All Perfect People Stand Up!

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Ok, I got pretty slammed pretty good in my first post entitled "Am I the only one" when I asked if other people really NEVER indulge themselves in an occasional treat. Not only do I not believe most of these people, but I think that this philosophy of NEVER eating highly enjoyable foods is absolutely ridiculous. Maybe even unhealthy. To back me up, I refer to page 78 of Atkins for life:

"Some people have the metabolic and psychological ability to have, say, a tiny piece of cake or a couple of crackers and stop there. Then there are those who know that if they have even a taste of such foods, they may veer out of control. Most of us land somewhere in the middle. Fortunately, the ever growing array of controlled carb foods means that doing Atkins needn't mean a lifetime sentence of never enjoying a sweet treat, like chocolate, or the satisfying crunch of a savory chip."

Elsewhere: "Realistically, does this mean you will never again have a piece of birthday cake or dip a conventional crispy cracker into a dip at a party? Of course not, but you have to know where you stand in terms of deviations."

Thanks to Atkins, I have changed my life for the better. Everything is different and better now. I believe everything I've read in that book. It's all very logical. But to me it's still boils down to portion control. I'm consuming a third of the food I used to eat. I believe THAT'S why I've ultimately lost weight. How about you? How MUCH do you eat now compared to before? (I do, however feel I'm eating much HEALTHIER overall thanks to Atkins.)

I don't bring any of this up to try to be a rebel or make anyone else question their game plan. I bring it up because time and time again I see people on these boards claim perfection in their diets...and then ridicule others for not wanting to be perfect, too. And I don't believe Doctor Atkins envisioned a WOL that involved perfection.

[Elizellen]

I don't think anyone has 'ridiculed' anyone for their opinions or method of weightloss.

Realistically, does this mean you will never again have a piece of birthday cake or dip a conventional crispy cracker into a dip at a party? Of course not, but you have to know where you stand in terms of deviations

Those people who stated they are not intending to eat foods not on the Atkins maintenance phase have decided they might be tempted into going off track by eating them and so do not intend to eat them and are as Dr Atkins suggested acting in accordance to 'where they stand in terms of deviation'
They have not told you that YOU have to do the same!

Personally I do not intend to eat refined sugars once I am at goal and will only ocassionally want to eat chips or 'normal' pizzas or bread as I am quiite satisfied with my flax bread, crustless quiche, BG pizza, cheese crackers, splenda sweetened meringues, sauces thickened with egg yolks instead of starches etc, etc.

As to your comment

Not only do I not believe most of these people

I am glad I didnt participate in telling you that I do not eat off the plan and have been Atkineering since June 2003 - as I do not like to be accused of a 'terminalogical inexactitude'

One other thing that has struck me while writing this response - you are now 2 pounds from goal so you OUGHT to be eating your foods from the higher rungs of OWL - you should be nearly at maintenance levels of carbs, and if you have a high CCLL and are exercising you might easily eat in excess of 100 carbs daily and be still losing weight on pre-maintenance.

[290wannabe150onAtkins]

You quoted "...but you have to know where you stand in terms of deviations." That is just it, some of us feel that one taste, one cheat, one anything would derail our progress, and all of our hard work. Also some of us know that that one taste CAN make us spin out of control. So we learn about Atkins, and about ourselves, and figure out that we (some of us) cant do cheats, and maybe some can have one little taste and it wouldnt hurt. But, if you take me for example, I know I had such a horrible life- controlling addiction to carbs and sweets, that infact, if I did have one little bite, it could verywell ruin how far Ive come, even in these past two weeks. WE KNOW OUR LIMITS. And that is the end of it, we suceed because we know how far is too far, and for everyone of us, that is somthing different. Just respect us and our hardwork. And unfortuantly it seems to me you DO want to make people second guess themselves, only to fall back from whence we came. We chose atkins because it does make us feel wonderful, and it does and has given many many people proven results.


In My Opinion:

Holly :wave

[Pam_C]

I don't think everyone on here has never had one "cheat" day. The point was for many of us that were and are extremely overweight we do noot want to do anything to put us back into our old lifestyle. We are here with one goal and that is to become healthier. Losing weight just comes with it. With that said I'll say that when I did have a cheat here or there I paid for it. It made me sick. I don't look at food as being a treat. I buy a shirt and that's a treat. I have to have food to live. I enjoy many things in life and by no means do I deprive myself of anything. I don't need that bite of cake or a cookie to make me happy. If it takes food to make you happy then that is what I would say is emotional eating. I'm sorry you don't believe most of us but you ask the question and you got the truthful answers. Believe what you will and have a great day. :wave

[ttdriver]

Not only do I not believe most of these people, but I think that this philosophy of NEVER eating highly enjoyable foods is absolutely ridiculous

Highly enjoyable? What's highly enjoyable about crap foods? After nearly 4 years on Atkins, my definition of highly enjoyable includes nothing but legal foods. All the other so-called enjoyable foods are the ones I avoid like the plague because they are the ones that made me fat to begin with.

If you approach this woe as some sort of deprivation, then you haven't done your homework. No way is eating unprocessed foods deprivation. Your body will respond positively when given the right fuel.

Trust me on that.

Betty

[not2late]

Re: All Perfect People Stand Up!

Ok, I got pretty slammed pretty good in my first post entitled "Am I the only one" when I asked if other people really NEVER indulge themselves in an occasional treat. Not only do I not believe most of these people, but I think that this philosophy of NEVER eating highly enjoyable foods is absolutely ridiculous. Maybe even unhealthy. To back me up, I refer to page 78 of Atkins for life:

"Some people have the metabolic and psychological ability to have, say, a tiny piece of cake or a couple of crackers and stop there. Then there are those who know that if they have even a taste of such foods, they may veer out of control. Most of us land somewhere in the middle. Fortunately, the ever growing array of controlled carb foods means that doing Atkins needn't mean a lifetime sentence of never enjoying a sweet treat, like chocolate, or the satisfying crunch of a savory chip."

Elsewhere: "Realistically, does this mean you will never again have a piece of birthday cake or dip a conventional crispy cracker into a dip at a party? Of course not, but you have to know where you stand in terms of deviations."

Thanks to Atkins, I have changed my life for the better. Everything is different and better now. I believe everything I've read in that book. It's all very logical. But to me it's still boils down to portion control. I'm consuming a third of the food I used to eat. I believe THAT'S why I've ultimately lost weight. How about you? How MUCH do you eat now compared to before? (I do, however feel I'm eating much HEALTHIER overall thanks to Atkins.)

I don't bring any of this up to try to be a rebel or make anyone else question their game plan. I bring it up because time and time again I see people on these boards claim perfection in their diets...and then ridicule others for not wanting to be perfect, too. And I don't believe Doctor Atkins envisioned a WOL that involved perfection.

What you've quoted is very true for the Maintenance Phase. You can eat a peice of cake, occasionally. You can eat an entire baked potato, occasionally. You can eat a cup of macaroni salad occasionally. That's the joy of the maintenance phase: if you choose to eat something relatively higher carb, you can because you've learned about your body during the weight loss phases and you've developed strategies to maintain your weight.

However, for the weight-loss phases, it depends which phase you are in. As I wrote in my response to your last thread, I can eat a bit of potato because that's where I'm at in OWL. Likewise, I can eat banana, peaches, plums, mangoes, watermelon, kidney beans, pinto beans, corn, beet root, and a lot of other things that I couldn't eat while I was on Induction or the early OWL rungs. I have found things that my body doesn't like, such as cantaloupes. I haven't reached the grains rung yet, so I don't know how my body will react to those foods. When I move up to the Pre-Maintenance Phase, I'll be able to eat 10 net carbs of these foods.

With the exception of the lower carb veggies, I consider my other OWL foods to be "treats". And it truly is a treat to have a few berries or peach slices for dessert or to have some corn tortilla chips for lunch. Again, for me at my stage of Atkins, these things are totally "legal",so I don't have to feel guilty or feel that I have to justify eating them.

Believe me, in my early days on this WOE, I used to read the OWL, Pre-Maintenance and Maintenance chapters in DANDR and Atkins For Life because those chapters were the "light in my tunnel". I ate a diet with a wide array of foods, before Atkins and knowing that one day I would be able to have a X, Y, or Z in moderation was comforting to me. At the same time, I realized that every detour I had along the way, would delay my goal arrival time. It's a decision I made for myself and I've been able to live with it.

[cleochatra]

I'm using "you" in the general sense.

Shoot for perfect and you'll get highly acceptable.

Shoot for acceptable and you end up making Micheal Moore look like the anorexic Olsen twin.

One should shoot for the ideal in anything that is done, and following a lifestyle plan with stringent eating, especially in the beginning phases, is absolutely essential.

[Perry]

Re: All Perfect People Stand Up!

But to me it's still boils down to portion control. I'm consuming a third of the food I used to eat. I believe THAT'S why I've ultimately lost weight. How about you? How MUCH do you eat now compared to before?

When I was in my weight loss stage I ate the same amount of food if not more than before Atkins - only it was all legal. Yes, I had periods when my appetite was suppressed but I mainly ate 3 eggs/bacon for breakfast, salad with tuna or chicken and ranch dressing for lunch and a steak or a couple of cheeseburgers and broccoli for dinner. The lunch and dinner varied (different meats/veggies) but not the quantities.

Now that I'm in maintenance (and have been for over a year) I do control my portions because I've added many of the 'ladder' foods to my diet as suggested by Dr. Atkins and steer clear of processed foods and sugar.

The only part of the lifetime maintenance plan I slack on is consuming my water for the day. And, yes, I *now* have an occasional treat.

[AllieCat0817]

100% CHEAT FREE 23 MONTHS AND COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND HAPPY!!!!!!!!!! AND SATISFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET OVER IT, and why are you here????????????????

[Miss Seaneen]

Was there any need for this new topic? You said as much in the other thread, grow up and get over it. Whoopee do for whatever you can do but please, have a look at many "I cheated" topics and then decide. No-one is perfect, but you don't need to come in here and shake your booty and boast about cheating. Different strokes for different folks, mate, stop trying to stir up unnecessary conflict. This is a support board, remember that.

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

100% CHEAT FREE 23 MONTHS AND COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND HAPPY!!!!!!!!!! AND SATISFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET OVER IT, and why are you here????????????????
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A. I don't believe you. As the person below you said: No one's perfect
B. I'm glad you are happy and satisfied.
C. I'm here to share my experiences like you.

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Was there any need for this new topic? You said as much in the other thread, grow up and get over it. Whoopee do for whatever you can do but please, have a look at many "I cheated" topics and then decide. No-one is perfect, but you don't need to come in here and shake your booty and boast about cheating. Different strokes for different folks, mate, stop trying to stir up unnecessary conflict. This is a support board, remember
that.

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A. I think this board needs a lift. Something to stir up some logical thinking and intellectual debate. I certainly wasn't out to make it personal like you and the person before you did. I'm merely posting my opinion based on true-life experiences.

I've been struggling with weight my whole life. I was a fat child. In highschool I weighed over 210 lbs. About 10 years ago I lost 25 pounds by going low-fat...but my weight-loss stalled at 185-190. Then I read Atkins and applied those principles. I lost more weight...but in the meantime I had an enlightenment that serious portion control was the way to go. I lost weight every day that I seriously cut back my food. (Makes sense.) In fact, I figured out that no matter WHAT I ate, if it was just a LITTLE, I would still lose weight. Now obviously eating the Atkins way would be the healthiest way. But a small treat every now and then is not out of the question if I keep it small. Now I'm not shaking my booty....I'm telling the truth. I don't have an attitude. You do. Now I'm asking the first person....Why are you here?

[Pam_C]

So happy you can eat what you want but if you keep saying to us who have not cheated in months that we are lying then maybe you should stop before this gets out of hand. Maybe you just don't have the willpower to not eat that little "treat" We do wether you like it or not. We are here for encouragement. If you can't say something nice then put a cookie in your mouth! Sorry If this sounds harsh but I don't like being called a lier. NO ONE IS PERFECT. And no one here attested to that. I make mistakes everyday but I am very very very careful with what goes into my mouth. That is our choice. You can eat what you want that is your choice. I think you may have opened a can of worms. Now you must deal with it. Perfect I'm not but a lier I am not either. 4 months cheat free and still going!!! I have cheated 3 times and mostly when I started. I choose not to do that anymore and to be honest one of those times I had a chicken burger, fries, and a chocolate molten cake from Chilli's. Only gained 1 pound and lost that 2 days later. I just don't want it anymore. I don't desire that crap anymore and don't need it. To answer your question I am here to be healthier and to be able to go outside and play with my 3 year old. I couldn't do that before. That is all I have to say on this thread and now I'll just relax and watch to see how this one plays out. Good Luck (you'll need it)

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Alright. I haven't called anyone a liar. Just because I don't believe someone could go 23 months without a bite of something sugary or starchy, does not mean I'm calling them a liar. Heck, I could be wrong. But wrong is different than calling someone a liar.

Pam, First you say you make mistakes every day. Then 2 sentences later you say you haven't cheated in 4 months. I'm confused.

The whole reason I brought this up was this: I have visited this site on and off for many months. And as a fringe Atkins dieter, I've read many of the posts from people on here who talk about not ever cheating....but to me that is kind of a turn-off for the whole plan. In fact, that may be why Atkins gets a bum rap in the press. Because alot of people almost treat it like an inflexible religion.

Don't get me wrong. I understand when you eliminate sugar and carbs from your diet that you stop craving them. But for a newcomer to learn that in order to be successful you must NEVER have nor should ever WANT these foods again is a bit intimidating.

I just wanted to make a point to a few who might accidentally indulge in a Hershey's kiss now and then that they aren't weird and they actually CAN STILL lose weight. I'm proof that it can happen.

[ttdriver]

Well hey, if you're happy in both worlds, good for you. But don't come in here and attempt to influence or debate whether cheating is okay or not. If you decide to cheat, then go ahead. You don't need affirmation or approval from anyone here. Just remember, you'll reap what you sow.

As for others who choose not to cheat, then I say that's AWESOME! If they're happy, what is that to you?

You say this board needs a lift. I don't agree with you. I think we'd all feel better if you found a board better suited to your desire for more 'flexibility' .. I love this board because of its devotion to following Atkins. If you don't like it, there are plenty more out there waiting for you. PM me and I can give you the name of a board filled with people who cheat and then complain they aren't losing. :guns

Betty

[maribelle]

I don't know why I'm even bothering to reply to this. The whole thing has been annoying me, really. I understand just by your id that you want to be a philosopher, and you're probably like my hubby who just wants an argument for the fun of it. The truth is, you apparently aren't very metabolically resistant. You're very fortunate, and there is a group of people here that have that flexibility. But once and for all, there are other's here who have to maintain the "religious " strictness, or however you want to label their dilligence. They've worked VERY hard for their success, many losing more pounds than you've ever weighed. Give them the credit they deserve, and find some other forum if you can't stop knocking them just because you can't do the diet the same way. They take the time to come here every day and encourage people who are starting out, confused, and want help. Many have issues this diet is clearing up, like me. Many are just depressed out of their mind by dealing with society's disgust with the obese...they feel helpless, and come here for guidence. You on the other hand, seem to want to confuse them and make their issues worse. So if you can't shape up, then ship out. Thats my opinion. Now please, can we move on?