Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

[dreamof145]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Yeah Jimmy, its not crazy...we all get those remarks. People don't understand this is a life-style, if we were diabetic...they wouldn't be begging us to jeopardize our lives for one bite. I know it sounds drastic...but if I'd lose control again and regain the weight, my health would be at risk.

Theres been lots of discussions on why people try to get others to 'cheat' once or occassionally. Jealousy? Hurt feelings? mis-information? My thoughts are that it is my body, my life and I'm in control. But there will always be someone who wants us to eat or drink something thats not in the plan. Each of us has to make our own choices and live with the consequences.

[higgies]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

And don't forget the gas!!

Yeah, I do it on occassion, don't recommend it, plus I'm at goal. I still gain about 5lbs or so (mostly water) and it takes me about a week to get back. You will feel really bad, physically and emotionally, so I'd really urge you to reconsider as everyone else is pointing out!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Very interesting article from the Doctors Eades about low-carbers splurging on high carbs occasionally, and why it is harmful to us. Here's an excerpt from the article:

Following a low-carb diet makes one a little glucose intolerant, which is the reason that the instructions for a glucose tolerance test always include the admonition to eat plenty of carbs in the week before the test. Why? Because all the macronutrients--glucose, fat and protein--are broken down by enzymes during the metabolic process. And all the enzymes necessary for the metabolism of the various macronutrients are made on demand but not immediately. If you are on a high carbohydrate diet, then you will have plenty of enzymes on hand to deal with the carbohydrates you consume. If you switch to a low-carbohydrate diet, it takes a while to manufacture the enzymes in the quantities needed to deal with the extra fat and protein that your metabolic system hadn't been exposed to. This deficiency of protein/fat metabolizing enzymes is the reason people starting a low-carb diet become so easily fatigued--they've got plenty of enzymes on hand to break down carbs, they just don't have the carbs to metabolize. Once they produce the enzymes necessary to deal with the load of protein and fat, which takes a few days, they become low-carb adapted and no longer feel fatigued.

Once people become low-carb adapted--as I hope we all are--then the same thing happens if they go face down in the donuts. They don't have the enzymes on board to deal with the sudden influx of glucose, and, as a consequence, their blood sugar spikes higher than it would on a person eating the same amount of carbohydrate who is already carb adapted.

This paper shows that these carb spikes are not benign. As the paper points out

Link to full article: http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/?p=239

[kate58]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Among the the main things I used food for pre-Atkins was as both reward and comfort.

• Had a good day/had a bad day
• Got good news/got bad news
• Acheived a goal/failed to acheive a goal
• Nailed that sale at work/failed to nail that sale at work
• Went on vacation/didn't go on vacation but wanted to

There's always a ready excuse to eat if you (ab)use food as a method of consolation or reward. If I'm ever going to control my weight long term I know that eating in that way is permanently out - food is nourishment, not reward, not consolation.

Look at it this way - two things could happen:

1. You make yourself feel sick/stall/even gain some weight. Yuck.
2. You enjoy the food, feel great and actually do manage to get right back on plan, even if you stall just a little.

Though it sounds great, long term the second one is by far the WORST! Because if that happens the next cheat will be sooner and be given in to more easily ..... and the one after that.... and the next one. You won't have overcome your old habitual misuse of food and before you know it it'll be back to the old ways.

So either way, you lose.

So I'm really pleased you are reconsidering.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Awesome advice, Kate! It wouldn't let me give you another rep point, but I tried!

Sunny!

[SandyL2002]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

I have a suggestion...Why dont' you tell us what you want to really have for your Holiday and we will try to give you ideas of something different to have that is legal..

For example..have you had French toast made out of Pork Rinds? It is so good and if you eat it warm it taste just like french toast...

I am with the other poster..really celebrate the Holiday..have some Legal Crab Legs...Dipped in BUTTER...YUMMY

[mary]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

I did this last time I did Atkins (4 years ago) and it was the beginning of the end. I did really well for a whole year and was derailed by a cheat day. I would strongly advise against it.

[Aya]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

I was about to suggest a similar thing. Go to the recipes on these pages or on sites like Linda's or sfs.com and have a "treat" day with baked dishes and all the yummy food you could want - legally.
It's the whole food craving/addiction thing too. When you eat stuff you shouldn't your body remembers those awful cravings and, while you may be strong now, it's probably only because your cravings have disappeared thanks to the way Atkins works and the good food you've been eating.
Have a look at this for an idea of how awesome food is not necessarily illegal.
At any rate, enjoy the holiday!

[hopejoy]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

What happens when an alcoholic has a 'planned cheat'? how hard is it for an alcoholic to stop again...
that's my thinking lately... I'm an addict, only by staying CLEAN am I able to be strong and say no to carbs... I don't think I can have 'just a little'
Keep your long term goals in mind and decide what you really want for yourself...
good luck.
liz

[TIME2SHINE4-08]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Jumping off the wagon here and there is what has landed me at 172 instead of my old 134 that I worked hard for years to hold.
I guess if there is ever an occasion for a special "treat" it would be a truely special once in a lifetime occasion. There aren't too many of those.

[D14965]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Just the Prospect of spending the next day bedridden with the mother of all headaches is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow!( cheated once and had dessert in a restaurant and this is what happened -- major bad headache!)

[Jaded]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Another thing to consider is that this is a WOL, not a diet. This is about eating right, and overcoming the food issues that got us all to the point of needing to lose weight in the first place. Using foods that are bad for you, not only from an Atkins stance, but from an overall health stance, as a reward is defeating all your hard work that made this a WOL.

You'll find more success when you move from the mindset that you are being good on your diet or cheating, to being good to your body and making healthy eating truly your lifestyle.

You've made it too far to throw it all away in one day! The worst thing would probably be that you have no negative results from a one day binge, b/c then it opens the floodgates to more in the future. (i've been there too many times)

Best of luck!! Let us know what you decide and how it turns out

[Hoping]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

I started out like you, very strong willed nothing could stand between myself and Atkins. I went on a trip, I ate at someone's house and I have to say I really controlled my carb intake. I didn't cheat too badly.
Fast forward a few weeks, I feel off the wagon AGAIN. This time it was much more difficult to get back on. A month later I'm still struggling with staying on board. I really wish that I would have continued with that initial momentum.
If you have that, just keep going with it. You'll do great!

[Jaded]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Just a thought... why don't you tell your wife you will cook that day. Make flax pancakes (they are DELICIOUS), use s/f syrup, and you can make spaghetti squash faux pasta, and keep it legal but have the foods that she is missing There are lots of very creative people around here that could provide you with recipes, i'm not so creative myself, but search around, you will find some excellent stuff!

[higgies]

Re: Advise: Wife wants a big cheat day after I lost 28 pounds??

Or go here and make some of the things like White Castle Pie or something and you'll feel like you're cheating!!

http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/index.html