I went on the slow carb diet for a short time because my son recommended it.  He insisted that I follow it exactly and I did for a short time, making sure that I took my cheat day every Wednesday.  I lost a few pounds at first, but managed to put it all back on after my cheat day.  The weight did drop off a little between cheat days and I never gained any weight, but neither did I lose weight.

But then something special happened after my 5th cheat day.  I ate whatever I wanted those first 5 cheat days.  I ate 3/4 of a half gallon of ice cream for the first three cheat days.  I had donuts, fried chicken, chicken fried steak and eggs, pizza, cookies, large bags of potato chips etc.  Then all of a sudden I lost my hunger for all these things. (Well, not entirely, but it changed considerably)  Having the cheat day made it easier to stay on the diet (although I’d rather call it my new eating habits) for six days because I knew I had the cheat day coming.

My son insisted that I not eat oranges, potatoes etc. and I did that at first, but then I know that there are good carbs and bad carbs and I don’t feel fruit is a bad carb.  So I eat fruit if I feel like it or fry up a potato or two now and then.  The best thing I did was quit buying bread.  It keeps me from making cheese sandwiches, having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or hamburgers.  Instead I nibble on cheese, eat beans and ground beef, peanuts, peanut butter all without bread.  It’s hard at times, but I always have the cheat day to look forward too.  And while doing this I lost 7 good pounds without doing my regular routine of exercise because of the bad weather.  I’m sure I’d have done better with more exercise.

I do occasionally buy one of those 35 cent bags of chips.  (15 carbs) if I get a craving for something.  I’ve had an ice cream cone on my cheat day instead of the half gallon.  I eat a regular meal at the restaurant and pass up the donuts and large bags of potato chips (Sometimes I had two or three large bags the first few cheat days.)

Anyway, this is what I’ve gotten out of the cheat days.  I have a better attitude toward food and don’t crave it like I used too.  Let’s hope this is a permanent thing and not temporary.