Atkins Diet Quick Hits: I Cheated, What do I do now?

In recognition that unfortunate events happen to many Atkins Dieters in which temptation or poor planning caused bad behavior, I made a video on what to do after one's cheated. I intentionally did not address the planned cheat days as those who plan for those days typically have a plan for afterwards as well. I am still very much a believer that it is realistic to not cheat on one's diet if one is vigillant and accountable, but cheating does not have to be a death sentence to your weight loss.

I separated the group of cheaters into two groups - those who failed to plan for a difficult situation and simply have to get back on the wagon. They were in control and made the rational decision to hop off the diet. Their path back on the wagon is simply get the excess glucose and glycogen out of their system and resume the phase (IMO) where they were at.

The group that succombed to cravings I thought about differently. These are more often less rational decisions and more often spur of the moment decisions. With these situations, I would encourage the person to examine what happened and how to prevent it from happening again, e.g. progress to OWL phase, diversions to the temptation, etc. I might encourage another 14 day Induction cycle if you feel out of control of your eating. I say this only because I want you guys to get to goal and stay there.

This isn't a race to goal. It's a marathon or a journey, and I had to learn a lot of things along the way as well. I hope this helps.

BTW - if you wondering about this video, I lost a large section of video in the middle and had to re-video it. I hope it doesn't distract too much.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Atkins
• Diet
• Low
• Carb
• Obesity
• Weight
• loss
• Cheating
• Fitness
• Bowulf

[Iamstoned4life6786]

aight I been on the diet for about 4 1/2 months and lost about 58 pounds. Thanksgiving is coming up :I....would it be ok to eat 100-150g carbs for just that night??? I wouldnt mind restarting induction after that night because these 4 months I havent gone over 25 carbs naturally.

[bowulf]

@Iamstoned4life6786 I made a video on this topic of holidays on low carb. I have seen multiple times with others and other family members that make this exception with the intention to going right back the day after only to spend a few weeks undoing their success. If you can do it, then you can probably do the day off.

[bowulf]

@Iamstoned4life6786 I made a video on this topic of holidays on low carb. I have seen multiple times with others and other family members that make this exception with the intention to going right back the day after only to spend a few weeks undoing their success. If you can do it, then you can probably do the day off.

[TehSamo]

Is it possible to do the atkins induction for 1 week, then slowly re introduce carbs and maintain that weeks weight loss? I only aim to lost about 7lbs or so

[bowulf]

@TehSamo I would say with only 7 pounds to lose, that you probably don't need to do Induction. Rather decrease the carbs to 40-50 carbs and simply eliminate the whites. This is what the Atkins for Life plan essentially was. The point shouldn't be dropping the 7 pounds in the first week, but rather figure out what's acceptable for you and find out what carb level you can eat beneath and lose. Then find out what level of carbs you can maintain at.

[TheMissKatrinaxxx]

So I have a prom coming up in 3 weeks where there will be a 3 course meal and dessert... I'm still a week into induction. Should I stay on induction for another few weeks and then move on to stage 2 and then have one cheat night? Or what? Because I really don't want to put on the weight... Thanks.

[bowulf]

@TheMissKatrinaxxx Then just make sure the next days afterwords put you back in ketosis well.

[BIGSBYTREM]

Does it count if I just talk dirty to a Snickers bar? What if I grope some pasta when no one is looking at the salad bar? Can i freebase Jujubes!

[bowulf]

@danniandadam100 Depends on how many carbs you drank to burn them off. The initial carbs from one small glass are probably gone by end of the day, but the cravings may last awhile longer. Obviously, you can take away the need for better planning, but it sounds like you limited the damage done.

[bowulf]

@TheMissKatrinaxxx If you want to make it a one night event that you can't miss or not willing to miss the dessert -- likely the one absolutely not Atkins legal on any phase, then you can make it the exception. Most meals however can be altered to be enough acceptable, and you could test those ingredients before hand to see what their specific impact on you would be and how much you could tolerate.

I wouldn't go over the top in either case (taste but don't go overboard).

[LavonteR]

@bowulf Very true I was a veggie because i though meat was gross and sick but mybe i should think carb filled foods are gross and sick

[bowulf]

@LavonteR Perhaps most vegetarians do it for moral or perceived ethical grounds, and doing something for health reasons is more difficult to embolden with the same identity that being a vegetarian does.