I need an opinion -- I have everything ready for starting my IP alternative diet. However, my birthday is next week, and I KNOW there will be at least 3 days of cheating, whether it be off-plan food or liquor.

My question is: Should I bother starting the plan, only to have a few days of cheating the next week, or just focus on healthy eating for now, and begin IP after my birthday celebration?

I think I'd wait. Although it'd be a good test to see if you can make it through those special occasions.

Speaking from experience, the more important question might be, are you ready to start at all. I can't tell you the number of times that I've put off starting a diet for special occasions when I knew I would cheat.

It is only when you decide that you won't cheat regardless of the occasion that you will make the fundamental shift that will stop the up/down cycle.
Easy to say, hard to do!

If you can't fully commit, I would suggest waiting as the first few days are the hardest and doing that twice seems redundant at best and troublesome at worst. Good luck!

Well said. There will always be reasons to cheat. This diet changes your relationship with food. All those occasions are about spending time with the people we love and care about... it shouldn't and cannot be about the food.

I am curious why there would be 3 days of cheating, though... Perhaps you could use this as a test and see if you can limit the cheating to one day. That's the way thigs work when you are on maintenance.

We gain weight when the cheat day turns into a cheat weekend, then turns into an attitude of "I've already failed, let me sabotage myself further."

I wish you luck... and hope that you decide that this diet is right for you. It changed my life.

This is a no-cheat diet. Even planned cheats are not allowed. If you are going to do it, it is hard enough when you commit to doing right without going into it already planning cheats!

I would wait... a few more weeks won't make that much of a difference and you will feel more motivated and less deprived with that out of your way.

Best of luck to you and enjoy your birthday!

I made it thru my birthday week, my anniversary, and several birthday parties

I would wait and enjoy the next 3 days.... it really won't make a difference... but after your bday tell yourself that was my last hurrah and start. Good luck!

I would wait. No point in starting just to know you are going to be cheating shortly after.

Very well said!!!

I agree well said. My birthday was 2 weeks after I started the program an it was a test of my commitment for sure. Most of us have learned to celebrating involves food and drink but this is a diet that is helping us to break that habit. We can celebrate a success or a birthday without indulging in things that are bad for our health. I had a cake made of out the choclate muffin mix, with a little vanilla pudding on top for icing. It was good and I felt better for having staying OP and committed plus my family got to give me something they could put a candle in lol.
If your not ready to go with out then your not ready and should wait till after. The first week or so are alot of work and it would be discouraging to go through the intial stage and get into ketosis only to do it again after your birthday...in my opinion Happy Birthday!

I agree, you are either ready or you're not. And I also agree that you really only have to want to go through the 1st week once. For me, it was pretty bad, but I ate a LOT of carbs. It took me about 6 days to really feel like I was in ketosis, and knowing that I don't want to go through that again really helps me stay on track.

I definitely appreciate all the opinions.

Believe it or not, I don't have a strong relationship with food. Holidays aren't about the meals for me (maybe because my family doesn't cook well!) -- they're about the family time. I only believe I've gained what I have because I worked at a hospital and ordered take-out every night. Then I worked at a restaurant and it was cheaper and easier to eat there. I made my bad food choices out of convenience.

I don't even think I'll have a problem staying on-plan with food for my birthday. I won't crave a cake or ice cream -- I rarely do. I'd be 100% fine with a lean meal, like chicken or fish.

What will 100% get me is the liquor. I'm turning 22, going to a concert, and going to a casino and strip club (both for the first time!). I know I'll drink with my friends. I would feel more guilty depriving myself the fantastic fun time, booze included, for my young, happenin' years. I don't drink very often at all, so this is my yearly special occasion.

Can anyone recommend any good drinks that fall in the low-cal range?

I wouldn't start until after your birthday. IP is such a low calorie diet, alcohol affects some people differently while they are on the diet.

I was on this diet through my birthday this year. It's on St. Patty's day and I like to have green beer on my birthday, but I skipped it this year. But I am older than you and purposely made no plans that involved going to the bars (went shopping instead), so it was no big deal.

As far as low calorie drinks, I am not much of a mixed drink person, but some drink vodka drinks because vodka is low in carbs. For beer there is MGD 64, and I think there are other lower calorie beers. But not all bars and restaurants carry them.

Good luck to you, and I hope you have a great birthday!