It's just not worth giving in to cravings...

[tickletussler]

After 3 months on Atkins (I know that's not long) and recently a death in the family, I just wanted a break from Atkins. Yes, I know I'm going to get a reaction from some of you, but I was tired of thinking Atkins, planning my meals for the next day, being conscious of carb content all the time. I know Atkins is supposed to be a WOL and a WOE, but I felt that all these months, my whole focus has been on Atkins and I just couldn't cope thinking about it and trying to get through a grieving period

So I decided, just for one weekend I take a break from thinking Atkins.

Now the point of this post isn't to tell you about the break, but really what I found.

To my surprise, I found I didn't enjoy the foods I ate that weekend. I had a bowl of spaghetti for one meal, a bowl of rice with curry for another and some potatoes with my lamb steak. It wasn't because I felt guilty in any way, after all, I had allowed myself to break from how I was eating on Atkins. I just didn't enjoy like I thought I would, despite the occasional craving for it. Reality just didn't taste as good as what any of my cravings told me.

Luckily I hadn't put on weight as a result of the weekend. And I aso learnt that I didn't overeat, which was amazing. I found that eating a meal of refined carbs made me feel full for the rest of the day, and I didn't like that feeling. I liked feeling satisfied, not full, bloated or sleepy.

If I have another craving from now on, I know that if I give in, it won't taste that good... so I don't think I will have another craving, and for that matter, I don't think I would stray from Atkins again.

So now it's time to put my OWL fears behind me, complete my 2-week induction after that "Atkins break" and move on from Extended Induction into OWL

For all of you reading this and still suffering cravings, if you have to, try this imposed "break" like I have, I found it worked for me, it made me realise life without Atkins just wasn't what my cravings told me it would be.

[Sarah_K]

It sounds like you really paid attention to what you were eating and how you were feeling, and learned some very interesting things as a result! That's great! Seems like it's the "idea" of those forbidden foods, not how they really are, that can be so tempting.

[tabekat]

big reaction

You ate carbs? Oh NOOOOOOOOO!!!

lol..

I'm just kidding. You thoughtfully documented your experiment with different foods and shared them with others. Thats what this forum is all about.

I think 3 months on Atkins is a long time. Especially since I've been doing it for 2 months!

But if you were a newbie on induction I would kick your water flask!!!
:whip

I wouldn't advise newbies to try that experiment though - it could lead to a permanent binge. When do you officially stop being a newbie anyway?

Sorry for your loss.
:hug

[Elizellen]

Re: It's just not worth giving in to cravings...

So now it's time to put my OWL fears behind me, complete my 2-week induction after that "Atkins break" and move on from Extended Induction into OWL

Good to know your weekend on 'holiday' from the WOE didnt send you into a downward spiral :hug
You dont actually need to do another full 14 day induction - just do a few days to get back into ketosis and then move into OWL.
The 14-day induction is a requirement only at the start of this WOE and cannot really be 'repeated' if you slip off the track along the Atkins way. We see many postings from people who have been 'on Atkins' for many months who should be moving on to OWL but who think that unless they do a complete 14 days cheatfree they cannot continue into the next stage. Often they end up slipping off Atkins permanently thinking they just can't do it :sadblinky

[tickletussler]

Re: big reaction

You ate carbs? Oh NOOOOOOOOO!!!

lol..

I'm just kidding. You thoughtfully documented your experiment with different foods and shared them with others. Thats what this forum is all about.

I think 3 months on Atkins is a long time. Especially since I've been doing it for 2 months!

But if you were a newbie on induction I would kick your water flask!!!
:whip

I wouldn't advise newbies to try that experiment though - it could lead to a permanent binge. When do you officially stop being a newbie anyway?

Sorry for your loss.
:hug

Thanks Tabekat After the break, I went back onto strict Induction and will move onto OWL. I'm a little scared but will take it as it comes. I have been told so many times how nice the OWLers are!

I definitely agree with you though, that a person who has only been on Atkins, for let's say a month or two, and doing the break just BECAUSE they were giving into a craving, then I definitely would advise against it... I think the person would just end up in a binge and it would be out of control.

However, I did think about the break and didn't misuse it by thinking "now I can eat whatever I wanted and stuff myself" - I just ate till I was satisfied - because the past taught me if I had stuffed myself with refined carbs, I felt sick and bloated afterwards.

And although I do recommend the break, I will also say - give a lot of thought before doing it because you want to maintain control of the situation and don't want to ruin whatever hard work you have done.
... and even though I do recommend it, I must say it may not be the right thing to do for everyone