Do "Free Days" Exist?

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

I was going to write that every day on Atkins is a free day, but Liz beat me to it, and far more eloquently than I could say.

Here are some other things that Atkins has freed me from:

constant heartburn
insomnia
dry, flaky skin
food cravings
the hopeless feeling that I could never lose weight
joint pain
faintness and irritability before meals...

I could go on and on, but Atkins has given me far too much to even think of jeopardizing it with cheat days.

[imagood1]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

as far as birthdays are concerned there are plenty of great tasting ways to celebrate birthday - there is a wonderful cheesecake recipe I'm dying to try and it's "LEGAL"....as far as holidays you can have meat, veggies, salad - nothing missing there.

Maybe I'm lucky having diabetes because I couldn't eat any of the candy and cookies this past Christmas - so when I started Atkins in January I didn't have the sugar cravings to deal with but when I want something sweet I find something that satisfies it and move on -- but I make sure it's all good for me. I've given up too much -- I've given up 26 pounds -- and I'm happy it's gone...why would I cheat and throw it all away.

I believe Liv put it very eloquently!

[not2late]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

I think that once you get to your goal weight, and you are maintaining, you may work free days into your plan. Of course, you'd have to be careful to not put the pounds back on. For now, I'm not considering them in the near future . My only goal is to get to my goal weight!

During Maintenance Phase you may eat potatoes, bread, etc. because you are now maintaining the weight and you've learned during Pre-Maintenance how to eat for your body and maintain weight.

So there aren't really any "free" days on Maintenance Phase because you may eat foods that your body can tolerate and in the amounts it can tolerate without gaining or losing weight.

[bikinidreams]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

I think that once you get to your goal weight, and you are maintaining, you may work free days into your plan. Of course, you'd have to be careful to not put the pounds back on. For now, I'm not considering them in the near future . My only goal is to get to my goal weight!

[Lisa]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

Liv, you are truly gifted...

[liv]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

Every day on Atkins is free.
I am free of my double cheek
I am free of my three tummies
I am free of my sagging bums
I am free of thighs that rubbed together when I walked
I am free of rolls on my back
I am FREE

[attagirl_]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

georgiana, you are always so helpful to everyone here --just want to take a moment to recognize you! you've saved me more than once on here already. thank you!

[EverLosing]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

Usually when "free days" are brought up, cheat days is what is meant. I go by this rule..."Fat days exist as long as cheat days do!" I've backed away from the notion on several occasions!! The other night I let my son get a meal at McDonald's. That sucked for me. I was hungry. Went through the drive thru. I checked the bag to make sure they gave him a straw. Crap!! One loose lonely fry. I put it in my mouth, chewed, chewed, rolled the window down and threw it out!! Why on earth would I want to do that to myself? No way. Still don't know why I picked it up....maybe the smell wafting up my nose but I couldn't do it.

They had a bridal shower of sorts for someone at work yesterday. The tables were covered with a carbathon!! CRAZY!! The cookies looked so good. The cakes, pies, chips and sandwiches looked awesome. I decided I would allow myself one cheat. I picked up a bottle of diet coke. I knew it would not kick me in the a$$ like everything else I've listed above. I hate being fat. Cheat days lead to weight gain and an unimaginably LONG stall that's filled with great effort and hard work that doesn't produce results for weeks. I'm not going to put myself through that. If someone wants to Jack Bauer torture me....they just need to shove a donut down my throat!! LOL!!

[not2late]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

Even during Induction, which is the most restrictive phase of Atkins, you consume carbohydrates from vegetables, eggs, avocado, cheese and cream, etc. As you move to OWL and progress through the rungs, the carbohydrate intake increases until you reach a certain level when you stop losing -- this is your CCLL. During Maintenance you will eat above your CCLL and below your CCLM to maintain your weight. For someone who is physically active, the CCLL is usually in the 60-90 g net carbs range. This leaves room for plenty of vegetables, diary, nuts, berries and other fruits, alcohol, legumes, starchier vegetables and grains -- which is basically everything that is served on holidays. What you should avoid is sugar, but there are sugar substitutes for that and plenty of wonderful low-carb recipes.

Even for people with CCLLs of 20-50, once you find your CCLL, you may proceed up the CArb Ladder to try out the different foods.

So if you stay on Induction forever, then there are no cheat days. But if you do Atkins correctly and go through all the phases, then you can "cheat" with potatoes, apples, wine, beans, etc. And if you want to have dessert, simply bring your own at the party and share it with others -- it will only make everybody happy.

But that's not even a "cheat" because those foods are perfectly legal for that Phase of Atkins.

[Georgiana]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

Some people may be able to go their whole year without eating carbs, but I am not one of them.

I also don't think anyone is able to go a whole year without eating carbs. Or at least not while staying healthy. This is exactly why Dr. Atkins did not design this way of eating as a "no carb" diet.

Even during Induction, which is the most restrictive phase of Atkins, you consume carbohydrates from vegetables, eggs, avocado, cheese and cream, etc. As you move to OWL and progress through the rungs, the carbohydrate intake increases until you reach a certain level when you stop losing -- this is your CCLL. During Maintenance you will eat above your CCLL and below your CCLM to maintain your weight. For someone who is physically active, the CCLL is usually in the 60-90 g net carbs range. This leaves room for plenty of vegetables, diary, nuts, berries and other fruits, alcohol, legumes, starchier vegetables and grains -- which is basically everything that is served on holidays. What you should avoid is sugar, but there are sugar substitutes for that and plenty of wonderful low-carb recipes.

So if you stay on Induction forever, then there are no cheat days. But if you do Atkins correctly and go through all the phases, then you can "cheat" with potatoes, apples, wine, beans, etc. And if you want to have dessert, simply bring your own at the party and share it with others -- it will only make everybody happy.

[MoreStylish]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

According to the book, NO. However, I personally do have certain 'cheat' days. Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Some people may be able to go their whole year without eating carbs, but I am not one of them.

[neslundcori]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

I'm in no way dissapointed. I was just checking validity.

[chinadoll]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

Atkins is a way of life. In order to be successful long term you need to get your head around the idea that this is how you eat from now on. No free days, no cheats. This is your life.


Will there be times you lapse? Of course. But planning it that way is not usually conducive to success. I have gone off plan by design and gotten back on after but it wasn't easy and I don't advise it on any regular basis. It would have been far easier to stay on track. Sorry to disappoint but better to know this up front.

[IrishRain]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

"Free days" are made up. I think if you set up a free day once a week or once a month or whatever, you're giving yourself permission to give up every so often. You should never plan for failure! IMO.

[neslundcori]

Re: Do "Free Days" Exist?

Thats what I thought. That's why it was so fishy!