Carbed for a meal, now what?

[Jessdecutie18]

Hypothetically, what if a situation came up and I had no choice to eat a carbed meal?

Would it be best to stick to a low calorie intake for the rest of the day or continue with the low carb?

I figure sticking to low carb/high calorie can be bad considering my body has already stored the extra carbs from the meal and now is in calorie burning mode. If it's in calorie burning mode and I'm eating all these low carb/high calorie, wouldn't that be bad?

Or does my body still stay in ketosis and I'm getting this all wrong?

Thanks for the input!

[not2late]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

Hypothetically, what if a situation came up and I had no choice to eat a carbed meal?

You always have a choice. Unless you are tied down and forced to eat a spaghetti dinner, you are in control of everything you eat or drink.

Would it be best to stick to a low calorie intake for the rest of the day or continue with the low carb?

I figure sticking to low carb/high calorie can be bad considering my body has already stored the extra carbs from the meal and now is in calorie burning mode. If it's in calorie burning mode and I'm eating all these low carb/high calorie, wouldn't that be bad?

You're in a calorie burning mode during Atkins---you burn fat.

Or does my body still stay in ketosis and I'm getting this all wrong?

Depends on how many carbs you eat.

[Brook]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

First off, in 7 years I've never been in a situation where I had no choice but to eat a carb laden meal- so ???

But in answer to your question- It would be best to continue on low-carb, get back on plan and keep on keepin' on.

Low carb does not, by default, mean high calorie. That said, you don't get your body back into ketosis faster by eating lower calorie (which does NOT mean higher carb). You get back on plan and you don't veer off it.

Your body is *always* in calorie burning mode. I think you're meaning to differentiate between being in ketosis or burning glycogen for energy. Regardless, you get back in ketosis by eating low carb/high fat (if you're on Atkins).

[EmmyM]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

I know what you mean. Last time I did this, we suddenly had to go to my mother in laws for dinner, DH arranged it and when we arrived it was a pasta dish. Nothing else in the house, very put out had I declined the meal, so I had no choice. So Brook, I guess that's one situation where you've got no choice.

Now I just make sure Hubby remembers what I can and can't eat!!!!!!! xxx

[Brook]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

Sorry, Emmy- no go.

I wouldn't have gone without talking to her, and if I had to, I'd have eaten before I went there or grabbed something on my way.

Proactive. Proactive. Proactive. Your husband could have easily asked what was being served. You could have called. You could have eaten before you got there. You could have explained to your MIL that you're working your hiney off to make sure she has a grandchild and this is what it's gonna take. Bet you a dollar she'd have no issue makin' you a couple of eggs then.

[msanjelpie]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

Eat da rice... pay da price...

No, seriously... if you eat off plan, let that be your only off plan meal... from that moment on, just continue as if nothing happened... you might get knocked out of ketosis, you might gain, you might retain water, and then again you might not... just do your best to always stay on plan and over time and a lot of hard work you will lose.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

>>what if a situation came up and I had no choice to eat a carbed meal?>>

You always have a choice to say, "No, thank you."

J.

[imagood1]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

If you aren't sure what someone is going to be serving take a meal you would normally eat at home. Politely tell the hostess (or your m-i-l) that you are eating low carb for your health and you understand not everyone eats that way, so you brought something you can safely eat. If she gets upset, she gets upset......if she cares about your health she will try to understand.

Anyway, it's no one's business what you eat, how you are eating or what you do - unless you live under their roof and have no money for your own food you always have a choice.

[mission to lose]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

Hey Jess,
Sorry it sounds like you are not getting any other answer but to be responsible for what you will be eating, but as everyone else said, "we/you" are the one in control. We all are faced with these situations, and we have to be prepared, expect them, and plan ahead. I am pasting excerpts from 2 posts I made weeks ago as an example of how I handled 2 situations.

Also Once a week I pick up my Mom to drive her to visit my Dad who has recently been moved to a Veteran's residence. It is a 45-50 minute drive to my Mom's and a 90 minute drive to the Veteran's home. We stay about 4 hours, and drive back to her house, and then back to my house. I pack food for the day in my cooler. Nothing is going to stop me from staying on plan.

Post One:
The family meets at my Mom's every Sunday and we usually order out for dinner so no one has to cook, unless we are celebrating a birthday, etc. and then we all bring a home cooked dish. Today they ordered pizza. I brought my own food from home. I brought celery and induction friendly dip for all, and a good size salad and some nice chicken for my meal. My brother in law looked at me with a sad look on his face as I was stuffing myself and said, "Can't you have just a little pizza?" He felt so sorry for me not able to eat any pizza. I tried to explain to him how I was really enjoying my great salad and chicken and I was really full, and that I really did not miss or crave the pizza, even though it really looked great! But he just didn't get it. And still look at me with this sad look. Let me also say, my niece and her boyfriend preferred my celery and Atkins dip over the potato chips and store bought dip that was sitting on the table.

Post 2:

Now here is my new way of doing things...Last Sunday there was a going away party for my cousin who is moving to the Pacific Northwest. ( I had no idea what food was to be served there, but I planned ahead. I ate a little before I left my home. Then I had to pick up my Mom and sister (50 minute drive, they didn't want to drive to the party, they are chickens when it comes to driving to far away places). When I got to my Mom's house I had a little bit to eat again.( I packed legal food in a cooler. Then we drove an hour to the party. Well sure enough, the only food I could eat at the party was some celery. And do you know what I did, every 30 minutes or so, I went out to my car and went to my cooler and had some cold chicken meat and hard boiled eggs, and a few olives!
So instead of ruining my diet at the party or not going to the party, I did what i had to so that I could stick to it, because I want it bad enough! I didn't bring the food inside because at this point I didn't care to bring attention to myself in front of "extended family", although I do eat my "special" food in front of my Mom, sisters, immediate family, etc.


So Jenn,

Hang in there! We are all here to help each other!


~Mary

[IrishIrish]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

Prepare that you may no longer be in ketosis thus possibly putting off further weight loss a few days until you resume Atkins.

Frankly, no one is worth the trouble of carbs for me. I just decline or have the salad or drink my water. Sadly, some people would rather put other people first despite the need for eating healthily than their host that they can't eat starchy carbs. Paint me selfish, but I look out for my own health and don't depend on family or friends to dictate what I can eat.

[Whatsername]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

I don't think it is always so easy to say "no thank you" to a meal made by someone else. This summer, I warned my MiL ahead of time that I was doing Atkins. I told her I was bringing my own food. I was nice about it and tried to not make a big deal about it. We still had an incident of her getting all upset and mad about me not having something she served (salad dressing of all things). I am glad I didn't give into her but honestly, did wonder if it was worth all the drama for a few grams of sugar/carbs.

Easier said than done sometimes.
Jane

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

>>I don't think it is always so easy to say "no thank you" to a meal made by someone else.>>

To a whole meal ... it certainly is more difficult. In that case, one has to make the best choice ... and that choice might be to not eat anything.

If you were served something you were allergic to, would there still be an "obligation" to eat it?

>>did wonder if it was worth all the drama for a few grams of sugar/carbs>>

Have you tried turning that thinking backwards? Was it worth all the drama to HER?

Maybe it's my age, or that I don't dine with people who force things on each other, but I've learned that most people care more about what's on their plate than what's on mine. Some might make a comment or two ... "why aren't you having dessert?" or such, but then then move back to their own plates. In a group situation, I just keep passing whatever it is that I decide I'm not having.

If the subtext of the situation with your MIL is about "control" ... then what will happen when the issue is something more important than salad dressing?

Bottom line is personal responsibility. You can say "yes, thanks" or you can say "no, thanks".

There's consequences to both answers, that's for sure.

[not2late]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

As a hostess I wouldn't expect my Kosher friends to eat the grilled pork chops, nor would I expect my vegan friends to eat it either. That's because I respect their dietary choices.

In fact, I would feel horrible if a guest has a food restriction and didn't inform me about it because it's my job as a hostess (whether I'm hostessing friends or family) to make my guests comfortable and their visit pleasant. But that's just me. I know other hosts and hostesses who don't share that idea and believe that only difficult, obnoxious guests would ask for an extra napkin. And personally, I think that type of person shouldn't have guests over.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

>>I would feel horrible if a guest has a food restriction and didn't inform me about it because it's my job as a hostess (whether I'm hostessing friends or family) to make my guests comfortable and their visit pleasant.>>

Absolutely!

[RitaCeleste]

Re: Carbed for a meal, now what?

Actually I avoid my grandma's. And it isn't her fault. It's mine. I can tell anyone no. But my grandma is old, and a pretty good cook. If a say no and she dies, I am gonna have regrets. Usually I pop in between meals and often stay on my diet there too. My mother-in-law does south beach so we just avoid the eating period unless we opted to eat off our diets. And yes, over the course of two years I've had many meals too high in carbs. I bloat really bad and get depressed and feel awful. But I had them and took longer to get here. I just went back on plan after the cheat. You won't gain real weight from one meal but you will gain water weight that can hang around for the better part of a week sometimes. This itself will make it where you really don't want to cheat so much. For me sticking to this diet was a process. I had to slowly get better at it. It was over time that I didn't need a reward for being good all week and things. Over time the carbs lost much their appeal. I am not in the habit of going out. I spend the weekends with my ex husband and the kids. That can get tricky cause he likes to bake for the kids. I'm okay saying no to that now, but I use to come home five pounds heavier. It does get easier. Let people know what you are eating, that helps. This weekend we had eggs and sausage (couldn't find a carb listed on the pack) for dinner and I said no to doughnuts for breakfast. But he was nice and asked if I was okay with him buying them in the first place. People in your life are gonna have to get use to the way you eat eventually. Might as well start breaking them in.