Anyone want to share what type of 'penance' you do after a small cheat? For example - butt clenching exercises the entire drive home from a restaurant after eating those 2 croutons off your friend's plate? Mass doses of water? Extra flax seed oil? A mantra?

I don't do penances. I don't feel a lot of guilt, either. I've tried long and hard to divorce emotions from eating--food is not good or bad, it just is. Clearly, though, there are foods that are better for me than some others, but the food itself is devoid of moral content.

I understand that if I had something a bit too carby that I made a grown-up choice, and that at every moment thereafter I can make a different choice. I try and pay attention to how I feel post-cheat: cravings? unwelcome afternoon nap? headache? Listen up, I remind myself--this stuff is not good for you. In other words, I think my body offers me sufficient discipline--or at least clear messages that I honor.

And I try to pay attention to what led to the choice---emotions, poor planning, what? I make a better plan for the next time the same situation arises. So I do something after a cheat, but it's an act of kindness toward myself, not an act of punishment.

This thread was meant to have a big smiley face in front of it - I meant the fun silly things people do to not make this all such a big deal if you ever waver from the stoic low-carb mast!