what happens if I "cheat"?

[Mrs_H87]

Hello! Im on step 2 week 3 at the moment and really feel like I need a treat to look forward to, so I have decided that the weekend the mother in law comes down I will have a meal out "off plan". Its not for another month yet but I feel that having that to look forward to will help me stick to this 100% until then!
My question is, if I enjoy a meal out (plus alcohol!), what sort of gain should I expect to see the following week? Is it the end of the world to come off plan for one evening? I'd appreciate hearing your experiences! Thank you xx

 

[Kiwichan]

It's not so much the weight gain (which for me would have been about 4 lbs), it's the coming out of and re-entering ketosis so basically it puts you right back at day 1 again and the rotten days 1-4 side effects. Plus it is very dangerous to drink alcohol on this diet. After doing it and regretting it I personally found it just wasn't worth it in the early days to come off plan.

 

[BessieB]

For me yes- once I cheat I find it really really difficult to get back on plan- and I can easily gain 10-12 lbs on one/ two days off and it then takes me a week or 2 to reverse that - if I can get back onto plan. If you are going to drink you really should make sure you are well out of ketosis before hand ( I know some people just eat a meal before drinking but you really should give it more time to make sure you are properly out- ketosis and alcohol really aren't worth the risk! Then you will have to get back into ketosis again - think week one all over again.

can you not plan a non food treat instead? Spa treatment or something like that?

 

[CraftyLittleRat]

I found alcohol really not worth it. I had a birthday out at the end of my first week and I really wanted some nice, local cider! It didn't affect my weight loss too seriously but I think that was because it was the first week.

Could you maybe try and go somewhere and have a meal that would fit within SS+ like Chicken Salad with no dressing. That's what I'm trying to do as a lot of my social situations involve food and I'd rather go and enjoy in moderation then not see my friends at all for a long time as I have 7 more stone to loose.