Yes, I sometimes have foods not on the list. I used to feel like i was cheating when i ate fresh pineapple, lol. I 've done this for 18 months & I don't think I'll have any problem doing it forever. Saturday night I did splurge at Macaronni Grill and had chocolate cake with chocolate ganache sauce. Yummy. Got that craving out of my system & went right back to my woe. I've learned to have things like that when I really want them & not beat myself up. I make sure to drink tons of water when I do & jump right back on Atkins the next day. The most I've ever gained is 2 lbs & it comes off the next day.Seems to work for me. Since I do splurge ocassionally I don't feel like I'm depriving myself. I'm so happy now, wearing a size 8, that I can't imagine ever getting into my old eating habits again. I have to say that reading this board for the last 6 months, for hours daily, is what kept me motivated. It also answered questions I never knew I had. Thanks everyone.

Like others have said, it seems really up to you. If you are able to have something off-program and then get right back to your WOE, then is really isn't so bad.

However, if you are the kind of person that one off program meal/dessert starts you on a larger off-program spiral, then maybe it is better not to go off or you may end up worse than when you started.

You know yourself better than we do. You might gauge your own reaction with how well you did Valentine's day. If that wasn't a problem, then maybe an occasional off-program food won't throw you off too much.

Bottom line - you've got to be able to live with this WOE, or you won't stick with it!

Hi,

I cheated around Christmas of last year and it wasn't until this week that I lost the last amount I had gained. I gained 16 lbs in teh matter of days beasue I went off. I don't recomend it.....it's tough to get back into a positive state after gaining back what you tried so hard to lose, just to have to lose it again. I've had to learn the hard way that sticking with it no matter what is the only way we will get to where we want to be as quickly as possible.

Lori