looking for opinions

[pipee_pl]

First of all let me give a little background info.
I have been on the "body for life" program for a year with no results but before i got pregnant i had great results. the idea behind this program is 5 to 6 small meals per day with equal carb to protein ratio. 6 days per week exercise with alternating days of cardio and strength training. there is one day per week that is considered a "free day" where you can eat what you like within reason.
Now i am doing atkins with great results and i exercise 5 days a week- typically a 30 min run on the treadmill with 2 muscle groups of weight training.
So here is the dilemma-- I miss my "free day"- it gives me something to work towards all week. it used to typically be sushi or dinner out and then a small bag of chips and a chocolate bar throughout my day (not all at once).
I am in my third week of induction and the weight is falling off. Would I take myself out of ketosis by having a chocolate bar and a bag of chips? Is there a way to eat these and keep my body in ketosis.
I am not one who would binge on chocolate if I had one bar, but I feel that I need to have it in order to appreciate what I am doing and to work towards my goal, ultimately I don't want to feel as though I am depriving myself of anything--I like chocolate- I like chips,, I am wondering if a once a week treat would do me harm.
any opinions appreciated.

[cleochatra]

Re: looking for opinions

Would I take myself out of ketosis by having a chocolate bar and a bag of chips? Is there a way to eat these and keep my body in ketosis.

It's not only possible, it's probably!

Ketosis only takes place when your body doesn't have other things to use as fuel. As soon as you feed it carbs, it's no longer burning your fat, but the carbs instead. On top of this, the foods you're craving are going to make your bloodsugar wonky, and the cravings will come back for more. It's really dangerous. The food companies manage to make food seem to taste appealing, but chances are, even if you tried to eat them you would become both ill and find they didn't taste the way you thought you remembered them tasting.

The memory is stronger than the food itself, and that is psychological. You can fight it! You've done so very well! Hang with it. It is worth it, and eventually you won't crave those foods anymore.

[2big4mysize]

Re: looking for opinions

lets look at how that free day has worked for you this past yr

I have been on the "body for life" program for a year with no results

that should answer your question. give yourself a free day of body pampering to look forward rto if you like that stuff. if not creat a special for you non food ritual and you get to have it as a reward day if and only of you do your workout and you eat on plan for you.

They do make riceless sushi you could have as a part of your Atkins eating.

Happy low carbing

The BFL exercise program is a great work out several of us do it but eat Atkins.

[slimndown]

Re: looking for opinions

Keep doing your induction for the full 14 days and try to go for 30 to get yourself a completely new frame of mind. I'm a sushi lover myself, so I know what you are going through. I love the raw fish part so I have some at home sometimes with just the soy sauce and wasabi (watch the carb count there). I had a hard time adjusting to the Atkins lifestyle, so at first I just made sure anything I had didn't go over 20g net carbs per day until my appetite was easier to control. Once I spent about 14 days at that level and doing a fairly clean induction, I decided that if I wanted a treat on Friday, then I would allow myself only 30-40g to play with. I have done well with that so far and have not really gone over 30 when I have had a treat. Usually, my treat is something along the lines of 12-24 oz of Michelob Ultra (LC beer only 2.5 carbs per serving). But the best way to do everything is completely by the book - that way you can make sure all of your food addictions are broken and you are in complete control. If you start treating yourself now, you won't be in the knid of control you need to be for the long haul. Just know - you'll get to a point where you can treat yourself a little bit, but please wait about 30 doays before you do. It's worth it.

[pipee_pl]

Re: looking for opinions

thanks for posting ladies.

[cleochatra]

Re: looking for opinions

Sooooooooooooooooooo

No pressure. Whatchoogoingtodo?

*hands on hips*

I might like to add that I just came off of a 2-week bingapaloosa I thought I could handle...

[pipee_pl]

Re: looking for opinions

hmmm, since there is absolutely no pressure whatsoever!!! just kidding, i asked for opinions and I got them! I will not have the free day, boo hoo. I did fine the first two weeks of induction without cravings, i am almost done my third week with some chocolate cravings, but I think I am ok- I will give it a whirl for this next week and a half and hopefully the cravings will go away. i need a kick in the pants sometimes

[2big4mysize]

Re: looking for opinions

SOOOOOOOOOOOO what you going to reward yourself with instead for staying on plan and not having a cheat day?

[cleochatra]

Re: looking for opinions

LOL! Pipee-- We're SO not about the pressure here are we? I love 2big's idea. You deserve something wonderful for sticking with this way of eating!

{{{pipee}}}

[softnred]

Re: looking for opinions

As usual, both Cleo and 2Big gave impeccable advice. I just wanna throw something else out there. There ARE ways to get that crunch if you want it. You can cook cheddar until it's crispy or you can make a flax cracker. There are others who fry thin slices of various veggies and have those as chips. You can find the specific info tucked here and there on ADBB...

~JoAnne

[kealoha]

Re: looking for opinions

I also used to give myself a "free day" when I was dieting. If I did good all week, I would reward myself with a HUGE baked potato. You know what? I did great all week, I had my baked potato and I still didn't lose weight. I was eating less. I was eating "healthier" and yet, the weight just didn't come off. With Atkins, the weight is coming off. I'm feeling AWESOME about myself. When I do great all week, I reward myself with food...yes. However, I've changed my baked potato to a nice serving of sashimi, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE. I can't afford to eat it all the time, so I use it as a reward...AND it's Atkins friendly

I used to reward myself with icecream and candy for BIG rewards...a month of good eating or whatever. Now I reward myself with what I always wanted to reward myself with, but never could before because I wasn't losing any weight...brand new SMALLER clothes!!!

Do I miss the candy and icecream and baked potatoes? You betcha. Is it worth not getting these results anymore, gaining weight, and the possibility of sliding back to where I was before? Absofreakinglutely NOT! I know those things would taste good, but they aren't worth it because I NEED to lose this weight and I am my own worse enemy. Self sabotage just isn't worth it.

[pipee_pl]

Re: looking for opinions

what will I reward myself with? I have to think about that. I have been eyeing the guacamole dip that is in the book, just have to get the lime- that will probably do it.

[2big4mysize]

Re: looking for opinions

no no use a non food reward. you can have the dip but you want to not associate foods with rewards break that cycle so then you dontthink i deserve a treat cause i stayed on plan at lunch I deserve another one cause i ddid my exercise i deserve another one for drinking all my water I deserve one for doing my exercise. as you can see those treat rewards will pileup fast and you willbepostinga help i'm not losing topic real soon.

Happy safe low carbing.

[ladyinred]

Re: looking for opinions

2Big is right. We've got to break the cycle of rewarding (or loving) ourselves with food. We need food to survive. We need air, we need water. Unfortunately people don't say "I was good all week. For a reward I will chug an extra gallon of water." Because that would be weird. Why would you do it with food?

Non food rewards are great. Get a new exercise tape, or a CD for dancing to. A manicure or pedicure. Don't have lots of money for all these rewards? Give yourself time. Block off an hour or so that's all for yourself to read a trashy novel, take a bubble bath, do your own manicure or pedicure. You can get a new colour for your toenails and that doesn't cost much. Scope out the consignment and used clothes stores for something new (to you) and smaller to wear.

You've got to nourish your soul as well. Any of the above rewards will do that. And the effects last so much longer than any food reward.

[cleochatra]

Re: looking for opinions

pipee-- that was a collective 'we bad' for not stating at the get-go that the reward should be non-food in the first place! *lol* When you get to the guacamole dip rung, I bring the flax crackers and we'll toast to your amazing successes so far! You're the woman, woman!