cheat day?

[not2late]

Re: cheat day?

You're right -- I shouldn't have asked for advice in this forum for the issue of my friend's event when I already knew what was the 'right' thing to do in the situation. I guess, more than anything, I was looking for support & encouragment -- people who had dealt with similar situations and been able to get back up on the horse, so to speak.

There are times when being supportive and encouraging is being permissive and complicit. For example, if this was a women's abuse support forum and you said your abusive boyfriend whom you, just texted you a message saying how sorry he was for slapping you, didn't mean it at all, still loves you and wants you to have dinner with him tonight. And besides, you owe it to him because when you were out of a job he supported you 100% until you found another one, so it's your obligation and duty to him to give him another chance. You're only posting because you really think he's sorry and will never hit you again and you want support from others in the abuse forum who had similar experiences and it turned out all sunshine and roses. I highly doubt, you wouldn't get many, if any, posters telling you to have dinner and take him back.

We are a diet support board. We don't want you to fail. We want you to get to your goal and maintain it with the least amounts of bumps and problems on your journey. That's why we won't tell you to do something that isn't in your best interest. That's what being genuinely supportive is all about.

[J.R.]

Re: cheat day?

Here's another point of view, the one of your friend.

Putting myself in his place, I would be touched if my friend showed up at my event when I knew she was on a diet and simply being in the presence of chocolate and wine would risk knocking here off. Her presence alone would mean the world to me and I certainly would not be offended if she didn't try the chocolate.

Or in other words, if I shamed her into eating the chocolate and it caused her a major setback or worse, falling off the program completely, I would feel very guilty.


I suspect that your friend will be very impressed that you put yourself in a potentially compromising situation with regards to Atkins just to support him on his big day. Honestly, just showing up shows how much you care! (BTW, I'm a guy)

[planetclaire]

Re: cheat day?

I'm on Day 13 of induction, and I think I'm going to stay in induction for awhile because I've actually enjoyed it. Besides, I kind of messed up in the middle with some Atkins bars, and it knocked me out of ketosis for a few days.

Anyway... the point is that I have this event to go to next week -- a wine & chocolate tasting. obviously, this will put me way off plan for that day.

Is it OK to do this and then go back to ketosis as quickly as possible? I don't want to let my friend down by not going. It's a pretty big deal to him.

You can still go but you don't have to partake in wine and chocolate, do you? Isn't it your presence that would mean more to your friend?

I cannot have a little bit of chocolate and stop, so for me, I wouldn't have even a taste.

Those atkins bars mess me up too...

[planetclaire]

Re: cheat day?

Good post JR! FTR, I did not read your post before I made mine, honest!!

[Slapshot]

Re: cheat day?

Good post, J.R. I didn't think of looking at it that way. Lots of good points of view in this thread.

[msanjelpie]

Re: cheat day?

I would ask your friend what he wants you to do...

Also, there isn't any reason why you can't taste the chocolate a couple of months from now... it isn't going to go anywhere...

[tranierenlieber]

Re: cheat day?

You're lying to yourself and making excuses to validate behavior that is basically a regression to the behaviors you have been working to change. If you can't work the short term then why would you be able to work the long term?
I sincerely doubt your friend will care if you do or do not eat their chocolate. I recommend a book called "The Beck Diet Solution" to help you with these issues. It's not a diet, it's cognitive behavioral therapy and I think it could help you along with Atkins.