What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

[NoMorePumpkin]

I know this is a silly question. I have read DANDR (a couple of times). But I was wondering what most of you consider cheating.

I stick to plan "most" of the time. I KNOW I cheated yesterday at my Family Reunion Picnic: I had a pinch (and only a pinch) of home-made pound cake (OMG!!) and a half of a filet of deep fried whiting fish. I do consider those cheats, even though I think they are little cheats.

If you have the low-carb candies (like the Nestle's sugar-free Turtles - serving size only) is that cheating? What about the ocassional tbsp of margerine or bacon that isn't nitrite- or nitrate-free? Do you consider eating the top off a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza cheating (since you don't know the sugar content of the sauce)? What about the inside of a steak and cheese sub?

What I THINK I'm getting at is trying to be BETTER in my eating habits. I don't want to beat myself up unnecessarily. I have lost weight doing all of the above, but that doesn't make it right. If I cut it out, maybe my progress will improve (honestly thinking - I'll lose faster).

With all the Challenges going on, I was considering starting one for Cheat-Free days, if there already isn't one.

Let me hear your thoughts, please...

Punkin-kid

[Hinen]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

Not wishing to sound harsh, have you thought through what you are asking?
I also wonder why you are eating in such a tortured way, the topping but not the whole, the filling but not the roll. I am sorry if this sounds unkind.

[matawguro]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

IMHO, you're cheating if knowingly deviate from what you commited yourself to doing. If you commited yourself to doing Atkins by-the-book, then the book is what you follow. If you decided to modify Atkins to your particular body type, then you've set the rules which you follow. You cheat if you deviate from the rules you choose to follow. You also cheat if you change the rules in the middle of the game without good reason.

Do you consider eating the top off a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza cheating (since you don't know the sugar content of the sauce)?

If there's no way you could have known, or you tried to find out but recived false information, then it's not cheating. However, if you didn't know because of lack of due diligence (not reading nutritional info labels), then ignorance is not an excuse.

[Bren]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

I eat subs all the time... steak, etc. Just not the roll. I have taken the top off of many slices of pizza (and yes, I am tacky enough and wipe the sauce off). It works for me! I would consider a cheat different for everyone. To me a cheat is a blatant offense. Something I know for sure is not allowable in the phase I was in. I laerned very early on that sugar alchols WERE in fact a cheat for me as they stalled me right out. But, after being on a WOE for so long, I alone can decide what is a cheat as my body will react differently to different things.

[Finelly]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

This reminds me of a conversation I had several years ago with a friend about "sin". In English, there's just one word for it. "Sin". In Hebrew, there are 7 different words for "sin", and they are all in the Jewish scriptures.

The 7 different words MEAN different things, which makes it very confusing for people who read the bible in English. One type of sin literally means "missing the mark", as in target practice terms. Some have to do with negligence or inadvertent breaking of rules, some with missed opportunity, some with deliberate, intentional violations.

I think the same can be said of cheating. There is the kind of cheating where you choose to eat a piece of birthday cake knowing it is not legal on Atkins. There is the kind where you take a bit out of a salad and realize, as I did the other day, that the crunchy bit you just started chewing is a piece of tortilla chip! There is the type of cheating where you just cannot stop eating that fabulous zuchini casserole and so you ate 4 more grams of carbs than you should have today.

So what are we supposed to do? The best we can, of course.

[2big4mysize]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

As matawguro said if you knowing break the rules you committed to follow then it is cheating.

When the cheat free logos were first created for this place back in 2003 the challege clearly stated you set your own definition of hat is cheating and then if you broke those standards then you when back to day 1 on your cheat free icon. Everybody posted what there definition of cheating was and nobody agreed on what it was exactly.

[Finelly]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

Weeeeellllll........but I'm thinking EVERYONE agreed that taking a detour to Baskin Robbins for a banana split constituted a cheat, right?

[wannabethintoo]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

bacon that isn't nitrate-free?

That's considered cheating? Really?

[Finelly]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

Whoah. Even Dr. Atkins differentiated between what he recommended and what he prescribed. Avoiding caffeine and nitrates were recommendations. Eating only legal veggies during induction was a prescription.

[NoMorePumpkin]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

Thanks, guys. You really got me thinking hard. I'm going to set a challenge for ME!!

More opinions are extremely welcome!!

Thanks again,
Punkin-kid

[Finelly]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

So you welcome more opinions? Lemme see.......

Women over 60 should never wear short shorts.
Men in general should never wear short shorts.
Purple is the most beautiful color in the world.
Coke is better than pepsi, but I don't drink either of them, and neither should any of us.

<giggle>

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

I've "cheated" on and off for months and still lost weight. The key for me is to just have a bite or two. Total elimation is not realistic...nor necessary to lose weight. I believe you have to be comfortable with your plan. S

[cleochatra]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

I cheated on and off for months for about a year. My weight loss slowed tremendously, and I was to the point where I was looking forward to planned cheats...one thing spirals to another, and the next thing I knew I'd gained back 40 of 107 pounds lost and had to start all over again!

Word: Cheating isn't worth it!

[fawn]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

to me, eating any fruit veggies or meat that are not natural or organic is cheating. (I have only eaten one potato since starting because my 80 yo friend wouldn't have it and I was at goal at the time)

this includes splenda (ducking.....my opinion only!)

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Re: What REALLY constitues CHEATING??

I guess it just depends on the individual. Personally I never 'plan' on a cheat. I just do it. An example would be if my wife orders Pizza Hut for the kids. I'm not going to eat 5 or 6 pieces like I used to, but one or two probably isn't going to hurt me once in a while....especially if I'm good the rest of the day. And this, in turn, is not going to make me crave more pizza.

Having said that, I think I stand at odds with most of the people on this board regarding this issue.