Do "Free Days" Exist?

[neslundcori]

I heard a rumor that people on Atkins can have a "Free Day" where they can eat anything they want.

Is this true? It seems fishy.

[imagood1]

It's not true for people who follow the plan by the letter like we do here. We follow the DANDR 2002 book and there is nothing there about cheat days or free weekends whatever you want to call them. Atkins is an everyday plan - that's the Real Deal!

[neslundcori]

Thats what I thought. That's why it was so fishy!

[IrishRain]

"Free days" are made up. I think if you set up a free day once a week or once a month or whatever, you're giving yourself permission to give up every so often. You should never plan for failure! IMO.

[chinadoll]

Atkins is a way of life. In order to be successful long term you need to get your head around the idea that this is how you eat from now on. No free days, no cheats. This is your life.


Will there be times you lapse? Of course. But planning it that way is not usually conducive to success. I have gone off plan by design and gotten back on after but it wasn't easy and I don't advise it on any regular basis. It would have been far easier to stay on track. Sorry to disappoint but better to know this up front.

[neslundcori]

I'm in no way dissapointed. I was just checking validity.

[MoreStylish]

According to the book, NO. However, I personally do have certain 'cheat' days. Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Some people may be able to go their whole year without eating carbs, but I am not one of them.

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by MoreStylish

Some people may be able to go their whole year without eating carbs, but I am not one of them.

I also don't think anyone is able to go a whole year without eating carbs. Or at least not while staying healthy. This is exactly why Dr. Atkins did not design this way of eating as a "no carb" diet.

Even during Induction, which is the most restrictive phase of Atkins, you consume carbohydrates from vegetables, eggs, avocado, cheese and cream, etc. As you move to OWL and progress through the rungs, the carbohydrate intake increases until you reach a certain level when you stop losing -- this is your CCLL. During Maintenance you will eat above your CCLL and below your CCLM to maintain your weight. For someone who is physically active, the CCLL is usually in the 60-90 g net carbs range. This leaves room for plenty of vegetables, diary, nuts, berries and other fruits, alcohol, legumes, starchier vegetables and grains -- which is basically everything that is served on holidays. What you should avoid is sugar, but there are sugar substitutes for that and plenty of wonderful low-carb recipes.

So if you stay on Induction forever, then there are no cheat days. But if you do Atkins correctly and go through all the phases, then you can "cheat" with potatoes, apples, wine, beans, etc. And if you want to have dessert, simply bring your own at the party and share it with others -- it will only make everybody happy.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by Georgiana

Even during Induction, which is the most restrictive phase of Atkins, you consume carbohydrates from vegetables, eggs, avocado, cheese and cream, etc. As you move to OWL and progress through the rungs, the carbohydrate intake increases until you reach a certain level when you stop losing -- this is your CCLL. During Maintenance you will eat above your CCLL and below your CCLM to maintain your weight. For someone who is physically active, the CCLL is usually in the 60-90 g net carbs range. This leaves room for plenty of vegetables, diary, nuts, berries and other fruits, alcohol, legumes, starchier vegetables and grains -- which is basically everything that is served on holidays. What you should avoid is sugar, but there are sugar substitutes for that and plenty of wonderful low-carb recipes.

Even for people with CCLLs of 20-50, once you find your CCLL, you may proceed up the CArb Ladder to try out the different foods.

So if you stay on Induction forever, then there are no cheat days. But if you do Atkins correctly and go through all the phases, then you can "cheat" with potatoes, apples, wine, beans, etc. And if you want to have dessert, simply bring your own at the party and share it with others -- it will only make everybody happy.

But that's not even a "cheat" because those foods are perfectly legal for that Phase of Atkins.

[EverLosing]

Usually when "free days" are brought up, cheat days is what is meant. I go by this rule..."Fat days exist as long as cheat days do!" I've backed away from the notion on several occasions!! The other night I let my son get a meal at McDonald's. That sucked for me. I was hungry. Went through the drive thru. I checked the bag to make sure they gave him a straw. Crap!! One loose lonely fry. I put it in my mouth, chewed, chewed, rolled the window down and threw it out!! Why on earth would I want to do that to myself? No way. Still don't know why I picked it up....maybe the smell wafting up my nose but I couldn't do it.

They had a bridal shower of sorts for someone at work yesterday. The tables were covered with a carbathon!! CRAZY!! The cookies looked so good. The cakes, pies, chips and sandwiches looked awesome. I decided I would allow myself one cheat. I picked up a bottle of diet coke. I knew it would not kick me in the a$$ like everything else I've listed above. I hate being fat. Cheat days lead to weight gain and an unimaginably LONG stall that's filled with great effort and hard work that doesn't produce results for weeks. I'm not going to put myself through that. If someone wants to Jack Bauer torture me....they just need to shove a donut down my throat!! LOL!!