I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

[TBW]

First, I'm not looking for anyone to talk me out of this, just looking for practical suggestions. We have a family tradition of celebrating 1/2 birthdays while the kids are little and today is my daughter's 2 1/2 birthday. We'll make silly hats, she'll help me finish decorating a cake, and we'll sing "Half a birthday to you." And I WILL have a piece of cake with the family. Diet or no diet, I won't miss this special time.

My question is what's the best way to offset this? I'm only on the first rung but my carb count is usually still around 18-20 because I just don't want more. Looking at the cake box and guessing at the buttercream frosting, I'm putting a very small piece of cake somewhere around 40 carbs! I can do a very small piece and let everyone else finish the cake, because I don't really care for sweets, so I'm not worried about bingeing. Should I go ahead and eat normally up until cake time, or should I go carb free until then? Also, do you think really upping my water for the day would help? I also plan on doubling up on my exercise. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[Rubysugar]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Why can't the special occasion still be special without you eating a little piece of cake? You said yourself you don't care about sweets. Maybe you should care about you. And do you think anyone is going to have less of a good time if you don't eat any cake? Your post just doesn't make sense to me. The cake doesn't make the celebration, the people do.

[julirama723]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

I'm not going to try to talk you out of this, but I would say, DON'T CHEAT. I'm just going to give you my honest opinion on the matter.

What's more important, your daughter, or the cake? If you didn't have a cake, would it still be your daughter's birthday? You even said you don't care for sweets. Then what's the big deal with the cake?

I don't think there are any good options. I can only speak for myself, but if *I* were to eat that cake (even being as far into the plan as I am) I know that I would become ill almost immediately. That sugar would give me a blood sugar spike like no other, and I'd be retreating to the bathroom or the bedroom for the rest of the night. I know I'd end up with a migraine, and I'd probably end up vomiting, too.

So, do you want to risk all that you've worked for, and risk missing moments of your daughters birthday for a small piece of cake that you don't even really care for?

I cannot in good conscience advocate eating the cake. It's just a recipe for disaster. I believe you that you say you wouldn't binge, but I'm worried that you would end up feeling so ill and truly regret eating it.

When in doubt, follow the plan as usual. No carbs is not Atkins. Eat your veggies, eat your cheese. Don't cut carbs because you think you might be eating cake later on. If you do that, you might really eat the cake. If you stay on plan, eating your veggies, fats, proteins, special foods, cheeses, when cake time rolls around, you might decide it's not worth it, and you'll be satisfied with a legal treat.

Have you ever tried clouds, whipped cream, or Dom's cheesecake? These are all LEGAL and decadent treats that you could eat. You'd have the best of both worlds--a great dessert, and you'd be staying on plan and OUT of the bathroom.

[sadie147]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Have you ever tried clouds, whipped cream, or Dom's cheesecake? These are all LEGAL and decadent treats that you could eat. You'd have the best of both worlds--a great dessert, and you'd be staying on plan and OUT of the bathroom.

I'm with Juli on this, why not have a birthday cake, plus a legal desert as well. I make l/c cheesecakes for any family gathering we have..and everyone loves them and has no idea they're low carb.

When you're at goal and in maintenance, if you think you can handle a small piece of birthday cake once or twice a year without any repercussions, then go for it..but i'd wait until you are there. at this point in your Atkins journey you should stick to plan.

[Discolemonade]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Well, can you make a lo carb cake?
Lindas website has many options, that way everyone can indulge...

I just don't think you are going to find cheating support on this board because it's something we all struggle to avoid. No way are we going to pat you on the back and say it's ok, just drink your water. Thats what they tell the ones who've fallen, so eat the cake, consider yourself fallen and get on with it. You're gonna fall out of ketosis, you're gonna have to start again, but apparently it's all worth it to you so do it.

[Kate113]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Tracey, I agree with the others. Don't have the cake. BUT if you're going to do it anyway, then yes....drink more water, exercise more, keep eating low carb. That's about all you can do.

One of my own problems is that my family gatherings were all about food, food was given for comfort, to shut the kids up, to not deny us anything. That's how I got fat in the first place. I am now a true believer of the "I eat to live, not live to eat" philosophy.

I'm wishing you luck because I hope that cake doesn't mess you up, physically OR mentally.

[TBW]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Well, I guess it was a bad idea for me to make this post. I was hoping for practical advice and not to be made to feel bad about myself. I suppose I was looking for some of the warmth and support that drew me to this board in the first place. I never expected anyone to bless my decision, but to have it implied that I don't care about myself and that I will be one of the "fallen"? Ouch.

I've been trying to figure out why I have such a knot in my stomach reading the replies to my question, and I think it's because I was hoping someone would say having a piece of cake will not make me a lesser person. But the consensus seems to be that it WILL make me a lesser person and that it could mess me up mentally. I suppose next time I should remember the adage "It's easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission!"

I never meant for this to be an argumentative post, so I'm sorry for the defensiveness on my part. I was feeling really good about the progress I've made, so I was overly sensitive to some of the replies and allowed my feelings to be hurt. I realize I have to find validation within instead of looking to others. Thanks to everyone for their input.

[Tack Candy]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Having a piece of cake will by no means make you a lesser person. Eat the cake and then drink lots of water, add extra exercize and fight any cravings you may get after like crazy. It may take a few days to get back into ketosis, but as long as this is the only thing you have and you get right back on plan - go for it. It is too important to you to not.

We all are just looking out for you as a fellow Atkineer and want ultimate happiness for everyone.

Candy

[Richt]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

TBW eating the cake will not make you a lesser person, but it will make it easier for you to justify future cheats. I can't understand why you would want to risk getting the taste for forbidden foods back again especially as you have gone 45 days without them?

Please don't take those inital steps on the very very slippery slope. One cheat really easily leads to others.

Rich

[Rubysugar]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Well, I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. Totally not my goal. The way I read my post was not as negative to me as you read it, so I am sorry if I didn't communicate myself well. There is some great advice in this thread, don't discount it just because you didn't like the "tone" in my post. Honestly, I wasn't trying to imply that you didn't care for yourself to begin with. Sincerely.

[Lyssie]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Hiya TBW. It's your body, your decision. Have fun with it! This is something important to you. THat being said. *I* would exercise more. Not just for the day, but probably for the week following. I would also be very strict to get back into ketosis and drink lots and lots of water.

Eating a piece of cake is not the end of the world. It just has to stop at that piece of cake and not be indefinite.

[Lulubell]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

how about just eating one, single bite? that way, you could say you ate the cake, and minimized the ill-effects.

[staziaw]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Good morning! Everyone has said what needed to be said . . . now, I'll throw in my two cents.

Lick a dot of frosting off your kid's nose, have one small bite from her piece of cake and call it a day. There, now you have participated and managed to avoid a full piece of cake.

Follow up with water, exercise and fiber.

I hope your daughter's birthday is joyful!

Stacy

[Hayden]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

Hello All,

I was going to post the exact same message, as I need the exact same advice from you.

I WILL be cheating - how to best mitigate the damage?

On the 5th August, My company and a new customer will be having a drinking party to celebrate the signing of a new, and large business contract.

There will be beer, and rice, and many carbohydrate rich foods. The situation that I will in on the 5th, I will have no control of the food or drinks choice.

I will be expected to attend, and to not join in, will cause great offense. I could even write that it could cause my company to lose face, should I not join in.

I am on Day 13 of Induction, and after reading the Atkins book, and doing the check list, I think I will migrate to an Extended Induction.

I have been very good, and not knowingly or willing cheated so far, including not drinking any beer, within the past 13 days. All of which I am proud of myself for doing.

Yes, eating and drinking all that sugar on the 5th will give me a blood sugar spike like no other, and I'd probably end up vomiting, too.

That I can (will have to) deal with, use my acting ability, and best 'poker face' to hide my discomfort.

I really need you advice, about how to how to best mitigate the damage?

As a thought, I could go 'off-plan' on the 4th, and eat carbs and have a beer on the 4th, where I can be ill, in a more controlled environment, IE: my house.

Attend the office function on the 5th, then go back 'on plan' on the 6th. The 6th, I regain full control of my diet and eating.

Please note, I am not, repeat not, trying to create a mandate for cheating. I am just trying to get the best advice to deal with an event in life related to doing my best to lose weight with the Atkins diet.

My understanding off what will happen on the 5th, that my body, will absolutely exit out ketosis, and the whole dieting process will stop. I will need to physically and mentally re-start the Atkins diet as if I am back at Day 1 of Induction.

Including the possibility of having to re-lose some previous weight loss.
This is something that I would like advice about how to best mitigate.

Please correct me, If I have any mis-understanding written above.

Your advice and guidance will be used and thought about.
Most importantly, appreciated.

[Discolemonade]

Re: I WILL be cheating today - how to best mitigate the damage?

The only reason I am anti cheating is because I've done it. I planned a cheat and I was certain in my resolve that I would just jump back on, but it proved to be hard. That planned cheat lasted a month or even 3 months. I didn't have the strength. If you have it in you then by all means, stop the diet and restart it again, but I have been told that it can confuse your body and screw up your metabolism. If you have to do it, then do it. Just KEEP your RESOLVE to begin again.