What if the “cheats” don’t actually affect you as little as you think

[David_Stilley]

I often wonder if diets that are a bit extreme like keto lead to “food paranoia”. I’ve seen “low fat” people doing the same extreme obsessive stressing over a piece of Birthday cake. I have on two occasions since I started keto (Christmas and Thanksgiving) ate a little bit of potatoes or ice cream or a candy without considering it a cheat. I don’t go overboard and pig out on huge amounts of these items but consider it a holiday break or treat. I think it’s harmful to mentally obsess over a food item that you traditionally have at a holiday because you are eating a keto diet the rest of the year. Every three or four months having a slice or two or pizza or Birthday cake at a gathering should not put you into a big backward trend health wise. Drinking a can of Miller Lite at a 4th of July BBQ
will not kill you. I indulged a bit at Thanksgiving dinner but my weight didn’t fluctuate and I continued to lose weight. Not something I care to worry about since eating keto is a lifestyle choice a I have no fear of reverting to my previous way of eating. Everything in moderation is key.

And if you’re so strict on diet that you have to deny yourself a spoon of mash potatoes a couple of times per year then staying with the program for the long haul might
be unbearable in the end. Allow yourself to have a treat for the holiday and get right back to your routine after is my philosophy and I haven’t seen any ill effects from doing so. And I was looking forward to those buttery mashed potatoes for weeks and savored the treat without stress.

[Alex99]

I often wonder if diets that are a bit extreme like keto lead to “food paranoia”

If anything can be taken to extremes then it probably can and will be by someone …

But is avoiding >20g carbs extreme?

It depends on why you’re keeping this diet. Is it to look thinner? Or are you a diabetic and have nearly lost your eyesight and have come close requiring limb amputation? In that case meticulous compliance doesn’t seem so extreme after all.

[CatGirl]

But you’re you and what works for you may not work for others. Do you have metabolic derangement? I suspect if you don’t, you’re just fine. Maybe if you do, it could be a problem. Know thyself.

[Shortstuff]

May be fine for you but many people are on keto for health reasons that mean your way of doing things could cause very serious problems. This WOE is not solely about weight loss.

Even without health issues, if someone is battling sugar addiction then your way of doing things would be extremely harmful to them, potentially leading to a massive relapse and some people never come back from these things.

I’m lucky to have neither sugar addiction or metabolism problems at all, but I’m aware enough to recognise and respect others who do battle these issues.

[Screenack]

I often wonder if diets that are a bit extreme like keto lead to “food paranoia”.

That keto is extreme is a common phrasing by Standard American Diet (SAD) proponents. Thanks to rather unscientific and politically motivated dietary guidance over 5 decades ago, the SAD itself is the extreme. Our SAD is unhealthy and unsatisfying. To say that keto, which is clearly an inverse of SAD, is extreme, is exactly backward. SAD is the extreme, keto or low-carb diet regimen is our reversing this bad guidance.

I don’t go overboard and pig out on huge amounts of these items but consider it a holiday break or treat

That’s awesome for you. I’m envious. Many of us, however, are aware of the dangers of sugar, backed by trials which show that sugar stimulates a physiological drive for more sugar. If you’re older, like me, you can bring your body to the point of insulin resistance. Sugar will win against my control every time.

As @CatGirl and @Shortstuff have indicated, knowing thyself is more helpful than broad and vaguely moral statements about eating patterns.

And I was looking forward to those buttery mashed potatoes for weeks and savored the treat without stress.

As @richard said in one of his podcasts, I see that potato as little more than packing material. Replace it with mashed cauliflower, and you’re golden.

[juice]

May be fine for you but many people are on keto for health reasons that mean your way of doing things could cause very serious problems. This WOE is not solely about weight loss.

Even without health issues, if someone is battling sugar addiction then your way of doing things would be extremely harmful to them, potentially leading to a massive relapse and some people never come back from these things.

I’m lucky to have neither sugar addiction or metabolism problems at all, but I’m aware enough to recognise and respect others who do battle these issues.

That keto is extreme is a common phrasing by Standard American Diet (SAD) proponents. Thanks to rather unscientific and politically motivated dietary guidance over 5 decades ago, the SAD itself is the extreme. Our SAD is unhealthy and unsatisfying. To say that keto, which is clearly an inverse of SAD, is extreme, is exactly backward. SAD is the extreme, keto or low-carb diet regimen is our reversing this bad guidance.

That’s awesome for you. I’m envious. Many of us, however, are aware of the dangers of sugar, backed by trials which show that sugar stimulates a physiological drive for more sugar. If you’re older, like me, you can bring your body to the point of insulin resistance. Sugar will win against my control every time.

As @CatGirl and @Shortstuff have indicated, knowing thyself is more helpful than broad and vaguely moral statements about eating patterns.

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[gardengirlkp]

I’m a long time food addict (40 years) in recovery for only 7 years. Food addiction is real. One bite of my trigger food can really effect me. I was obese as a child and my fat really wants to come back.

I abstain from my triggers. n=1. Most people in recovery from any addictive substance abstain from that particular trigger.

[juice]

I abstain from my triggers. n=1. Most people in recovery from any addictive substance abstain from that particular trigger.

[David_Stilley]

I only meant extreme in that it’s not the common way to eat, limiting or eliminating whole groups of foods that most people eat, healthy or not. I mean this in comparison to people who eat any foods that are commonly eaten by most people. I was addicted to sugar and carbs on a daily basis but sugar just doesn’t seem to be a craving for me anymore. Went through 5 days of hell when I started keto. Then miraculously felt better all of the sudden. And I like what I am doing. I enjoy the challenge of adapting recipes to my new WOE.

And of course we all have various reasons for this WOE and some people may be more sensitive to fluctuations or certain foods. Personally I’m a kidney transplant recipient on steroids who is in danger of developing post transplant diabetes. I have about 20 lbs to lose to be at a healthy BMI. But mainly I feel much better than I have in years because of Keto. This was an extreme dietary change for me. But after 5 months and 25 lbs weight loss have noticed several positive health changes including a drastic reduction in restless limb syndrome, afternoon burn out, waking up in the middle of the night with cramping arms and needing some bread or crackers to go back to sleep, improving skin health, and reduced but not completely fixed BG fasting levels.

And yes this works for me but YMMV🤠

[Rclause]

I never like the term Cheat used in the context of cheat day or cheat meal. Sometimes people screw up or succumb to pressure and sometimes look at something and think oh hell yeah I am going to eat that. It is what it is but I feel that labeling it a cheating feels like a con to oneself. That said its New Years Eve and there is going to be a whole lot of cheatin going on tonight!

[PaulL]

I often wonder if diets that are a bit extreme like keto lead to “food paranoia”.

Absolutely. My biggest fear is running out of bacon.

[juice]

Absolutely. My biggest fear is running out of bacon.

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