cheating

Question
Hi Arlene
Chugging along with my low carb lifestyle.Its easier than I thought!
What happens however if I cheat a bit? Does that throw EVERYTHING out of whack?
For instance,today was good until this evening when my wife baked some cookies. Couldnt stand it so I had one(just one).
Yesterday,I had a small potato with supper.
Generally I am off most carbs but there is a bit of cheating every day.Thanks!

Answer
Hello, Barry!  Nice to hear from you again.  Sorry to be so late, but the bug I had got really bad, really fast.  I am on my feet again after some antibiotics, thinking better, so feel I can respond and make some sense.

I am glad you are enjoying your low carb lifestyle.  If you consider "cheating" to be eating one homemade cookie, then you are doing fantastic!  I really don't think, even when I am totally in the groove, that I could resist having at least two.  I mean, homemade!  Yum.  Plus, I do think that home made things, made from scratch, not the mixes, just seem to not do as much damage as eating store bought carb things.  It might just be lack of super-carbs, like high fructose corn syrup.  Don't use my theory to feel like it's okay to eat tons of homemade carbs.  It's just that you are lucky to have access to them for your "cheats" instead of store-made stuff.

A small potato now and then may be okay - for you and for now.  It does raise your insulin level, but really, in the end, you will be able to tell by your weight loss.  If it stops, or if you gain (ouch!), then your carbs/potatoes will have to be cut back.  Otherwise, if you are chugging along happily and slowly losing weight, then stick to it.  It is hard to argue against success, after all.

Really the only danger of cheating is that eating carbs leads to eating more and more carbs.  That is the cycle.  But it seems like so far, your playing with "fire", ie. potatoes, has not made you into the carb-crazed person it often does to me.  So, just be aware of any carb-creeping up, watch your scale, and just stick with what works for you.  Also, I don't like to think of it as "cheating".  You are deciding, not out of control, to eat some carbs that are worth it to so you don't feel so bereft of food that you punt your low carb eating altogether.  You are actively and successfully managing your carbs.  That is nirvana.      

I love this!  It really is good to hear.  When I got sick, I went on a nearly all carb diet (mostly pastene) to be gentle on my stomach.  Meat just doesn't cut it when you are sick.  Reading your letters is reminding me about why cutting carbs is a good thing.  I cannot wait to get back on the wagon.  

Oh, I just thought of this.  Since you have a baker in the family, ask her to explore baking with almond flour.  It takes some changes in strategy, but it is way lower in carbs.  I don't bake, so I get mine from Donna, my business partner.  But since your wife knows how to bake (I am assuming from scratch here), it may just work out for you.

Enjoy eating,
Arlene  

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