Hello everyone!

I am new to this forum, but I have been reading all the threads quite a bit. I just wanted to say that everyone seems to be so helpful with all the questions addressed here. So I decided to submit a question of my own.

I have read on several websites that it is okay to have a one meal splurge from time to time to help with weight loss (http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/ & www.bodybuilding.com). I know that most low carbers are against this because it may lead to "falling off the low carb wagon" completely etc.,

I have been on Atkins since mid-April. After the first three weeks of induction, I hit the infamous post induction stall. Of course, I became a little discouraged. So I decided that at the end of May I was going to have a planned cheat day (one meal). After my cheat day, I went back on induction, which took 5 days to achieve ketosis again. Then I noticed that I started to lose weight again.

It seemed like I have "beaten" the stall. My question is: Has anyone ever tried or approves of having a cheat meal to help with stalls? Or does anyone approve of cheat meals in general. I know that there are many great low carb options for any meal, but it is hard to live in San Antonio TX and not at least have some Mexican food. j/k I just wanted to hear some feedback and if this is a bad idea. Thanks all!

i know CAD uses (or used to use) a "reward meal" as part of the plan... basically an hour a day where you get to eat whatever you want, within reason. obviously they don't advocate eating high amounts of sugary foods, but i think it's a tactic to prevent boredom and any feelings of deprivation.

now personally, that reward meal was what turned me OFF about CAD. for me, the idea that i have strict, rigid guidelines but complete freedom within those guidelines is why atkins works so well for me. i don't want the gates opened for an hour during the day.

there are some people who have found a cheat here and there does help break stalls... HOWEVER... the problem in that is the possibility of using the cheat meal anytime weight loss pauses for a few days. so for me, it's a mental trap door that once opened, would only get bigger and harder to close.

there are plenty of people on this board who will happily report that a cheat meal once in a while keeps them on track mentally and physically. i personally don't think it's a good idea, and definitely not something that should be used in the early stages of atkins.... just my 2¢.

If it works for YOU, go for it - as long as you jump right back on the LC wagon. The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet allows one "Reward Meal," which is higher-carb, a day (with certain restrictions).

Weight loss and low-carbing is a highly individual thing. You will need to decide what's best for you, given all your various circumstances, keeping in mind that whatever LC plan you choose, you need to be able to maintain it for life. If that means OCCASIONALLY saying "yes" to a higher-carb item, so be it, as long as your usual decision is "no."

Also keep in mind that a planned "cheat" (I prefer to call them "nutritional holidays") doesn't work for everyone. They have NEVER worked for me. I don't gain, as long as I keep them small and occasional (maybe once a month), but I don't lose, either. But, as I said, it's a highly individual thing.

Rachel

PS: I have just read Kvon's response (we were posting at the same time) and I'd like to add that I agree that, should you choose to incorporate "nutritional holidays," you wait until the later stages of Atkins, when the habit of LC is better established.

Just my not so humble two cents on the matter...

If it were me, I wouldn't do it, because I KNOW that once I had a high carb meal, everything would go right on in the handbasket to... well, you get the point. Beyond that, though, I'm trying to break the habit of using food as a reward, and seeing it more as something that needs to be eaten to keep going. It could be pleasurable, of course, but if it's being used specifically as a reward, I think that's the wrong way to look at food.

Like the above posters said, it all depends on you. Some people can make it work, and some can't. You just need to figure out how it will work for you.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Just to clarify: For me, splurging is not for rewarding, but just to break a stall. I've always been against rewarding with food. Heck, my work always rewards employees with food. We just had "Burrito Friday" last week, and Ice Cream Float Monday the week before that and I didn't even entertain the thought of participating. I also had to help my husband, who is on Atkins as well, fight the urge to have some Oreos and ice cream at his work (that was their "reward").

Side Note: Man, you would think employers would realize that rewarding with food is a bad thing.

But back to the topic:
I hear you guys (and take the advice) in telling me that it was still a little to early in Atkins to be taking a splurge. So I'm going to make sure that it will be awhile before I do that again. Besides, I'll be honest and say that I did feel physically terrible after I had my splurge. Maybe it was psychosomatic, but nonetheless, it does prevent me from wanting another one for a long long time. I just wanted to test the theory that stalls can be disrupted with a cheat meal. I guess that is just the scientist in me. Thanks again everyone for your help and support!

Oh my, I thought my office was bad with its eating frenzy mentality... pot luck this, celebrate luncheon that... but wow!!!! How do you cope? What do you tell them, for instance on ice cream float monday??

Your crappy feeling was normal and it's a wonderful thing on low carb that can stop people (well, make them think twice maybe) from eating something off plan.

Have you tried lowering your fat and calories for a few days? Always helped me.

I really hate splurging and knocking myself out of ketosis.

That little quote taken out of context reminds me of my reaction to having that first cig after quitting smoking. Gawd - it was SO awful - but I kept at it until it wasn't awful, and soon I was back to full time smoking. It took many YEARS until I again quit and that was 3 successful years ago.

The point is: IMHO - it makes no SENSE to use the very drug to which we are addicted to help us successfully get over the addiction.

That IS just MO, of course.

That makes perfect sense to me! I also quit smoking about 3 years ago and so I understand exactly what you are talking about - and that is exactly what happened the first time I tried to quit. Hrmm.... that really puts a new light on things. Thanks!

Wow... that is one heck of a way to look at it! Thanks!!

I know that the OP asked everyone's opinions, but as far as I see it, if you can get back on plan after a meal or day of 'cheating' and it results in a weight loss, who cares? If it works, do it. Some people can't, and those people have to just wait out the weight loss by staying close to plan. But, eating more carbs to break a stall makes a lot of sense to me.

Haha! Yea, my work place is pretty crazy about rewarding with food. They have even given us coupons for a free hamburger meal at MacDonalds with our paychecks and rewarded efficiency with tacos. All this including potlucks and birthday lunches.[/I] Its insane! I really never saw how crazy it was until I started Atkins and started to be more aware of what I ate. The whole situation is pretty funny considering we make all sorts of consumer health products (among other things), but they really don't seem to concerned with employee health!

On ice cream float Monday, I just told them I was "lactose intolerant" so all the "Didn't you get your float?" and "Don't you want some ice cream?" insisting comments would stop. It also helps during pizza parties too. Trust me, I have to do a lot of dodging!

personally, this is one of the best reasons for not going off plan. since low-carbing works with adjusting body chemistry rather than just trying to burn more than we take in, throwing carbs back into the mix has a physical, chemical effect. so no, it wasn't psychosomatic. what you went through was what most of us call a "carb hangover."

when i did low-carbing before, sometimes that carb hangover worked to my advantage. if i wanted to go home for the day, i'd eat a cookie. 30 minutes later, i was doubled over with stomach cramps and could honestly say "i think something i ate didn't agree with me."

The plan I follow actually encourages a cheat meal once/week so I definitely approve , but my plan is much less restrictive than the early phases of Atkins. I've read several posts by members who follow Atkins tho, who've said increasing their carb intake with "legal" foods by 5 or 10 grams for a day or 2, then returning to strict induction helped break their stall. Perhaps having extra veggies instead of cheating would help you as well? Just an idea anyway.

Welcome to the forum.

Personally when I've cheated it wasn't as rewarding as I thought it would be. The food just didn't live up to it's promise... and on top of it I just ended up feeling guilty. I would have to think long and hard about cheating if I was going to stay committed to the diet. It's way too easy to just say "screw it" after a high carb meal and never go back to the LC way of life.

I guess like most things it depends on your mind set. Some of us can cheat and get away with it, the rest won't cheat because we know bad things will happen to us.

Kevin

That a good idea. Thanks for the advice.