I am the same way- I do not cheat - I do have cravings or should I say temptations - I probably will look at adding stuff when I am near to maintenance. But right now I do not trust myself to cheat even a planned cheat.

Of course when in maintenance you will be able to have small amounts of what you want. You can have chocolate pudding - Jell-O diet chocolate pudding - as soon as you are out of induction. I have found most stuff can be replaced with lower carb stuff. It is kind of a mindset - if you feel that you are depriving yourself then you will feel deprived - if you believe that this WOE is the best for you then you will not feel deprived. If you still want the stuff then prepare your cupboards and fridge with duplicate stuff you can have.

I still think that strawberries and real whipping cream is the best desert of all. When I am feeling that I want something that is what I have. Legal and delicious.

Teachin....I just wrote a small essay about this very thing in my journal. If you like you can check it out and know that you are not alone in what you're feeling.

I feel that way too. You know what? I am addicted to sugar like an alcoholic or drug addict and I always will be no matter how much time passes or how much weight I lose.

When I hear negative comments about the way I'm eating I think to myself, eating this way has turned my life around, I know for a fact it is good for me, I wonder why they don't want me to lose weight and become healthy again.

hey Lori - know exactly how you feel! For me I just find it much easier to avoid it if I can. But where I can't I talk to myself and steer clear. You know when you are at a party and table is loaded up with all the stuff you can't have? Tough sometimes but there is always a cheese platter somewhere!!

it sounds like we're all in the same boat! i was just in the hallway and kids from home ec were passing out cookies! boy, they looked so good! but even though i wanted one, i didn't really want one! i think you have to think in terms of how badly you want to eat something, and how badly you want to get healthier.....i don't believe in total deprivation, but i do believe i have learned to pick foods more carefully!

Every once in a great while I eat something I used to eat (like mac n cheese) or I eat a regular sized restaurant meal. After doing LC for so long I feel so stuffed and uncomfortable for hours that it reminds me how I got fat to begin with and I stop craving whatever it is I ate.

Speakin for myself I dont think the feeling of "I want that" ever goes away. Now its tempered with "how bad do I really want that". Most of the time I dont want it bad enough to go off plan. Its a complete shift for me. I never thought I would be able to pass things up and say no thank you. Today I can do it!

Perhaps when I'm at my goal weight I'll have a nibble here and there but to maintain my health for the long haul I'd rather find a LC substitute for the majority of HC items. So far I've been able to find most everything I want in a LC version that is fairly palatable. It is a personal choice though so you need to decide what's best for you. All the best!

Nicole

I was really like that in the begining, and I think it is good that I was. It took me 10 months to learn how to eat normal sized portions and to become used to not over eating compulsively. I think if I had tried doing this in the begining, it would have caused more pain than pleasure since I would have had the urge to eat the whole thing after tasting it. Now that I've taught myself to eat normally, I will have small bits of high sugar fruits like oranges and starchy veggies like carrots and corn occasionally. Sometimes I will have a nibble of a cookie even .

Lori,
You did good today! And while 9.5 pounds may not seem like a lot to you, obviously other people see it!

You only have to deal with treats in the staff room once a month? We have treat days every Friday! A different group brings in goodies each week; we're a big enough staff that we only have to sign up for 4x per year. Originally, everything was HC--donuts, tea breads, chocolate, chocolate, more chocolate. I've noticed, though, that people are starting to bring in LC friendly treats: today we had some chicken wings, meat balls, and veggies with dips. Didn't notice if there was chocolate or not!

Jude

This is a really inspiring thread. Lori, way to to with your noticable loss. I, too, have supportive workmates and it does help with the motivation.

I am one of those who is afraid to take even a little bit of anything forbidden. I have done that so many times and ruined a diet that I don't trust myself. Will I ever? I don't know. My sister (of normal weight) and I had a conversation on this same topic last night. She is not overweight but she has a cholesterol problem. I suggested she try LC for a month to see if it made a difference for her. She couldn't see keeping it up for her whole life - and she's on cholesterol meds. We are eash different, I guess, and have to fight our battles on our own terms in the way we can be successful.

Onward now to the gym to start to fulfill the TDC Fitness Challenge!