For many - maybe even most - people, this may be true. I saw that with my wife this summer. She could be low carb for a few weeks - have a little sweet treat - and it would not throw her off. But sadly, it is not the case for me. I have a 30 year track record of yo-yo dieting ever upward to prove it. Even a little dabbling in sugary carb loaded food will awaken the carb craving beast that made me fat in the first place. I lose control and find it very hard to stay or get back on plan. If I eat even a few bites, my body is screaming at me to eat more and it is very persuasive.

When I reach maintenance, I may be able to add certain foods back to my diet - such as small portions of fruit, beans, etc. But the days of me eating even a bit of a DQ chocolate sundae are over. For me, it is just not worth it. For those who crave carbs like I do, it is best to just deal with the fact that there are just some foods we should never have again. This debate has come up time and again on this forum. It is clear to me that for many, the occasional off-plan treat is not a big issue. But that is not true for everyone. The important thing is that we figure what works for us as individuals and stick with what works.