Hi everyone! I am new here, and have really been enjoying this forum. Lots of informative info! Here's the deal. I am only temporarily on Atkins (don't shoot me!LOL). I recently lost about 50lbs the old fashioned way, and am trying Atkins to try and get the last 20 off. Today is day 12 and I have lost 12 pounds..8 more to go! Actually, I may try to lose a few more just to give myself a cushion. In a couple short weeks, I will be heading to NYC for a girlfriends weekend, and while there I plan on treating myself to anything I want to eat. This is a planned splurge, which is what is absolutely keeping me going on this diet. Kind of the 'carrot' for weeks of being so good. Anyway, here is my question. If I am still eating the Atkins way up until the day I leave, and then splurge on all things carb loaded, will I get sick? Will my weekend be ruined by a sick stomach and dizzy spells? If anyone out there has been a strict Atkins dieter and then went off for a few days binge, how did your body react?

Thanks for any advice!
Julie

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>If I am still eating the Atkins way up until the day I leave, and then splurge on all things carb loaded, will I get sick? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

More than likely. Especially if you put no care in to what you eat. You're also abusing the hell out of your body by detoxing it, getting it into a good regimen, and then just purposely trashing it.

(296/226.5/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

If I get into the sugery stuff at all, I get a sugar hangover, which feels like a major drunken hangover.The last time was just 2 kaluha and milks on labor day at a party, and I felt like poop the next day , so, if you do it, be prepared!!

Jackie

I stuck strictly to Atkins, then decided to have a small piece of chocolate cake at my son's sixth birthday party. Ohhhhhh - this STILL makes me cringe! I was in the bathroom for 45 minutes with the after affects!
Also, on my seventh anniversary, my hubby and I went out (last month) and I had a planned off plan dinner. For a good part of the next day I had a horrible carb hang over and could not go far from the bathroom.
Since these two experiences, when I want to go off plan I think of the consenquences and the lessons so painfully learned!
So, if you plan an off plan time, make sure you pack something for your tummy!
Good luck and whatever you do enjoy the time with your friends!!! Not the carb laden food you might later regret.

Crys
(188)158/142/135 (seven stubborn lbs to go!)
Atkins since 5/31/03

Not to mention that Atkins shouldn't be a "temporary diet." It should become your way of eating for the rest of your life. (Not to put a damper on your vacation).

What's wrong with "splurging" on steak and seafood and all that great, rich food? If you need a treat, I'd bring some Atkins-friendly treats with you. Although the bars and candy can stall some people, I'd bet you'd feel better about your vacation coming out in a stall instead of gaining, having a carb hangover, or being bloated.

Just my 2¢ worth!

Mada
210/208/140
Re-started LC 9/1/03

"If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush." ~Dawn French

OH! And congrats on being only 8 pounds from goal!!



Mada
210/208/140
Re-started LC 9/1/03

"If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush." ~Dawn French

Hi Jules, When I have a planned cheat, I don't have any side effects(I wish I did, maybe then I wouldn't cheat). If I stay off too long I really retain water and gain about 4-5 #. I agree with the others, It just feels better to stay on. I'm finding it so easy to stay low carb when out with friends. It was much harder when I was counting points. Good luck what ever you choose to do, and have fun!
Jackie

Mada ~ Thank you! I seem very stuck right now, but Atkins is stuck to me for life, so ever so slowlyyyyy, if it will - it will come off!

Oh and great point made! In the beginning I was constantly looking for someone to excuse me to cheat - by saying I would have no ill effects from cheating. I finally realized what I was doing.

You wouldn't tell a alcoholic, "Alright, sure have one drink..." If not physically, psychologically it still affects you.

I always remind myself that eating carby food is how I got fat to begin with...

Just some thoughts...

Crys

I look at this woe as a gift and would rather cut off my arm then go off on purpose...worked to hard to run the risk of losing it all! The people I see that cheats fairly often tend to go off completely and regain it all!

To get to the rainbow you must first pass through the rain!

Splurging after you've been low-carbing for a decent length of time will make you feel terrible. It will ruin your vacation. You'd be better off going off the diet before your vacation if that's still your plan.

***********************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

Jules,
Trust me on this(even though you don't know me)
going on a carb binge will but a definite damper on your fun...I should know, I did it yesterday! In the past, before my LC days, I could put away quite a few carbs and still function, or so I thought. I would always wonder why I felt like I was in slow motion, very draggy, droopy, and tired. Then I would consume more carbs usually in the form of candy, ice cream, or a dessert, then the indigestion and headache would set in...then shortly thereafter the nausea, and you can guess the rest. So, I would say to you, it's really not worth it to commit carb-o-cide, IMO.
Splurge with some exotic fresh fruit with heavy cream, or stuff yourself with a huge fresh salad and exquisite surf and turf dinner!
But like the above posts mention...the purpose of the week end is to see friends and have fun, not have a carb-fest.
Do have fun and good luck with your dining!

Shelley


***********
"if it ain't broke
don't fix it"
***********

Shelley said,"I would always wonder why I felt like I was in slow motion, very draggy, droopy, and tired. Then I would consume more carbs usually in the form of candy, ice cream, or a dessert, then the indigestion and headache would set in...then shortly thereafter the." This brought back memories. I had almost forgotten all about feeling that bad. This "diet" (as we know it is not) sure has saved me money on Rolaids.

Julie, this WOE, way of eating, is not a short-term solution to anything. For one thing, with your attitude (I mean your reason for doing it)you will most likely never make it through induction. Which is really tough and if you can not last you will probably gain weight. This is a great plan for life time eating, but as in any change in your life must be committed to it.

I agree with what everyone has already told you. If you do not plan to stay on low carb, you may just want to stick to your "old fashioned" plan. If you plan to stay LC after your vacation, you may find once you got all of the sugar cravings out of your body, you can stay LC while on vacation. I did and believe me my will-power has never been strong.

BTW, two weeks ago I ate 3 bites of brownie and the after effects were terrible.

Good luck and have fun!

Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/177.5/160

Well, my experience is a little different, I guess. Everyone is different.

I went "semi" off-plan while on vacation, twice. That is to say that many of my meals were still on plan, but some weren't, and I generally ate more LC treats (macadamia nuts!).

I did not get sick.

I expected to regain some weight and accepted that would happen. As it turned out, I regained more weight than I expected. And, it took longer than I expected to get back to my starting place. Anyway, now I have a better idea of the consequences of off-plan eating, which will be useful in the future.

As for low carb eating being a temporary thing, here is something to keep in mind. The body requires more water to metabolize carbohydrate than fat or protein. That can be 5 lbs or more of water weight. When you switch to low carb eating, the first 5 lbs you lose are likely to be the excess water your body no longer needs, because it is processing mostly protein and fats. So, when you go off low carb eating, your body immediately retains enough extra water to process the extra carbs consumed. This can translate into a 3 or 4 lbs weight gain from water retention overnight.

Most people will just naturally weigh about 5 pounds more on a high carb diet due to the additional body fluids needed to metabolize carbohydrate.

~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

I had a baptism and I knew I was going to cheat (my boyfriends mom is the greatest cook, I couldn't resist). I had a little breaded chicken, a small piece of Homemade Pizza and I had a few meatballs (breadcrumbs). I was absolutely fine, but I didn't have any sugarey carbs.
I would suggest trying not to go crazy off the diet, but if there is something that you really want, have alittle of it.
Good luck and have fun.

Maria
177/162/125
LC since 8/8/03

Thanks everyone, for your good advice and for the swift kick in the butt ( I needed to hear it!). I do plan on continuing LC after I return from vacation, but not at the restrictive level I am on now. And when I said I will eat whatever I want,well, I know I really won't go crazy. I have come too far to sabotage it all. You all seem to have amazing will power. Once I reach my goal (only 4lbs to go now), I plan on maintaining by LC, low cals and exercise which is the same way I lost the majority of my weight in the first place. Thanks again everyone for your advice. I have taken it to heart and will let you know how I do in NYC!
Jules
280 (pregnant)
220 (following pregnancy)
170ish (stall for 1 year)
154 (current)
150 (GOAL!)