Break question.

Hi again,

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."
But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.
I don't see why I should think it would be hard to start up again, I had no
real trouble from the get go.

Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?

Thanks
Garth
6/5/03
310/269/195

Your treading in dangerous waters when you plan to eat like "normal"
people. The only way for low carb to be a permanent solution is for IT
to become normal.

If you want ice cream, eat it. Just return to low carb the next meal.
You don't have to take an entire day off for a sandwich. Use low carb
bread and it's not even cheating.

Unless you are finished losing at 40 pounds now is not the time to
stray.

I have been doing this for 13 months and if I plan a carby food item I
severly restrict my carb intake prior to the carby meal.

If your just bored with low carb, try some new recipes.

If you do go full carb I hope you make it back.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

--
JC

Lyle's New Ultimate Diet

"1. eat less you fat ****
2. exercise more you fat ****"

"GACB" wrote in message
...
Hi again,

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict
about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs
and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."
But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.
I don't see why I should think it would be hard to start up again, I had
no
real trouble from the get go.

Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?

Thanks
Garth
6/5/03
310/269/195

On 21/09/2003 21:55, GACB wrote:

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs and
feeling a lot better.

WOW! That is impressive. I'm a month behind you, and I hope i'll be
saying "over 40 lbs" in a months time.


But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
[snip]
Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?

Whilst there have been several posts about this in the past (google is
your friend here[1]), I shall add my experience to the table.

To put it all in context, a little history on me...
Male, 24, been doing LC for 2.5 months and in that time I've lost 13.5KG
(29.7 lbs). That is with doing 20g/day. (induction carb levels, not
just induction food.)

I've taken a few "holidays" during that time (longest was 3 days) and I
didn't have any problems coming back onto LC afterwards. I also didn't
have any problems post holiday (I was expecting some form of tiredness
similar to the first few days of induction).
The one pitfall I think you should lookout for is food that you think
may trip you up big-time. Whilst I ate anything I wanted during the
holidays, I kept away from fruit juice as I know it could cause me
problems. (I REALLY like fruit juice and it is the one thing I think
could trip me up. I shall try it at some point, but I can live without
it for now.)

I think that the holidays have helped me keep strict during the rest of
the time. It is the knowledge that I can eat it, but I chose not to eat
it now. I really like the line from someone's sig (sorry, I forget who)
"moderation, not depravation" and for me that is a part of the holidays.
And why I shall be enjoying a glass of scotch later tonight.


Cheers,
Rob

[1] - to anyone who has not yet discovered the joys of the google group
archives, I recommend that you take a look at them. A LOT of questions
I've had have been answered from there. You are not the only person who
has ever wondered "is is ok to....".

--
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/ - Sept 27, Hyde Park, 12:00.

Well for me I was strict for 14 weeks and did not have a desire to
cheat. After reaching my 40 pound loss mark, my wife took me out to
dinner to a Chinese restaurant. I ate like I used to except this time I
realized that I could not eat as much as I used to. I did not have any
of the side effects that some describe here after eating the carbs...
but I did stall for a week. I finally dropped that pound I gained and I
believe my process of losing a pound or two a week is starting up again.
I did not have any cravings afterward, and I jumped right back on the
bandwagon. (I did avoid the obvious sugary stuff like Sweet and Sour
sauce, duck sauce and my formerly favorite beverage, Sweetened Iced Tea.
I made more intelligent selections... but I did eat a few egg rolls,
which is my kryptonite.) I will probably do it again when I lose the 22
pounds that is between me and my goal. Good luck.

Michael
GACB wrote:
Hi again,

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."
But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.
I don't see why I should think it would be hard to start up again, I had no
real trouble from the get go.

Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?

Thanks
Garth
6/5/03
310/269/195

I'd have to avoid the quanity of sugary stuff anyway, being diabetic (which
is how I came to be LC in the first place.)
But thanks for the advise.
Someone else posted about eating the food not taking a whole day and that
makes a lot of sense. I think I'll try that next.
I'll keep you all informed.
Thanks for the support

Garth
6/5/03
310/269/195

"M Dymott" wrote in message
...
Well for me I was strict for 14 weeks and did not have a desire to
cheat. After reaching my 40 pound loss mark, my wife took me out to
dinner to a Chinese restaurant. I ate like I used to except this time I
realized that I could not eat as much as I used to. I did not have any
of the side effects that some describe here after eating the carbs...
but I did stall for a week. I finally dropped that pound I gained and I
believe my process of losing a pound or two a week is starting up again.
I did not have any cravings afterward, and I jumped right back on the
bandwagon. (I did avoid the obvious sugary stuff like Sweet and Sour
sauce, duck sauce and my formerly favorite beverage, Sweetened Iced Tea.
I made more intelligent selections... but I did eat a few egg rolls,
which is my kryptonite.) I will probably do it again when I lose the 22
pounds that is between me and my goal. Good luck.

Michael
GACB wrote:
Hi again,

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict
about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs
and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few
days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and
maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."
But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.
I don't see why I should think it would be hard to start up again, I had
no
real trouble from the get go.

Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?

Thanks
Garth

I think I can reply in a sane way..

The low carb way of eating is boring and not very satisfying. If you want
some more diversity in your foods, try South Beach. South Beach still
demands an induction period, which I could not do.. Here is me.

I like to eat and my downfall is pasta, potatos and white rice. I started my
diet june 9. 2003. Went with low-glycemic foods, so I eat whole wheat pasta,
whole wheat bread, etc. With exercise, lost some 25 pounds, but never hungry
enough to binge or go over the top.

Rich R
"GACB" wrote in message
...
Hi again,

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict
about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs
and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."
But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.
I don't see why I should think it would be hard to start up again, I had
no
real trouble from the get go.

Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?

Thanks
Garth
6/5/03
310/269/195

GACB wrote:

Hi again,

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."
But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.
I don't see why I should think it would be hard to start up again, I had no
real trouble from the get go.

Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?

Thanks
Garth
6/5/03
310/269/195




If I go eat carbs for even 1 day I usually have at least a full week
set back. Try the Natures Own LC bread and Atkins makes ice cream. Some
people can cheat and pick right back up the next day but I can't. You'll
just have to see how your body reacts.

Andi

"GACB" wrote in message ...
Hi again,

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."
But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.
I don't see why I should think it would be hard to start up again, I had no
real trouble from the get go.

Can any one give me some wisdom on this subject?
Also any pitfalls I should look out for?


hi. i definately have some wisdom on the subject and yes there are
some pitfalls you should look out for. i have finally learned how diet
with success, so i am speaking partly from personal experience and
also from the advice of my mother, who is a doctor and also runs a
weight loss clinic through her hopital. I too have failed at many
diets in the past, but was extremely successful last year because i
figured out that one of my biggest mistakes was not allowing myself to
get off-track every once in a while. it seems like the best thing for
you to do is to learn what will happen if you indulge A LITTLE:
nothing. In the past, i thought that the only way to diet was to diet
perfectly, i luckly now know this is actually the worst approach to
dieting. Being "fanatically strict" about dieting doesn't allow for
minor mess-ups or breaks, and therefore leaves you terrified of doing
so. Being so restrictive without allowing for occasional (emphasis on
ocasional) breaks also makes you crave those foods that you can't have
even more. There are both immediate and long term benifits to allowing
yourself to indulge (clearly with moderation). The immediate benfit is
that you stop wasting energy on preventing yoursel from eating it,
which makes you stop focusing on how much you want it. More
importantly, you learn that it won't negate everything you have been
working so hard for. Eventualy you WILL eat a sandwich or some
icecream, so you might as well do it on purpose and enjoy it. One of
the biggest pitfalls in taking a break is overdoing it. Dieters tend
go overboard when they indulge. Moderation is the key in avoiding
this. You shouldn't take a break for a day or two, but rather indulge
with one treat or one meal (and the rest of the day and the day
afterwards stick to your diet). If you take this approch and allow
yourself a treat once in a while, eating something bad isn't really
taking you off-track. the best thing to do is eat it (in a resonable
portion, which you should decide before eating it) and then get over
it and move on. i have some more thoughts, but am tired and having
trouble articulating them now, but i will try to reply again soon with
my remaining ideas. Good luck.

- Rachel

Thanks
Garth
6/5/03
310/269/195

GACB wrote:

I've been low carb for 3 1/2 months now. I've been fanatically strict about
my intake of carbs. And I've been rewarded with the lose of over 40 lbs and
feeling a lot better.
For the last few weeks I've been feeling like I wanted to take a few days
off and just indulge. Not over the top, but just have a snadwich and maybe
some ice cream. "Eat like a normal person for a day or two."

Rather than going off the deep end, I suggest that you switch to Atkins.
After the initial two weeks of very low levels, it builds up in the OWL
phase to a level of carb intake determined by your own body. At whatever
level that is, you'll be far less tempted to go off the deep end.

But I find I'm terrified of doing so.
It seems stupid, I don't know what I think is going to happen. I guess
partially at the root is having failed at so many diets in the past.

Right. Moving on to the OWL phase of Atkins will reduce the temptation.

THe big risks are eating one of your trigger foods and binging. Then in
two years you come back to start again. Or getting your blood sugar out
of control and needing (more) insulin.