Confession, and confusion

[Devochka]

So yesterday, on day 4 of Induction, (I had lost 4 pounds so far), I gave in to my carb craving. I don't even want to say what I ate, I'm embarassed, but I ate.... about 120 grams total.
So needless to say I was pretty grossed out at myself....but this morning, I stepped on the scale, expecting to have gained weight..but, I lost half a pound. I was quite ready to just throw in the towel, but I'm not going to for two reasons. One, as superficial as it sounds, seeing that I still lost 1/2 a pound showed me that while it's a really bad idea to cheat, it's not the end of the world. Just because I cheated once doesn't mean I should run to the store and buy a loaf of bread. And second, well, I would feel like I let people down on this board. I joined only about a week ago, but everyone has been so responsive to posts, and supportive, that I would feel like a jerk just giving up so easily. So, thanks.

So now, I have two questions. Why didn't I gain weight after binging on carbs? (Well, more like sugar. Ok, fine, it was copious amounts of chocolate.) And also, should I start induction from day 1 technically now?

Thanks, and sorry for the epic post!

[sunflowergrl]

Don't give up!!! Good for you for that post! I am not sure about most of your questions, I am new also (Monday will be my two weeks on Induction) but I wanted to give you some support and to tell you to hang in there. Everybody makes mistakes, don't be too hard on yourself. You are still a great person, and today is a new day!

[Elizellen]

It isnt always an instant thing where you eat something off-plan one day and put weight on the next, you might see a gain in a day or so instead. In fact you might have been 'due' for a bigger loss which didnt happen because of what you ate.

What you will have to look out for is cravings after eating sugar, so make sure you have plenty of 'legal' highfat snacks ready in case cravings arrive!

As to 'starting from day 1 again' , you cant really do that, just continue eating according to induction rules for the rest of your 14 days. If we had to restart the counting from day one some of our members would never move from induction!!

Can you remember what made you 'give in' to those cravings? It is helpful to work out what caused you to fall off the Atkins way - think of when, where, who you were with, what was happening at the time etc so that if it was a particular person or place or situation that triggered the slip you can plan for the next time and have a strategy ready for avoiding it happening again.

Some people find they have to stop meeting a certain friend for lunch or avoid a particular social scene until they are more used to sticking to plan in order to succeed with making this a Way of Eating rather than a diet that you can go on and off.

Just because I cheated once doesn't mean I should run to the store and buy a loaf of bread.

Well done for thinking that and returning to induction straight away

[Devochka]

thanks for your replies. i was trying to think about what made me binge on chocolate, and really, it's just the face that it was there. when i went to the supermarket, i found it easier to just not buy junk. it's harder when it's calling your name from the kitchen. i knew it was there, and in fact, i had been thinking about that chocolate for like 2 days. and i mean seriously thinking about it and how it tasted and how much i wanted some. it sounds ridiculous, i know. maybe my body NEEDS chocolate? (kidding!)

i feel bad...i was doing so well

well, back on the horse i go...

[tabekat]

I was pretty grossed out at myself

Please do not shame yourself. Please speak kindly to yourself. Be supportive of yourself. Feeling bad about yourself will only lead to you cheating again. Guilt is never enpowering.

Why didn't I gain weight after binging on carbs?

Because the scale is a useless gauge of your metabolic processes and it can't give you an accurate picture of what is going on with your body on a daily basis.

Atkineers are not scale slaves. PLEASE stop weighing everyday. It could be psychologically counterproductive to your long term success.

There will be days when the scale goes up and you will be doing everything right. There will be days when it goes down. There will be days when it stays the same. And there are stalls that last for months at a time.

Remember to use your tape measure and recognize that you can go down complete sizes on Atkins without showing any scale moment at all.

start induction from day 1

It is not necessary to start over. Just keep going from where you are at. In my opinion, looking at your stats, you sound like you are already height and weight proportionate.

What makes you think you need to lose weight? Perhaps you could be on maintenance.

I'm certainly not seeing any extra weight in your pretty face.

[aliciacassarino]

when i first did atkins, i would find that happen with me too, that after a cheat, i would still lose, after that, i was delayed a bit in my loss on days after that, just get back into it, and you'll be fine. dont beat yourself up over cheats, it happens, you move on.

[Moochiecat]

I used to hear the call of the chocolate in the kitchen..I've been there done that pre-Atkins, so I know well how that feels. I used to tell friends "If I don't have chocolate in the house I get nervous!" and I believed every word. I'm embarassed now to even think I ever said that!
Like you, I realized that this particular food had too much power over me...I mean, seriously, when the highlight of your day is those 30 seconds when you mindlessly eat that treat....that's just sad, isn't it? Many times I'd realize I'd hardly tasted what I'd eaten.

Firstly, just get rid of it. Or if it's somebody elses sweets, have them take them and put them away so you don't know where they are.

Whenever I'd get a craving like that, I'd feed it...but I'd feed it with legal foods. Things like devilled eggs, or meat/cheese....a protein/fat combo...something fatty and filling. I wanted my body to learn that if it was hungry I would feed it, but it would not be getting what it was whining for. It helps to think nutritionally as well...and pat yourself on the back when you turn to legal food and think about how good it is for you and how the sweets are so bad for you, both physically and emotionally.

I kicked my obsession with sweets and now, when I have home-made legal treats around, I often forget that they are in the house!

Hang in there...take any/all steps you can to get those illegal foods out of your house and out of your mind, and focus on your goal and your health.

[Isabeau]

I agree. Chock it up to a lesson learned about you and your body, and that is what Atkins teaches us. You don't have to start at day one, just continue on. You can do it.

[Devochka]

thanks so much everyone for the positive comments and support. and tabekat, thanks so much for your kind words. my doctor actually told me to drop a few pounds, as i do have a small frame, and this really isn't my natural weight. i was slender for most of my life, and my weight increase is purely because of my unhealthy habits, and not what my body would naturally be without them.
thanks again!