Do any of you cheat with the diet?

[Tzu]

I've just been browsing through some of ur posts and see some really encouraging comments about ur progress. My husband is on Atkins and I'm trying to understand if he is doing it correctly. He says he is .. but he says that he has to cheat occasionally or it would become too difficult. His weight is not creeping up .. it is sitting where he got it down to .. but still needs to get a bit more off his middle. Anyway .. just wondered if any of you manage to do this diet 24/7 without let up .. month after month? Maybe I'm expecting too much of him. He gets angry when I nag him about his food.

[ConfusedAndNeedHelp]

I'm almost 2 months in and haven't cheated. Do I want to? Sometimes. It wasn't as hard as the beginning. And looking at others having delicious pizza and garlic bread kills me. But it's easier to give in and say that excuse your husband did than turning around and leaving the situation. But I do feel very happy about a half hour after knowing what I turned away.

[julirama723]

Cheating does not make "the diet" easier. It makes it harder.

First off, Atkins can't be called a diet--it's not a quick-fix solution to a lifelong problem. It is a lifestyle, a way of eating, that can be carried on indefinitely. The great thing about Atkins is that it teaches us about portion control, hunger vs. cravings, healthy foods, and how to listen to our bodies. By allowing cheats, we're not learning how to eat in a healthy way. Cheats give many people cravings, can throw a body out of ketosis, and often, since the results aren't seen right away, cheats give a person a false sense of security. They think "Hey, it's the next day and I haven't gained anything, I'll have another cupcake!" These are the people you see coming back after 6 months MIA, with 30 more pounds to lose and wondering why they ever cheated in the first place.

Sure, sometimes I want food that I know is bad for me. But that desire is less and less with each passing day, and now, I will have a yearning for a bad food maybe once a month. But I've worked my way up through all the rungs, as intended by Dr. Atkins, and the only foods I can't have are white flour, white sugar, white rice. So really, why cheat? I'm not missing out on anything.

After 9 months on plan with NO CHEATS, I don't foresee a cheat in my future. It's just not worth it.

[Scooterjam]

I have to agree strongly with Jules. This is not a 'DIET', this is a lifestyle change. Cheating leads to weight gain. At Christmas time (those of you who know this story, I apologize for repeating it again....) I thought, wow, you've done good, have a gingerbread cookie. Heck I even took off the icing. Next day....hmm...no movement on the scale. Guess I'm good to go. Another. Then the one day christmas cheat gave way to the one week christmas reward period. Chex Mix. More Cookies. M&M's. Scales moved....wow, only 3 pounds....sweet. Well maybe just until the first or second week of January. We've got all these treats, don't want them to go to waste...(maybe that should have been....waist). 6 -7 pounds, that all??? Heck, lets make some cinnabon rolls, oh yeah, extra cream cheese icing, February 14th...look at that...a 2 pound box of whitman chocolates....damn.....half price.....2 hours later, all gone. Spent the night vomiting. All night. Next morning I got on the scales.......14 pounds!! (and if I hadn't have been sick all night, how much would it really have been, 17 - 20????? How did that happen?????

Nuff said. I have refocused and since then, lost that weight, plus more, other than some caffiene drinks, which I'm still battling with, I've had no 'cheats' nor am I willing to give up these size 38 jeans (unless it's of course a size 36) for any cookie, cake, bread, flour, rice junk that only makes me fat.

I hope this 'sheds some light'.

[not2late]

You might want to have your husband keep track of his blood sugars and compare his cheats sugars with his non-cheats sugars.

[ConfusedAndNeedHelp]

Yep, Scooter exactly what happened my last diet. Except I didn't weigh myself until it was well too late.

[misplaced southerner]

yep.....falling of the wagon HURTS LIKE HECK!

[indymom]

Nope. Cheating doesnt work. Alcoholics cant have a little drink now and then....
I cant have a little carbs now and then either. ('cept for the allowed ones)

[Tzu]

Originally Posted by not2late

You might want to have your husband keep track of his blood sugars and compare his cheats sugars with his non-cheats sugars.

Many thanks for all ur replies ... My hubby does check his urine with the sticks ... and at his checks with the doc .. he has bloods done and that shows his sugar levels over 3 months (amazes me they can do that). Anyway .. this last test did show there has been a bit of instability over the 3 months and he assured the doc he will try harder ... that was about 2 weeks ago and I must say he is trying. His blood pressure is lower than it's been in years (normal at last 2 checks) though he has not been taken off meds yet. He remains at size 36 trousers from 40 (at one stage even size 42). So I am very proud he has managed this ... and all credit has to go to the Atkins 'way of life' .. thanks all for ur help