after you cheat

[razzle]

First of all, forgive yourself. You made a mistake. Guilt causes no weight loss at all. Guilt can (and often does) lead us to more comfort eating or self-punishing eating. The guilt, in other words, is worse for you than the food you ate.

Many of us are addicted to the brain chemical cocktail that high carbs (especially eaten alone) give us ... we're addicted to the foods we're allergic to ... we're addicted to eating for comfort, solace, to numb pain, to punish our mothers, and a hundred other emotional reasons ... and we're habituated to old familiar habits, too, like eating popcorn at movies. This can be helpful to remember.

None of that makes us "bad." Food has no moral component. If you're a good person in the rest of your life, don't rob banks or beat children or the like, no amount of overeating food could possibly make you "bad."

Once you've dumped your guilt and gotten calm, figure out why you made the mistake. (What triggered it? An event? A smell? A sight? Spending time with someone who stresses you out? A fight with your teenager? A painful memory?)

Brainstorm how to deal with the same situation next time. Write down this plan.

Apply one or two of those ideas next time the same situation arises.

If those don't work, add to your list and try other approaches to this particular trigger.

Remember, you can't "blow the diet" because this isn't a diet but a permanent way of eating. Part of a WOE is finding strategies for dealing with challenging situations. As long as you are learning something from this experience, you're still moving forward.

If the cheats seem to become chronic, you simply can't stop, it's tearing you up inside ... then think about finding a local OA (Overeaters Anonymous) meeting. Their website is here (http://www.overeatersanonymous.org/)

[Cimorene]

Thanks for this very sensible message about cheating and getting it back together. We went away this weekend, and having had some very frustrating experiences traveling, I thought, "what the hekc, I'll be moderate." I can't really say I binged, but I can definitely say I feel hung-over this morning, and it would have been easier than I might think to have stayed low-carb. I was doing really well, and I need to start experiencing things without self-destructive eating and to realize that I can still have a good time. Damn. I am an addict indeed.......

[katrine77]

Wow! I am so happy to find this forum! I too went away last weekend for several days and did really well until the last two days. I was at my mother's 75 b-day party and only ate the whipped cream frosting and a few strawberries off the strawberry shortcake. That was ok in terms of how it effected me. But the next day I drank a beer AND had a piece of cheesecake! I can't tell you how grumpy and hungover I felt the next morning!! :mad: I haven't felt like that in over 2 months!!. Then it was 11 hours of traveling, dealing with trying to find protein in airports, munching on snacks I had packed (jerkey, pepperoni and cheese, mac nuts). Here it is almost a week later, and I still don't feel that great. I was feeling sooooooooo good before this trip! My mood is stabilized but I still have cravings and feel FAT! Don't know if I actually gained weight. How long will it take before I feel better? Do I actually have to go back to induction to aleviate this? Any suggestions?
Thanks for being there evryone! :(

[Tams531]

Thank you for posting this message.....I have done so well with this WOE, but recently I made a mistake and ate the noodle outside of a pan-fried dumpling. Once I did it, I thought (unreasonabley) "Oh no, i have just ruined everything.....the past two months of LC has been erased"....when in actuality, it did not negatively effect my recent weight loss accomplishments. In other words, a moment of weakness does not negate everything. As long as you control yourself, and get your wits about you, stop the problem, all is fine. To everyone that is low-carbing......do your best to be tried and true to this WOL, but in those rare occassions when you "fall off the wagon".. be sure to get right back on. Do not allow yourself to get caught up in that out of control state. This WOL has given me such a power......I feel so in control of my life now that I am in control of the way I eat.

[Merry]

Started Atkins one week ago today and have felt so good. No more 'naps', no hunger, staying well within the induction guidelines without a problem. So today I went to visit a family member and she offered me a soda. I have been drinking one cup of coffee daily and then ice water the rest of the time so I thought a soda sounded good. She ALWAYS has diet soda. She brought a glass of ice and soda and since it was hot I just chugged it down in a short time while we talked. About ten minutes later I broke out in an immense sweat. I knew immediately it had to be sugar. Asked her if that was regular soda and she said yes, she had ran out of diet and her daughter brought home regular:-( So I looked up the carbs and there they are in big glaring numbers 41 carb per can. I really feel guilty but it was not a cheat by design. Glad I found this post and hopefully I will just move past it and go on. I have no desire to cheat and it blows my mind that this happened. Hopefully it won't affect my overall intake this week. I wound up with 54 carb total today:-(
Merry (NOT)

[Lunula]

It's also helpful to remember that even when I "cheat" (I just started LC'ing, so I'm not an old pro by any means yet!) - I am still consuming a <i>fraction</i> of the carbs I did before I started and that's a good thing!

So Merry, even 54 in one day is a drop in the bucket compared to how many you once consumed - and that's an accomplishment, not anything to feel bad about!

This is a wonderful thread - nice to hear I'm not "alone" out there and others have the same thoughts & feelings after a slip-up. :)

[crystal28]

Merry, I cheated today (Aug 3). Ben & Jerry's ice cream. The serving is 1/2 cup, and there's 4 servings per container. It was sooooo good, I just couldn't stop at a 1/2 cup.....are they CRAZY???? There was nothing to trigger me wanting the ice cream. I just had a taste for it! I think I can handle the plateau for punishment. :bash:

I'm gonna really stick to the lifestyle change of being low-carb this time (I can't tell you how many times I've started Atkins or Somersize, cheat, then never go back to low-carbing). This time I have my fridge stocked will all kinds of LC stuff. But the most important thing IS getting back on the wagon. That's why I'm still overweight!!!! I don't wanna keep repeating this cycle!

[Josiemk]

I cheated over this past weekend & the scale hadn't budged in 2 weeks , the first 2 weeks I lost 10 pounds ,now the I'm not losing any thing I've must have hit a plataue. I got off the Induction after the first 2 weeks. I thought I was going to go nuts ,there's nothing to eat. So I stoped & the loss also stoped. Is this common, will the lost start back up after TOM or do I have to go back to Induction phase again. :cry:

Josie

[Doug H]

If you follow the logic of the Cyclical Ketogenic Diet, a cyclical infusion of carbs will not cause fat gain and might break a stall. This is especially true if you are exercising/weight lifting.
For example, if you have a so-called free day every now and then, and don't extend it past one day or so, and follow up with some decent exercise, it just might do a body good.

[arizonafly]

I was reading about weight lifters on another site who do a "carb-up" on the weekends and then low-carb all week. They seem to do fine with this. I'm assuming that is with some intense workouts as well. One guy gave a list of foods he ate in one day...get this..
18,000 calories
5 pounds of smarties (candy)
8 protein shakes
whole bunch of chicken and so on....
basically he ate a ton of carbs but then in two days he was back down to original weight. :p

I wonder after getting down to the weight I want to be if I could do the "carb-up" on weekend as long as I'm working out. :confused:

[nicoleb]

i carbed binge for 4 straight days i feeelll sooo fat and depressed..i dunno what made me do it probably becoz of my period triggering cravings that happens all the time...i dunno how to start again tomorrow coz i know im gonna feel miserable and start all over again....darn :(

[lucyr]

If I told you that I had done this, you would probably give me a big hug and say' You aren't a failure till you give up!' and make me a cup of decaff tea.
Which is what you need to say to yourself.

And then say 'I'm only 20lbs overweight, for goodness sake, with all the pressures I am under, and the period thing making it hard every month. The world is so full of gorgeous carbs and I am only 20 lbs overweight? I must be tough!!'

And have a better time next month

[Josiemk]

NicoleB,
:wave: I know how you feel, I had the same problem at first, it will pass. Try a herbal supplement called Gynemena Slyvestre (least I think that's how it's spelled) it helps w/ sugar cravings. I'm also addicted to sugar it really helps me even at that TOM.
Just cut down to 20 grams of carbs a day & exersize 5 days a week. Drink lots of water. Your weight will drop pretty fast & you won't feel bloated & fat. I droped 10 pounds during my 2 weeks of Induction ,which I heard was rare because I really didn't have a whole lot to lose. I only stayed on the Induction for 2 weeks because my resistance is low, and I didn't have that much more to go & Dr. Atkins says to take the last 10 slow, plus I thought I wanted more varity in my diet. But if you don't drop that fast at first don't let it get you down, I heard most will lose around 8 pounds & they may have more to lose then 20 pounds.
And we are all here for you & everyone eles who needs the encouragement.
:cheer:

Josie

[Josiemk]

You may get close or even drop 10 pounds of fat & think that all you need to do now is to tone up. I might just lose 5 pounds & change my mind. Right now I am happy w/ my legs & arms I just want my belly to be flat as a pancake, I still have a little fat there in my lower abs, but I'm sure it will go away. Than I know that I have reached my goal ,I am more concern about that now than I am about my weight.


Josie

[nicoleb]

JOsie,
thanks! ill try to look for that supplement...ryt now im not yet Lcing....too many darn excuses bt ill be startin this weekemd jsut preparin myself again for it! :o

[Josiemk]

:wave: That's fine. I think that it's easier after that TOM , Most people don't recommend starting a diet at that time because of pms.

Good luck
Josie

[nicoleb]

thanks.....uh does anybody here use anti-asthmatic drugs???does it cause a stall in induction???

[Kemss]

Just wondering if "cheating" with a sweet (rice krispy square) will throw off the checmical reaction with Low Carb dieting totally... is this like having an entire day of high carbs?

I am still having a difficult time with droping ANY weight... I have tried to be honest with my carb count, but after doing fitday I discovered that my average is 30g a day rather than the 20g - is this why I am not successful??

I have read a few other threads with people saying that they get up in the middle of the night and eat sweets or cereal - I use to do this almost EVERY single night.... eat a bag of oreos - yes I said BAG or tub of ice cream - with peanut butter! I was thinking I was getting control over this, but last night I woke up from a deep sleep, stumbled into the kitchen and practically inhaled the rice krispy square in one bite! Oh, how I could have eaten them all. Now I am wondering if I did the harm with one sweet as I would have done with them all??

Does it take another 3 to 4 days to get back into Keto? I was in it for a while, but not all the way, the stick was just a sorta bright pink (never purple).

I have been a yo yo dieter all my life... even did the phen phen (lost a LOT of weight then) but I think that messed up my chemical a great deal - sertone levels, etc.

I drink plenty of water, but I don't exercise much - except for the running around town with my two kids :)

[freydis]

Guess what! You're still ok!

My daughter refuses to do this diet with the rest of the family, and we don't want to force her, but she wants snacks every day with her lunch at school. If I don't regulate which snacks, she eats things that are horribly high-carb.

In my search for low-carb "normal" snacks that she might like, I discovered that rice krispie bars are among the lowest carb sweet snacks a kid might like. If I remember correctly, once you remove the fiber, they're well under 20 carbs.

If you eat sensibly the rest of the day, there's probably no harm done at all.

[Margotogym]

I feel back in control....but I did go off the deep end.
1. I was tired
2. I felt nausous
3. I was with someone who can stress me out
4. I had wine last night :o
5. I was exposed to too much Valentine candy!!

I ate 5 chocolate kisses, 8 chocolate hearts, Large M&M McDonalds "McFlurry", 5 potatoe chips, 1 egg plant roletine -sp..., 1/2 cup of chocolate milk and two breaded meatballs. I'm sipping green tea now and it's over.

No need to tell anyone here my stomach hurts & is bloated but the worst of it is I am feeling that anxiety again caused by worry about my choloesterol level and the health of my heart.

Thank God tomorrow's a new day! :roll: :spin: :daze:

[cutiepie]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS MESSAGE. AFTER 20 DAYS OF INDUCTION TODAY I CHEATED. BUT AFTER READING WHAT YOU WROTE, I DON'T FEEL SO GUILTY ANYMORE. I GUESS WE ARE HUMAN AND WE DO MAKE MISTAKES. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!
:roll: THANKS AGAIN :roll:

[Margotogym]

Hey Frey: That is great new about the Rice Crispy treats!.....I expected them to be off the charts in carbs......I am glad as it is my daughter's favorite snack for school and I have a huge box in the closet...I can feel less guilty about! (giving her) I also started sneaking in her lunch box some blue/strawberries and a a banana and she been loving them!

Thanks for the tidbit! ;)
Marg :wave:

[tracilynn]

Well ,after 9 months of being so good with this woe I for what ever reason have been so out of control .I know what I need to do and Im going to do it ,Im just so mad at my self for this but like you say just go foward and dont look back .I just hope I can continue with the wonderfull weight loss I had going before,I hope this doesnt stall me for a long period .Any suggestions would be great .Traci :( p.s I cheated for the last three days

[steph345]

Your comments on a one day binge were encouraging. I binged yesterday at the Outback and ate cheese fries. I also had a salad with honey mustard dressing. You can imagine my shock when I showed a 5lb. gain. I just finished induction and had lost 10 lbs. in 13 days. What the heck happened?!~!! I'm not sure, but I know one thing's for sure, I'll be hitting the gym soon and counting those carbs more strictly than ever! -Steph :help:

[jedswife]

i did practically the same thing steph345 did. only cheated on the weekend and still eat carbs like i used to before atkins and had a 4-5 lb gain. which just proves that when you eat those carbs they are immediately stored as fat by your body. that just proves atkins is right.

consider your flub and mine a scientific experiment to prove atkins theory is correct and then do like me and go back to induction and keep on trucking.

[lindaklkw7]

O.K. I was doing great today, until I ate a (small) carb o lite bar.
Bummer!

Breakfast 2 eggs
2 tsp cream
1 tsp grated cheese
1 coffee, 1 tsp cream, 1 splenda
4.5 carbs

Lunch 1/4 c. broccoli
6 oz. white meat chicken
1 c. mixed greens
2 c. celery - snack
1 tsp. dressing italian
1/2 diet coke
3.5 carbs

Dinner 6 oz. taco meat
lettece, 2 tsp tomato, 2 tbsp cheese, hot sauce
1/8 c. squash (yellow)
Snack 1 stick beef jerky
4 carbs

Carb O Lite Bar ? Is it 1.3 grams of carbs (small bar) to count?

[JVal]

Hey there arizonafly

I have a lot of male and female friends that are bodybuilders and some that just have great workout routines, and if you are planning on trying something like that you would be able to carb up on weekends and still loose or maitain your weight loss. You have to remember the more muscle you build the faster you burn fat and if you have a very intense program your body requires Carbs as energy to push even harder. If you speak to a body builder most of them will tell you that they do eat a lot of pasta rice and other high carb foods for energy and size, and about six weeks before competition they cut out all carbs to lean out completely.

[blue_g]

Hi, everybody, my name is Grace, and I am an Carb-addict. There, I've said it. Reading some of your replies has made me feel better, knowing that I'm not alone. I feel so weak when I cheat. And it's ALWAYS something emotional that triggers the cravings. Once I've had that first taste of sugar, the emotional reason turns physical. I have to have more. I want to stop, but it's like I can't, I can't stop until my stomach feels full, bloated, and achey. It sounds disgusting and that's just how I feel afterward. Disgusted with myself and regretting every single piece of cookie, cake or icecream that I just finished shoving in my mouth. :eek: The next morning, I have no energy, and I can barely look at my self. I gotta stop this behavior, for it will surely be my downfall. Since starting my weight loss last June, I've lost over 70 pounds! I look great, but emotionally, I think I still need an overhaul. Any advice from you wise people out there? I could really use it.

[melody 1]

Do not allow yourself to get caught up in that out of control state. This WOL has given me such a power......I feel so in control of my life now that I am in control of the way I eat. [/B][/QUOTE]

I found this very inspiring, and that thought alone, more than the weight loss even, is what is keeping me on track. Realsing the effects of carb overload as a punishment rather than a reward to myself, is really changing my outlook on this. That said, I have to drink wine at the weekend!!

[J.J.]

Hello everyone!! I just love this site!!!! :D

Guess I'm not doing as bad as I thought! I had a bad day about a week into the induction phase and got up and ate a tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter!

I felt so bad that I drug the old Lifecycle up out of the dark, dank storage room and cleaned it up and starting using it again....vigorously!!!!

I've found some pretty good recipes on this site that keep me from cheating, but I'm missing the texture of crunchy food! I'm a Triscuits and cheese addict and really miss them!!!!

[rhaazz]

What you're describing is the story of every person who's ever attended an OA meeting. Emotions->sugar binge->guilt & discomfort.

Try a few OA meetings. Even if you don't want to do the program whole hog, they will help you get that behavior under control for a few weeks.

Really, I don't know how it works, but it DOES. If you go to a meeting and you sit in a room with a bunch of people who keep telling versions of your story, "Just one bite and I'm totally out of control," it makes it possible to stop.

I have no idea why this is. But it works.

Anyway, even if you didn't want to become a full-fledged member of OA< it would help you to cut carbs out completely for a sufficiently long time that you would be released from the craving.

Good luck. :spin:

[Voo36]

Ohhhhh boy,
Was wondering how that evil TOM would affect me after being on induction such a short time (11 days today, -weight gain the last few days, I'm still down 11 pounds, so I guess not so bad)

But, yesterday, scales showed a 5 lb gain ! I thought, geezzz, from 1/2 (ok, so it was a GENEROUS 1/2 all right ??? lol ) cup of watermelon and 1 small dinner roll (4 carbs in it) ??????



Waaaaaaaaa, Mother Nature, what did I ever do to
you ????? :cry:

Started to really question this as a way of life, got really depressed thinking I could NEVER EVER NEVER EVER NEVER
eat my favorite Mexican food, or have tators or pepsi again.
Heh, so I made myself a crustless cheesecake (16 oz cream cheese, less than 1/2 cup Splenda, unflavored gelatin stuff)

DH looked at me really concerned while I was standing at the sink eating it out of the bowl. Men just have NO clue how strong that evil TOM can be, do they ? Asked me if that was on my diet, I snapped IT IS NOW !!! rofl

But I feel better this morning, went to fridge, got one small teaspoon of the cheesecake pudding and went off to read other's misfortunes and triumphs on here.

I think I''m back under control now. Thanks for listening.

Phyllis ( Voo36)

CARBE DIEM !

[J.J.]

:D Voo!!

ROTFLMAO!!! I could certainly relate to standing at the sink eating the cheescake out of the bowl!!!!!! What a hoot!! I'm on this diet w/ my DH and we've been at each other's throats! He tries to blame it on PMS then he remembers he can't do that anymore since I had a hysterectomy 4 yrs. ago! I swear, tho, sometimes I have *phantom PMS*!!! I went off my HRT's so I've had a tough go of it these past three weeks! Yikes! :eek: I actually feel sorry for my hubby!

My dogs have gone running from the room when I get into one of my "moments" cuz they've never seen this side of me before and one of them is 11 yrs. old!!!

Hey, I'd like that recipe for the crustless cheesecake!! Yummm!!

BTW, Baskins Robbins makes a hard candy that's make with Splenda that I keep handy when I have one of those moments when I'm in the car or something! It keeps me from swinging into the nearest Dairy Queen and scarfing down a Blizzard!!! I found them at Wal-Mart and they're quite tasty!! It hasn't seemed to affected my weight loss since I don't eat them everyday.....just for emergencies!!!!

[rhaazz]

I love the comeback to hubby, "IT IS NOW!" I'm going to use that one.

Don't worry about the five pounds -- it's water.

[Voo36]

SmileS Wryly,

That line is MOST effective if your head can do a full 360 degee spin and green pea soup shoots across the room a'la Exorcist ! lol

Feelin' better today, back on track after cheating a bit on the weekend. I REFUSE to go thru life afraid of every little bite of food that I put in my mouth.

Will just watch for the things that trigger an all out blitz craving and avoid them.

Have a good one hun. We're all in this together.

[rhaazz]

I forgot to add -- when you find yourself obsessing over foods you can no longer have (like Mexican), I find it's helpful to focus on the things I CAN have, and the fact that I don't have to feel hungry, or suffer uncontrollable cravings, or count calories.

[J.J.]

:rolleyes: Ya know I don't understand what the difference is between counting calories and counting carbs...........YOU'RE STILL COUNTING!!! Everyone that told me to try this diet said, "Oh, and you don't have to count calories....it's great!" Well, we're counting carbs so what's the difference!

I'll be honest............I'm not counting anything! I'm just flying by the seat of my pants and guessing and being careful not to overload on certain things! The counting thing discourages me and I'm losing weight not doing it!

I know it's a personal thing on how to control your intake, but counting anything takes the fun out of eating! If it's a new WOE, then I don't want it to feel like a chore! My lifestyle is just too busy to stand in the kitchen and count every single food item that goes in my mouth!!

Just my .02 worth!!

[rhaazz]

Yeah, counting carbs is a chore. But not as much of a chore as the constant exhaustion, hunger pangs, lightheadedness, irritability, and muscle weakness that you have to deal with on restricted-calorie diets. :daze: More power to you for making it work in your own way!

[J.J.]

Thanks rhaazz!

I didn't mean to sound like an old biddy when I posted that, but counting just doesn't work for me! I tried doing that for the first week and 1/2 and it just about did it for me and the Atkins!

Hubby was pestering me about every little carb I was serving him and wanted me to know exactly how many carbs he was getting. Well, I told him to do it himself! I've been a bitch on wheels since going off my HRT's and Luvox so I gotta do this so I don't drive myself INSANE or I'll end up back on them!

I'm not doing so bad, really, and I'm getting more creative with meals and we're still losing weight! If we were all carbon copies of one another...this would be a pretty dull world....eh???

[black57]

Here is my cheat. All the heck I did was have some peas and mashed potatoes with a piece of low carb steak and I got on the scale and put on 2 pounds. Well, I will let you know that I do not feel guilty! Those lbs. will go right back to wherever the heck they came from. I am going to go back on induction for a day or two or three to see what happens. Well I am going to go for a little walk and I will see y'all later.


Keep The Faith,
Black57

[J.J.]

:thup: Good for you, Black!! I bet it tasted good while you were cheating, tho!!!! :D

[black57]

J.J. they were real goood. I went for my walk today and I won't check the scale for a while. I will just walk and take care of myself carb wise.

Talk To you Later
Black57


J.J. What part of Ohio are you from? I am originally from Warren ( half way between Pittsburgh and Cleveland ). I have been in CA for 4 years now.

[J.J.]

Hey Black! I'm in the southern part of the state close to the Ohio River!

I know exactly where Warren is located! I used to go thru that way all the time to visit someone in Meadville, PA!

I lived in Thousand Oaks California in 1985-6 and loved it there! Do you know where that is located?

BTW, I grew up in Columbus, Ohio!

Keep on walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[blue_g]

I'm feeling mighty fine this week. I got myself back on track and I'm feeling the wonderful effects of a sugar-free body. I really do feel great when I don't eat sweets, it's very weird. You know I lived my life from day to day, and I'm talking pre-low-carb days here, anyway I ate what I wanted, cookies, Little Debbies, candy, cake, breads, pasta, potatoes, basically everything that was making me fat. And although I knew I was fat, I never realized the effects it was having on my body internally. The sluggishness I always felt, my ups and downs with energy. Anyway before I get too carried away, thanks for your words of encouragement and advice. I'm not quite ready for OA, I mean, I'll keep it in mind, but I am going to try and help myself through this journey and I always have the forum. This is such a great thing, I come everyday and read posts and replies, and it's very encouraging, and very, very helpful. Thank you all for being here.
:rose:

[skeeweeaka]

Okay....Okay...Okay....I cheated for the first time yesterday with a slice of cheesecake... I did the same thing today....but after each slice of cheesecake I had a low carb vegetable and protein.... And surprisingly I didn't get the sugar high....I do feel a little extra weight on my hips...the bump is back...lol....but I'm not going to weight myself until Monday....

This weekend I will just do chicken and vegetables and protein shakes for snacks.... Hopefully Monday the scales will read 197 again....or less we'll see... I have read some of the other posts and I do think that if we are going to cheat you might as well follow the CAD principle to decrease the insulin spike... Also, in Fit for Life they encourage going off plan on Sunday and eating whatever you want so I'm thinking about that scenario when I go into maintenance.....Hopefully by the end of the year...

[rhaazz]

About cheating -- you know, there are folks (mostly weight-training types, I think) who deliberately load up on carbs once a week or so, just prior to an intense workout. (I guess it's a version of the old "carbo loading" that marathoners used to do.)

They seem to think that periodic carb loading, combined with intense exercise, both accelerates fat loss and helps build muscle.

I don't know much about it, apart from having surfed a few pages in this forum, but I think it's called "cyclic ketogenic diet" or something like that . . . .

Maybe I'm irresponsible in posting about something I know almost nothing about -- but go check it out. It's possible that that a "cheat" is not necessarily a "cheat" depending on your point of view. If you find yourself deviating from your LC plan for a day or so, you could always try doing what those folks do (I'm not sure on the details but I believe it involves intense exercise within a few hours) and you might even BENEFIT from your "cheat." :yay:

Sadly, the one time I cheated was at a weeding where I had a wee bit too much to drink and not only couldn't exercise that evening, but was sidelined by a hangover the next day as well, so I couldn't exercise so was prevented from doing the experiemnt, myself. :cry:

[Margme]

Doug: This was just what I wanted to hear!! :angel:

Ben & Jerry :devil: are two guys I just can't resist especially when my daughter just got a soft ice cream maker we HAD to try out!. It was heaven on this hot hot night.... I surprisingly don't feel terrible ...I did eat my share but happily I feel better than I usually do when I eat the stuff!! It's amazing I don't feel as bloated as I usually do. I do feel
t i r e d tho..! I am going to the gym tomorrow for intense 45 min step class then try to lift a bit. I won't allow myself to beat up on myself partially I think because I am resisting buying a scale.

[andrea7]

Welp, screwed up today. Dont know why I am so weak and why I cant seem to just gut up and make it through my petty little cravings and wants but it all started today when I took a nap and when woke up wanted something sweet (every time I take a nap I usually wake up and immediately want something sweet) and anyway I waltzed into the kitchen and proceeded to eat a half of a poptart then I went to the movies and bought some of the popables snickers to eat at the movies. I just wanted it and didnt care.
Then went to dinner and had Boston Mkt and was going to just eat the chicken and the green beans but NOOOOO, I ended up eating the cornbread and some mashed pot with gravy and some macaroni.

THEN! had some coconut pie for dessert. From the looks of things it doesnt appear that I want this very badly but I really really do. I am just weak and feel like how addict feels about drugs just want it and dont care and there it went.

I am strong during the week and at work and I manage to abstain but then the weekends are a killer for me and I rarely make it.

[rhaazz]

Don't be so hard on yourself andrea7. We've all been there. And this WOE isn't something that you can "mess up" in a weekend -- it's for your life.

Anyway, maybe one way to combat the cravings would be to plan for them. Have on hand some Atkins' "Endulge" bars, or some frozen blueberries that you can mix with heavy cream.

Also, another thing that works is breaking up your routine. If there are places or habits or times of day that tend to trigger you, try altering your habits and distracting yourself with some other activity. Often you'll find that the "binge time" has passed and you didn't even notice it.

Good luck.

[andrea7]

Good point about habits. I have tried to buy those indulge bars but they just make me want more and more and I would go buy like 5 of them and eat them all at once! sick...anyway just going to keep trying and not give up.
thank you for you reply. it really helps when I log on and see that others are actually there and hearing what I am saying and want to help

[rhaazz]

I agree, I find this forum SOOO helpful!

Another thing that helps for emotional eaters is to make a phone call when you're bored, lonely, restless, whatever. It helps if you can call soemone who shares your compulsion. Somehow saying "I am tired and cranky and obsessing about a donut that I just know will help me" allows you to not eat the donut. Or at least it helps me. Sometimes. :rolleyes:

[Tracy213]

Confession time: I had a hard boiled egg for breakfast and didn't feel like much more than that at the time. I picked my son and his friend up from the bus and decided it would be a nice treat to take them to McDonalds for lunch following their first day of JK. This is were I crumbled...I ended up ordering a Quarter Pounder with cheese and a diet coke, not only did I not omit the bun, but I ended up eating most of my son's fries. Idiot, idiot, idiot

I have the urge to just throw in the towel for the rest of the day knowing that I've already screwed it up. However...I will make the rest of my day LC....actually, no carb preferably.

There is no one to blame but me, so now I just have to kick my own a$$ and get on with it.

[rhaazz]

Oh my goodness, Tracy, don't be so hard on yourself! You will probably find that after a big carb indulgence, when you go back on the plan, your weight will DROP suddenly! I've seen post after post after post about this. Many many people see a "whoosh" after a slip.

Which is not to say you have license to cheat -- obviously the cheats could become easily become a way of life. But one or two here or there isn't going to hurt you and could even help.

[J.J.]

That's right...just get over it! If you cheat, just get past it and go back to lc meals. Actually, you can still go places like that you just have to rip the bun off and forget the fries.. Going out to restaurants at first can be tough especially during induction, but once you get into OWL it gets easier!

Don't worry, you're not the first one that's cheated!!!

[Tracy213]

Hi Rhaazz and J.J.,

I'm happy to report that "I'm over it". The only reason I took it so hard is because I have been to these places since starting this WOE, and have managed to resist the temptations, throw away the buns, and order water in the past. But, for some reason...today got the best of me.

Looking back on the situation now, I was a little stressed (the two kids 3 & 4) were being whiney and obnoxious, the place was PACKED and extremely noisy. I had a splitting headache since the time I woke up in the AM and had only had a hard boiled egg up until that time. I don't know...it was still my choice (irregardless of the circumstances), and I have learned from it.

Thanks again for your reply, and you'll be happy to hear that I planned the rest of my day LC. Dinner: Bacon wrapped chicken breast, steamed green beans and a few slices of grilled zucchini.

Cheers, and happy LC'ing!!

[J.J.]

Hi again!

It's odd you mentioned headaches. I had headaches when I first started and wondered if they were related. I was very fatigued during the first two weeks and wondered about all these folks (including DH) who were full of energy. Hubby got tons of things done around the house!!

Have a great day!

[rainopal]

I'm glad I found this thread. I feel like such a failure. I started a Two Week Induction Challenge on the Challenge Board and after one week of doing great I cheated. It will be so humiliating to have to post that on my thread. After being so enthusiastic and cheering everyone who joined up on, I go and mess up.

I can't believe I did that. My DH and I went out of town to visit a friend and I was fine and eating low-carb. Then I came home and after a rushed lunch found that the roast pork I had leftover grossed me out. I couldn't finish it so I ate the salad I had prepared and because I was really hungry ate my afternoon snack which was an ounce of cheese and 5 olives. That didn't fill me up and I was still hungry so I ended up eating a whole bag of microwave popcorn. Then I came home and weighted myself and after 5 days of faithfully doing induction I had GAINED 2 POUNDS!!

I was so discouraged I ate one of my DH's T.V. dinners - full of carbs. I am so ashamed of myself and I am still hungry. The suggestion that OA might help sounds like a good one. I am going to try it because this isn't the first time I have had to go back on induction because I cheated. It is a pattern with me. Thanks for listening to me.

[rhaazz]

rainopal, maybe you're just not eating enough? You report that you're constantly hungry, and also that a "snack" is one ounce of cheese and five olives --- maybe try eating larger portions more frequently?

Anyway, OA is great for support for the LC lifestyle. It's not officially a LC plan, but everyone in OA talks constantly about how they had to give up simple carbs, and how much better and more alert they feel when they stay away from carbs., so it really supports LC choices. Also you can get a list of phone numbers to call for support when you feel tempted -- I found that really worked for me.

[rainopal]

Believe me Rhaazz, I eat plenty. Thanks for the encouragement about OA. Another problem I have is that I hate to cook and I get tired of eating the same thing over and over because I don't try new recipes. I'll just cook what is easiest and quickest.

Guess I have to surrender to the fact that If I want more variety I will have to make the time to cook and prepare new recipes.

[a.j]

Yup, cheated!!!

I blew my control today. I ate two BIG slices of pizza and am now feeling bloated and like a big time piggy!!

I do really well for about 4 to 5 weeks then I "Blow the carb Bank"

I know that I can get back to the lo carb WOE after that but.... I just seem to need to break all the rules once in a while.

I use Chromium GTF at 1,000 mg per day to contol my cravings. (I am diabetic). For the most part it seems to help.

I am not looking for sympathy here but...., just needed to "Fess Up"

I will get back on track tomorrow. I always do.

Just nice to confess my so called sins on this forum.

Thanks to anyone who read this confession and understands.

Cheers, AJ

[dmjd2]

I blew it with a whole can of cashews. I could not stop. They were sweet, salty and a little greasy. I'm trying to keep my head up and plan to return to induction tomorrow.

[rhaazz]

I eat whole cans of cashews pretty regularly. Not every day, but certainly as often as once a month. And I don't consider it a problem. I've never gained any weight from cashews. They're still relatively low carb -- though not induction. (I don't eat meat, so my low-carb options are basically eggs, tofu, cheese, and vegetables. Sometimes I'm dying for something crunchy and often nuts are the only available option. It hasn't hurt me.)

Don't beat yourself up. It's not like you went and had a baguette or something.

[dannadunn]

I am so relieved to find this sight and to read all these honest postings... my husband brought home ((((Crispy cream donuts)))) the other night, and i am proud to admitt i only opened the box and stared at them twice...well maybe three times! LOLOL i have bought the atkins morning start bars, and the butter pecan atkins ice cream cups to help my sweet tooth in the evening. The bars are only 2 carbs per bar, and the little ice cream cups are 4 carbs. i try to stay at 20 carbs per day, some times i go alittle over (22 Carbs) or so, and i am learning to be more creative putting together meals such as a burritto consisting of ground beef, a very small amount of taco seasoning, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, wrapped up in a low carb whole wheat tortila, i figure one of these is about 8 carbs, than i eat the left over meat cheese and veggies that equals up to prob. 3 more carbs in a bowl as a taco salad. Sardines are good for me when i run out of the carb per day count and i am still hungry, they are filling and no carbs!

[SensativAF]

Well, I would not call it a cheat but more like a mistake. I accidently bought the Atkins delux pancake and waffle mix and you cant have that during indction. How about I had them bad boys three days in a row!! Well, Im done beating myself up about it. Like the song says dust yourself off and try again! GOD Bless All and happy low carbing!!

[addictmeHM]

I cheated today. I 'cheat' every 9 to 12 days usually. I don't really consider it cheating although most do. I just need to eat some regular foods every so many days or i'll just go absolutely nuts. I already weigh 130 pounds. I ate some cookies and ice cream tonight. About 9 to 12 cookies (small ones from last x-mas) and a cup and a half or so of some light ice cream. The reason I don't consider it cheating is because I control myself when I do eat some of those carb loaded foods. Sometimes I feel bad afterwards, right now I am worried i'll wake up tomorrow morning and weigh more. I followed my 20g of carbs or under the whole day and ate healthy, so I guess I shouldn't have a problem. I used to crash, but now that I allow myself to eat some of these 'junkie' foods and think about it before/during/after eating them I feel somewhat better, just knowing I have it under control. Just thought i'd post that. Back to the strict tomorrow though.

Happy LC'ing !

[Majjic]

is pretty much what I do. Induction nearly sent me mad and I really didn't think I could keep up LCing for a long time. Then a friend gave me her secret - she's strict induction in the week and eats what she likes the weekend. So I followed that course of action and went from 161lbs to 133lbs in 2 months.

I find it very comfortable doing it that way. Not that I pig out on carbs the weekend, but if I fancy mashed potato, or chips, or pasta or pizza I'll have it. Although Ihave to admit pizza made me sick as a dog - I just couldn't digest it. Also, if I have a craving in the week for something I'll have it and do induction Saturday. So really, it's 2 days off and 5 days on and it works for me. I don't feel so much like I;m missing out on stuff and I find it easier to be strict in the week, knowing I can have lasagne the weekend. I've found I don't get cravings and neither do I suffer from carb withdrawal in the week so that's pretty cool!

I hit a plateau at 133 but I've found by introducing more carbs I seem to be losing weight again and went down to 129 in 2 days.

[Built]

is pretty much what I do. Induction nearly sent me mad and I really didn't think I could keep up LCing for a long time. Then a friend gave me her secret - she's strict induction in the week and eats what she likes the weekend. So I followed that course of action and went from 161lbs to 133lbs in 2 months.

I find it very comfortable doing it that way. Not that I pig out on carbs the weekend, but if I fancy mashed potato, or chips, or pasta or pizza I'll have it. Although Ihave to admit pizza made me sick as a dog - I just couldn't digest it. Also, if I have a craving in the week for something I'll have it and do induction Saturday. So really, it's 2 days off and 5 days on and it works for me. I don't feel so much like I;m missing out on stuff and I find it easier to be strict in the week, knowing I can have lasagne the weekend. I've found I don't get cravings and neither do I suffer from carb withdrawal in the week so that's pretty cool!

I hit a plateau at 133 but I've found by introducing more carbs I seem to be losing weight again and went down to 129 in 2 days.

Weirdly enough, this can actually HELP sustain your fat loss, because, as I understand it, the "refeeds" help reset your leptin. Leptin drops when your body feels like it's being starved, and downregulates your thyroid. By having these little "carbups", you may actually be making sure your thyroid doesn't slow down. This is basically what you do for CKD if you are a weightlifter - there's a CKD thread in the exercise forum.

Furthermore, it's WORKING for you, and where I come from, if it ain't broke, you don't fix it!

[godog_go]

My parents were visiting this weekend and we ate out for almost every meal.I tried to stick with salads, and most of the time I did ok, but my mom brought ALL this food and left it with me - chips, gummi bears, pie....geez!

I noticed that in the summer I don't always feel like eating as much meat, so I've been indulging way too much on low carb ice cream for dinner! Guess I need to explore new recipes so I have something to eat without feeling like I need to cook every night.

I've been doing ok with staying away from breads, crackers and sugar, but I have been indulging in the low carb sweets. I did Atkins about four years ago when none of this stuff was available - it's SO much easier now! But, I know I have to be more selective and have way more willpower.

[godog_go]

I really like this idea!
I seem to have this mental block about feeling as though I'm doomed to eat the same thing forever. This past weekend, I did have some pizza and more carbs than last week, and they left me feeling so big and bloated. You really notice the difference!

[sil2u]

Hi...
I have been on the induction diet for 4 weeks. I lost 20 pounds in the first three weeks and then nothing the fourth week. I was taking in 20 carbs or less the entire time. It is that time of month and I went on a carb binge. I just couldn't stop myself. I have been eating carbs for about 5 days now. I've gained 5 lbs back and I am HUNGRY all the time. I was NEVER hungry on Atkins. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so dissappointed in myself. :-( Any advice???

[a.j]

Hi, yup been there, just had to get a bigger Tshirt. I find the hormone swing thing is tough. I am an insulin diabetic and that only complicates things.

I have been experimenting with a supplement called Chromium GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor). I take the tablets (I think they are 50mcg each??) twice a day, morning and night. If you are diabetic be careful, I find they lower the need for insulin.

Anyway, my overall experience with Chromium GTF seems to help curb the carb cravings. Could just be wishful thinking but.... for me it does seem to help.

I am not a medically trained person. Please don't take my experience as gospel truth. It just seems to help me. Like anything else, our bodies are unique and don't always respond to what someone else's will.

I have seen other references on this website regarding this supplement. Try to check them out and make your decision carefully.

I did some research on it and it doesn't seem to be harmful, but..... Once again check it out for yourself.

Hang in there, as a female it is more complicated. Hormones play a great game with our fluctuating cycles.

Best of luck, Take care, AJ

[MissBehave]

OK I haven't been here in a while, and I was still l'cing ... religiously ... 4 months on Induction... and this past week I've just fallen down and I can't get up!!

I am/was still losing, I know because I am still hearing it from people that don't see me for a week or so... and the scale.

Buttttttt.... I can't stay away from the freakin sugar!!! I know why, in my head I know the deal.. its so true once you start, how HARD it is to stop again. The worst part is I feel SICK afterwards. I start off ok, all day, breakfast, lunch... then it hits me.. just one piece.. YEAH RIGHT. That never works. One this or that. So in no time, tell me my clothes will fit again be tight on me and I'm going to blow up like a balloon.

I'm so glad everyone posted here, I have 3 bottles of water on my desk and I'll be darned if I let this continue to take over me. I've lost 25 pounds and I REFUSE to go back the other way.

Do I start induction over or go back to just L'cing? I think induction would probably be safe right now..... its a horrible feeling this is. :Puke:

[Built]

Go back to induction - your body has turned back into a sugar burner - and keep your fats ass-high: go to www.fitday.com and enter your foods. Make sure your fats comprise a MINIMUM of 65% of calories.

You'll feel better within a few days.

Okay?

[MissBehave]

I"m glad someone is looking over my shoulder... past the the still-wide.
That was my first instinct, I don't know why I let it happen.

I guess you remember when we talked about the fats and water? It really did work for me.

I'll be back. I'm going to go look up some LC recipes. I hate getting "distracted" from my goals, and these days its been too easy.

[MissBehave]

Yep. Back on induction level... its sooooo hard not to cheat for these last few days.. but I think I'll be over that hump by the end of today... I hope.

Thanks Built. Thanks to everyone who posts about their cheats, its easy to forget how bad they make you feel when you're already feeling good... as if a little here and there won't hurt. I think usually it wouldn't, but when it becomes and there, and there, and there...and a little over here too.... then you're back on fast track to sugarland.

I'd LIKE to stay in Onederland if I have anything to say about it. :)

[Built]

Glad you're feeling better.

Next time (and there WILL be a next time, but not for a while probably) a great way to get back into ketosis is to exercise and eat a lot of fat.

You can recover from a brief cheat and feel better within HOURS if you do this. Bodybuilders do this on purpose on some plans (NHE, TKD, CKD), and it really does work.

Okay?

;)

- Built

[galatia]

Just getting a link to this thread for later reading....:o

[Nasira]

Atkins Butter Pecan icecream is my favorite cheat. A week ago I indulged in an entire pint around TOM. I felt really bad but I could not stop. I used to down pints of mint chocolate chip icecream for sport before I began this woe. I felt extra guilty b/c I knew I was sliding back into an old habit. Anyway, this thread should be huge support in my moments of weakness.

I also have a thing for sunflower seeds...lots and lots of them... :yum:

[LowCarbBab]

Is it okay to have a "treat" once a week? Me and my fiance have been "cheating" once a week by getting like...a piece of chocolate cake and sharing it every friday. But then the rest of the week we stay under 20 net carbs. But then on Friday we "treat" ourselves to some kind of treat. Is that okay?

[kdiv5650]

Hi Everyone...I haven't been on this site for quite a few months now....and I need someone to talk too....

When I first started LC'ing in 2002, I was doing great and went from 277 lbs to 240 lbs....and then I don't know what the heck happened!? I think I just slipped back into my old habits, it seemed so easy...and I weighed myself a month ago and I was back up to 270 lbs. So I buckled down, re-read the Protein Power book cover to cover again and started to lose the weight again...back down to 260 Lbs now...

Last night I did a nightshift (Police Dispatcher) and I thought I could make it all the way home without stopping for a coffee (decaf, no sugar) like I usually do. I drove for 30 minutes, only half way there, and caught myself falling asleep behind the wheel.

I stopped by a 7-11 and bought a coffee and while I was in there I saw a chocolate display with the 'crispy crunch latte' bars on it...it was weird....even though I know how bad they are...I felt like I was completely disassociated. I picked up two, bought them and went back to the car. I even sat in the car and looked at them for a minute telling myself that I shouldn't eat them...that I was doing so well...that I didn't want to go back to not being able to fit in my pants, sweating going up the stairs...not being able play with my 5 year old...

And then I ate both.

God. I feel terrible..I don't know why I did it. I thought I had more willpower than that. I don't know why...I just don't....

Help.

John

[cyberskive]

John,

Roger that! I know exactly where you're coming from, in the past I've walked past chocolate or other snack displays in a shop and thought "Naah, no thanks." and yet by the time I got to the counter, I was holding a little treat (or two, or five) for myself. An hour later I'd be kicking myself, totally disgusted with myself and feeling guilty and depressed. Why can't I "just say no"? Well?:

I honestly do believe that I am a sugar (carb) addict, if something is stronger than your conscious willpower - then that has to be an addiction. Not a pleasant thought, admitting to addiction, but my logic is that if I can't stop eating junk, I must be a junky.

I had to make the same admission to myself recently about smoking, sucessfully quitting after a 20 a day 25 year addiction. I'm now applying exactly the same techniques and mindset I learned to break my nicotine addiction, to my lc regime. And boy does it work.

Take last night, like yourself, driving home I was tired and hungry, so I pulled over to a petrol (gas) station. I told myself there is only one rule "You can have as much of *anything* you want, as long as it is low or zero carb."

Well, a diet soda and two packs of pork scratchings (combined carb 0g) certainly hit the spot. And I didn't glance twice at the millions of other sweet or carby temptations that I would once have drooled over. Didnt even cross my mind.

I won't say "dont feel bad", but keep hold of that feeling and try to remember it next time. I take every negative emotion about myself I experienced after "just one cigarette can't hurt" all those times I was *trying* to quit and load them into the moment I'm now tempted to take a puff - it helps me discipline myself to say no.

Another thought, I know from my own chocolate consumption (and I can binge well over 2kg of the stuff in one sitting) that the following rule now applies to me:

One mouthful is too many, a thousand isn't enough.

Do I want the thousands that go with that first "just one"? No. So don't take that first one. Simple, but very difficult... :(

Peter.

[LowCarbBab]

I'm also addicted to chocolate. I've been low carbing for 3 months now. I weighed 255lbs and now I weigh 222lbs. Sometimes when I NEED chocolate, and a atkins bar just won't do, I chew a brownie, or a snickers bar - all the way to the end - and spit the whole thing out. Chew each bite really good, being careful not to swallow, and then spit it out. Sometimes when I get weak, I throw it up after - and because of that I NEVER cheat because I don't want to have to throw it up after. :yum:

[Built]

Okay, lowcarbbab, you're slipping into bulimic behaviour. This is NOT a normal thing to do to "recover" from a "binge", however small. Please get yourself some help here, before it gets worse and develops into a habit.

Okay?

[Charlaine]

Vacation did it for me. I hadn't cheated in 5 months, at all, and really wasn't feeling tempted. Or not enough anyways to actually cheat. And I did well: 25 lbs!

And then from one day to another, I got fed up and frustrated with not eating what I really wanted (which is always what you can't have, right?). It was like I didn't care anymore.

My DB is now at goal (he also lost 25 lbs) so he has more freedom of choice in the matter than I do. So we both went on a binge. A controlled one, for the most part, but we ate in 10 days 5 meals that included sugar and the evil fried potatoe as well as just one donut, then another two the next day and we ended up buying a dozen a couple days later (it was cheaper that way...:rolleyes: ). We got some bread, a no-fat/no-sugar kind, low-sugar yogurt and still managed a somewhat lc meal: chicken breasts covered in a spaghetti sauce that contained lots of veggies with mozz to grate in the oven (superb, BTW :yum: ) but we also had garlic toast with that (really good) bread.

So not all was lost. There was actually some gain... 5 lbs. Constipation (still, and this was a week ago). And I'm PMS'ing.

I really don't want to give up yogurt again. Bread, I can live without. I really like this breakfast: 1/2 cup (no-sugar) yogurt, 1 tbs peanut butter, 1/2 cup (no-sugar) cereal and 1/2 cup of berries. I've been eating this forever to "insure" a good day, except for the past 5 months. I really miss it. How bad can it be?

I was beginning to gain confidence and this event shook it. I have noticed an negative internal discourse (telling myself I'm bad, I'll never make it, why bother, no wonder I'm so fat, etc), and have been fighting to keep it down.

I was getting away with losing weight without actually working out. Before this "binging". Those days seem to be over.

I need a plan.

Thanks for letting me think this through here. Thanks for sharing your stories.

Still struggling,

Charlie

[brandieb]

ok, so i was on vacation for the past week. I ate like a pig. It was out of control. I feel like i totally ruined my diet and put on 10 pounds in one week.
" is that possible"? i feel awful and gross now.
I think i did it because i was so stressed out being around my X.
I know there is no excuse..... I just wanted to vent

[LowCarbBab]

I cheated on Halloween. I just couldn't help myself! I've been on the Atkins for 4 months with no slip ups, but Halloween is my favorite holiday - I ate so much candy I threw up from carb overload! I went back on the next day - November 4, and I'm kind of happy that I slipped - because it re-motivated me to start induction. I lost alot of weight in induction and I was in a weight slump prior to Halloween.

[msj]

hi this is day eight for me on atkins thanks 4 all the good advice it really helps i often think about cheating ,but im seeing such great results but it is really hard because im a junk food junky,any good ideas out there im flying out to n.y and want to be on my p and qs

[BiToxicity]

I cheated today and had a bagel w. a few pieces of cheese and chocolate. Talk about feeling bloated and fat, I'm back to eating heatlhy tomorrow. I'm going to exercercise shortly. I calculated how many calories I injested today and it's around 2100 give or take 300 calories. Wow! I feel mega huge. Water retention from pms does little to help.

[fluter]

I was doing so well. Over two years on Atkins. I fended off snoopy relatives who worried every time I took my sandwich out of the bun and made a big deal about it at the table. I ended a long bout with heartburn and plantar fascitis. I had lost about 40 pounds. Then, as I was trying to find my ACE balance, I regained 5 pounds. Then, we had two family members critically ill. I remember the exact moment in the buffet line after my aunt's funeral, one week before Christmas. I was so tired of denying myself during the holidays, and during so stressful a time. I was also drinking too much wine. So, I regained 20 of the hard-lost pounds in the four months. I am so bummed.

I am back on induction. I feel fine. I don't miss the wine at all, and after one more surgery for my little nephew, and a trip to University Hospitals at five in the morning, I stayed on it. I have to learn not to indulge myself during stress. I do miss candy, and chocolate. The maltitol and sorbitol candies kill my stomach, and make me have unpleasant noises. However, I will just avoid these kinds of things. Wish me luck!

[Hybrid]

Write down everything. The odds are, if you've been "clean" for a long time, a cheat will make you feel very ill. When we're tempted to give into the foods we're addicted to, we forget the "bad" and focus on the "good." By writing things down, we connect different parts of the brain together. It helps us to remember exactly what really happened, in terms of nausea, headache, sneezing and excessive mucous, and of course good old-fashioned emotional guilt.

[CUBBYPOO]

i really needed to read that. i was doing so well on my woe but today i lost it. i went bananas. lets just say i'll know better next time then to trust myself to pick up hot, fresh, sweet, glazed doughnuts for my son's 3rd grade graduation again. and not just any doughnuts( if i may add) but krispy kreme! but i'm over it now. i am back on the band wagon again. thank heavens. but i had a hard time coming up with an excuse for why the dozen was short 2 doughnuts. later i confessed to my fiance' . plus nobody bought the story of it just coming that way.

[beck2132]

So here at work one of the guys retired and what goes along with that...cake and ice cream. I wasn't planning on going but then I got roped in from some co-workers. i eneded up eating a piece of cake and feel horrible about it now. How do I avoid these situations in the furture so they don't interputt my weight loss plans? I am only in the 14 day induction. So if I can't make it through that how am I ever going to shed the lbs? :o

[227]

I'm so glad the ladies are suffering with TOM!
I found a half eaten box of Roses Chocolates (£10 in money, $20's worth). I ate almost half a tin, the day before TOM. That's a vast amount of chocolate!! An bathtub full of it to be honest!

So far.. Weight stayed stable, (phew).
I'm still in shock that I'd eaten lbs and lbs of the stuff! Good grief!!

[callieprim]

I've been in Phase 2 for a little over a month and binged on chips and salsa today. I've had the most horrible diarrea and stomach cramps. Has anyone else had this problem after carb binging? or do I have a stomach virus?
Thanks,
C

[jgd1208]

ugh.... we had FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN pear/apple cobbler in the office this morning right behind me. I have such a horrible stomach ache from eating 4 pieces. ahhhhhhhhhh! My head is throbbing and my gut feels like it's going to explode. My body is telling me it's not happy with my decision.

The first few bites were like heaven... then I just kept shoveling it in and getting more... ahhhhhhh. CALGON... TAKE ME AWAY! Won't do that again. I'm carbatose

Thanks for letting me vent
J

[Thump]

I've been cheating for about a month. I've just moved to Oxford and have almost no money so I've been skipping meals and then having a sandwich or Cornish pasties when I can't bear the hunger anymore. I've tried to be good but I don't want to cook most of the time, I have no money for variety.

I've been drinking a LOT of milk. It's one of my favorite things. Also, bread, because it's cheap. One slice is 9g carbs and I usually have two with some marmite. I try to eat a good portion of cheese with it hoping it will slow down the carbs but I know I'm just kidding myself.

I'm hungry all the time and LC friendly foods are too expensive >_< I'm the slimest I have been in a long time, I don't want to ruin it.

[Melesana]

Yes, I get diarrhea and stomach cramps too when I cheat, Callieprim. I don't do it often, and it's always planned and purposeful, and wonderful while it's happening. Then I pay for it.

Two days ago, I ate several ounces of chocolate. No effects at all until about 24 hours later. I was actually disappointed, because if it was that easy, why not do it more often? For the past 24 hours, I've been reminded why not. Cramps and diarrhea, can't hardly even drink water.

Teaches you - well, teaches me - to think more carefully.

Meg

[catcookie]

I'm glad I found this thread. I cheated yesterday with left over easter candy someone brought into work. I ate hershey's
kisses. I lot of them! like about 9 or 10 and had a really bad
headache afterwards. then I was craving tacos but I didn't give in! my tummy is poking out now I hope it's only water
gain.