Cheat day

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Cheat day

That doesn't sound like a lot of vegetable carbs.

Is your salad just lettuce?

Neither mushrooms nor spinach (fresh) have very many net carbs.

[NickDags]

Re: Cheat day

That doesn't sound like a lot of vegetable carbs.

Is your salad just lettuce?

Neither mushrooms nor spinach (fresh) have very many net carbs.

Oh no, in the salad I'll put tomatoes and cucumbers also which add some carbs.

[Georgiana]

Re: Cheat day

FitDay is a great tool to keep track of your carbs, Nick. Are you already using it or do you count on paper... or use something else?

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

Other than not undereating your vegetables, make sure you are eating regular meals and enough calories (plus enough calories from fat, since Atkins is a high fat diet, not high protein). Undereating often leads to feeling deprived and cheating.

[not2late]

Re: Cheat day

Nick, if you haven't read Dr. ATkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 ed, please do so. Reading the book will give you an understanding of why and how this diet works. If you know that, then you will understand why having a "cheat meal" doesn't help (and has the ability to ruin) your diet.

So please read the book. I realize that plenty of folks get upset whenever we give that particular advice but there is no substitution for it.

[SMKelly]

Re: Cheat day

Nickdags,

As a previous poster noted, only you know you. I was on Atkins from Sept.9-Nov. 24 and then took "off" about a week to enjoy Thanksgiving and all the extras. When I weighed in on Dec. 2, I was up by 12 lbs.

I know it was all water weight, and it took me about 12 days to settle back down to normal and ketosis weight loss.

For me this is a way of life, but I know there will be bumps in the road probably a few times a year. My strategy, although it was not known to me at the time, was to eat everything I thought I was craving, which I did. And then my body just got sick of it. I wasn't even overeating, but the combo of foods made me extremely gassy in ALL directions and my system was overloaded.

It's a miserable feeling, physically, mentally and emotionally.

My first meal "back" was a 12 oz. ribeye, 3 cups of broccolli with melted butter and horseradish. It tasted like heaven. It tasted "clean." ANd I felt lighter, more energetic and full.

I was more than ready to jump back on the wagon and haven't looked back. I know some find it difficult to resume, but I guess the absolute overindulgence that I put myself through (that's how I see it now) made me realize physically that all that wasn't worth it, really.

Hope this helps. To each his own. But you have to be accountable to yourself. To answer your original question about the once a week cheat, in my opinion, don't. As others have noted, it'll ruin everything.

But (again, in my opinion) if you have a "bump" in the road once or twice a year then get right back on the wagon, you'll be just fine.

Good luck!