How do you keep yourself from cheating???

[dyingtobethin]

I was just wondering how everybody keeps themselves from cheating on this WOE?

I think that it might be helpful to all the new members to Atkins to get some helpful hints from all the veterans. What do you do???

[Hoping]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

I think about the fact that I would have to restart induction. I was on induction for an eternity. Ugh. Anyway, when I feel like cheating I just tell myself no. And if there's food infront of me and I'm really tempted then I walk away from it and go drink some water. I think water is one of the key things that keep me from cheating. I used to eat out of boredome, so I just keep water handy and drink it throughout the day. Another thing is to always be prepared. Never leave the house without eating or without a snack; otherwise, you're much more likely to cheat or you'll be starving and overeat when you get home.

[*Emma*]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

I think someone needs to move this to another forum! it will get more answers elsewhere!

I personally just imagine myself at goal, and all the clothes i own are smaller than me, i get rid of my big clothes as i grow out of them, theres no chance of me cheating cos i'd have to walk around naked!

[Richt]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

My ex girlfriend once made me a laminated cut out of my before and after picture. I carry it in my wallet as a reminder as to what I used to look like. This helps me to not cheat. But also, after a while the urge to cheat does pass.

Good luck.

Rich

[dyingtobethin]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

[QUOTE=*Emma*]I think someone needs to move this to another forum! it will get more answers elsewhere!

Where should the post be placed? Which forum would be good? New to this site myself and really have not figured out all the forums and where to post what. Please help. Thanks.

[*Emma*]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

Probably in the "Main Atkins Forum"

If you contact a mod they can move this for you!

[dyingtobethin]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

Thanks for responding to quickly Emma. I will contact a mod.

Have a good day!

[Alexa]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

Hey there,

I have had a LOT of experience with struggling not to cheat. The things that have, at one time or another, worked for me:

Actually, I'd like to point out that I think there are 2 ways a cheat happens 1. when you are massively tempted by something not allowed and 2. when you are fine with the WOL but life happens.

1. When you are tempted by something tasty
- Give yourself a 15 minute 'cooling off' period. That way you won't grab a cookie and eat it before you have time to think, or if someone offers you something you can mull it over.
- Don't feel restrained by the diet - you have made a sensible and rational choice to do this. Cheating is not part of this. There is no point rebelling against yourself.
- Joy recently said to me to get made about the companies that make all this sugar, ill-nurishing food - they want your money, they don't care about your weight, your health, your appearance. You are freeing yourself from addiction and giving them your hard earned cash.
- Bare in mind it is NEVER as tasty as you think it will be and you'll be disappointed, out of ketosis and annoyed with yourself
- remind yourself of your goals. For example if I hadn't cheated so much I could have been at goal 9 months ago, easily.

2. Life happens: basically always be prepared.
- ALWAYS carry an emergency snack - you never know when you'll have to work late, trains are delayed, car breaks down etc. A little pot of veggies, a chunk of cheese, some almonds (if on OWL) can be very welcome and stop you from starving and eating anything.
- Warn people ahead of time that you are on a particular plan and bring a dish you can share that is legal, if eating at someone's house.
- Always have enough food in to make some emergency random legal dinner - i.e. tins of tuna, frozen or canned veg.
- If some massive awful thing happens don't give up on this WOL, it will help you to cope so much better with stress if you aren't high on sugar and binging like crazy. Exercise too keeps a good focus.

If cheating is a long term issue for you (and it definately is for me) consider publicly stating that you will not be cheating. Come here and make yourself accountable. I set myself a goal of 169 cheat free days. it was hard at first but in the end non-atkins food became like wallpaper - just there, not an option. Anyway I did not make it (got to 153 then went on holiday where I was not prepared enough) - I am still trying - never give up!

The longer you are away from a cheat the easier it is to keep going. If you continually cheat you are readdicting yourself and making it harder.

Keep coming to this board even if you are shamefaced and blew it - it will re-enthuse you instead of drifting off, gaining all the weight plus some of its friends and coming back in 2 years to start totally from scratch.

Finally, one thing I often do (this is very warts and all) is I find myself cheating by 'accident' or lack of planning. I then think 'huh, well I may as well enjoy it' and have the rest of the day/week/month eating what I like - like some kind of insane insurance policy against cheating again. It does not work. If you cheat don't write the day off - get back to it and it will be much easier to stay there long term. I only really figured this out yesterday, so don't beat yourself up if you cheat 10 million times before you get it right!

Man this is a long post - subject close to my heart.

[jimmie 48]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

moved as per the request of the owner

[*Emma*]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

Fantastic post Alexa

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to *Alexa* again.

I'm gonna go spread some love

[susan423]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

While we're on the subject, I have a question. I've been wondering this for a while but I didn't want to get yelled at for asking it

On Atkins we are able to eat high fat because we are not eating many carbs. So if I cheat (whether it's a candy bar or a peice of bread) should my next meal be lower in fat to make up for the extra carbs, sugar that was consumed? Or if it's a planned cheat (I've only did this once) should the day before be lower fat?

[*Emma*]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

It wont make much difference, you waste 3-5 days when you could be losing weight getting back into ketosis.

the more times you knock your body out of ketosis by cheats the slower it will lose each time you start back atkins, so be careful on that one, its really not worth it.

[blue996]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

I keep myself from cheating by thinking of two things:

- How physically ill I get when cheating

- How much I will slow down my weight loss. My body takes a long time to get into the groove of losing (probably because I have started and stopped Atkins so many times) and I don't want to throw away 3 months of hard work for a moment of pleasure (which will turn into disgust anyways once I realize what I have done)

[sillygirl]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

Atkins is a way of life, there should be no cheating.

[ValidRouge]

Re: How do you keep yourself from cheating???

Alexa, EXCELLENT! I gave you rep for it!

There was another member on here though I cannot remember exactly who it was...who said to ask ourselves what is it about some FOOD that would cause us to DISHONOR our own wishes/goals/intentions? So, I try, when tempted to cheat, to ask myself "What is it about this dish/food/candy/whatever that is so much better than HONORING myself?" Why would I want to completely DISHONOR myself and eat something that goes against my goals?

I have "cheats" these days with legal foods, almost NEVER with the real thing, though it has happened. Most times it is when I'm faced with some situation that causes me shame, embarassment or a lack of self-confidence. At that point, I'm already feeling something lacking in myself and the willpower seems to go to **** in a handbasket so to speak. That's what allows my psyche to allow that first bite of something borderline or illlegal.

Once the first bite is done, it's all about ADDICTION after that. Addiction to food, and specificially, refined carbohydrate. Trust me, I've never had a binge on zucchini or any other vegetable! That addiction is what keeps me going after one bite, after two, after a whole serving, after two servings, after the whole cake/pie/box of chocolate is gone. It's what gets me up off the couch and going after the next refined carbohydrate that is in the refrigerator/cupboard/pantry.

The shame after bingeing, the weight gain I'll have from it is what I keep reminding myself of in an effort to not do it again. If I stay away from those foods altogether, I really don't have to have "willpower". I just have to stay away from those foods, it's really that simple. Sometimes there are legal foods that induce cravings, and in those times I have to exert the "willpower". I call it "white knuckling it". I pay close attention to what legal foods cause cravings for the real stuff and then I avoid those foods too. Nuts and dairy/sweetener combinations are my real downfall and I have to avoid them just as if they were real sugar.

I hope this helps someone else out there who struggles.