After completing two weeks of my Paleo Diet experiment, I felt that I was turning a corner. My cravings for grains had subsided and it was getting easier to prepare Paleo compliant meals. As I went into week three of the experiment, I was feeling confident that I was going to succeed. Perhaps, I was a little overconfident. After working so hard to eat within Paleo Diet principles for 19 straight days, I cheated. I ate a bunch of chocolate and had a slice of carrot cake.
To this day, I still don’t understand why I ate the chocolate. It wasn’t in the house. I made a special trip to the bulk food store to get some, and I never go to the bulk food store. All I know is a chocolate craving came over me and I had to have chocolate macaroons. Neither words of encouragement from my wife or a pack of angry wolves were able to stop me from getting that chocolate. I must have eaten half a pound of chocolate within 3 hours of the purchase.
The carrot cake on the other hand was a result of a family visit. I wasn’t going to have any cake but when it was served; my inner voice that has been saying no was absent. I ate the cake with gusto and enjoyed it.
What surprised me most about my cheating experience wasn’t that I cheated but how I felt afterward. I felt an incredible sense of shame and guilt. These feelings were shocking because I have never really tried to diet before and I was the type of person who never denied myself anything. Feeling this way because of food was a totally new experience to me.
The feelings that I let myself down stuck with me for several days. In fact, I began to think that I should just give up on my Paleo Diet experiment. Negative thoughts began to creep into my head. I was hard on myself. My inner voice was telling me that I didn’t have the discipline to make this lifestyle change. Despite losing 75 lbs. over the last two years, I was beginning to think that I wouldn’t succeed so why bother trying.
Article comments
1 - chuck
cheats every once in a while will keep you sane. just don't go overboard with it. the stress you are puting on yourself is worse than the cheat.
2 - Lila
Hi Layne,
Great article. But I can explain what happens when changing one's diet so dramatically and the body's chemistry is changing. The first two weeks ARE easy, but the third week is critical. It is then that you will revert or fail since your body is saying, "okay, the jokes over. NOW can I have that cookie?" (or what ever you body craves) This is chemical. It is not a failing of your efforts, but you have to be aware that it happens. For a couple of days your body will crave a carb that you don't want to eat. By the end of the 4th week you should be over it. People tend to think that they are weak and stupid for giving into a craving, but we're not! It's all chemistry. You did a good job!. I had a lot more trouble, until my doctor explained the sequence to me. There is also a twelve week hump to get over too. Just be aware that you might experience something similar again later.
3 - Lila
Chuck "cheating" is fine, once you've established a strong pattern. But if you've had difficulty sticking to a paleo or similar plan, then cheating too soon will sabotage your diet. I had this happen to me until I realized what was happening. Once I decided that I was going to stick to it, period, it became easier. I am thinking that for me, in about 3 months time I might be able to safely eat small amounts of starchy carbs upon occasion. Bottom line is you have to know yourself.
4 - Monica
Good Grief Chuck! If you have lost 75 pounds then stop beating yourself up. Seriously, that is amazing in itself and proves your determination! I hope your carrot cake had that yummy cream cheese frosting on it because you deserve it!
5 - Layne Pennell
Thanks everyone for your support. I'll have to do some research about what Lila said with the 3 and 12 week humps.
And yes Monica, it did have the yummy cream cheese frosting.
6 - AngryPorkchop
I recently discovered Paleo and the same thing happened to me... except my weakness was pizza. Hopefully I can get back on track tomorrow.
7 - Layne Pennell
Good Luck Angry! It gets better. Stick with it!!