Cheating Account

[Duster]

Hello to all you ADBBer's! I'm a male 22 year old, attending college. This is my first post here, though I've been signed up for a while, since I started the Atkins diet back in Summer 06, I think. I started at ~275, and I've lost about 80 pounds since then, and I've been stuck around the 190's for a few months.

Now it's not just a stall. This is all my own doing. Since christmas I find myself cheating about once every 8-10 days. Not just a little snack -- full blow binges like 6 slices of pizza or lots and lots of candy. It makes me absolutely furious everytime I do it. I think I'm addicted to the chocolate+peanutbutter combinations, especially Reeses cups.

So I've formulated a cockamaymie plan to break this 'addiction'. I don't know if what I want to do is actually allowed here or not. If it's frowned upon, then let me know and I will abort posthaste.

So my plan is this: every time I cheat, I must post here in this thread, detailing exactly what I ate and when. If I don't cheat for a two week period, I will post my success in this thread.

I know that I'm the only one responsible and accountable for myself, my body, and my health, but I'm hoping that this will just be one more incentive not to cheat during those times when my brain is reaching for any good excuse to get my body full of sugars.

So today is my first entry.

I bought a 21 oz bag of Reese cups from walmart, and proceeded to eat about 15-20 O_O Wow I'm embarrased just to write that.

Wish me luck.

If anyone else wants to post their cheatings or no-cheat successes here that'd be fine. Hope this is the right place to do something like this.

Thanks!

Duster.

[Lulubell]

we sort of do this in various places around the board, but it think it's an interesting concept, and i will read this as you post. i know that i could use a bit of education as to what makes me cheat. for example, why do i always cheat when i get good results? it's a form of sabotage, but i am not certain why it surfaces and why i am weak to stop it most of the time.

good luck.

[MissyMiss]

Since you lost 80lbs doing Atkins, it sounds like you know the right way to be doing it! I suggest throwing that bag of candy right away..maybe even at a public garbage so you know you won't be going back for it! How about trying to guzzle a bottle of water the next time the urge hits you for something..I know this actually does help me with cravings! Good for you for posting about your 'cheats' though!

[Shaemess]

So far I haven't been plagued with cravings, knock-on-wood. But in the past I use to sabotage myself too. I think for me it was sort of like you forget how difficult the journey was and start thinking, pfffft... I lost 30 lbs in a month, that wasn't so hard. I can have this bag of chips and hop right back on the wagon tomorrow. But once you start doing that the cravings come back and before you know it you're having a bag of chips every day. So for me I just can't bring myself to eat sweets anymore. I know if I do I don't think I'll be able to stop.

Maybe if you go back on induction it will hopefully help take away the cravings.

[sallyseachange]

Duster... congratulations on the weight you've lost on Atkins! That's wonderful. It's a pity that lately you've been having a hard time fighting the binges and that this has effectively brought your losses to a standstill.

I think it's terrific that you're taking steps to nip this in the proverbial bud, but confess I have a few reservations as to the "how" you want to take those steps.

Do you think that perhaps it might be more positive to focus on what brings on the desire to jump from the wagon? There are often triggers to this kind of thing and to identify those would be a major step in the right direction.
Have you seen Meg's wonderful piece "Before You Take That One Bite" ? It's well worth the read. Here's the link:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ad.php?t=35558 (Before you take that "one bite"....)

To "confess" on the board is a novel idea... but it might be very hard for many of our members, who are struggling to lose weight, to read about other people's cheats and have a detailed description of the all the carb laden food they ate.

Why not try posting before a cheat, if you can... even before temptation... and try to figure out ways to avoid such situations. There are tricks and techniques that could help a great deal.

We all want to help you fight those carb demons... in the most positive way!

[Justwannaloseafewlbs]

Dear Duster: I completely agree with Sally on this one.

To put in my own two cents, I think that neither punishment nor praise/rewards are effective motivators for behavior in the long run. On the other hand, if you find out what is causing you to cheat, you will have control over your own behavior. I would suggest thinking about what happens right before you cheat, journaling the events and your feelings in as much detail as you can, and finding the pattern--the common element which will be present in every instance where you end up cheating. Once you find that common thread, you can deal with it outright and take control of your cheating in a mindful way.

[julirama723]

I definitely think it will be helpful to keep track of when you cheat, how you were feeling BEFORE you cheated, and what you ate. This will help you identify trigger situations and trigger foods. But I'm not sure you want to do that publicly? At first I thought it was a great idea, but I think sally might be right, that some people might not be able to handle reading about peanut butter cups and pizza? I mean, it doesn't bother me, since I'm around that stuff all the time and I don't see that stuff as real food anymore. But especially for others just starting out, it might be a tough read for them!

Definitely keep a "cheat" log. This will help you pinpoint emotional, situational, or physical triggers that lead to cheating behavior or the desire to cheat. If you're tempted to eat something off-plan, drink water and have a high-fat snack. Do NOT give in. Temptation just means we WANT something; it doesn't necessarily mean we always get what we want.

[Duster]

Thanks for all the input guys! I can see now how my idea was somewhat inconsiderate to the other members of the board, and I apologize. I suppose that I will not continue with this odd scheme -- it was born partly out of anger and frustration. I think I will try the suggestions offered here.

Thanks again

Wish me luck!

[Justwannaloseafewlbs]

Duster: here's wishing you the best of luck! I assure you that avoiding temptation is something entirely within your reach. You can do it!

[sallyseachange]

Definitely the very best of luck to you!
Let us know how you get on... we're interested and more than happy to help when we can.

You can do it!