Occasional Carb Meal?

[dazedkid]

I was wondering how dangerous it was to allow oneself to have a high carb meal once a month. I love the diet and I am doing good with it, but I do think that it is alright to have an occasional meal where you're not obsessing over intake.

What is the deal with that and has anyone used something to that effect?

[not2late]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

I was wondering how dangerous it was to allow oneself to have a high carb meal once a month. I love the diet and I am doing good with it, but I do think that it is alright to have an occasional meal where you're not obsessing over intake.

What is the deal with that and has anyone used something to that effect?

Hi. I know there are folks who do that because it "keeps them on track". It's sort of a bastardized version of the Heller's Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, where those dieters have 2 Atkins Induction style meals and one "reward meal" daily. However, alot of people ignore the fact that the Hellers are very specific about the proportions of carbs/proteins/fats in these "reward meals": it's not eating how much food you want, in whatever combinations you want.

Dr. Atkins didn't mention the CAD in the last edition of DANDR, but he did mention its physiologic drawbacks in the 1992 edition of the book. I can't recall accurately what those drawbacks were, but I can look them up and post them tomorrow.

Personally, I can see a person doing extended Induction wanting a "reward meal" once a month due to the monotony of the Induction phase, but during OWL and Pre-Maintenance, the diet is too varied to become boring---unless you want to gorge on truly non-Atkins foods like cakes, pies, candies or huge portions of starchy foods like potatoes and pasta.

I've gone through all the rungs of the OWL carb ladder and I know my CCLL, so I know what foods I can and can't eat and the amount of these foods I can eat for my body's requirements. Yeah, I can eat alittle potato salad if I want. I can eat a slice of thin crust cheese pizza, if I want. But I also know enough about myself to know that certain foods are triggers for me to fall back into the eating habits that helped make me fat. Frankly, losing weight is a big pain in the a$$ and it's something I don't want to go through again, so I avoid things that will delay or stop losing this fat.

[dazedkid]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

Thanks for the advice. I am pretty sure it will be alright for me, as I took to Atkins like a duck to water. As long as the occasional carb meal doesn't cause a repeat incident of my induction flu (wretched) then I think I will be fine. I am only assuming that the flu would be less intense the second or third (etc) time around.

But if you could list the drawbacks, that would be sweet!

[Elizellen]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

For a lot of people the main drawback is that they cant get back on Atkins after a highcarb indulgence!!

We see many members posting on the boards that after eating offplan on their birthday/aniversary/Xmas/etc they had great difficulty coping with cravings, and just seemed to keep 'giving in' to temptation, in some cases not being able to get back on Atkins for several months!!

[cypressgirl]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

I took like a duck to water with this WOE too. However, one piece of pie about 8 or 10 weeks ago was enough to start those little ripples that turned into waves. It becomes so easy to start to justify more and more. I KNOW Atkins. I can tell you almost anything you want to know. I ENJOY Atkins. The food is so good! But that little slip weeks ago has caused me so much grief - I haven't gained weight but the one foot I have been dragging off the wagon here and there has cost me about 8 weeks of results and countless mental frustration. As with anything, it's up to you - but that's my story!

[ttdriver]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

Excuse my bluntness, but...

WHAT IS THE POINT OF EATING THE CRAP THAT MADE US FAT TO BEGIN WITH?

I dunno .. it just makes no sense to me!! If we could control the carb binges, would we need Atkins?

Betty

[rox4jc]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

I would have to agree with that bluntness.

[not2late]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

Thanks for the advice. I am pretty sure it will be alright for me, as I took to Atkins like a duck to water. As long as the occasional carb meal doesn't cause a repeat incident of my induction flu (wretched) then I think I will be fine. I am only assuming that the flu would be less intense the second or third (etc) time around.

But if you could list the drawbacks, that would be sweet!

Rats! I forgot to look it up last night. But since you've already made up your mind, I don't feel so bad about forgetting to look up that info. However, I will look it up and post it for the folks reading this thread.

You better go to the STAC forum and read what those folks say about their Induction Flu experiences on their repeat Inductions and how difficult it is for them to get back into ketosis with each subsequent fall. Essentially if you knock yourself out of ketosis with your high carb meal, you will need to go back to Induction for a 2-3 days to get back into ketosis, then you need to resume your OWL diet. The danger to this is what Dr. Atkins wrote in the "Uses and Abuses of Induction" section in the book.

Anoher more serious concern I have is the impact this back-and-forthing can have on your metabolism.

[dazedkid]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

Excuse my bluntness, but...

WHAT IS THE POINT OF EATING THE CRAP THAT MADE US FAT TO BEGIN WITH?

I dunno .. it just makes no sense to me!! If we could control the carb binges, would we need Atkins?

Betty

Because life is not entirely centered around dieting and fat.

I used Atkins to stop my addiction with food, which I have sucessfully done. I used it because I had a problem with food, not just carbs.

[ttdriver]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

Food is fuel. When you see it as such, you don't need to reward yourself with it.


Betty

[cdfhstar7]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

Wow. Just... wow.

[not2late]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

Because life is not entirely centered around dieting and fat.

I used Atkins to stop my addiction with food, which I have sucessfully done. I used it because I had a problem with food, not just carbs.

In light of this revelation, I think the best advice to give to you is to really think about what you want to do and to really be honest with yourself.

I know it gets tiresome to use the alcoholic example, but addictions are addictions. It's not wise for a recovering alcoholic to choose one day a month and drink whatever alcoholic beverage(s) he desires. For many addicts, one taste of their drug of choice sends them on a spiral, no matter how much in control they are.

So, again, just think about all the ramifications and reasons why you would want to do this and most of all, be honest with yourself.

[griersonj]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

I my first cheat meal in a month tonight and let me tell you it was not worth it at all, I feel like sh*t and I am soooo mad at myself. Don't do it, save yourself the stress

[cmcole]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

By your own admission, you were not just addicted to carbs, but to food in general.

Seeing it as a way to fuel the body, and not just a temporary "diet" is essential.

Changing ones mindset is crucial, especially concerning addictions.

What is so important about having "x" item, when there are so many nutritional choices awaiting you out there?

[Analog6]

Re: Occasional Carb Meal?

I have the occasional (once every 8 weeks or so) pasta meal simply because I like the taste. I use home made wholemeal pasta (recipe below) and the sauce is red onion, baby English spinach and walnuts.

Pasta: stoneground wholemeal flour, and i egg to each 3.5 oz flour. Put it in a bowl, break the eggs in, stir with a fork until combined. If it needs a bit more moisture, a few drops of ice cold water, Turn onto a floured board (not plastic, wood) and knead for about 10 mins or until silky and smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside for 30 mins. Knead again and put through a pasta machine (they are only about $20 here, mine makes 3 types of strips or sheets for lasagne). Boil for 3 monites only in a large pot of water, then drain quickly and place into the sauce (below). Cooking pasta longer then 4-5 mins causes more sugars in the flour to be released and raises the carb count considerably.

Slice the red onion and cook in a heavy bottom pabn over a low heat until caramelised. Add walnuts and washed spinach leaves. Stir a few times. Add the cooked pasta and stir and serve. It is about 25 carbs a serve, so not too large a portion and be sure it is an accasional treat. Do not eat any protein or fat with a carb meal.

This has not given me any cravings.