Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

[Lyssie]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I have to say - the first year I did Atkins, I did a planned cheat kind of thing for Thanksgiving and by Christmas, I was completely off plan heading into a downward spiral that lasted for years. I totally regret doing it and refuse to do that again.

[Elizellen]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I have managed to stay on plan for the last 2 Christmasses and Easters by making sure I always have something 'legal' available.

This does mean planning in advance and carrying some snacks with me, but as I get more attuned to lowcarb eating I can often sit and not eat anything at all when in company.

I dont seem to get that 'not fair' feeling any more when others are eating cream cakes or pastries, maybe because I know I have chosen to eat 'my way' and am satisfied with the foods I can eat.

[changing]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I have never stayed on plan during Christmas, but I will this year... this is because I've finally gotten to the point where food is starting to fade into the background of my life. I never thought I'd get to this place, but here I am.

[Kent]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I didn't really have a problem for Christmas as I usually did most of the cooking, and the Christmas goodies just didn't have their same pull as they used to. It wasn't so much a case of willpower as it was just not what I wanted. Maybe I just suck anymore making Christmas treats.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I have managed to stay on plan for the last 2 Christmasses and Easters by making sure I always have something 'legal' available.

This does mean planning in advance and carrying some snacks with me, but as I get more attuned to lowcarb eating I can often sit and not eat anything at all when in company.

I dont seem to get that 'not fair' feeling any more when others are eating cream cakes or pastries, maybe because I know I have chosen to eat 'my way' and am satisfied with the foods I can eat.

I totally agree! Isn't it wonderful that we feel less and less deprived as we go along!

[angelstar]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I cant seem to get into that frame of mind. I feel deprived and sad because it seems that everyone else is having a good time, getting drunk and eating what they like. Whereas I have to be a 'good girl' and drink water and eat legal only foods.
Im unsure as to why I feel this way. I see eating high carb foods as a source of happiness and being social. I dont look at it like 'I'm being healthy and I'm losing weight'. I feel sad and left out because I cant join in.

I was invited to a Virgie Vie party next month and I nearly declined because I thought 'everyone is going to be drinking and eating things that I wont be able to have and I'll feel deprived and upset' BUT I've accepted the invite and closer to the time I will work out what things I can bring with me. As you know from my holiday, I plan cheats. Its makes me stay on plan because I know that at the end I will be able to eat the foods I want. But this time I'm going to try and see through the social side and bring my own things to eat.

Last year I was off plan. A close family bereavement in Nov threw Atkins out of the window and I gained 2 stone. This year?! I still havent even thought about my Xmas shopping yet! I'm in 2 minds as to whether to do a planned cheat or not *hides behind the sofa*. I need to get over this 'feeling deprived' state.
Sorry for the long post

I have managed to stay on plan for the last 2 Christmasses and Easters by making sure I always have something 'legal' available.

This does mean planning in advance and carrying some snacks with me, but as I get more attuned to lowcarb eating I can often sit and not eat anything at all when in company.

I dont seem to get that 'not fair' feeling any more when others are eating cream cakes or pastries, maybe because I know I have chosen to eat 'my way' and am satisfied with the foods I can eat.

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I'm so proud of myself for being cheat free since July 9th that I have no intention of cheating.

When I was on Atkins the first time - I cheated and it took me almost 2 years, yes thats YEARS, to get back on the wagon and have everything click.

I will not risk that.

[julirama723]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I plan on not cheating during christmas! At least my definition of cheating--I will not be eating any foods not in my rung, nor will I be eating foods off the program. By Christmas, I will be in rung 5, if all goes as planned, and so yes, I am going to have wine with dinner, as well as New Year's Eve.

As for food, I'll be making turkey or ham, veggies, salad, relish tray, I'm going to try au gratin celery root for a potato substitute, and probably some sort of treat like peanut butter cookies or pumpkin custard--something that is acceptable.

If I eat a few grams over my daily allowance, I'm not going to beat myself up about it--I will be carefully planning my meals before and after those two days. However, this does not mean I'm going to binge or go off plan. I'm simply going to enjoy some richer, more special foods that are acceptable for my rung.

[djfmf]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I have planned cheats on my diet but I'm no longer doing Atkins, instead I do a modified Low Carb Diet. From Saturday-Thursday is strictly Low Carb(no exceptions) and then Fridays are my day off and I usually eat whatever I want. I constantly workout doing plenty of cardio, resistance training and Abdominal workouts. The only reason I have planned cheats is because I take all the consiquences whole heartedly, if I eat carbs like pumpkin pie and mango ice cream i know i just have to work it off with plenty of exercise. The cool part is going back on track the next day and not having withdrawl symptoms.

I would never recommend an Atkins person to follow what I do since weight loss progress will differ from person to person and what i do may not work for another person.

[kacey1]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

This is a really good idea - to discuss and plan for Christmas. I've lost most of my cravings (those times where you sit around and think, "What sounds good?"). To be honest, some foods sound OK but not mouth watering. THANK GOD!!!! But when faced with Grandma telling you she made the special XXX just for you.... Hmmmm. I think I have to plan that... ahead of time.

Something like, "Grandma - I'm going to make YOU a special dish this year since you always make me special dishes"

Habits are hard to get out of even if you don't have the cravings, so I think that more than one day of any of the foods (even the 'legal but yummy ones') could be a problem - at least for me...

I'll have to do some more thought on this subject... Planning ahead never hurt anyone.

Thanks for this!

Kacey

[Bren]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I have seen many people do planned cheats and be able to hop right back on the wagon. AND.......I have seem many people do these so called planned cheats and fall off the face of the earth here. I think it all depends on the person.

Three years ago I finally realized that I was NOT the kind of person that could do a "planned cheat". I had a real problem with food. Treating myself with food was why I was obese my entire life. Realizing that was one of my biggest steps forward and I think the one reason I have been able to have success with this WOE.

I read all of these posts and hope others do also as there is a definite trend here. The majority of them did not go off plan. In fact, what I have just read is the ones that did not go off plan no longer live to eat, have gotten over that hurdle and therefore are still here! Again, for me that was the biggest hurdle.

Social situations to me are now just that "social situations". They are not dependant on what food is served.

[kacey1]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I cant seem to get into that frame of mind. I feel deprived and sad because it seems that everyone else is having a good time, getting drunk and eating what they like. Whereas I have to be a 'good girl' and drink water and eat legal only foods.
Im unsure as to why I feel this way. I see eating high carb foods as a source of happiness and being social. I dont look at it like 'I'm being healthy and I'm losing weight'. I feel sad and left out because I cant join in.

Angelstar - I haven't been doing this a long time but there are several of us on Atkins now and we discuss this exact subject ALOT. In Scandinavia, drinking is PART of the food, the socialising, the party. (even at older ages!) So, we've all been discussing our trigger environments (rather than trigger foods). And WHY they are trigger environments. (For example, when my husband was growing up if they were going from one island to another they always had to take a Ferry. Part of the 'fun' of taking the ferry was having danish hot dogs. So now every time he goes on the ferry he is DYING for a danish hot dog, even if he isn't hungry.)

A trigger event for another person is going to the movies. She can eat dinenr right before going to the movies but STILL wants popcorn, candy, and soda.

So, what we've been discussing is creating some new memories to replace the old ones - so that when those environments or events happen we have something else fun, interesting, etc. with which to replace the food.

This 'sounds' hard! But, so far we've gone out to a Swedish Boat Party (major eat and drink-a-thon) and managed to eat the right foods and when everyone else was 'cheers' 'cheers' - we did too, with our water... and then got up and out danced everyone because we weren't overfull or drunk! Actually our evening (the 2 of us on Atkins) was more fun than the rest because we remember all of it, we got to laugh at those who had enjoyed a wee bit too much, and we still had energy at the end of the evening. (BEST PART - NO HANGOVER!)

I agree, it can seem depressing, but our conclusion thus far is that you have to get into those trigger environments and create OTHER memories so you can get into them again and again without missing anything.

I hope that helps! GO TO THE PARTY! Take some snacks with you and have a blast! Most of those people will never even notice you aren't drinking (and for those who INSIST that you drink say "I'm on antibiotics... can't right now." ). Have fun! (and take your digital camera so you can take LOTS of funny pics!)

I feel for you, but you are one of the people I've been 'watching' as an inspiration! You've done fantastically so far! You can still do it - and have fun!! And be beautiful!!!!

My best regards!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

Angelstar - I haven't been doing this a long time but there are several of us on Atkins now and we discuss this exact subject ALOT.....

Fantastic post kaycey! Ty!

[CarbaholicJoe]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

I had a planned cheat last week on vacation; jumped back on Atkins after a small gorge. If anything, my body seems to have reacted to the break with a renewed weight loss.

I know induction abuse can be bad; but maybe there is mileage in the occasional cheat? oh and I plan to cheat Thanksgiving and Christmas - no doubt ill be chastised for saying so.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: Poll: Controlled Cheats On Xmas Day

[QUOTE=cmcole]I don't like the idea of "planned cheats".
It's just a bad term, because it seems to give you permission to binge and go wild with whatever is nearby.

No no no! If I meant "bingeing and going wild" I would have said so!

"Planned cheat" to me means deciding in advance to have ONE potato with Xmas lunch, or ONE orange, or ONE dessert. This would be for one meal only, and back on plan while the thing is digesting.