Cheating/splurging question

[Momma2threegirls]

This was raised to me IRL the other day and I wanted to know what you all thought. This person is doing a low glycemic index diet prescribed by her doctor. She said tht if you don't "cheat" or "splurge" now and then that the body would stall.

So i wanted to know from all of you.

How long you've been at this?

Have you cheated - AT ALL?

How do you think it impacted your metabolism (If you did)

What do you *think*


Right now I am frustrated b/c I haven't lost any pounds or inches in the last two weeks (I relealize that Atkins considers a stall 3 weeks). My ratios have been about 69%fat, 4-5%carb, and 28-32%protien. I am getting m veggies in - although it's really tight some days. But I am only getting about 1500 calories. (not on purpose - but it seems to fall that way). IT really has me frustrated. My weigh in is Sunday and I "peeked" yesterday and was only down 1oz - so i don't have high hopes for this week. I haven't *cheated* AT ALL.

The flip side of this is I like not having cravings and not obsessing about food. So I don't really want to cheat - I can't even (in my mind) CHOOSE what I would eat. This is EXTRAORIDANARY for me. I have never hit the energy high other peple talk about..


Tell me what you all think!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Cheating/splurging question

Erika, I can tell you what I have experienced. I've been at this for over two years. I'm slightly above my goal right now. I don't do planned cheats and such. But that doesn't mean that I haven't cheated and gone off on a binge, I'm an addict after all. When I do that, it does NOT kick start my metabolism. It only makes things worse. I will gain weight like a freight train...and then it takes FOREVER getting it off again. Yes, I might see the scale losing again...but I HAD TO MAKE IT GO UP in order for it to come back down again. That's the dirty little secret they don't tell you!!!!

As a food addict, I get HIGH off eating that crap (carbs mostly) so I feel euphoric for a brief period of time. Just as a heroin junkie does, I suppose. But afterward, I feel horrible. I'm not one of those that gets nauseous though. Oh no. I get severe mood swings and anxiety and a really nasty attitude. I can't stand myself, let alone anyone else. And I can't imagine that anyone else can stand ME either! It is just not worth it, to me, anymore to do that to myself. It took a few binges for me to recognize the pattern and the feelings for what they were.

Most people have to experience this for themselves at some point. I just hope that sharing my experience will give you something to think about.

And, as for stalling, I've been in a "stall" almost a year...and I can tell you that cheating ONLY MADE IT WORSE...in fact it turned it from a stall into a GAIN.

[TheDogAteMyName]

Re: Cheating/splurging question

When I had some foods that were off plan during vacation I had a carb hangover. Nothing like keeping you on track when foods make you feel like that. It wasn't worth it to me and now I'm scared straight.

[not2late]

Re: Cheating/splurging question

Technically, you shouldn't need to "cheat" to "jumpstart" Atkins---if you follow Atkins properly.

I do think that your body "stalls" because it begins to function efficiently if you eat well below your CCLL. We see this happen to the folks on Extended Induction (the ones who don't have a high metabolic resistance to weight loss and really don't need to be on Induction more than 14 days.) These people hit a plateau and they break it when they finally move to OWL. Then you have the Induction rebounders who stay on Extended Induction, but "cheat" every few days or weeks in order to break their stalls. These are typically the folks who say "I cheated all the time and I lost weight." But the question I always had for them is why didn't you just move to OWL and eat those "cheats" legally????

That's why if you move to OWL, you'll find your CCLL. Then if you eat at or 5-10 net carbs below it, your weight loss should be consistent. Plus, if you want to eat apples or popcorn, it won't be a "cheat"---it will be a part of your regular Atkins OWL Phase meal.

[gman]

Re: Cheating/splurging question

Erika-
Congrats on your progress and on bringing your latest challenge out for discussion.
I agree with the other postings above, and would add that sometimes a change in exercise will help you move on.
Glenn

[Momma2threegirls]

Re: Cheating/splurging question

Thanks for all the replies.... So should I move up a rung then? I am eating the extra 5 veggie carbs - but my total net carbs is 16-20ish. Part of me wonders if I move up then it would be SO much easier to add 5 carbs where as the veggie is a lot of work for me.

I'll check in with you all tomorrow after i weigh in. This nothing for 2 weeks thing is DRIVING ME nutty!

My exercise is pretty varied and irregular. I gets walks in. I am lifting 25,27,and 35lb weights all day (That would be the girls) I also babywear and so a lot fo the time when I am out walking I have that extra weight on my back AND I am pushing a doublke stroller with 55-65 extra pounds inside of it. My other sweaty things are gardening, doing yard work, my treadmill, and pilates. But it seems like the weeks I exercise more are the weeks I stall. I am fatigued all the time. I feel worn out and exhausted.......I feel stuck in a rut physically and emotionally.

Thanks for all your help and letting me vent.