Forced Cheat

[not2late]

Re: Forced Cheat

Here's the ingredients of Grape Nuts:

Wheat Flour, Brown Sugar, Malted Barley Flour, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Salt, Caramel Color, Sodium Phosphate, Dried Yeast. Vitamins and Minerals

Dr. Atkins said to not eat added sugar in any form. This cereal contains 3 forms of sugar.

So NewToAtkins, please don't think anyone is mad at you or yelling at you. From my point of view, it's more disappointment that you were told to eat something that is definitely not compatible with Atkins at all. Use this as a learning experience and refer to the book as often as you need. Again, there are so many lies and misinformation about Atkins, that you need to cross-reference and double-check things with the book.

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Forced Cheat

I can't believe that I catch this much **** for a small bowl of healthy cereal while people cheer those on here who oil fry chicken breaded with pork rinds. (sorry to whoever posted that recipe...just making a point).

New to Atkins, you are getting the flack because we WANT you to lose your weight.

We WANT your bad cholesterol and triglycerides to come down and the good cholesterol to go up.

We WANT your blood sugar to stabilize.

We WANT you to succeed.

But you can only succeed by following the diet -- as it is written. Anything else will doom you to failure.

[tfek70]

Re: Forced Cheat

I felt it was harsh and it wasn't even directed at me. He did what his doctor told him .. his doctor that supports him being on Atkins.

In regards to the 5 to 6 meals a day comment ... this is not required for Atkins. The chapter on induction recommends 3 meals a day or 4 to 5 smaller meals, never going more than 6 waking hours without eating.

I honestly wasn't trying to put anyone down or turn anyone away from the support that this forum provides. From my experience with this WOE, 5 to 6 small meals and some food every 2 to 3 hours keeps me from feeling all wobbly. It does not say in DANDR to eat 5 to 6 small meals or some food every 2 to 3 hours, but in many, many other books about metabolism and eating, this is recommended.

The whole point of this thread was about accountabilty and being prepared on a daily basis to be healthy on this WOE. My point is also that cheat days once a week (Dr. recommended) renders all of your strict adherence to this WOE moot. Cheat days are not required. Many people have followed this WOE as designed for years with great results.

I'm also not throwing stones from a glass house. I have several posts dedicated to my personal struggle, cheats, and the results of those cheats. If I lost a finger for every cheat I did, I would have to borrow a hand or two to post this. I am proud to be a STAC member.

If the OP was turned off of the WOE by my post, that was not my intention. I absolutely stand by everthing I said in my post, it was free advice and worth every penny.

[NewToAtkins]

Re: Forced Cheat

I honestly wasn't trying to put anyone down or turn anyone away from the support that this forum provides. From my experience with this WOE, 5 to 6 small meals and some food every 2 to 3 hours keeps me from feeling all wobbly. It does not say in DANDR to eat 5 to 6 small meals or some food every 2 to 3 hours, but in many, many other books about metabolism and eating, this is recommended.

The whole point of this thread was about accountabilty and being prepared on a daily basis to be healthy on this WOE. My point is also that cheat days once a week (Dr. recommended) renders all of your strict adherence to this WOE moot. Cheat days are not required. Many people have followed this WOE as designed for years with great results.

I'm also not throwing stones from a glass house. I have several posts dedicated to my personal struggle, cheats, and the results of those cheats. If I lost a finger for every cheat I did, I would have to borrow a hand or two to post this. I am proud to be a STAC member.

If the OP was turned off of the WOE by my post, that was not my intention. I absolutely stand by everthing I said in my post, it was free advice and worth every penny.

I really wasn't turned off by what you said in your first reply...and he didn't recommend weekly cheats, only to eat some form of higher carb food once every other week, such as a bowl of grape nuts. By posting I was trying to do a few things:
A. Keep myself from using it as an excuse to get off the program (I posted almost immediately so that I would be accountable to all who read).
B. Relate my experiences.
C. Ask for advice.

That's all...

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Forced Cheat

New to Atkins. I'm so glad you weren't offended. No offense meant, for sure.

Just the fact that you are still posting is an excellent sign that you have the grit that it takes to succeed on Atkins.

The very, very best of luck to you!!!!

[Mr Papageorgio]

Re: Forced Cheat

I

The whole point of this thread was about accountabilty and being prepared on a daily basis to be healthy on this WOE. My point is also that cheat days once a week (Dr. recommended) renders all of your strict adherence to this WOE moot. Cheat days are not required. Many people have followed this WOE as designed for years with great results.

I agree with you on most everything you have said. I think cheats, planned or otherwise, are nothing more than setting yourself up for failure. I undid 70 lbs of hard work from one planned cheat ... 2 slices of pizza ...

The only part of your original post I felt was harsh is the second paragraph. Specifically that he could have avoided it by eating x times a day, and that he was looking for a reason to cheat.

For the record, I do believe in eating 5 smaller meals a day, if i go past 5 hours without eating i get mean.

[7Miriam]

Re: Forced Cheat

About the water, the nutritionist told me I need to divide my weight in pounds by half, and drink that many onces a day. So when I was at about 250 pounds, I needed, 125 onces or almost a gallon of water a day. Don't know if he was correct or not, but when I use this formula I don't get the pain and am MUCH less likely to get constipated.

[ceemarie]

Re: Forced Cheat

Something that really helps me, is a tablespoon of flax seed oil every morning and on occasion in the evening. I seem to have better digestion and don't get constipated when I take it. Perhaps it will help you as well. We all fall of the wagon from time to time, when you do, just get right back on plan. You will be fine.

[NewToAtkins]

Re: Forced Cheat

Something that really helps me, is a tablespoon of flax seed oil every morning and on occasion in the evening. I seem to have better digestion and don't get constipated when I take it. Perhaps it will help you as well. We all fall of the wagon from time to time, when you do, just get right back on plan. You will be fine.

Flax seed oil also works wonders when you're trying to break in a new baseball glove. Just rub some of that on and the glove feels like you've had it for years.

[NewToAtkins]

Re: Forced Cheat

Not to keep this thread going, but as I've been reading I might have figured out the cause of the pain...something my doctor asked about and I said no to, but now realize may have been the culprit.

Last week, being that I work in a school, I was fighting the most common incarnation of the common cold. As a teacher my throat is constantly worn out, and a cough was making it worse. The nurse, who knows I'm doing Atkins (and loves it) gave me a sugar free cough drop at about 11. By 1 the left side of my abdomen was in pain...in the past I was always very sensitive to sugar free candy, and it didn't even cross my mind this time.
With all I'm reading about them now, could THIS have been what caused my pain? My doctor initially asked if I had been drinking water, and asked if I had any sugar free candy...I said no to the candy.
Could just one cough drop have an effect like this? I don't know what kind it was, just sugar free.

[tfek70]

Re: Forced Cheat

Yes, if you are very lucky. Current theory is that people who don't ingest sugar alcohols get gassy and abdominal pain. The unlucky ones don't get it. What that means is that if you are sensitive to sugar alcohol, it means that you are probably not processing it and can count it as a 0 carb food. Most people that are not sensitive to it count half of the total. For example, I have a sugar free syrup with 16 grams of carbs/serving. You don't get gassy or have pain, so you are probably not processing it. I would still count it though, but only as 1 because it is still an artificial sweetner. I would probably want to count it as half (because I am actually processing it.)

Here's a thread discussing it in more detail:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/main-atkins-diet-forum/65513-blast-off-suger-free-sweets-literally-2.html

Elizellen has a very relevant post on the topic on page two.

[jaybee007]

Re: Forced Cheat

I want to thank you for being honest about your cheat
Today is a new day right? Back on the horse as they say...

I had my first cheat today, but I'm going to refer to it as a forced cheat. At about 1 or 2 this afternoon I started to develop a sharp pain in the left side of my abdomen. By 3 I couldn't stand it and called my doctor. He asked about what I was eating and I told him it was the Atkins diet. He's on board with Atkins, but said that "break days" once a week or every other week are needed in his opinion. He recommended that I eat some form of high fiber carbohydrate to help things move along. He said that something like Grape Nuts cereal would be good.
Well, since grape nuts tastes a lot like eating gravel, I opted for the Grape Nuts trail mix cereal. It had 25 carbs in a bowl, and the milk I poured on it added another 7. The pretzel I ate for no reason had 5. So, I added 37 grams of carbs to an induction diet where I've normally been eating about 15. I know it's not disastrous cheat, but I was wondering if there's a first day diet plan that anyone can recommend for starting induction again...something that really can kick me back into ketosis (didn't check whether or not I lost it...don't care).

Oh, and the cereal worked wonders for me. Within an hour of eating it my stomach pains went away. Anyone else have this kind of experience?

[Oceana55]

Re: Forced Cheat

NewtoAtkins, Metamucil before you go to bed helps too and has virtually no carbs. It's psyllium fiber which is recommed by Dr. Atkins. I have had that problem a couple of times though mostly not, due to the fact that I'm eating more veggies than ever before in my life.
I personally would be terrified to eat a bowl of cereal. For me it's kind of like drinking or doing drugs: one is too many and a thousand never enough! I can understand though as I slipped with a raisin scone about a week ago as all of a sudden, (after having had a good breakfast) I was hit with that horrible, "I have to eat something carby NOW!!! or I know I'm going to climb the walls!!" feeling. It totally wiped all thoughts of "okay, get piece of cheese and some meat, maybe a tomato" out of my mind.
But I think I've learned from it and try to make sure I have snacks on me at all times.

[chinadoll]

Re: Forced Cheat

New, I don't always eat my flaxseed meal and hate liquid fibers like Metamucil, so I take a couple of Metamucil capsules every day. They are just psyllium husks, pure fiber, but I find them easier to manage than drinking it. If you do this regularly you probably won't find yourself in the same fix again. It serve the same purpose as the grapenuts without the carbs.


As for the candy---sugar free candy can give me wicked gas pain in my side. If you are sensitive to it, it's possible that is what caused the problem, but I would still up the fiber.

[Oceana55]

Re: Forced Cheat

Uh oh, be careful of the sugar free candy. I figured it was okay until I checked and one of the brands I had were 16 carbs for three candies, just over five per candy!