We're visiting my boyfriends parents over the weekend. They have been informed about what we eat and were happy to adapt the meals to it.

Last night we sat down for dinner - parma ham wrapped salmon and a salad - and the first thing I notice is that there is grapefruit in the salad. I carefully avoided it and got what I thought was cucumber, salad and some other ok veggies from the bowl. A few bites into the meal I get a piece of "cucumber" that was strangely sweet and tasted a lot like honeydew melon.

So this is how I ate my first fruit in 6 weeks. Not really a big deal, but if I'm going to have something that is a bit of a cheat - like the caffè macchiato I had today - I want to be the one to decide that I'm going to do it.

Tonight we're making the salad.

Well, this isn't a weekend slip, but it's a slip. So since starting atkins I have had no craving for other food. Heck, my family has been eating all kinds of tasty food while I eat my veggies. Anyway, I started school yesterday and today I had a big slip. I don't know what my problem was, but I was craving a hamburger. I couldn't focus in class, and the craving lasted for about an hour and an half. So I gave in. I ate a burger. This doesn't seem like a typical craving to me.

You know when your body is just telling you to eat a certain food because you need it? (I was craving bananas bad once and I found out my potassium was low.)

Since eating the hamburger, I got on the scale and I was down 4 lbs then this morning. My ketosis sticks are purple still which I don't understand. There should be nothing wrong with them. I have used them properly and close them tightly each time. But I should be out of ketosis since I ate the burger.

*sigh* I guess I will have to try harder and stay away from burgers.

I'm assuming you had the burger with a bun? Otherwise it sounds totally fine to me

Yeah, and it was fast food.

I don't know if one bun would take you out of ketosis anyway - but the most important thing is that you don't let one slip affect you for days and days.

Msruthie????? Do you mind sharing "YOUR" version of Atkins. I sooo NEED some help! Thanks.

Once again, I'm in here confessing for my sins! This time it was extreme...I have been totally off track for 10 days straight...had a ball tournament all last weekend and then went on vacation. I haven't weighed myself yet (only mornings) but was wondering if I'm correct in the assumption that I should start from scratch with the induction phase? I haven't actually gotten through the induction phase yet, but have been trying to stay on for a few weeks (unfaithfully on weekends and the past 10 days). I feel like I need to shake my head and start fresh...thoughts?

I wouldn't start fresh until you really think about why you can't stay on track over the weekends. Otherwise you're just setting yourself up for more problems. What is more important to you, the weekend food or choosing a healthy lifestyle?

Sask I'm with Jessie.

After doing on again/off again diets and exercise (never together!) over the years in a half-hearted attempt at getting thin, I came across a book.

Yes all of you who know me know I rave about it but it is because it has truly changed my perspective.

After reading Neris & India's Idiot-proof Diet, and re-reading, and re-reading...I sat down with a pad and wrote down a lot of things.

First I detailed why I wanted to lose weight. This took up an entire page because while it started out with sensible things like "I want to live longer" and "I want to see my DD5 graduate college", it also included more personal things like "I want to look hot for my DH" and "I want to shop for sexy lingerie instead of bulge-hiding granny panties".

I identified what my trigger foods were. What really got the old saliva flowing and made the cliche 'can't have just one' reality? For me it was salty potatoes (french fries and potato chips), with a close second of salty white flour items (crackers, garlic bread, etc.). For some it is ice cream. Go figure.

Then I detailed WHY and HOW I got fat. What were my trigger moments? Was I a 'cebration' food person, a 'depression' food person, etc.?

It was only after I did this soul-searching that I was able to look myself in the mirror (or just mentally argue with myself and win!) and get beyond the immediate gratification desires and the cravings. Do I still have insane cravings? You betcha bottom dollar I do! Do I give in to them? NO! Anytime I've felt like giving in since I began this WoE I sat down and reread my book and my notepad. Talk about inspiration.

Now while I'm not telling you to rush out and buy the book (you could probably read a copy of it at your local library) or even that my WoE is what you need for you (everyone is different), I am saying the same thing Jessie said.

You should really do some soul searching here and figure out what you need for you.

My co-worker lost over 150 pounds on the Atkins. After she did the Induction for two weeks without cheating, she had what she called a "cheat day" once a week thereafter. She still continued the Induction until she lost all the weight, but enjoyed on her day off toast with her breakfast, had a sub with a small bag of chips for lunch, and had pizza or chinese food for dinner with dessert. Keep in mind- all portions were normal size, and she did not go back for seconds, and the next day, she was right back on the Induction diet for the next six days. However, she told me that one MUST do the Induction diet for at least two weeks straight in order for this to be successful.

I know at least for myself that I have tried the "cheat day" mentality before and it's landed me here, with more weight to lose than ever before. I have a really hard time once I have strayed off the path.

I had a Milk Dud my husband was eating (he brought home a box of them) and after eating it wanted to eat 5. Happily I stopped at the one. Right now I need to stay focused and not distracted by crappy foods such as Milk Duds for pete's sake.

With the exception of my vacation, I need that reward (at least i think i do) to keep me motivated. If I'm "good" all week, I get a treat on the weekend...at least that's my whole mentality at the moment. I know it's a bad one for what i'm trying to accomplish, but I honestly feel that I need it. It seems so dreadful to think I'll never be able to enjoy my favorite pizza or chicken wings (I know there's variations, but they are not my favs). To me, personally, that's setting myself up for failure. I'm like a little kid, i need that reward. Yes, it may slow down my progress a bit, but as long as the scales are heading in the right direction, it's still progress. If the scales start going the other way, I'll adjust accordingly.

I've tried avoiding favorite foods totally in the past and all it did was made me dwell on wanting those foods and making me binge.

I totally agree, JG. If I cheat it turns into a binge for days, weeks, months.

I have gotten so many awesome foods to choose from, I don't need to cheat because I don't think I could ever get bored.

But hey, stuff happens. All that matters is getting back on that horse and making tomorrow a new day!