what do you consider cheating?

[dimar97]

all this talk about cheating today got me to thinking - what do people consider cheating? I have a feeling it may differ from person to person. Now M&Ms, a big soft serve custard, doritos - obviously these things are cheating. But what is it to you?

Going over your carb limit - period? eating off of your rung (things you haven't worked up to yet)? ANYTHING that you feel bad about afterwards? (regular coffee instead of decaf, diet pop instead of water all day everyday) Just wondering if I am not tough enough - or too hard - on myself...

I am in a bad way right now - really struggling with cravings after a big night partying (booze and food) a few days ago - and hangover munchies the next day... No obvious cheat foods (since I recovered) but I went over my carb limits and ate things from rungs I haven't reached yet... I cannot seem to find the strength this time.

and I leave for vacation in 23 days...

[fatty mcfatison]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

Well I feel that I am not as strict as I need to be, but we three young kids and a demanding job I am at a level where I can function well on this WOE. I do not ever go over my carb count, infact most times I am a bit below. I would consider over cheating. I do not eat food not in my rung. I would consider that cheating. However, I do have things with sugar in them from time to time cause of need. I make sure it is not listed in the first 3 on the label. And I make sure I ask if it doesnt have a label. If I didnt ask or ate when I has unsure I would consider that cheating. Now the hubby is more lax. He cant seem to give up the Diet Dr pepper and has 3 or 4 a day. I consider that cheating. But he is working his way down since learning he lost 25 pounds. I guess he needed a boost to walk alittle straighter.

[loo-see]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

Hi Dimar,

for me cheating is everything I drink or eat or do that can't be found in DANDR!

.....but cheating is also giving up on this,giving up healty life....I'll keep on trying till I succeed to control my diet.

I've never done any diet before......it is very hard.....I failed few times already....but as I said.....I see so many successfull members....if they could do this...why couldn't we?

do you agree?

[not2late]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

For me cheating is eating/drinking anything that is not legal in my phase of the Atkins Diet. So if I ate a few strawberries during Induction, I cheated. If I ate 5 net carbs of oatmeal while I was still on Rung 3 of OWL phase, I cheated. Etc.

It kept me honest during my weight loss, because I didn't want to get into the mindset of "if I only eat 5 chocolate chips and I eat lettuce, I'll just make it to 20 net carbs and I'll be okay." It's a slippery slope mentality that says you're not mentally ready to commit to losing weight, imo.

[Momtofour]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

I agree with what everyone else said but I have one more thing that I consider "cheating". If I have found a food that give me cravings even if it is on the approved list I avoid it and would consider it cheating if "I" ate that food. It might be allowed but it is something that "I" can't have. There are some recipes that I have to avoid and they usually include cheese. When I got to the grains rung I realized that I can't have any low carb bread. It causes way too many cravings for toast and butter.

[Discolemonade]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

Sneaking in things that are from a different rung.

Though I haven't done it, premeditated cheats are my big problem, I think about it all day, I want to do it but I come here and am empowered. I've cheated in my sleep and awoke distraught. lol

I don't consider too much legal food to be cheating because I eat until satisfied (which isn't much nowadays).

[dreamof145]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

The obvious is to eat illegal, too much legal or higher rung foods before you reach that rung. But, cheating for me is a mental state as well. I look at a cheat for me as not being serious about my exercise and planning. If I want success...I need to be accountable - since I am devoted to make this a life-style change, it is more to me than just eating.

[julirama723]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

I agree wholeheartedly about the non-legal foods, obviously, and I agree that eating something not from your rung is cheating, too. I have a huge problem when people say things like, "Oh I'm on Rung 2, but I eat low carb tortillas." NO, sorry, incorrect. Either you're on Rung 9 because that's where LC tortillas are allowed, or you're cheating. So which is it? I think hedonism is a major problem. Yes, LC tortillas are allowed, by for cripes sakes, you can't wait 3 months to eat them? I think that's a cheating mentality. Not only are you doing something not intended, you're CHEATING YOURSELF. You're giving in to that "instant gratification" mindset that made many of us fat in the first place. I thought Atkins was about learning how to eat again, not indulging cravings or whims.

I agree with Becky--cheating can also be lacking sufficient effort. If you do something halfway, I have a problem with that. People who say they CAN'T give up a food/drink, people who say they CAN'T exercise because they don't have time. If you want something bad enough, you will find time and strength to do it.

[Tack Candy]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

Julie,

You are such an inspiration. I should be half as strict as you are. We are neck and neck with our weight but I predict you will reach goal before me because you are a by the rules girl. I agree with you about the word "can't". If you ask my kids they'll tell you one of my battle crys is "can't means won't". Sooooooo I am going to try (I mean I will...) tighten the rules for me about coffee and exercize. While I am comfortable losing slowly I know I am setting myself up for failure if I don't go about this WOE correctly.

Here's to a cheat free day!
Candy

[dimar97]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

I agree with the lack of sufficient effort thing julie. I know when I am in "the zone" - feeling strong and empowered and I'm not going to get beat up by a piece of lc cheesecake (visual here! lol) And I know I am not in "the zone " right now and I know that I'm not bc I gave in after a few drinks and starting eating tortilla chips - it was all down hill from there. (and I shouldn't have had the drinks in the first place but that is a different story) then I missed the gym for 2 days BUT I went back today and - well - so far so good. I also agree that coming here for a good "slap in the head" (kick in the butt - what ever your preference) helps alot!

[julirama723]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

Well nobody is perfect! Trying is a lot different than failing. If you tried, and failed, you're still a success, because you're putting forth the effort. To make excuses (like SO many people I know IRL who have seen my success--"Oh I can't give up pasta," "I can't exercise because I work full-time," "I can't give up pop, but I drink diet so it's OK") and not even ATTEMPT to better yourself or your life...that's the real failure.

(BTW, I'm using the term "you" generally speaking. I don't mean YOU individually! )

My issue is not with people who stumble and fall and get back up, but those who stumble and fall and lay there in the road. They're gonna get run over, eventually...

[mark38]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

For me, there are 2 cheat types:

#1 The non-legal foods, as you've mentioned, that still grab me are sweets (I have lost all desire for bread, potatos, pasta, cereal etc). Good news is if I have a small bowl of ice cream, I can quickly forgot it and resume lc woe pretty easy.

#2 Gorging. For some reason, if a peanut or Atkins diet bar or diet ice cream pass my way, I end up consuming 2 or 3 servings worth. Yikes I need help!

[Dotultimate]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

if i eat more than a cup of broccoli with my meat for dinner i feel terrible for cheating. I crave vegetables always, and scrutinize over how many pieces of broccoli I can have with my dinner. I then feel terrible afterwards (even if i didnt go over - just ate the max i could have).

[sallyseachange]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

Just for interest's sake... from the American Heritage Dictionary: http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/cheat



cheat (cht) KEY

VERB:
cheat·ed , cheat·ing , cheats
VERB:
tr.

1. To deceive by trickery; swindle: cheated customers by overcharging them for purchases.
2. To deprive by trickery; defraud: cheated them of their land.
3. To mislead; fool: illusions that cheat the eye.
4. To elude; escape: cheat death.

VERB:
intr.

1. To act dishonestly; practice fraud.
2. To violate rules deliberately, as in a game: was accused of cheating at cards.
3. Informal To be sexually unfaithful: cheat on a spouse.

NOUN:

1. An act of cheating; a fraud or swindle.
2. One who cheats; a swindler.
3. Law Fraudulent acquisition of another's property.
4. Botany An annual European species of brome grass (Bromus secalinus) widely naturalized in temperate regions.

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English cheten, to confiscate, short for acheten, variant of escheten, from eschete, escheat ; see escheat

OTHER FORMS:
cheater (Noun)

[ValidRouge]

Re: what do you consider cheating?

#2 Gorging. For some reason, if a peanut or Atkins diet bar or diet ice cream pass my way, I end up co nsuming 2 or 3 servings worth. Yikes I need help!

Mark, this is because those are "TRIGGER FOODS" for you (and LOTS of others on this board) I bet I've responded to at least 3 people this week with the exact same issue....one I, myself, have too.

I *hate* it, but we have to avoid those foods. Dr. Atkins said that most of the foods we are most intolerant (allergic) to are the ones we are most addicted to--like the peanuts. They trigger binge behavior (an crack addict going off on a binge--only we are sugar/peanut addicts going off on binges).