cheating or treating self?

[Heidi3]

Re: cheating or treating self?

Rich, I am indeed at goal for over 2 years. Thanks for remembering.

I will add that during my short weight loss phase (7 weeks) I did enjoy a 'higher' carb meal several times. Induction is defined as the first 2 weeks. I did NOT stray from the accepted food list during that time. However, as you pointed out, I know what I can and cannot eat to maintain or lose (when necessary).

My apolgies to the posters in this thread - or those reading - I did not notice this thread was in the Induction forum. Heed the advice of the successful people and do your best to adhere to a squeaky clean Induction period. After that time, have fun and experiment. You need to live with your body for a *long* time. Take some time to stop and taste the finer foods in life.

OMG I actually agree with every word here

[Heidi3]

Re: cheating or treating self?

I am kind of tired of the fact we have to label everything ...like cheating or not cheating that is such negative self talk you know

[Kent]

Re: cheating or treating self?

Personally I think it's OK to treat yourself to a meal/treat once in a while (if you have the discipline). This is a life long journey. A few slices of pizza or a Chinese dinner once every few months won't damage anyone.

It all depends upon the person. It might not damage one person to eat that way, but that it very well might start another person on a months long carb binge. I point to my brother as an example. I also started this WOE from a completely different place with over 200 pounds to go rather than 30 or 40. Maybe that has something to do with tolerance to carb loading or not.

Take some time to stop and taste the finer foods in life.

I thought I was fully enjoying the finer things like the steak lunch I had today or the low carb fried chicken I am having tonight. Finer things do not have to equal a carb loaded pizza or chinese food.

I responded to Jimmie Moore (who I admire greatly) in his thread and on my blog, so to repeat it here would be beating the horse. Suffice to say, if you are at goal, and you determine you want to eat out at a pizza place and eat moderately, you should go ahead to. It is not cheating. It is eating as planned if you are do it in moderation. If however you are still losing, you should absolutely not start cheating or having planned days off the plan. I have seen too many people come back to the forums saying the same thing. My advice will always be that cheating or eating off plan leads to nothing good, but if in your inidividual case, it works for you -- great.

Just one final word, it is indeed possible to live life low carb all the time. It is not impossible. What you eat is a matter of choice, and I just chose to stay on the path that keeps me at goal rather than one that leads me away from it.

[Heidi3]

Re: cheating or treating self?

I sometimes think we get a little possessed

[Richt]

Re: cheating or treating self?

do your best to adhere to a squeaky clean Induction period. After that time, have fun and experiment. You need to live with your body for a *long* time. Take some time to stop and taste the finer foods in life.

excellent comment Bob.

[JandLsMom]

Re: cheating or treating self?

I can't remember where i read it, but one of the low carb advocates out there actually suggests that one carb loaded meal every 3-4 weeks will kick your metabolism up and help you to lose better (take note, not one DAY, one MEAL of higher carb). When i was on atkins in 2003 i followed this advice and every holiday like thanksgiving, easter, christmas, birthday, anniversary (so basically once every few months) i DID allow myself To have that carby meal! So did my dad and my hubby who were also doing atkins. I lost 81 lbs. And to be honest those meals never set me into bingeing and i showed a higher weight loss the next weigh in every time i did it! So for me it worked to boost the metabolism! AND i got to go to Thanksgiving and eat what everyone else was eating without feeling guilty! So guess what i am doing this Easter??? Eating what is served!! And I'm gonna enjoy it without a bit of guilt and be right back to induction the next morning! ONE Meal is not gonna make you gain 10 lbs!!

[Perry]

Re: cheating or treating self?

It all depends upon the person. It might not damage one person to eat that way, but that it very well might start another person on a months long carb binge. I point to my brother as an example. I also started this WOE from a completely different place with over 200 pounds to go rather than 30 or 40. Maybe that has something to do with tolerance to carb loading or not. I thought I was fully enjoying the finer things like the steak lunch I had today or the low carb fried chicken I am having tonight. Finer things do not have to equal a carb loaded pizza or chinese food.

I responded to Jimmie Moore (who I admire greatly) in his thread and on my blog, so to repeat it here would be beating the horse. Suffice to say, if you are at goal, and you determine you want to eat out at a pizza place and eat moderately, you should go ahead to. It is not cheating. It is eating as planned if you are do it in moderation. If however you are still losing, you should absolutely not start cheating or having planned days off the plan. I have seen too many people come back to the forums saying the same thing. My advice will always be that cheating or eating off plan leads to nothing good, but if in your inidividual case, it works for you -- great.

Just one final word, it is indeed possible to live life low carb all the time. It is not impossible. What you eat is a matter of choice, and I just chose to stay on the path that keeps me at goal rather than one that leads me away from it.

Was I just sent to bed without supper?

[Heidi3]

Re: cheating or treating self?

I eat cake when I go to Canada...what on earth would be the point of all this work if I could not enjoy my life?

[Heidi3]

Re: cheating or treating self?

I love everything about the way I am eating...including the fact that I just do what I need to do now ....

[Kent]

Re: cheating or treating self?

Was I just sent to bed without supper?

Far from it. Being at goal you can have whatever supper you want.

[Richt]

Re: cheating or treating self?

Far from it. Being at goal you can have whatever supper you want.

Just dont skip breakfast!

[Heidi3]

Re: cheating or treating self?

Ok my damn broke ...sorry but if this bugs anyone or is a hijack... read the disclamer k?

I believe exactly the same way Perry does....I think there are a lot of excuses to overeat ..but not many good reasons...everything takes work in life ....being fat is a LOT of freaking work...so is being thin....but work with out reward is hardly worth it...sometimes I feel I have to tip toe around here ..because I do believe Atkins is an awesome way to eat ..I believe you should climb the rungs and figure shiit out for yourself...and if you have something that triggers you to over eat stay the helll away from it.....but do not become a slave to this....is all I am saying...I eat exactly the way I say... but there are rare days I eat things with sugar in them and I do eat pasta and rice ...and never call it a cheat..if those days morphed into many then I will reevaluate things..

[Heidi3]

Re: cheating or treating self?

sometimes I feel guilty on this board telling people I eat plantains!!!

[Laurenfra]

Re: cheating or treating self?

Heidi honey you eat the way you eat and you look awesome.Never say you are sorry I agree 100% life is too short to stress over it. Remember my falling apart over eating the mac and cheese my learning disabled daughter made for me in school? Nothing would keep me from eating it. But that said some of us (me )if we are not very careful will turn 1 meal into 1 day into 1 week into 10 lbs gained.

[Bren]

Re: cheating or treating self?

Pointing out that this post is in the "EXTENDED INDUCITON FORUM!" I am not yelling, but being very forum specific.
I would give a different answer if this was in OWL or Maintenance.
Three years ago when I started out a cheat would have been the end of me!! I had no control over myself. It took me well over a year to gain the control. We all know ourselves, and as for me, I would have been using a treat as a cheap excuse to cheat. You have to be 100% honest with yourself ......as your only kidding yourself!!
I still fret today when I have something I know is not acceptable to my lifestyle.
And, trust me, I have seen many a member come here and post about a "cheat". Then they go away for a bit, then they come back, then they cheat, then they go away etc etc. Hence the Second time around forum.
So, how well do you know yourself? That is what you have to decide in this phase of Atkins! How addicted are you to carbs? Don't kid yourself..........they are addicting!