Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

[IrishIrish]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

From your post, it sounds like you have decided to cheat, plan to cheat and are going to cheat. If you are out of ketosis, you stop burning fat, so trying to follow a little bitty part of Atkins isn't going to work.

It would be too bad to blow your great success here. You are obviously very proud of your weight loss.

Unfortunately, there are too many people who have posted that they plan a vacation cheat or for some other reason and we don't see them back at ADBB until they have gained all their weight back and then some.

Clearly, it is your decision and sounds like you have made it. I haven't seen a menu yet that I can't cobble something together with that keeps me on track. I guess it just depends on how badly you want to cheat.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

>>Its not that I dont have the willpower to stay on the path that I am on,its just that I want to have a backup plan in case I dont know what to do (i.e - everyone wants to go to a burger place, and I wont eat it without the bun infront of 9 other guys).>>

It's not really a matter of "will power" ... it's a decision you make.

It seems to me your subject title indicates that you're already made a decision as to what will happen! It seems you've decided that cheating is going to happen ... and that you seem "powerless" to make any other decision.

It's too bad you don't have the sense of self to eat a burger without a bun [or any other food that works for you] in front of 9 other guys. Don't know why you're not important enough to yourself to put yourself first. After all, if you were allergic to, say shellfish, would you eat it just because they were?

Rather than seeing ways to cheat (or fail), why not make plans to succeed?

Make sure you read the chapter in your DANDR on Eating in the Real World ... it could help you.

And ask yourself, who is more important ... you or these other guys?

Do you think they're really going to care what's on your plate? Do you care what's on their plate?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

>>I just dont want to be somewhere and have not a clue what to order.>>

You do have a copy of the Induction food list with you, right?

That's what you're "allowed" to eat.

[jman01]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

From your post, it sounds like you have decided to cheat, plan to cheat and are going to cheat. If you are out of ketosis, you stop burning fat, so trying to follow a little bitty part of Atkins isn't going to work.

It would be too bad to blow your great success here. You are obviously very proud of your weight loss.

Unfortunately, there are too many people who have posted that they plan a vacation cheat or for some other reason and we don't see them back at ADBB until they have gained all their weight back and then some.

Clearly, it is your decision and sounds like you have made it. I haven't seen a menu yet that I can't cobble something together with that keeps me on track. I guess it just depends on how badly you want to cheat.

It's not really a matter of "will power" ... it's a decision you make.

It seems to me your subject title indicates that you're already made a decision as to what will happen! It seems you've decided that cheating is going to happen ... and that you seem "powerless" to make any other decision.

It's too bad you don't have the sense of self to eat a burger without a bun [or any other food that works for you] in front of 9 other guys. Don't know why you're not important enough to yourself to put yourself first. After all, if you were allergic to, say shellfish, would you eat it just because they were?

Rather than seeing ways to cheat (or fail), why not make plans to succeed?

Make sure you read the chapter in your DANDR on Eating in the Real World ... it could help you.

And ask yourself, who is more important ... you or these other guys?

Do you think they're really going to care what's on your plate? Do you care what's on their plate?

I think both of these reply's have made me realize just how hard I have worked and that its just not worth it to cheat. I think if I use some common sense that I should be ok. I really think that the having to eat a burger with no bun was my biggest fear but the truth is that there is enough places in vegas to eat at that we should be at somewhere else besides a burger place anyways.

As far as this being my choice of a lifestyle and saying the **** with what anyone else may think of me should be my attitude. Im sure as time goes on that it will be that attitude, but Ive always hated being the "Fat guy on a diet", and soon enough I wont be that guy anymore and will feel much more comfortable changing my food order drastically when Im in shape and comfortable with myself. The more I think about it Vegas is just to big of a town and if I cant eat at a restuarant that doesnt have something on the menu that I can eat, then I just wont eat there.

I think as far as the alcohol thing what Im going to do is order Vodka and Club soda with a lime and try to make one drink or less last the whole night. As far as I understand I would be able to add that in the next rung anyways right? Or do you guys think that having 1-2 Vodka/Club would cause me to stall where its not worth it? I mean I havent drank in almost 2-3 months anyways so its not personally a huge deal to me, I kind of just wanna be able to fit in.

I honestly made this thread with having the intentions of going on vacation and making that an excuse to eat around atkins. I realize now more than ever that Im not on a diet but a way of life. I also would hate to think that one week of eating like crap caused a 1-2 month delay (or no finish at all) towards my goal weight. I know I havent been on this board for very long, but I really feel like you guys have been a lifesaver.

[pamelainaustin]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

The last time I was in Vegas (3 nights) I ate the following:

Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, bacon, sliced tomatoes (in place of hashbrowns)
(Avoid buffet eggs and omelets--too many unknowns)

Lunch: Cobb salad with grilled chicken and ranch.

Dinner: Shrimp cocktail with a remoulade sauce (sorta like tartar sauce)
Steamed lobster tail with drawn butter (yum)
Grilled asparagus brushed with butter
Coffee with cream and splenda for dessert

Alcohol (hey its VEGAS!!) Vodka martini with 2 black olives before dinner.
Vodka and soda with lime (also carried little Splenda packets and
used about a third of one per drink--ordered them in a tall glass
--more soda--so they last longer)

Drink water like a maniac and WALK, WALK, WALK--easy to do there. I came home a pound less than when I left and did not feel deprived at all.

Have a great time!!

Pam

[Slapshot]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

I think as far as the alcohol thing what Im going to do is order Vodka and Club soda with a lime and try to make one drink or less last the whole night. As far as I understand I would be able to add that in the next rung anyways right? Or do you guys think that having 1-2 Vodka/Club would cause me to stall where its not worth it? I mean I havent drank in almost 2-3 months anyways so its not personally a huge deal to me, I kind of just wanna be able to fit in.

Alcohol isn't allowed until Rung 5. You're not there yet. That being said, why not get a club soda with lime in a short glass (i.e. not a soda glass) with a stirrer? Who besides you will know it has no vodka in it?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

>>I really think that the having to eat a burger with no bun was my biggest fear>>

I don't know what's to be afraid of ... you simply order burger, <however you want it cooked>, no bun. Practice saying the words ... and you'll find that it's easy. Be the last one to order ... then no one will notice! Of course, ordering the bun and eating the bun are two different issues. If you can't order the burger without the bun, can you eat the burger without the bun? Don't you think THAT would be "noticeable"?

>>ve always hated being the "Fat guy on a diet", and soon enough I wont be that guy anymore >>

You're that guy right now. You're not "on a diet" ... you've made a lifestyle change. If I were your friend, I would applaud you ... and applaud you for making decisions that are good for you.

>>will feel much more comfortable changing my food order drastically when Im in shape and comfortable with myself>>

Honestly, the time to be comfortable with yourself is right this second. You are who you are right now ... And honestly, ordering a burger without the bun simply isn't changing your food order "drastically"! Asking to have your burger made out of ground turkey ... now that's changing it drastically!

>>if I cant eat at a restuarant that doesnt have something on the menu that I can eat>>

Right! In all the restaurants I've eaten on in my 5+ years of "doing Atkins", I've never not been able to eat.

>>I think as far as the alcohol thing what Im going to do is order Vodka and Club soda with a lime and try to make one drink or less last the whole night. As far as I understand I would be able to add that in the next rung anyways right? Or do you guys think that having 1-2 Vodka/Club would cause me to stall where its not worth it? I mean I havent drank in almost 2-3 months anyways so its not personally a huge deal to me, I kind of just wanna be able to fit in.>>

Alcohol is rung 5 of the OWL carb ladder. So it wouldn't be the first thing you add in!

The "problem" with alcohol isn't that it stalls weight loss (though it can do that for people) ... it's that while you have alcohol in your system, your body is not burning fat for fuel, it's burning alcohol. Also ... if you haven't had any alcohol since you started Atkins, the first drink you have is likely to knock you for a loop ... and if you are going to drink, you might want to try it out first at home ... so you know how you might react. Reeling around the room ... well, I'm sure that happens a lot in Vegas, but you probably don't want it to be you.

Here's something else for you to think about ... you could just order the club soda. You will still "fit in" ... since you'll have a drink in your hand.

Based on my own experiences, in a social situation, even a glass of water "works" ... it's all about having something in your hand. When I've been in situations where somebody wants to buy a round ... they don't really care if I have a Scotch or a bottle of fizzy water ... they just want to "buy a round".

>> I honestly made this thread with having the intentions of going on vacation and making that an excuse to eat around atkins. >>

Yep! <smile>

But I think you also made this thread because you didn't want to do that! Most people, I think, who go on vacation with the intention of cheating, don't announce it! I think you wanted advice! Maybe you wanted advice so you could give yourself permission to succeed!

[pipee_pl]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

I am not going to talk you down but here is where you need to be smart. All the suggestions for food are great- take the damn bun off- no big deal.

As for the alcohol- You can still be in ketosis with your food and have a drink. Drinking alcohol- hard liquor only, vodka, gin, rum etc etc... does not knock you out of induction- if you have alcohol your body will burn the alcohol first and when that is done you are back to induction- kind of like the alcohol puts induction into pause until it is burned up.

so you can have a hard liquor with soda, lemon and splenda. a hard liquor with a diet cola and lemon/lime.

stay away from the low carb beer and wine.

you will be fine.
you are doing great, you know what is important and you need to remain in control on the holiday and pick up where you left off when you get home. just be smart about the booze- this is where the willpower deteriorates- a few drinks and you may be able to talk yourself into anything.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

>>Drinking alcohol- hard liquor only, vodka, gin, rum etc etc... does not knock you out of induction>>

It's a matter of definition, I guess. Alcohol isn't permitted on Induction, so drinking does "knock you out of induction."

>> stay away from the low carb beer and wine>>

Why? If straight alcohol is permitted, then why not low carb beer or wine (which is generally low carb)?

You're not just looking at the carb count, right?

Alcohol of whatever carb count isn't permitted on Induction.

[pipee_pl]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

this is a quote from the book

"The body burns alcohol for fuel when alcohol is available. So when it is burning alcohol, you body will not burn fat. This does not stop weight loss, it simply postpones it."

If you use your head you can enjoy your holiday and have alcohol in moderation. This is a great trip, enjoy yourself but be smart- don't let all your hard work go down the drain.

[Georgiana]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

this is a quote from the book

"The body burns alcohol for fuel when alcohol is available. So when it is burning alcohol, you body will not burn fat. This does not stop weight loss, it simply postpones it."

If you use your head you can enjoy your holiday and have alcohol in moderation. This is a great trip, enjoy yourself but be smart- don't let all your hard work go down the drain.

That is a quote from Chapter 14, "Ongoing Weight Loss: The Second Phase of Atkins". As some others have said in this thread (which is in one of the Induction forums), alcohol is not allowed during Induction. The fact that one is on holiday does not change the Rules.

[pipee_pl]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

I realize alcohol is not allowed on induction- however, the point that I am making is that it is not the end of the world if he, while on his holiday, decides to have a drink or two- as long as he is being smart about it and it doesn't cause a huge binge of bad habits after doing so.
this is a way of life- just that. and we need to adjust our eating habits to suit our lives- not our lives to our eating habits.
he will be in vegas, having a good time- have a drink or two, be smart- it probably will not stall your weight loss- as long as you pick up right where you left off. being in vegas does not give a person free range to go crazy, but having a drink or two with a diet soda is not going to do any damage.

[Slapshot]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

I cheated on Father's Day (June 16) after being perfect from March 17th.

This chart tells you my tale of woe (not WOE) as a result of that one cheat.



If you're (a) willing to deal with stagnant, frustrating weightloss for weeks after Vegas or (b) confident you can cheat and get back on, then you're a better man than me, that's for sure.

We don't say "don't cheat" because we want you to be deprived. We say "don't cheat" because we have first-hand experience of what it can lead to. We're speaking from experience, not out of any superiority complex.

That horizontal line just bums me out. I haven't even updated it yet because it bums me out so much. I'm still at 189. I should be at goal (170), but I'm not... (yet)

[pipee_pl]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

I am not talking about the food- I think we can all agree that the food intake needs to be the same- you are on induction then eat in vegas that way.
what I am saying is that even though you are on induction you can still have a drink or two as long as it is hard alcohol and mixed with something induction friendly- it will not knock you out of ketosis and most importantly as long as it doesn't create a downward spiral into the bad habits of your past.
If you search alcohol on induction you will find loads of people who still have weight loss while having an occassional drink or two- but this is not what I am advocating- my point is while you are in vegas, follow induction and if you really want a drink- choose wisely, enjoy it and when you get home pick up exactly where you left off- no excuses. If you want to do a bit of research there is a hormone called leptin that plays a part.

[jman01]

Re: Going to Vegas and I know Im going to cheat

I think one of the things that I realized is that Im being silly thinking that I cant stay on atkins when Im in a city with a ton of restaurants that will have some great food. Im not going to plan to drink but if I feel like im in a spot where I would feel out of place if I didnt at least I know what to order. Here is my next question though...

I know we will be going to some of the nicer buffets in town and Im sure things like Shrimp, lobster, crab legs, steak will be fine. Is there anything in particular I should be on the lookout for hidden carbs in? Also when eating breakfast Ive always asked for fresh cracked eggs with nothing added to them even before I was on atkins, but how bout the bacon and sausage. Should I just assume its ok?