Planning For Cheats

**not2sweet** · July 21, 2005, 09:26 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

It's kind of redundant to come in to an ATKINS support forum and commit to cheat?...I don't think anyone is going to want to answer it...it's like we are condoning it. There are so many Atkineers here that have chosen to take this WOE seriously. You should decide if this WOE is right for you before you go on.

The correct answer is if you were serious about losing weight and commited to this WOE you wouldn't be asking this question. It is relatively simple to stick to Atkins even if you are eating out. Find out how their meat and veggies are prepared, make sure there are no hidden sugars in the seasoning....grab a salad with some grilled chicken, etc.

No one is perfect, I understand that...and by no means am I trying to be mean, but most people here are REALLY trying to NOT cheat and you come in asking us how you CAN cheat and get away with it. It just doesn't seem right, I guess

**iwillbethin** · July 21, 2005, 10:07 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

I didnt even want to post anything about this....i just wanted to agree with what was just said though. Normally i dont ever post about any controversal things but i just had to this time!

**Sonya Parker** · July 21, 2005, 10:47 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

Cheating usually happens when we are at our weakest moment in a flash of a second. Its something we cant help at the moment but then later regret. Planned cheating is really a concious decision to sabotage yourself. Its upto you if you think its the way to go, but here are a few things to think about:

- you will undoubtedly screw up your insulin levels - with carb loading you will awaken the sleeping giant and its gonna come at you even after a day or so and the cravings will be uncontrollable
- the last time I caved in , it took me 5 days to get back on track and 7 lbs heavier. Not recommended
- ask yourself why you havent broken ur mental connection with carbs. doesnt the nice light feeling without carbs incentive enough to stay away from feeling fat and bloated?

If after all this, you still make a decision to do the planned cheat, be very prepared on how you will get back on track the very next day.

**2big4mysize** · July 21, 2005, 10:57 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

I really don't understand the shoot yourself attitude of a planned cheat. it is like a drug addict who has been clean for a period of time saying well tomorrow I plan to use again....

but just as with any cheat the next bite in your mouth should be Atkins induction food listed, drink plenty of water and hold on for a wild ride as you see the effect of the blood sugar swing you are about to experience from the rapid ingestion of those carbs your body will be functioning as a diabetics would.
Low fsatting for today would just send your insulin soaring sooner as your body would react to the extra protein in that with glucogeneses production in the liver. now you know why Dr Atkins has that warning about not eating your proteins too high in DANDR.

**DebbieY** · July 21, 2005, 04:31 PM

Re: Planning For Cheats

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do understand your thinking about cheating and wondering in which way it will affect you the least.

Although I haven't cheated (well, I do occasionally eat more cheese than I should), I have thought about a planned cheat before. Luckily I talked myself out of it, but I can't say that it wasn't something that I thought about.

I have also read on this board how some people have cheated as a way to jump start their diet if they were stalled. But I personally think that would be Russian Roulette. You never know how it will affect you.

As my husband has asked me before, "Would it be worth it?" My answer was always no. I can't say that having a bit of food at the moment would be worth the possible weight gain, the possible stray from my diet, the feeling of disappointment, ... Luckily, that has worked for me when I considered cheating.

If you still plan on cheating, I think there was a thread on either this board of the main atkins board that dealt with cheating during camping, if I'm not mistaken. An answer may be in that thread.

**clairebear** · July 21, 2005, 09:49 PM

Re: Planning For Cheats

I think everyone here has pretty much covered that you are going to feel terribly guilty and emotionally pretty rotten.
Be aware that you are going to feel awful physically!
Not just the blood sugar changes that 2big mentioned but get ready for bloat-town.
I had a planned cheat after five weeks of perfect, cheat-free extended induction. I made the mistake of breaking big time, a full five course Christmas dinner cooked by a French friend who is a chef. I couldn't even finish it, I had to leave, my stomach bloated straight away, I had an awful headache and the worst stomach pains. I know it sounds like an over-reaction, but after that long, it was like the carbs were poison and my body was freaking out. Prior to Atkins, I could eat this whole dinner and then help out making the hot chocolate (perfect for a hot Aussie christmas - a block of dark chocolate melted into a tub of cream, stir, serve.)
Combined that with me being a moody cow for the next day or so and it was not fun.

On the other hand, it was a valuable learning experience!

**Iapetus999** · July 21, 2005, 10:30 PM

Re: Planning For Cheats

What will you next excuse for a "planned" cheat be?
A birthday? An anniversary?
Friday??

All you're doing is making excuses for yourself. I've been to some of the fanciest restaurants in America on this WOE and I never used that as an excuse. I never had any problem finding Atkins-friendly food there.
The quality or the price of the food is no excuse.
If you really truly care about yourself and your health you will find a way to make this work.

Would a vegetarian eat meat because it was served at a fancy place?
Would an alcoholic have a drink becasue it was served at a fancy place?

Think about it.

**Enchantedraisin** · July 22, 2005, 01:16 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

I agree. Even though I am not perfect (no one is)... I have had a few planned cheats and it really sets you back. Weight piles on quickly and leaves you feeling discouraged. And like someone else said... you BLOAT REALLY FAST and feel DISGUSTING afterward. It's amazing what low-carb can do to you... your body is so used to digesting protein and fiber and veggies and suddenly there's some bread and flour and sugar going through your system... your body doesn't like it at all and fills with water weight, gas, and some fat as well.

Your dinner will be tastey and excellent, I admit... but the night ahead is going to suck. You may get horrible stomach cramps and want to run to the bathroom every 5 minutes.

It's up to you totally if you think it's worth it... maybe it is?

But make sure you get back on track IMMEDIATELY after this dinner... like DON'T even cheat anymore that night... just go back to what you were doing or you'll go down a bad path... I did and I'm having a very hard time now. I kinda wish I never cheated because I was doing so well and I was enjoying my foods but I really thought I should reward myself with food and it was a mistake. Once the night is over and you hadn't cheated and you ate something Atkins friendly... you'll be like "Oh, I didn't even need to do that anyway"...and you'll be on your way

It's your choice

**ttdriver** · July 22, 2005, 07:07 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

Originally posted by not2sweet

It's kind of redundant to come in to an ATKINS support forum and commit to cheat?...I don't think anyone is going to want to answer it...it's like we are condoning it. There are so many Atkineers here that have chosen to take this WOE seriously. You should decide if this WOE is right for you before you go on.

The correct answer is if you were serious about losing weight and commited to this WOE you wouldn't be asking this question. It is relatively simple to stick to Atkins even if you are eating out. Find out how their meat and veggies are prepared, make sure there are no hidden sugars in the seasoning....grab a salad with some grilled chicken, etc.

No one is perfect, I understand that...and by no means am I trying to be mean, but most people here are REALLY trying to NOT cheat and you come in asking us how you CAN cheat and get away with it. It just doesn't seem right, I guess

Eat crap - stay fat. That's not mean, that's truth.

Betty

**FightingTheFight** · July 22, 2005, 08:36 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

I have also read on this board how some people have cheated as a way to jump start their diet if they were stalled

that theory was debunked long ago

Eat crap - stay fat. That's not mean, that's truth.

And the truth hurts.

So with that said, is it better for me to compensate for the event by eating mostly low-fat, healthy carbs for the day? Please let me know.

By that statement I am going to go ahead and assume that you haven't totally grasped the concept of this WOE. I am not trying to be mean, I am just saying that you need to understand how things work, how it affects the body and then make decisions. Even a dope head makes sure the needle is clean.

By doing what you mentioned would actually be a whole lot worse.

**tickletussler** · July 22, 2005, 08:47 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

Bugout, I won't tell you that it is ok to go ahead with a planned cheat. But I do want to say that at the end of the day, it is about finding out how this WOE (Atkins) works for you. Most people who end up on Atkins, have previously tried one diet after another and didn't get the weight off... until they tried Atkins and they started to see results. Hence most of the replies you get here will be from Atkineers who will do everything and anything to support this WOE because it works for them.

However my response would be: you are likely to go ahead with what you are planning right? So why not go ahead and find out how a planned affects YOU.

(I will not proudly) admit to 3 planned cheats - one broke a stall, another put on 8lbs, the third just kept the weight stable with minimal effects. I have read of others who have had planned cheats - some like myself had good results, others not-so-good.

The one good point of a "planned cheat" (vs an unplanned cheat) would be you are in control of what you are about to put into your mouth. Unplanned cheats usually end up out of control. A planned one, well... *shrug*
If you are extremely conscious about what you are about to eat and if you are conscious of how far you are going to cheat, then chances are the effects of an planned cheat could be much less than a unplanned cheat. You may even find that when the time comes for you to go ahead with your planned cheat, you will back off.

Like I said, you need to find out what works for you because at the end of the day, we can tell you what not to do, but it is YOU who needs to be happy with with this decision.

**bugout429** · July 22, 2005, 09:26 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

Boy oh boy. I never imagined the extent to which I'd be chastized by some of you for asking what I considered a legitimate question. Being supportive doesn't necessarily mean condoning what I do, but if you have constructive feedback to offer, I'd appreciate it if you'd give it without judgement or condemnation. I didn't ask my question to have my head bit off by you holier-than-thou ANA nazis. I recognize that cheating usually happens during a moment of weakness and lack of preparation, and those are the types of cheats that I have found the strength to avoid because if there's ONE THING that I learned during my month-long experience with Atkins, it's that even an accidental cheat WILL get me into trouble because it will send all the other FAT that I ate throughout the day STRAIGHT into my glycogen stores, making me bloated, fat, and miserable.

Those of you who did not attack me, I appreciate your replies. Thank you for understanding that the purpose of my question was to understand, from a dietetic perspective, if it was possible to avoid or minimize the retention of eaten-fat due to an incidental bad-carb consumption by adjusting your meals for only that day to lower-fat foods and more high-fiber carbs.

Believe me, my progress means too much to me to do this on a frequent basis, but what about the Atkins dieter who, on her wedding day, knows she'll have to eat at least a bite of cake, even if at least for a photo op? Or for the Atkins dieter, who, at the Passover seder, knows he'll have just one piece of a piece of a piece of matzah, just to honor the ceremony? I know many of you are purists who would consider even this unacceptable, but for the rest of us, there has to be a degree of flexibility in the ANA to plan for these life events, and have a strategy to encounter them wisely, incurring the least amount of damage!

Despite the reaction I got from some of you, I was NOT asking for instructions how to cheat. Maybe I didn't phrase my question delicately enough. I merely wanted to know if anyone had any advice on how to minimize the shock to my system if I DID cheat, and had the foresight to know that I would, and be able to plan ahead.

Anyway, that was last night. For anyone who is interested, yesterday I stuck to a moderate 33%/33%/33% ratio during the day, having a 1/2 cup of Uncle Sam with Berries cereal with 1% milk for breakfast, a spinach salad with grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers and 2T Caesar dressing for lunch, had a snack of light yogurt before I went out, and drank my 64 oz water throughout the day. At the restaurant, I had an awesome cherry snapper ceviche, two carne asada tacquitos with ground-corn tortillas and red salsa, some grilled green beans, a little grilled corn salsa, and 2 caipirinhas consisting of muddled lime, sugar and cachaça (a spirit). For dessert, I had two bites each of Mayan bread pudding and some kind of deep-dish chocolate rum raisin cake. Lots of water.

Today I feel no ill effects. I don't feel guilty or emotionally rotten, but I AM back on a strict induction regimen, which I intend to follow closely over the next few days as I observe the effects of last night's meal. I want to be sure there are no other factors that I can attribute any potential weight gain or other adverse effects to. Anyone who's interested can follow this thread...

...Unless you intend to flame me again, in which case, I think you know perfectly well what you can go do...

p.s. I just want to add that the only reason I "planned my cheat" is because I knew we'd be at a really exclusive, one-week-old, private restaurant that was raved about, whose menu was small and culturally-specific. I just wanted to go and enjoy the experience and not be a primadonna. The end.

**Finelly** · July 22, 2005, 09:36 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

Two comments:

1. I am a person who has a tiny piece of matza at the seder. This is acceptable, just as holy communion is acceptable on Atkins.

2. The next time you consider calling people who advocate not cheating "nazis", please remember that there are at LEAST 3 Holocaust survivors who frequent this board, and at least 5 adult children of survivors. You should know better. It's a shande.

**cruiser gal** · July 22, 2005, 09:39 AM

Re: Planning For Cheats

Congrats on getting right back on track! Forget about yesterday, move ahead, and lotsa luck to you! You're in control!!!

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