Cheating once in a while?

[BigBilly]

This is kind of a silly question but is it ok to have that piece of cake every once in a while? Or my wife and I want to take a night out and go to a resturant is it ok to indulge once every few weeks? Will this totally take you out of ketosis and you have to start induction again?

[Dryunderwater]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

Hey there!

You should read that section of DANDR that goes something like "When Bending Becomes Bingeing".....

It was helpful to me....I have had a dirty day or two since I started but I had it made up in my mind that I would not let it derail my efforts and I also knew not to let that bend turn to a break and negate how far I have come. I say tread lightly on that ground...

Best Wishes!!!

[mission to lose]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

This is kind of a silly question but is it ok to have that piece of cake every once in a while? Or my wife and I want to take a night out and go to a resturant is it ok to indulge once every few weeks? Will this totally take you out of ketosis and you have to start induction again?

Hey Big Billy,

That subject always stimulates a LOT of debate. You can do a "search" in the drop down box above for keyword cheating or whatever words and choose "find posts" for other threads that have been discussed in the past.

I am on since Aug, and I do not cheat. I make Atkins friendly versions of certain items if I feel that they are necessary for a holiday, company, parties, whatever, or even for just plain PIZZA. There are multiple ways to make Pizza Atkins friendly that certainly satisfy the palate if you are creative.

As to how it will affect you, everyone is different. But many will agree, it is not so much the piece of cake itself, but what the idea of a cheat here and there can do to you. Too many people started a cheat here and a cheat there, and then fell off the wagon BIG time!

The choice is yours, and Happy Atkins Day to you.

[poobears1972]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

Do you have the book? Dr. A adresses it in there. From what I recall reading it he knows if you are going to stay on this long term you are going to have meals off. Not be 100% on everyday of the year. The key is to go off for a special occassion or meal and that's it. You go right back on your plan. Not day long binges, not week long vacation binges, just do your celebration and that's that.

The biggest thing is to make sure your induction is 100% clean, that is vital. Also don't just go off because you are craving something, that will lead to a lot of problems. Only go off when it's a planned cheat and they should be few and far between.

[Georgiana]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

This is kind of a silly question

Not silly at all, but if you expect a yes... well, you know you're not going to get it.

is it ok to have that piece of cake every once in a while?

If you are to make cake, why not make low carb cake?

Or my wife and I want to take a night out and go to a resturant is it ok to indulge once every few weeks?

Why do you want to "indulge" specifically when you eat out? You can have great meals that are Atkins friendly.

[lannerjarv]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

instead of cheating, i am finding creative ways to play with legal foods.

the whole idea though is to get over the cravings and bad habits mentally as well so that you can eat this way for life, not just until the weight is off.

[pagliaccia]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

When my husband wants to take me out and I want to "indulge," I get a delicious medium rare steak with steamed veggies on the side... Cheating isn't worth it, and it will almost definitely be the downfall of your diet. Hope this helps!

[not2late]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

This is kind of a silly question but is it ok to have that piece of cake every once in a while? Or my wife and I want to take a night out and go to a resturant is it ok to indulge once every few weeks? Will this totally take you out of ketosis and you have to start induction again?

Since you're posting in the OWL forum, here it is: If the food is allowed on your Rung of OWL or the rungs you have already gone through, it's not a "cheat". For example, if you are on the Starchy veg rung and you want to eat potato, that potato isn't a "cheat" because it is an allowed food for that Rung. Or if you are on the Grains Rung and you want to eat popcorn, that popcorn isn't a "cheat" because it is allowed on the Grains Rung.

So basically for OWL and Pre-Maintenance, any food is allowed, but it depends on what rung you are on and what rungs you have gone through.

The amount you eat will be dictated by OWL Rules and by Pre-Maintenance Rules AND by your body's tolerance to that food and your body's CCLL.

That's why for me---someone who is on Pre-Maintenance and has gone through all the rungs and who knows what my CCLL is---a slice of pizza or an order of mashed potatoes or even a cookie isn't a "cheat".

You might want to re-examine what you mean by "indulge". If "indulging" means going to an all-you-can-eat place and eating everything in sight or eating copious amounts of any food, you might want to re-evaluate your eating habits because that sounds sort of like binge eating. But if by "indulging" you mean having a bit of baked potato with your meal or having a vine ripe peach, then that kind of "indulging" isn't "indulging" because during Atkins OWL and Pre-Maintenance you are permitted to have that peach or that potato.

[kjel]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

Besides the cravings and possibly having a hard time going back to Atkins WOE, are you asking if you will have to start 2weeks of induction over again?
Most likely you will have to go back on induction for a few days to get back into ketosis again than continue OWLing from there.

[liv]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

This is kind of a silly question but is it ok to have that piece of cake every once in a while? Or my wife and I want to take a night out and go to a resturant is it ok to indulge once every few weeks? Will this totally take you out of ketosis and you have to start induction again?

Slippery slope right there. Do you even want to go close? So easy to fall way down and crawling back up is soooooo hard. Think about what you really want. Looking smaller and good health. Those are your goals.

[The One]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

Here is the thing. If you are looking for a "yes, go ahead" from anyone here I'll give it to you: Go ahead, it's OK to cheat once a week, or twice a month, or once a month. There. There it is...

I'm at goal. I still don't eat cake. I like the way I look. My wife loves the way I look. I love the way I feel. But ask yourself, does cake love you back?

[BigBilly]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

Thanks for the advice guys. It's not always as simple as baking a low carb cake because everybody is not on my lifestyle. It's hard not to be able to go out with my wife
once In a while to celebrate events in our life and try to find a resturant fitting to my diet. I think to be realistic one has realize you can't eat thus way 100% of the time. I've decided to come off for the special occasion and then right back on my wol

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

>>It's not always as simple as baking a low carb cake because everybody is not on my lifestyle.>>

Who's "everybody"?

>>ry to find a resturant fitting to my diet.>>

I haven't yet found a restaurant I can't eat at.

>>one has realize you can't eat thus way 100% of the time. >>

Sure you can. You've decided you can't. Big difference.

>>I've decided to come off for the special occasion and then right back on my wol>>

Did you read the chapter in DANDR about this?

[liv]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

Thanks for the advice guys. It's not always as simple as baking a low carb cake because everybody is not on my lifestyle. It's hard not to be able to go out with my wife
once In a while to celebrate events in our life and try to find a resturant fitting to my diet. I think to be realistic one has realize you can't eat thus way 100% of the time. I've decided to come off for the special occasion and then right back on my wol

I think it can be hard sometimes. But I actually think there are a lot of upsides too. I love the food I can. I love steaks and grilled fish. I like that I can have whipped cream and nice shakes when I feel like. I love the feeling that I am doing the right things for my body. I do not eat silly refined carbs all the time.
Restaurants can be hard but with a bit of practice you can find a lot of ways to order and deal with it so that you eat well, have fun and stay within plan.
Anyways have fun on your special occasion. Make sure that you have good plan for not making it a slide.

[Elizellen]

Re: Cheating once in a while?

try to find a resturant fitting to my diet. I think to be realistic one has realize you can't eat thus way 100% of the time. I've decided to come off for the special occasion and then right back on my wol

Of course you are not expected to eat only induction foods for the rest of your life!!
At present you are on rung one so could eat more veggies than the induction limit, but as you progress up the OWL ladder you could choose to eat beans (legumes rung) a fruit salad containing slices of orange (higher fruit rung) a small baked potato or small fries order (starchy veg rung) and a wholewheat dinner roll or wrap (grains rung) and not need to eat off-plan.

While on induction I found it fairly easy to stay on-plan at restaurants. Most places are happy to substitute another side of broccolli or a salad for the potato side, and to omit sweet or starchy sauces and let you have extra butter instead.
Desserts do not have to be sweet - many good restaurants offer a cheese plate so if you are prepared with a few flax crackers (made from ground flax and water) you can happily eat the cheese on buttered flax crackers.
Appetisers are often induction-friendly or can be made so by asking for any sauces on the side so you can use mayonnaise or blue cheese dressing instead.

So unless you choose to eat off-plan you can stay on-plan.