In article ,
(tara) wrote:

i started doing atkins about 8 or 9 weeks ago. i didn't measure
myself or anything. i'm 5'2 and weighed 165#. i'm 33. in the past 8
to 9 weeks since i started, i've only lost 15#. BUT... i haven't been
as strict as most people i read about. i've 'gone off' on a few
occassions but then i get right back on and stick to it. if this is
going to be a lifetime thing for me (and i plan on it to be) then i've
got to reward myself or something. i haven't GAINED anything back
from the few times that i've cheated. i'm just not losing real fast.
as a matter of fact, i haven't really lost ANYTHING in 4 weeks. i'm
increasing my activity too. but although i haven't lost a tremendous
amount of weight in a short time like many do, i have gone from a
size 12 to buying a size 10 now(pants and shorts)--and they FIT! AND
it seems like people are seeing a difference. my husband does (and
he's not lying just to make me feel good--LOL) and even my grand dad
noticed today-and he's 86 years old. i guess why i'm typing this is
to find out if there is anyone else out there that's approached it
THIS way? everyone else seems so Gung-Ho (not that that's a bad
thing). maybe i just need some more motivation.

I cheated way too much last month, and lost 4 pounds instead of the typical
7-8 since I started LC. The problem with cheating is that it can be a
slippery slope, a little of this a little of that and if you don't pay
attention you're right back where you started. What I've read on here that
seems to work is to have a planned cheat, maybe once a week have one meal
where you go off plan. Or if there's some particular treat you like, such
as ice cream, have a small 1/2 cup serving once a week. If you're on plan
the rest of the time and increasing exercise, it shouldn't have too much of
an impact.

The two things to watch out for, in my opinion, are binging and cravings.
If you start allowing yourself planned cheats, and when you have them you
lose control and pig out, it can make you feel like crap both physically
and emotionally. Also, if you have your cheat meal and the next day you're
craving carbs all day, it can be hard to get back on plan. I think for a
lifelong WOE it's self-defeating to say to yourself "I can never have such
and such a food again" but you have to find the right balance for you.
Maybe once a week will be too often, maybe once a month or every two weeks
will work better. How strict you are really depends on how much and how
quickly you want to change your life, no one can decide that for you.

--
-Michelle Levin (Luna)
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick
http://www.mindspring.com/~designbyluna