I've been on Alli for 8 days and low fat/low cal for 3 weeks. So far so good. I'm happy to report a 10lbs weight loss so far :-) I need to update my ticker! Anyway, I was wondering if any of you give yourself a cheat day? I'm not saying be reckless all day but just give yourself a break from all the counting and whatnot but still eating ok. Maybe having a cookie or a nice meal with the family. Today my family made homemade icecream and oatmeal cookies and I felt so left out. I haven't had any TE so my brain doesn't know how to be scared of them. I almost want them just to stay on track. What do you do?

 I have a cheat day.  I've been on Alli about 7 weeks now and have lost 10 lbs.  I have a cheat day because I'm trying to make changes that I can live with for the rest of my life, and I don't want to feel deprived.  My cheat day is usually a Sunday, since I check in sunday morning.  I don't go all crazy and eat everything, but if I want a cookie or a bigger dinner, I go ahead and do it.  After several weeks including cheat days, this has been my experience: 

• It can be hard to transition back to Alli eating after a cheat day - it almost feels like the first day all over again
• I don't take Alli on cheat days, or at least for cheat meals, so i don't have to worry about TE
• Even though I give myself permission to eat what I want on cheat days, I find I don't eat nearly as much as I used to before Alli - I guess my tastes are changing after weeks of healthful eating.  This has boosted my confidence that I will be able to maintain my new habits once i reach my goal weight.

I would say, if you want to enjoy homemade ice cream with your family, why not?  As long as you're confident that you won't overdo it and are committed to getting back on track after your cheat.  I do it so I don't feel deprived, but others don't do it because it's too hard for  them to get back on the program.  It depends on which category you think you fall in to.  Hope this helps. :)

I don't do "cheat" days because I feel that is a negative view of the healthy eating habits I am trying to develop. What I do do is to allow myself things that I enjoy and adjust my daily habits accordingly. I have a piece of chocolate every day with my lunch. (Hersey Sticks are 60 calories, 4 grams of fat and help the chocolate craving.)

I also look at treats as "how much is this going to cost me in exercise" when it's a bigger treat. If I keep it in perspective of my overall goals I don't really feel deprived because I have the choice of eating the treat and doing more exercise or leaving the treat.

There are also healthy alternatives to more fattening treats. Fudgesicles are usually between 40 and 60 calories and low or no fat. Skinny Cow makes some great ice cream treats that are under 150 calories and 3.5 grams of fat.

I see you have had great succes. Congradulations!!! I  have lost 10 pounds so far but I haven't had any real TEs so I'm not afraid to go over my fat grams and that's not a good thing. I'm tempted to take a pill and eat something high in fat just to see if it really works. I've had more BM's but that's really it. A littlle cramping here or there but that's it. No oil in the toilet or anything :-( Do you have any secrets or tips that I could use?

It's not the end of the world, but you should definately be scared of TE! On Friday night I didn't take my alli pill (and after what happened I didn't take one the rest of the weekend but will start Monday), bc I knew I was going out to eat.  I had a salad but I knew I wanted to have one of the more fattening ones.  It was mostly spinach and frisee, but there was goat cheese and a honey dressing.  It was yummy, but the next day, not to get too graphic, whenever I had to pass gas I had to do it on the toilet bc oil would come out.  This lasted all of Saturday.  Sunday I was fine, but it makes you a little nervous about going out.  Was the salad worth it? Well that is up for debate.  It made me feel normal to order something healhy but without counting, however TEs are gross and could cause embaressment if it happened in a worse way when you are out.  Congratulations on following the program to the T! This has been the second time I went off (Memorial Weekend the episode was worse but I've tried to make better choces while i am "off" program).  I think it was harder to get back on track last time since it was a weekend break and not just a day.

Hope this helps,

It's a good thing not to have TE's. :) The more frequent BMs are probably the Alli working.

It sounds like you are doing a great job.

Any tips? Hmmmmm....

* Get a pedometer and wear it daily. Try to increase your steps to at least 10,000 a day.

* Make exercise a part of your daily life.

* Figure out what works best for you. Everyone is a little different.

* Take your body measurements weekly. Sometimes when we stop losing weight for a while we may still lose inches.

* Eat as much "whole" foods as possible. This time of year is great for fresh veggies and fruits.

If you have specific question, feel free to ask. :)  

 I don't necessarily have "cheat" days, but there are times when I "reward" myself with some low-fast ice cream. The Skinny Cow vanilla and chocolate ice cream sandwiches are very good (their caramel cones are good too.) But, I don't pig out on them. I also increase my exercise to try to help make up for those extra calories.

Crystal

Hey!!

Cheat day??.....absolutely!! I have had one a week since i started the program and I have still lost 15lbs. I have a good meal on this day of whatever I want whether it be pizza, hot dogs, ice cream or a cheeseburger!! As it has happened though I have found alternatives for foods that I crave like hot dogs and ice cream, there are fat free options, especially in ice cream (a lifesaver for me) because like you I felt left out when my fiance eats Wendy's frosties and other sweet items but with the fat free ice cream I can eat it with him and feel good about what I'm eating while not breaking the bank, so to speak!!

I feel like I have a cheat day EVERYDAY!! I don't know what happened to me but it's like I just dont have time or fast food is just so much quicker and easier so it's what I go for!! I wish I knew what to do to get out of this habit and get back on the program for real. I have lost 14 lbs but I know that wont continue unless I do my part!!

Kels, it's hard to break bad habits but it can be done. Think about when you go for those "quick and easy" meals. Is there a way you can prepare for days like that? Maybe cook up some meals on the weekend that you can freeze so they can just be pulled out. Have healthy snacks available when you are on the go. The small "snack" bags are a great way to have a snack ready to go. Make your own "100 calorie" snack bags. :)

Planning ahead can be a great way to keep yourself on track. If you know you are going to have a crazy schedule for the week, plan meals and snacks in advance, make sure you have all the things you will need and post your schedule/plan where you can see it.

You can do it!

 In general, I don't have cheat days, but when I do they're saved for vacations and special occasions.  They're not real cheat days either.  They're just days where I don't worry so much about making the very healthiest decisions I can.  I still avoid fried foods on those days or I'll spend all my time in the bathroom.  After so much time eating well, all that grease and oil just doesn't sit right with me.

 hi ive been on alli since january this year. and lost 34 pounds so far.  i been cheating lately and im feeling bad about it.my check in day is on monday and ive been cheating on sundays. not good. still take the alli and i have te not to bad though. well actually i hadnt had any last week at all and i found i  ate too much or maybe not. its just im at a plateau my weight wont move alot like at first. i want to get 10 more pounds lost in the future. im thinking of not cheatin coming up for a coulple of weeks. like sunday we have a dinner we buy and i dont eat breakfast i wait till lunch and still eat small portions. with lots of water.

let me tell yall ive fixed a seven layer dip it was so good on sunday. mmm got to start writing these foods down like at the beginging

good luck

karen      no more cheating!