I don’t like the term “cheat” in reference to a cheat meal or cheat day. I prefer to call it “eating off plan” as cheating has all kinds of negative vibes attached to it.
Yesterday was my (intentional) off-plan day.
My advice, and what I’m doing myself:
Get right back on track. Eat “lean and green” and stick to real foods and very simple meals for the week following an off-plan meal or day.
Here’s a glimpse into my Thursday, Day 39 of the Low Carb Challenge…
I woke up weighing 148 pounds yesterday. Up from 146.6 the day before. Just your typical fluctuations probably, or muscle inflammation from my workout & big fall the day before. I’m all banged up and sore, lol.
In case you missed it: I wrestled a Great Dane. And I won. 🙂 haha
I started the day with my usual healthy low carb breakfast. I knew I had a high carb meal planned for the evening, but fully intended to eat healthy otherwise.
I went out around lunch, after my morning work, and grabbed a few healthy groceries: berries, cheese, nuts, eggs, bottled water, etc. I wanted to have my low carb staples on hand for the weekend, knowing I would get right back on track.
I totally blew it at lunch.
While I was out, I decided to pick up lunch. I found myself torn. A salad? A low carb chicken club in a lettuce wrap?
I decided to stop at Sonic and go ahead and eat carbs. It was easy to justify – I was going to be out of ketosis by the end of the day anyway. 🙄
Unfortunately that ruined my appetite, AND my desire for carbs. I should have waited for my fun meal that I’d saved up for “dinner & a movie” night. 😛
The movie was great! The food – meh. I lost interest in it. I ate a few bites, maybe 3 ribs and half an order of fries. I normally finish the entire 10 pound box of food (lol), but I just had zero appetite for it at all. I had my few bites and then quit.
My sister is in for a visit, by the way. She got in late last night, and we sat up and had a slice of *** on the back deck while we caught up. I picked up the *** when I got dinner, thinking I’d really go all out – haha. She eats low carb as well, and also gluten free, so that was a big splurge for us both. 🙂
I’m really over the food thing – carbs and sugar I mean.
It didn’t taste as good as it sounded, or even looked, and I kind of just picked at it. It wasn’t at all the love affair and romantic reunion I expected it to be. 😛 Even the slice of *** took me almost an hour of just nibbling at it.
This morning I weighed 150.2 pounds – which is a 2.2 pound gain from the day before. I’m okay with that. I expected it to be worse. 😛 Back to ketosis, back to healthy foods and healthy feelings… now fully aware that I am not the least bit interested in foods I once thought I could not live without.
I chose this picture to share with you today because turtles have a lot of symbolism: trusting your inner vision, finding inner wisdom. They symbolize journeys, protection, pace and patience.
This turtle sits on my back deck. I looked at it as I had my first coffee this morning, thinking back over my decision to eat off plan, and my resolve to get right back on my health journey. I processed how I felt about it, what I expected vs what I experienced, and how great it felt to STILL be on my path this morning.
What did I learn?
I have absolutely NO desire to be who I used to be.
The love/hate relationship I once had with food is over. The affair has ended.
Sometimes you have to go back for just one more taste… to truly know that for sure.
I don’t feel bad about it. I don’t have “food guilt.” I am not mad at myself. It was an interesting experience, especially given it was a FIRST. It felt GOOD not to completely binge, or even want to, and most of all… to realize I have changed. It took me such a LONG time to get here, and it’s a very happy place. 🙂
Was it worth it?
No and Yes. No the food wasn’t worth it. It certainly wasn’t worth having to go back through keto flu in a few days. But yes because now I know I am OFF the roller coaster – for good. I have struggled with that for more than 5 years of eating low carb, falling off track, struggling to stay on track, gaining and losing the same 20 pounds over and over and over.
Getting serious, getting committed, and sticking to my “20 net” for 38 straight days really changed things for me. I powered through cravings, stress, emotional days, temptations… and it was SO worth it. I really like where I am now because I pushed myself through the hard parts. Now I know I can power through, I know I’m stronger than that, and I know the foods are never as good as they sound.
It feels GREAT to be back to my happy foods today!
I have no desire to do that again.
I’m not saying I’ll never ever ever eat another cookie in my entire life. I’m saying… binging is not fun anymore. I’m not sure it ever was. I’m saying I love the healthy foods I eat now, and I don’t love the junk I used to eat.
I think I’m telling you (and myself) that I have finally accepted the new me. 🙂
I’ve had a fabulous (healthy!) day with my sister so far today. We are eating healthy, went for a walk in town, then hiked a waterfall this afternoon. I’ll share the photos and foods we enjoyed today with you in my next post. 🙂
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. This was a personal test that I felt I needed to go through. I do NOT recommend carb cycling, and I don’t recommend eating off plan if you don’t feel strong enough to get right back on track. It’s too easy to gain all of your weight back, and waste all the time you’ve put into getting where you are today. I needed to KNOW I was completely over it. I got that sense of closure I needed, and I feel that’s just going to make me stronger as I continue forward…
Good FOOD for thought in that post. I had my first low carb burger at Hardee’s today. We were on our way back from our beach vacation. We live in Pennsylvania…no Hardee’s here. Do you know of any other fast food chain that will do it that way?
Hi Suzy! You can ask for “a lettuce wrap instead of a bun” practically anywhere. Otherwise I often just ditch the bun, or order a salad sometimes. There are TONS of options eating out, because I eat out the majority of the time. π
My options are limited here as I live in a small agriculture town, but I’ve heard Jimmy John’s has a good unwich line. Do you have those there?
No Jimmy John’s here but I will continue to ask for “a lettuce wrap instead of a bun”. Thanks for the reply!
Hi Lynn! I signed up to get your emails just before you started the 90day challenge. I kept telling myself that I would start – and I kept putting it off! Reading your blog posts every morning when I wake up has become my favourite new reality TV show! I love how honest and real you are.
A week ago, I hopped on the scales and found myself sitting on the heavier side of 143 pounds.. This is the heaviest I have ever been and I almost broke down (I stand at a wee 5ft so this is quite a heavy weight for me). The whole past month has been a endless cycle of my life breaking down further and further. I knew it had to stop so on Wednesday (my shopping day) I headed off to the vege mart and filled my basket with as many green goodies as I could find. Since Wednesday evening, I’ve been trying to eat as low carb as I can and while it’s been tough (especially with sugar cravings hitting last night) I jumped on the scales this morning and in the past week, I appear to have shifted a huge 6 pounds?! It feels almost surreal to have lost that in a week and I almost don’t believe it to be true! But, it gives me the strength and determination to continue. Two years ago, I was a happy 121 pounds and I’d be stoked if I could get back to that! I just wanted to say a huge thankyou to you for being so inspiring. It’s your daily posts which helped me to make this decision to get back onto the healthy track! Please keep up all your fantastic work!! Abi xxx
That’s so awesome, Abi π I’m really glad you find this helpful. It helps ME a lot to have such a great community to do this with and for. π Kudos for taking control of your health, and going for what you want!!
I am wondering about something. (and if this is too personal, that’s okay ) It seems that when I try to eat low carb, I get constipation. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Patricia, I can offer my help on that. I’ve been having bullet proof coffee every morning. My movements have changed for the better and no more constipation. The coconut oil I believe has done the trick. Remember what Tom Hanks said in “Cast Away” about eating the coconuts!
Mandi is right! I have never have that problem myself, but I’ve heard about it a lot. I think the key is plenty of green vegetables, and at least 70% fat. So make sure you’re tracking your macros and getting enough healthy fats, and at least one good serving of something green every day. Try that. π
You did good by not binging on your beebb off day. You passed the test
I cannot see how it would be better possible to gain two lbs in one day unless it’s water weight.
You know i have had off days in the pasf and it’s true—-‘nothing we crave tastes as good as it sounds….
I really do not miss any. of the high carb food anymore
Staying on this challenge for 38 days has done this for me too.
I am very content with my woe right now
I prefer to eating this way now and the way it makes me feel and i am in control
There are so many SF options available now if i ever feel that i just have to have a desert or snack. I do not miss starches like bread ewand potatoes. If i ever eat brea d again it’ll be low carb
The way i see it now is that this woe is now my new normal woe. And like a diabetic. Has to stay on a diabetic low carb diet, i have to stick with this woe for my health, and to permanently control my weightes
I bet you will see a change in your scale
soon. π i hope i have lost more too π
I was really surprised it didn’t go that way – in an all out binge. As that’s how it has always gone in the past π lol. It does feel good to be in control, and to KNOW I am in control – by choice. It’s quite an empowering thing!
I am shocked at myself too for sticking with this for 40 days. Isn’t it amazing how sticking with something consistently for 40 days can change everything!
For once in my life i DO feel in control!
I made mostacholi for my grandkids today .. I did not have a desire to eat any. I taste tested a tiny bit of the sauce only to see if it was seasoned right. This really was a test for me……Mostcacholi has been a binge food for me in days gone past.
I could eat two plates of it and go back for more later…..cause i always made a huge pot of it at a time
And cheesy garkic bread too. Lol
I really feel like i have changed my mind set after this challenge. Thanks to YOU. π
It really is amazing. Like I said in the earlier post… if I had only known all this time that I was only a few short weeks away from beating it all along, wow. WOW. It truly is much easier than it seems!
Yesterday must have felt like a real win for you. π That’s awesome! I love those moments when you realize you are strong, that you ARE in control, and the feeling that gives you. π Way to go!!
It isn’t fair that you eat one little thing and gain two pounds! Wish you would not ***** out your “off plan foods”…curious to know . Another fast food tip McDonald’s has egg sausage mcmuffins all day now…two for $4.00 (one costs $3.79 go figure) just order “no Muffin”….they put them separately in a box with a knife and fork (although if you want to you actually can pick it up and eat it! Also do their McDouble burgers (two for $2.50) ask for no catsup and no bun wrapped in a lettuce leaf…no problem…most towns have a McDonald’s… here on the west coast Hardee’s is called Carl Jr.’s.
Sorry Dianna, lol – the *** was “pie” π I had 3 slices, and we shared them (1 1/2 slices each).
Great tip – thank you! I love the sausage & round egg from McDonald’s so I’m glad to know it’s on sale and available all day!!
It was not on sale here in Missouri….i checked it out today. I i n ordered the egg white delight and ditched the muffin. π
Wow so crazy I just read this post last night and as it happens I have been off low carb since Sat which turned into it’s now Tues night (Wed morning if your technical) and I’m still struggling to get back on track. Your posts are very motivational and the reason I said so crazy is this afternoon I looked outside and there was a big turtle in the yard! I took some pictures lol I didn’t know what they symbolize other than what you posted. Maybe it’s a sign?! Anyway thanks for all your encouragement and sharing your struggles.
I’d say it’s definitely a sign, Lisa! π You’ll feel SO much better as soon as you get back on track. I hate when it unravels on me like that and turns into days on end. I just end up feeling crummy. π This experience was a first for me, and it felt GREAT to know I didn’t enjoy it anymore – like I used to. I feel like I’m over a huge hurdle now. π Anyway, jump right back in!! *cheers*
Love, Love your chats….they are truly inspiring !!!
Thank you, Kay! π *cheers*