whining about wine ???

[chinadoll]

I am set to go on a family cruise for my inlaws 50th anniversary at the end of July. I am currently in rung 2 and will skip the nut rung because they tend to stall me so I am steering clear of them. I don't want to rush the rungs, but I know that on this cruise there will be a couple evenings where I will want one glass of red wine.

I know it would be best not to cheat and go through the rungs properly, but I am willing to be sidetracked since this cruise is such a big deal for our entire family. I love red wine and would rather plan ahead for what I am going to do even though I know it will have consequences.

HERE IS MY QUESTION...Am I better off rushing to try to get to the alcohol rung before I go on the cruise? Or would I be better off going at whatever stage I am at and dropping back down to induction for a couple days after

Would like to know what you all would suggest.

[Lisa]

In my opinion....Don't rush it, babe! Go on the stage you are at. Trust me, it doesn't work to rush something that doesn't work (speaking from experience here).

Celebrations are awesome, but let the wine flow another way. Don't plan a cheat and don't cheat yourself out of losing weight while on vacation and during celebrations. Life is FULL of celebrations. Let these events be milestones to your new life

[chinadoll]

Lisa, I appreciate your message and you are right. In a perfect world the best advice would be to stay the course and never cheat. But I am not perfect and I know I am going to be feeling very deprived at one occasion. I have foregone all cheats since April and have done this WOE on and off for 5 years and know from my own experience that I am better off planning a detour than letting the moment drag me way off course. So, I would rather plan the best course to allow myself 1 glass of wine at each of the two fancy dress dinners than decide I am not going to have it and then lose it while there. If the night comes and I don't feel like it is a stretch not to have any, I won't. But I would rather take a slight detour that week and be a week farther from goal than plan not to and blow it big time.

Also, this isn't something I do regularly. I have been faithful up til now and I would be getting the alcohol back probably within a couple weeks of the cruise anyway. This is a unique trip and not an everyday occurrence. So, While I am not sure exactly what I will do yet, I would rather plan to minimize any problems. I am sure I am not the first person to take a detour due to special circumstances. I recognize this isn't the "right" way to do things, but I am trying to be realistic and anticipate how to handle this the best way for me.

[SunnyB2]

It depends on you. Do you think you can really take a little detour and get right back on track? Some can, some can't.

Personally, I would plan to include the two glasses of wine. Otherwise, you might feel resentful and then just go completely off-plan. Two glasses of wine are not going to make that much of a difference. You can even cut back on carbs elsewhere.

I just got back from a vacation. I found it was kind of hard to eat out on Atkins, and heck, I have not had a single cheat since starting January 2! So I allowed a little wavering. I had some tortillas -- quesadillas, etc. And then I had one tiny bowl of ice cream the last night. And I'm right back on plan.

The upshot of it all was that I went back up 3-4 pounds. Two are already gone. (Overall, I've lost 23 now. Have about 5 to go.)

[chinadoll]

Sunny, thanks for the reply. Your remarks about feeling resentment and blowing it all are precisely why I think, for me, a planned cheat may be better.

The last time I did Atkins I went cheat free for six months and was living in Russia where nothing is of very good quality foodwise. We came home to the States at Christmas and I stayed totally on plan except for two slices of pizza which I had planned to have before going home. I missed a good NY pizza so much that I figured it was worth going back on induction to have it. I had my two (or was it three) slices and was on Induction the next morning. I am as focused this time around so I think this is a better was to go.

I find I have many more problems with knife licking and "just one bite" stuff than a planned cheat. A planned cheat is like picking up a stone and choosing to skip it. That other stuff is like slipping on a pebble starting a landslide. LOL It doesn't work for everyone, I know, but knowing I could allow that pizza two months down the road made me more determined to make it that far cheat free -- kind of like I deserved it more if I stayed clean.

[Keetje]

Hi Jill,

A cruise!! - amazing! That will be a lot of fun.

I have sympathy with the wine issue and can imagine it would be really difficult to avoid temptation in a party setting. I fell off plan recently (into a tub of ice cream!) so I am the last person to ask about cheating - but perhaps a planned lapse may be more controllable than trying to stay strong amidst huge temptation. Fortunately, my lapse did not have any effect on my weight - but wow, did I feel rough for a couple of days afterwards! Won't do that again in a hurry.

I have a similar problem - off on holiday. Am doing my best to plan to avoid lapses and if I do get a plate served up in a restaurant with illegal foods on it - at least I can scrape said illegal foods onto my friend's plate. She has also rung ahead to the hotel where we are staying to let them know that her friend 'has a restricted diet so must have eggs and ham and cheese for breakfast - no breads or cereals' - bless her! Good friends do that stuff.

Have a great cruise - I am most envious! I am sure that the ship's kitchen will be very well stocked and you will have lots of choices to ensure you stay on plan.

Keetje

[ttdriver]

Originally Posted by SunnyB2

It depends on you. Do you think you can really take a little detour and get right back on track? Some can, some can't.

Personally, I would plan to include the two glasses of wine. Otherwise, you might feel resentful and then just go completely off-plan. Two glasses of wine are not going to make that much of a difference. You can even cut back on carbs elsewhere.

I just got back from a vacation. I found it was kind of hard to eat out on Atkins, and heck, I have not had a single cheat since starting January 2! So I allowed a little wavering. I had some tortillas -- quesadillas, etc. And then I had one tiny bowl of ice cream the last night. And I'm right back on plan.

The upshot of it all was that I went back up 3-4 pounds. Two are already gone. (Overall, I've lost 23 now. Have about 5 to go.)

I agree with this. An occasional endulgence will not hurt you AS LONG AS YOU GET RIGHT BACK ON TRACK AFTERWARDS. Don't let one exception turn into an entire jump off the wagon! Remember, carb addiction is NEVER CURED.

Trust me, 6.5 years into maintenance ... NEVER CURED.

Betty

[pamelainaustin]

When I finished my 14 day induction back in December, the 15th day was our 23rd anniversary AND my BFF's (who was also our maid of honor "way back then") 50th birthday so we planned a big night out in a fancy restaurant to celebrate.

I knew going in that I would have a few drinks and I did (1 martini, 2 glasses of chardonnay and a bourbon and water) and I did otherwise eat a perfectly friendly Atkins dinner. I also drank EXTRA water before going and while there since I knew alcohol can dehydrate you. I went right back to avoiding alcohol the next day and noted no ill effects and no slowing of weight loss during that time.

As long as you have it in your head that you are going to enjoy a couple of glasses of wine on your cruise but otherwise remain Atkins friendly I think you will be fine IMHO but, as they say, your mileage may vary.

P.S.--I LOVE cruising and have actually already booked one for December of 2009 for our 25th anniversary. New Celebrity ship called the Solstice (sigh!!!). Hope you have a wonderful time.

Pam

[chinadoll]

Thanks all, I think the bottom line is to know yourself. While I know I can plan for the wine and otherwise stay on plan, there are other foods that I wouldn't dare even nibble. They would send me way off the deep end. But, that said, I view this as a rare occurrence not a habit.

[kmrsail]

Chinadoll-

I know we TRY to be "by the book" here, but I will tell you the truth about my experience. This is my second time on Atkins and my first time around bred great success. I gave up most alcoholic drinks but still allowed myself an occassional glass of red wine or a michelob ultra. I tried to pick the best low carb options of my favorite drinks. I did not drink at all during my extended induction, but implemented this when I went into OWL. I personally never had a problem with stalling and continued to lose at a nice pace even with my few drinks per week, however, this is not the way the book advises you to proceed. Just my personal experience.