little and love isn't always just hugs and kisses. I hope you decide to avoid temptation at all costs in the future and stop climbing into the coffin every time the opportunity to screw up presents itself!


TOUGH LOVE,
Eric

[ValidRouge]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

BRAVO, Eric!!!

I tried to rep you, but i must spread the love some more first.

I, too, would rather see someone wait until they truly are ready to commit to Atkins (by the book) than to yo-yo, or to make up their own rules to the plan. My concern isn't even about weight loss, it's about blood chemistry and hormone imbalance, cholesterol, diabetes, and HEALTH.

[flpooh19701]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

While I agree that you should do induction strictly, I do not agree that this is an all or nothing woe. I do think that 99% of the time you should stay strict for best results. BUT Ironically, I was reading the 2002 DANDR book last night chapter 19 "dealing with temptation", my page 237. One of the tools Dr A stated for dealing with temptation was to " Deliberately stopping the ATkins plan, but you must do so intelligently. Pick your poison. Don't throw all reason to the wind. Do you want that potato with your meal, or a glass of wine with your dinner, or a taste of your partners dessert?Pick one and only one and be done with it. Then get right back to doing Atkins. Used occasionally, and I stress "occassionally" this strategy can be a useful technique."

I have too many friends who think a couple of tablespoons of ketchup on a burger or a handful of pretzels won't affect their results. I'm seeing several posts here with a Weight Watchers mentality of "mistakes are OK and expected as long as we jump back on the wagon tomorrow."

Wrong! While it is certainly a good idea to get back on the proverbial horse as soon as possible, this WOE does NOT support the option of taking time off for even 5 minutes. When you "accidentally" eat a bowl of ice cream or a slice of pizza or a couple of beers, you are undermining your success and making it more difficult to lose weight in the future.

Essentially you are continuing on a yo-yo diet! Usually a yo-yo diet is thought of as jumping from one diet to the next every couple of months, but if you eat low carb for breakfast and high carb for dinner, you're just playing with a shorter string. Most nutritioninsts believe that yo-yo dieting is worse for your overall health than steadily eating poorly.

Have you read the threads on the STAC (second time around club) forums? Most there agree that losing weight on Atkin's is tougher the second (third, fourth, etc) time around. Surprise -- if you cheat and then start over, you've just moved into the "harder to lose" category.

Don't bother starting this diet until you can muster up the little bit of willpower to stay strong for 2 short weeks with NO CHEATS. It does get easier the longer you remain away from the illegal foods, but you have to be able to say "NO" on your own in the early stages.

The loving and compassionate responses to those who "goofed" has its place as we all want you to succeed, but the decision to change your eating habits has to be a "once and done" mentality. Sorry that I had to be the one to say it, but as a parent, I'm learning that often times the truth hurts a little and love isn't always just hugs and kisses. I hope you decide to avoid temptation at all costs in the future and stop climbing into the coffin every time the opportunity to screw up presents itself!


TOUGH LOVE,
Eric

[ValidRouge]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

Trisan, I understand and agree with what you are saying. I think Eric is more talking about the people who eat off plan almost every day. And definitely every week. We're not talking about a person who decides to have a single glass of wine or a baked potato with their anniversary or birthday dinner. I think he (and I know I am) is talking about the people who consistently eat off plan daily, weekly.

Of course a baked potato, or a glass of wine as Dr. A talks about is not going to permanantly impair someone's ability to lose weight over the long term.

[flpooh19701]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

I certainly agree with you on that! I must have missed it in the original post... I'm still finishing my coffee.. albeit decaf haha.. Induction especially, a pretzel here and there can be the kiss of death especially when we're trying to break our cravings for all that stuff

Trisan, I understand and agree with what you are saying. I think Eric is more talking about the people who eat off plan almost every day. And definitely every week. We're not talking about a person who decides to have a single glass of wine or a baked potato with their anniversary or birthday dinner. I think he (and I know I am) is talking about the people who consistently eat off plan daily, weekly.

Of course a baked potato, or a glass of wine as Dr. A talks about is not going to permanantly impair someone's ability to lose weight over the long term.

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

I do not agree that this is an all or nothing woe. ... I was reading the 2002 DANDR book last night chapter 19 "dealing with temptation", my page 237. One of the tools Dr A stated for dealing with temptation was to " Deliberately stopping the Atkins plan..."

Hey! That's my page 237 too. Just be sure to note that there is one bullet point in a 20+ page chapter that says to give in to the "occasional" temptation. The rest of that chapter discusses alternatives to satisfying your craving that are 100% on plan.

Additionally, that chapter is intended for Atkineers who have been eating this way for a while. I wrote this article more as a response to the several recent threads from people falling off the wagon in the first month and making it out to be no big deal...and then doing it again 10 days later.

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

I tried to rep you, but i must spread the love some more first.

Yeah, I've noticed that before too. Apparently ADBB supports multiple text partners. Amazing that we don't have more STD's (Socially Transmitted Diseases) round here...

[zoewmu]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

Giving in to temptation is really giving up on yourself. Do you really expect this WOE to help you lose weight or do you expect it to be one more diet that you've tried and failed? Are you going gung ho because this time you're gonna finish the race, or are you half-heartedly doing it because, while you want to lose weight, you really don't want to work at it?

Induction is a two week test of how committed you are. Because there will invariably be an event with all sorts of goodies, a day when you aren't as prepared as you thought you were, or a life happening that causes emotional upheaval. Perservere and you will find that you are a stronger person than you thought you were, that the sugar cravings don't have to beat you, and that this WOE really does work.

Some wonderful person on this board (whose name I don't know) has a signature that compares taking a bite to giving an alcoholic a sip. That's really the truth. You don't know which handful of sugar is the one that will cause you to fall off the wagon for good. Are you willing to take the chance that this bite will cause cravings that will send you into a tailspin? Nobody can force food into your mouth. They can offer, cajole, beg, guilt, and argue as long as they want. But you are the captain of your own ship. If you are going to do induction, why take a chance on steering yourself off course by going off plan. This WOE works....if you follow it.

[Jace]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

Lately it seems as though most of the posts in the induction and main diet forums could be answered simply with the question "If you can't commit to following the plan properly for 14 days, what makes you think you're going to be able to sustain this for the rest of your life?"....that's much of the reason I don't post as often anymore...saying the same thing over and over again to people is depressing and most don't want to hear it...so I just throw my hands up in defeat.

I really think it's no coincidence that the long term weight loss success stories on this board are the same people that stress doing it by the book (and, unfortunately, get deried as purists for calling people out on their less that stellar adherence to Dr. Atkins' plan).

~Far la bella figura!

[flpooh19701]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

Hey! That's my page 237 too. Just be sure to note that there is one bullet point in a 20+ page chapter that says to give in to the "occasional" temptation. The rest of that chapter discusses alternatives to satisfying your craving that are 100% on plan.

Additionally, that chapter is intended for Atkineers who have been eating this way for a while. I wrote this article more as a response to the several recent threads from people falling off the wagon in the first month and making it out to be no big deal...and then doing it again 10 days later.

Your right.. I should have recognized that I was posting to the induction forum as well.. I tend to click on new posts and reply from there. Sometimes i forget to note what forum I'm replying to..my bad

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

I really think it's no coincidence that the long term weight loss success stories on this board are the same people that stress doing it by the book (and, unfortunately, get deried as purists for calling people out on their less that stellar adherence to Dr. Atkins' plan).

Wait a sec. I was the one who mentioned purists when I first joined in mid-June. But I swear is was meant in a good way. Besides, I was young and stupid "back then."

And yes, I second your reasoning for not posting as often lately while at the same time offering kudos for those who have been around for 6 months and more who graciously give the same responses over and over and over. I needed to hear it then and I'm sure others still need to hear it now.

[Rick]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

And even more to the point.... Heed ALL rules of Induction. This is the very foundation of the entire Atkins WOL. It's where you build your core, and if you can master it here in the first few weeks, then you've built a machine that can work for you in the whole fat burning, muscle building process.

Induction can be difficult, or it can be easy. It just depends upon how determined you are at making a lifestyle change and improving your health and self image.

Those little cheats are what got us to where we started out, and to truly improve permanently, you have to figure out how to do it, without the cheats.

I've gone down that path, but fortunately was able to try it again, and just a bit smarter about it this time. So, if you do cheat (I did, and I gained it back), then you have to make a decision. "Is this the life that I really want?" If you can answer that with a great big fat NOOO!!!!, then do Atkins the way it was meant to be done.

Sorry... I'll get off my soapbox now.

Rick

[SueSue1212]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

Well, since May 17 I have cheated with a plum, a peach and a 1"X2" piece of Birthday Cake. Does this qualify me as a food sl*t? LOL But seriously, I know I should not of done it, but I am human and I did get right back on the wagon. I am still losing. But, I wonder if I had not given in to the little temptations, if I would of in another day or so just given up altogether? Just a thought. I know cheating is wrong, but I would rather admitt that I messed up and hope for some support from the group. So, if your reading this and you have messed up, I have too have and I got back to the plan and I am still losing so don't give up!
SueSue1212

[flpooh19701]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

Well, since May 17 I have cheated with a plum, a peach and a 1"X2" piece of Birthday Cake. Does this qualify me as a food sl*t? LOL But seriously, I know I should not of done it, but I am human and I did get right back on the wagon. I am still losing. But, I wonder if I had not given in to the little temptations, if I would of in another day or so just given up altogether? Just a thought. I know cheating is wrong, but I would rather admitt that I messed up and hope for some support from the group. So, if your reading this and you have messed up, I have too have and I got back to the plan and I am still losing so don't give up!
SueSue1212

YAY SUESUE1212! I think the way you handled it is what makes this a WOL.. We are all human and therefore, far from perfect. It's moving on into this woe from our imperfections that make us successful long term. I'm not discounting the importance of strict induction though.

I just want to say that erics post certainly has imerit as well especially where induction is concerned. And, I certainly see the yo yo issue that he is stressing.

[moniegail]

Re: Heed Rule #5 of Induction

i find that it gets so menaugtiness(sp) when you see the same people over and over coming to the boards saying they cheated. or saying something like day 12 no lbs lost, i only cheated twice during induction.....blah blah blah....... i don't mind offering support and encouragement to people who really need it if it gets them back on plan. however, after i see someone who can't seem to make it past day 2 or 3 without cheating, get back on plan, 2 or 3 days later cheats again, starting over induction over and over.....i just can't seem to bring myself to offer anymore support. i know it's tough, i know that food is addicting, but if i can do it so can they. i also know that if the mindset is not there yet, no amount of support is gonna keep them from cheating.

having said that, i'm sure we've all been there before though or will be at some point and time. something's gonna happen and we give in. it happened to me, no planned cheat or anything like that, but it was a cheat nontheless. i had to have a family pet put down, and the grief got to me so bad, that the next day i went totally off plan. it was just one day for a few hours. it happened, and i wasn't proud. i took my lumps, and then i got back on plan. i plan to make this a lifestyle, but i know things like that could happen and i can live with that. i can't however justify going off plan, back on, off again.

it is sometimes just easier to not post than to rewrite the same posts over and over to 20 different people. then again, some people may feed off those posts of encouragement and can get back on plan for good and so who am i to not give it too them. sometimes it feels like a catch-22.

wow eric....thanks for this post....i needed that little vent...