Here it goes: How often do you cheat?

[aim36]

yes I said it,...don't shoot
i am in no way even thinking about cheating right now because I am doing really well...no cheats and 5 lbs down (of course it's only been 6 days)
Just wondering...in whatever stage of weight loss you are in...do you have a day you allow yourself to eat anything you want...maybe one meal a month...is it planned?
just curious...

[jadelee]

I'm in maintenance so I do eat what I want on the weekends then back to eating well during the week. It keeps my weight level, but I don't know if it would work for everyone. I've never been a binge or an emotional eater so I don't have issues with food to deal with. There is no way I would want to totally abstain from sugar, breads, pizza etc my entire life - I just don't overindulge.

[Kimberli33]

I had 1 higher carb day since reinducting on 8/3.It was planned and only 1 meal.I got right back on plan.

[CookinsForMe]

Although I still have at least 35 lbs to lose, there's no 'cheating' in my WOE because I simply won't maintain that and I know it. Years have taught me that whatever plan I follow, it must be something I can maintain and sustain. Everything is 'allowed' as long as its biblically kosher but just because it's allowed doesn't mean I eat it. I could have a hot fudge sundae if I wanted one but I choose not to eat them. I really just keep moderate and higher carb foods down to a very dull roar.

Denise

[Jannybunny]

I'm at goal. Usually on Saturday nights I allow something (one thing) I normally wouldn't have any other time (ie, I might share a dessert with dh) but I don't do a whole meal that way

[peanutte]

I don't cheat, and the entire time I was on Induction/OWL and still working on losing my weight, I didn't cheat.

But since I have been on later stages of OWL and am moving to Pre-Maintenance, I can have some different foods I wouldn't have had before.

[fireflyfaster]

Last time around I had a meal off plan every week or two after the first month. I was able to get back on plan during the weight loss period, because I had a goal, but during maintenance I let it go too long and eventually went permanently off plan.

I thought the meals off first time around weren't affecting my losses, but this time (eight years later) I'm losing weight faster overall.

I haven't eaten anything off plan since I started in April. I evaluate each time an option presents itself and nothing has seemed worth the trade off. I'm looking to stabilize blood sugar and lower cholesterol and blood pressure this time too.

[SecondTimeAround]

Last time I did Atkins, I thought to myself, "It'll be okay - once I'm skinny I can have sesame chicken every once in a while and it won't hurt." I thought it was so unfair that I was not able to eat what I wanted. I think that mentality was part of my downfall in the end and why I'm having to start over again.

I didn't technically "cheat" at first, I just began to cut corners and to add poor choices back into my diet (low carb ice-cream for example). After about four months of cutting corners, there were no more corners left. I was no longer doing low-carb at all.

So, this time around, I have to tell myself that I may never have certain foods again and be okay with that. I am making a choice towards a better life. I have not once thought about cheating this time, maybe because I have taken that word out of my vocabulary. This is my choice, my commitment, not anyone else's. Somehow, defining this as my choice and not my requirement makes me less interested in cheating.

[inatic]

my meal plan has one (to two free meals) a week worked into the plan. It's not considered cheating.

[LCRose]

Rather than allow a cheating day I figure out how to treat myself and still stay on plan.

For instance.... I read this recipe here and LOVE it, a couple times a week.

1 T. Hershey's Unsweetened Chocolate Powder. (Special Dark)
1 T. Heavy Whipping Cream
Splenda to taste ( I buy Splendex on Ebay. No Carbs!)

Whip with a fork till thick. If you are really feeling decadent, add a t. of creme cheese or a FEW salted nuts and SAVOR SLOWLY.

[Joy-FL]

About once every 5 years.

But it seems to last for about 4 years each time.

[FloridaShell]

No cheating for me. I have carb up "Sundays". That's when I eat more fruit.

[Charski]

I don't "cheat" - I make choices. Cheating, to me, implies I am getting away with something, and you NEVER "get away with" poor food choices - they catch up to you one way or another, even though they may not show up immediately!

THAT being said, sometimes I CHOOSE to eat something I'd not normally eat, usually it revolves around sourdough bread while dining out.

Sugar, most stuff containing grains, eh, no worries there. They have pretty much lost their appeal to me after doing this for 6 plus years!

[SecondTimeAround]

BTW, Amy, you look SO CUTE in your avatar! If that's you at 288 pounds, then you carry it well, my dear. You are going to be smokin' in no time!

[Houston Heather]

No. Eating off plan leads to more eating off plan leads to back in the Women's department again.

If I screw up, the next meal is back on plan.

[aim36]

Originally Posted by SecondTimeAround

BTW, Amy, you look SO CUTE in your avatar! If that's you at 288 pounds, then you carry it well, my dear. You are going to be smokin' in no time!

WOW thank you second time around!
that is me at 288...that was in July at my NYC trip.
this is my "secondtimearound" too!
thanks for the compliments!

[aim36]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

No. Eating off plan leads to more eating off plan leads to back in the Women's department again.

If I screw up, the next meal is back on plan.

lol! I know excatly what you mean! Thats how I got right back to where I started and then some! thanks for the reminder!

[CurlsNCuffs]

NOPE - that's not on my plan. I hated shopping in the Women's dept - just like Houston Heather said. Not worth it.

I'm miserable at 200 lbs.....I am only 5'2.

[TaylorMac]

1 day of unrestrained anything-I-want every 6 weeks. The rest of the time I'm extremely strict. The cheat day helps reset my system and it works very well for me

[RyanS]

I discovered the hard way that I can't cheat. If I do, I'm likely to go off-plan for a very long time. I'm hoping this will change so I can at least indulge a little on special occasions, because it's very limiting. But if the alternative is weight gain and GI problems, then I'm better off sticking to plan all the time.

[sistertzu]

I don't cheat. I don't feel the need. I am so happy. My health depends on it too, that is somewhat of a deterent for me. I do make lc desserts that I enjoy very much but are always in my carb count for the day.

Sis

[Lehgrad]

I eat some sort of junk food a few times a week. Works for me. If I deprive myself of all junk food all of the time I end up binging.

[ozdancer]

No cheats so far for me. Last time I was LCing I had a lot more legal treats (LC cheesecake, etc.) and did OWL at a higher level. I have also incorporated much more intense exercise this time around and the weight loss is faster. I can not eat sugar/grains as I don't have control when I do - that's how I regained 40kgs and have had to start all over again. Now I just have to control the s/f chocolate atm!

[raini]

I can't cheat.... I'm afraid to!

My first time on Atkins, I didn't cheat for a very long, long time. I'd lost 65 pounds. I went on a cruise with friends who were also on Atkins, and they cheated a lot. I had a few cheats then, but got back on track. Eventually, though, when we were in the process of moving, and then building our new home (while living in our RV) it was difficult to shop, to cook and to plan meals because of our schedule. I also got Bells Palsy and was on steroids AND I couldn't taste what I was eating. One cheat led to another and another and... well, you get the picture. I gained it all back.

Now I'm eating clean and plan to stay that way. I know that once I cheat that it's a slippery slope to going off plan and staying off. I can't afford to take that chance.

[Tyrone Bill]

Intentionally eating off plan...never.

Unintentionally as little as possible.

[Pompom2]

Now that I am in control of my food instead of food controlling me, I eat what I want. But I now eat 1/2 of it or just a taste.

I have lost close to 30 lbs. I figured out I cant deprive myself. Otherwise I end up failing.

[Stash'sWife]

1st time on atkins, no cheats. Ever. I completely ditched my woe when I got pregnant.

Now that I am back, I am BACK. I am back in the zone where the carbs don't call to me so badly. Sweets were never my "thing" really, but the potatoes, bagels, etc. are another story.

Having been here before, I have had to do some self examination to prevent the backsliding from happening again (chucking my whole WOE for whatever reason).

In preparation for changing my woe for the better permanently, I decided that there was no such thing as an "off limit" food.

I spent about a year intentionally eating whatever I wanted to whenever I wanted to. I have decided I no longer choose to eat spaghetti salad or pasta salad, I just don't like it as much as I thought I did when I "could not" have it.

Same thing with artificial crap like twinkies and ho hos. The chocolate is plastic-y to me, now that I have been given the liberality to eat them, I really do not want them! I would certainly prefer a well executed dessert of any kind over those gross blobs.

There are several foods like that...I am okay with not ever having them again.

I became very in tune with my body as far as how I feel in response to x or y foods.

This has not stopped me from craving certain foods. But now I feel more as though these foods are "allowed", but may not be the "best" choice for me, and I act accordingly.

This way, I feel I am making a decision for better health instead of "depriving" myself of XYZ food.

It is sort of a mind trick, but it is working.

RIght now, I feel I am in a sort of "boot camp". I will have to re-enter the "real world" of food with caution.

I know someday I may just decide to CHOOSE to eat a slice of pizza with the crust or a beautifully crafted creme brulee, but I will not feel guilt about it, becuase I will make better choices at the next meal.

My new WOE will be that of healthy eating with occasional off plan foods, instead of the continuous feeding of crap to myself that was my woe before.

Sorry so long. Whew feels good to type all that

[Mogget]

On my plan there are no forbidden foods - so in that sense I never have to worry about cheating...

However I still have 4 rules that guide my eating and how strictly you follow them is analouge rather than digital... with that in mind I reckon I am usually between 85-95% on-plan.

[Sara7272]

I never cheat, I went over my carbs one day, but it was accidental. I figure, while I still have so far to go, there's no sense in doing anything that will slow me down.
I actually have stopped drinking unless it's pre-planned too because it kills my losses for that day and frankly with 100lbs left to lose, I don't want very many stagnant days. So if you consider alcohol a cheat, like once every 2 weeks or so.

All that being said, when I do get closer to goal, within 30-40lbs, I may have a pre-planned 'off plan' meal or maybe a decadent sweet treat, or who knows, I may not even want it at all and keep on trucking!!!!

And PS- Amy, you really are adorable!

[lalala]

I never cheat.

Every so often i'll eat fruits in small portions or eat a cup or large container of greek yogurt but nothing bad at all.

You pick and chose what will work for you and stick with it.