Cheating

[schwest]

I know we're not supposed to cheat. But, my fiancee and I were talking about which would be worse, cheating with food or cheating with alcohol or is a cheat a cheat? I'm just curious. I think cheating is cheating and it has the same effect but he seems to think alcohol is better than cheating with food. And no, I haven't cheated. :)

[CohenInAz]

Cheating is cheating and both effect you in different ways... as a person that has cheated I can tell you I've never reacted the same way twice to a cheat/deviation. I've had a glass of wine and gained 2lbs and I've had an extra egg and gained from it too!

Plus once you have one cheat, it is much harder to justify NOT cheating again... Oh.. I cheated with a glass of wine and gained 2 lbs, but lost it the next day... I can have this and I will just lose the weight right away...

When I was in NYC, I followed the "Maintenance Rules" the best I had gathered and I was ok with not too much gain, but I was also walking over 2 miles a day.

I can tell you from personal experience that a small cheat REALLY DOES set you back an entire week.

Had I not cheated/deviated in the manner I have I would already be DONE with re-feed by now. I should have (at the latest) finished with Re-Feed Feb 5. Now, because I deviated last week I can't even apply for re-feed and that blood test until March 6 (assuming I am at re-feed weight) and I may not even be done with re-feed until April 10, depending on how many days I get.

If you take out my 2 - "week long cheats - NYC and 1/2 Marathon) it works out to 7 (small) cheats and I am 9 weeks behind. I take those out as I follwed the rules, and I didn't really gain during the entire week, but they DID set me back as well...

Was the browine or glass of wine really worth 9 extra weeks on the program?!!? NO WAY!

[sdp126]

schwest - I agree with AZ that cheating is cheating, but from what I've read here about the effects of alcohol on hormones, I would think that cheating with alcohol would be much much worse.

And, if you are drinking alcohol and still following the diet, otherwise, you are putting alcohol on a stomach that isn't full of food to counteract the effects, and you'll probably get tipsy faster.

Also, some of the alcohol converts into sugar in your bloodstream really fast, and could lead you to get back on the sugar roller coaster.

I've had a few cheats, but they have been extra sf gum and extra crackers ~ I've not eaten any of the old foods ~ I'm still losing weight, but I'm not spiraling out of control, eating McDonald's or donuts.

Cheating can slow down or halt your weight loss, and it can cause you to gain, but I think if I had to rate them from worst to least bad, it would be:

least bad: cheating with food on plan
bad: cheating with food off plan
worst: cheating with alcohol

But this is merely my opinion, and I would urge you to try to do the diet 100% to enjoy the quick results.

Suzanne

[PhyllisRis]

A cheat is a cheat....ask your fiancee.... is it better to cheat on your wife with a friend or a prostitute!?! The answer better be NEITHER!! I rest my case!
DO NOT CHEAT....there will be time once you're finished with the diet to sample some of those forbidden fruits!!!
Remember: NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS!
Phyllis

[schwest]

Thanks ladies! I enjoyed reading your experiences and advice. Even though I'm surrounded by great "old" food (french fries, breakfast burritos etc) I love the idea of being thin more. My weight loss has slowed significantly but I'd rather keep plugging away than be as big as I was. :) I was in a size 20 6 weeks ago and just bought a size 16 jean last night. Horray!

[PINKED]

[QUOTE=PhyllisRis;15102]A cheat is a cheat....ask your fiancee.... is it better to cheat on your wife with a friend or a prostitute!?! The answer better be NEITHER!! I rest my case!
/QUOTE]

Love it, Phyllis!!! Great way to think about it. Love your wit and wisdom.

[vbrodie]

Andrea,
That is great!! You are in a size 16!!! Congratulations!!! I know I just went through my closet and pulled out all the clothes that don't fit any longer and it was liberating!! Maybe you should do the same.. That way you can really see that you have come down two sizes in 6 weeks!!!! Way to go!!!

:clapping3::party3:{wave}

[PhyllisRis]

And...when you clean out your closet of the clothes that are now too large PUT THEM INTO BAGS AND TAKE THEM TO A CHARITY!!! Do NOT hold on to them thinking that they may fit again one day.....make the leap into "thin-world" knowing that you'll never be that large again!!! JUST DO IT!!
Phyllis

[Shrinkydink]

Hi There
I haven't been active on this forum at all since starting the diet 3 weeks ago. Everything has gone really well and Ive lost 8 kgs in the time, but today I fell off the wagon and ate some easter Chocolate. I am feeling really bad about it. I haven't cheated at all up to now and have found things pretty easy, but today all the Easter chocolate just got the better of me... Feeling like I have really let myself down!

[PhyllisRis]

Hi Shrinky....
Just get over it!! You'll do fine if you just get right back on the bus!! Take the Easter candy and either put it in the freezer or in a cupboard that you don't go into very often....out of sight, out of mind. Or, try thinking of it as drugs and that you cannot have that! BE STRONG and of good courage! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! BE TUF!
I, too, was tempted VERY strongly by the Easter candy this weekend....I'd forgotten how much I love jelly beans! BUT....I've resisted so far....We can do this!!

Phyllis