Okay, I wear a CGM for such things. I let that decide for me.
And NO. I would never go “all out”. Because the damage I can do is extreme.
But here is what I have done, and tend to do:
- I notice I start feeling that Jonesing Feeling (maybe it’s been 6 months)…
- I pick a date in the future, and I give myself a couple of hours (2) to have whatever I want.
- I do limit to DECENT alternatives (Cheesecake Factory Low Carb Cheesecake), LowCarb Ice Cream [because I am basically carnivore. These are really far off the reservation for me], maybe some bread with butter. KFC Chicken (original recipe). Or a Chik-fil-A sandwhich (not the fries). The last two are crazy levels for me!
- I pre-eat a solid carnivore meal at the beginning of the 2hrs. This is so that I don’t try to get “full” on crap food. This is about 1 PACK of sausages (5 big links), maybe 8 if I was starving…
And then I enjoy it. And I pay attention to EXACTLY what it does to me.
(Which is why my list seems lame to so many people).
For example, Lillys lowcarb chocolate doesn’t do much to my glucose after eating a heavy meal. But it will trigger migraines. Kinda not worth it.
Anyways, I find that pre-loading creates a buffer so that the damage done from something is not bad. I’ve actually had a reasonably normal dessert (ice cream and apple pie) after such. But that was like 4 years ago. And I shared it with my wife, so I could not eat the whole thing. That was for my birthday.
it was nice enough. Have NOT done it since. Too rich. Too sweet.
I found the time limit was important. Otherwise the hunger SWINGS caused by the bad food could create a full on RELAPSE to carb addiction. And I admit I am truly dealing with addiction.
But there is some “truth” to noticing that if my CGM did not go crazy high, then I tended to feel better. And since I’ve been at this for 6 years, my glucose recovers much quicker. But I TRULY try to never spike it.
You do damage with that much glucose floating around. It’s a toxin.
Yes, once or twice a year. Probably not going to kill you. But for me, probably will trigger a BINGE… so I will protect myself.
The upside to my approach. I “never” feel like “I can NEVER have XYZ”.
Even if I wanted some “Deep Dish Pizza”. I know to go out and get 1 piece.
Bring it back, and have it AFTER my heavy meal.
Because I don’t feel deprived because of this arrangement (a mental trick).
I don’t crave it. I am not drawn to it. And yes, in 6 years, I had 1 piece of that.
It was PASTY tasting. I lost the “mouth feel” for bready stuff.