O.W.L. vs. Induction and cheating

[shana775]

Hi All,

I'm new to posting to this board (although I've been visiting the board from some time - you have helped me learn A LOT!) This is my question: I've been on Atkins since Jan 2, 2005. I've lost 51 lbs and I've moved into the O.W.L. stage. I have been doing very well - until yesterday. Yesterday, I cheated...like crazy. It was a special occasion and well, I went a little nuts. Obviously, I'm now completely out of Ketosis. I'm back on the diet, but should I continue with O.W.L. or should I go back to Induction? Any thoughts would be welcome!!

Thanks!
~Shana

[Laurenfra]

Return to induction for a few days to get back into Ketosis then return to OWL.

Make sure you get right back to it, its easy to say "just one more meal off plan"

[shana775]

wow! that was quick - and much appreciated!

OK, that sounds good and right. Thanks.

[Elizellen]

Re: O.W.L. vs. Induction and cheating

Yesterday, I cheated...like crazy. It was a special occasion and well, I went a little nuts.

Hello Shana :wave Glad to hear you are back on the WOE.

Can you work out why you cheated? I know you said it was a special occasion but what I mean is why did you eat what you did?

Special occasions are going to crop up every few days or weeks so we have to work out a way of negotiating the minefield of off-plan foods if we are going to stay on our preferred way of eating.

In order not to slip off the wagon the next special occasion occurs can you think what you could have done instead of eating that 'cheat' food?

Sometimes having something 'legal' to eat beforehand can make it easier to resist that 'just one bite' suggestion some people try to impose on you.

Or approaching the caterer to ask what foods will be available (if it is a catered buffet) helps you decide in advance what you can and can't eat, or you can sometimes ask for something different to be provided.

After all if you were diabetic no-one would make you eat a sugary food, or if your religion forbade a certain food no-one would expect you to eat it!

When you are on Atkins you have special dietary requirements and nowadays this should be an acceptable thing to ask for.

[not2late]

Good advice for you has been given.

OWL is the phase where you can see how well you know yourself, mentally and physicially. I think this is where people become apprehensive about the phase.

You've already have learned something about yourself mentally with your nut experience. You'll learn about yourself physicially when you encounter the food that slows your weight loss or brings back the symptoms of blood sugar instability.

Happy OWLing.

[Isabeau]

I agree to what has already been posted in regards to your question. 51 pounds in three months! Wow! Congratulations. Good for you for getting right back on track too.

[2big4mysize]

:yikes jumped off the wagon quick get backup here.
Use your return to induction only as a means to get back into ketosis and then jump right back to were you were in OWL if you are sure it was that occaision that asssited your leap and not any cravings or blood sugar issues from your last addition. Hold on tight cause like an addict you just loosened the addiction and it is very hard to clean up again.

Congrats on the great job you have done already.

Please let us know how things work out ofr you. I know it was a rough month of April for my last yr when i jumped off the wagon as I almost didn't climb back on.

HAppy low carbing.

[shana775]

I have thought about why I cheated. It was interesting. I went to a restaurant that had low carb foods, but I saw the pancakes and I became consumed by thoughts of how they would taste and how the sugar would be so good. It was like trying to fight off an addiction (which it is). I could have said 'no' but then I convinced myself that since it was a special day I "deserved" it. Quite frankly, by late evening of the same day - I realized that I actually deserve to feel good about myself. And eating crappy foods isn't going to help me. I guess I let my guard down a bit. I felt like I had been doing low carb for three months, so I was safe from the desires of bad foods. Guess I learned my lesson.

Thanks for all of your support and great comments! I will continue to keep you all updated.

~Shana

[pjade1]

I am glad you got lots of help. I always wondered this myself. I think when I plateaued after I cheated I should have went back on induction to get back in ketosis. The test strips are a good indicator though. ~~ Linda

[dulaney22]

I wouldn't worry too much over the cheat. You're talking about 1 day, right? I had been pretty much by the book for a couple of months and went on a hunting trip about 3 weeks ago. Well, I had to up my carb intake, as it was impracticle to eat low carb in the woods, where I'm stuck with sandwiches, granola bars, etc. Over a week of hunting, I gained 3 pounds. When I got home I went back into induction (I hadn't moved into OWL anyway) and the excess was gone in a week and, since then, I've lost another 3 pounds.

The one thing I did notice in my cheat week was that the foods I had longed for really weren't that satisfying. I think that's what made the jump back to induction so easy - that and the fact that those 3 pounds had to go.

I guess what I'm saying is that we're in it for the long haul. I wouldn't worry too much about a meal here and there. The point is to change your lifestyle. After my cheat, it was easy to see what my body would do if I added bread and sugared foods back to my diet (even with extensive exercise/walking), so it may have even been worth a couple of weeks of set back. You're weight loss is outstanding, so keep your chin up and keep beating the bushes.

[Moochiecat]

The danger about 'not worrying about a meal here or there' is that a person can get complacent about the length of time between 'here' and 'there', and the cheats can take over.

It's dangerous to become complacent, and believe me, I have seen many a post with sad people talking about how they felt they could do things their way, and have an off-plan snack or meal every once in a while, and then find themselves out of control.

I'd much rather hear about how someone faced the carb demon and kicked him aside than to hear about the pancake that triggered a disaster, if you know what I mean.

Shana, I was a person who used food as my reward/consolation/celebration/and whatever other emotional thing I could think of so I really know what you are talking about when you say you felt you 'deserved' it. I used to rationalize like that all the time pre-Atkins. It's a tough one to get through, but if I can do it, you can do it!
:yes

This is a great learning experience for you, and it's good it stopped at just one meal. :hug

[Lori41]

Elizellen - GREAT NEW PIC! You look marvelous!

shana775 - I know how you feel although my hard part is the fruit that my family is eating lately!!! Strawberries! Oh my.....and I make them homemade whip cream from cream and a little splenda! It is so hard! One time I just licked my son's spoon before I washed the dish! Uggg - how desparate!