Self-conscious

[Exfortek]

Hey, do you ever feel kind of self-conscious after losing weight on atkins? When I first started atkins I weighed 290 lbs, now after starting atkins it got me to start working out, now I'm at the gym atleast 90 mins a day either weightlifting or cardio and I have gotten down to 150 lbs. now. Like I quit eating fast food, i don't think i've had any of it for like 5 months now. The thing is I kind of want to cheat today, but not sure if I should or not. Kind of scared to gain any of the weight back. What do you guys think? Is a cheat meal good every once in awhile?

[Richt]

Re: Self-conscious

Wow, did I read that correctly? Have you lost 140lbs in 5 months?

Rich

[not2late]

Re: Self-conscious

Self consciousness: Yes, I'm self-conscious about compliments I get on my loss. While other people love getting compliments, I want to run and hide when I get the "You've lost alot of weight. You look fantastic. " stuff. It's probably because I feel like a real shmuck being so careless with myself for years and being that heavy!

Cheat meals: I don't do those. I've learned alot of things while on this diet and one of them is that I have lousy eating habits. I don't trust myself with "one bites" because I don't want to have so many that I'll fall off and regain my weight. Yeah, some people will tell you they have cheat meals regularly and still lose weight. I know myself too well now and I know I'm not one of those people who can do that.

[aggie]

Re: Self-conscious

Okay... let me figure this out... 150 lbs in 5 months... that is 30 lbs a month which is 7 lbs or so a week. It is possible. Just seems improbable... like what about dreaded plateaus? Congratulations Exfortek... I'm just here to "ditto" not2late... thats what I would be self-conscious about... having let myself go the way I have. Maybe though what you're thinking is "self aware" rather than "self conscious" which I think has a subtle difference in that you're aware of cheating and what it can do to you rather than conscious of what others may think of you... Did that make sense? No... probably not... I'll have to work on that theory I have... lol

[Exfortek]

Re: Self-conscious

lol no i didn't lose 140 lbs in 5 months, it took me about 7 months^^ I meant i hadn't had any fast food in like 5 months, sorry about the misconception.

[Richt]

Re: Self-conscious

Personally, I will never eat a high carb meal again. I don't want to risk going back to how I was before Atkins.

But Exfortek, I have to "shake you by the hand". 140 lbs in 7 months is a truly fantastic feat. Congrats.

Rich

[ErinRachel1021]

Re: Self-conscious

I think if you can keep it and your cravings in check there is no problem what so ever with the occasional indulgence. Just don't binge and have like 20 cheesebugers and a super size fry. The cheat itself may even end up being it's own negative reinforcement. I find when I eat anything that isn't within the realm of Atkins now, I feel like a slug. Just physically blah. But again, EVERYONE is different.
Let us know how it goes!

[not2late]

Re: Self-conscious

Fast food can be legal on Atkins depending on your phase of the diet. I can eat a slice of cheese pizza and even a small order of french fries at this point in the diet. People on Induction can eat bunless burgers and pizza toppings.

[chasintrail]

Re: Self-conscious

Awesome job!

I do occasionally have a "cheat", but I've found that whatever it is I'm craving is not usually as good as I remember it being. As long as you can control your portions and not end up in a binge, it's worth a try.

[dodgegal]

Re: Self-conscious

I'll echo Chasintrail, things dont taste quite as good to me anymore. And I've found on my occasional cheats that it only takes me one meal to feel bloated and sluggish.

I cant think of anything that I really really want to cheat on anymore.

[Elizellen]

Re: Self-conscious

Congratulations on your tremendous loss!!

Did you move into the other phases of Atkins after induction - or stay at your 20 net carbs/allowed foods list menus all the way?

As not2late suggested, those of us working our way up to maintenance and goal are able to eat many foods not on the allowed list so dont have to 'cheat' if we want a slice of pizza crust or a slice of wholemeal bread or pasta dish!

Personally I would not recommend allowing yourself to cheat on this WOE but move onto the phases that will allow you to eat the foods you are missing.

We see so many returnees who did decide to cheat and who didnt manage to get straight back on the Atkins wagon but put many pounds back on, that we created the Second Time Around Club forum (aka STAC) and I would hate to see you doing the same!

[staziaw]

Re: Self-conscious

Exfortek! Wow, fantastic job!

As for the cheats, I'm learning that they suck! Whenever I've slid off the wagon, I end up feeling awful, bloaty, cranky . . . nothing good, man!! Work your way up the OWL rungs, so that your variety will be larger and perhaps the want for a cheat will diminish?

Again, kudos to you!

Stacy

[Exfortek]

Re: Self-conscious

Well I ended up having the cheat meal, I ate a lot of taco bell lol ^_^ but in the end I didn't end up flucuating in weight. But this morning I ended up going to the gym and working out for 3 hours instead of the usual everyday 2 so that might have helped with it.

PS: To the people that had asked, I never went past induction btw but i guess i wouldn't really say it was a true "induction" i guess because after college and work I would drink a few beers and such.

[Analog6]

Re: Self-conscious

Wow, did I read that correctly? Have you lost 140lbs in 5 months?

Rich

No, no, Exfortek said he'she hadn't had any fast food fpr 5 months! My God, 140lbs in 5 months - wouldn't that be something. But even so, with a joining date of August last year that is still pretty stupendous, Exfortek, if that's when you started. Well done.
I cannot eat cheat meals. I overindulge. We are all different, though, so it's up to you.

[CoolBlackChick]

Re: Self-conscious

I'll echo Chasintrail, things dont taste quite as good to me anymore. And I've found on my occasional cheats that it only takes me one meal to feel bloated and sluggish.

This is SO true. I had a small piece of my son's chocolate birthday cake and literally wanted to throw up. If I didn't have such and aversion to throwing up, I would have made a trip to the bathroom to do so. I was that bad.