How much "sway cheating" is ok before it's too much?

[LuvMyGuys]

Hi! Was wondering - does anyone know just how much "cheating" during a sway is deemed too much? I previously was a serial snacks and ice cream eater and as I'm TTC girl, have had to change those habits drastically to cut calories. This sway/hopefully upcoming pregnancy will be my last chance as we're done after 3, so as I have the occasional cheat (that's so tempting around this time of the year), I'm wondering how many meals/days of cheating is enough to consider it a wash and to just try the next cycle around or after I'm confident enough that I've stuck with the diet consistently? Thank you in advance!

[XXforhubby]

Just try your best. Any change from how you ate before makes a big difference.

In general, a day or two off, once a month is fine. Most have the first day or two of AF off and then pick back up again. Also if there are special occasions, most save their cheats for then as it's easier than to explain things.

FX and GL to you!!



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]One Last Pink Sway[emoji166]
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[foxtrotmama]

I would say that as long as you have changed the general trend, as much as you can live with if you get an opposite. If you'll be tearing yourself up about snacking or eating specific foods if you end up with a boy, I would cheat less than if you're just trying to stack the odds a bit.

[cosmosis]

Well, you want to avoid eating in between meals. I would suggest that if you cannot control your urge for a "cheat", then eat it WITH your meal, not in between as a snack :)

[Throwaway_panther]

I was a chronic LE person when I conceived my DD, and I definitely had occasional "cheats" -- even with my relapsing eating disorder. Generally, though, my big cheats would be all at once still, since I still followed a sort of Intermittent Fasting eating. VERY occasional days of snacking all day, and when I say occasional, I mean holidays.

Since I've gone over my food diary from before I conceived my DD ad nauseam, I can tell you I had a family reunion during my first period off BC where I did eat frequently, and then an average of one day a week of more calories than normal, though still all at once. Keep in mind, though, that my "cheating" was literally calories -- I was drinking alcohol, etc., which still falls into girl lifestyle, so I think defining what you mean by cheating would help, too.

[atomic sagebrush]

Each individual, each month, each unique set of circumstances is different - it's not something I can really pin down and say yes, X amount is ok, Y amount isn't.

The most important thing about diet as a whole is that you're eating "pinker" than you were when you got your boys. I had to make a diet with specifics because people wanted that, but any time you're doing better than you were, that will still sway pink for you. I like to think of the 80-20 rule here - you get 80% of the benefits of anything from 20% of the effort, and to get that remaining 20% of the benefits you have to shell out 80% of the effort. And with pink swaying, the intense level of committment and strict mindset you need to shell out that 80% of the effort can end up undermining your sway due to psychological factors. Stick with the 20% of the effort. :)

Practically speaking, what most people have found is that giving oneself license to eat things when they really want them, ends up circumventing a kind of "binge/extreme self-denial" cycle that people tend to get into. And by eating what you really want, 9 times out of 10 you end up still within limits anyway. What we want to avoid is when you get so hard on yourself that you end up trying to stick to a diet that makes you feel terribly deprived all the time, and then you end up having a bad day where first you stick to the diet but you're so hungry that you end up eating 3000 calories of rice cakes and craisins and cucumbers, then say "eh screw it, I've blown it anyway" and go on to eat a pizza and half a pie. Decide what you really want to start with, like a slice of pizza and a piece of pie, have that, and be satisfied. You will nearly always be better off on those hard days we all have!!!

Writing off months can actually exacerbate this. People think "well, I've ruined it for the month" and then a bad day turns into a bad week, into a bad month, ending up with you having to start all over again with another 12 weeks on diet (yes, I've actually seen people do this) and people invariably end up giving up totally and just conceiving anyway, or having an accidental pregnancy in the meantime. WHen you mess up, just pick up again the next day. No harm done.

[LuvMyGuys]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions/info!!

Atomic - I feel better about my adjustments knowing I can follow the general 80/20 rule, although I'm trying my hardest to change as much as I can! I can't imagine how much hungrier I would be if I opted to include an hour of cardio everyday.

Nusaybah - That's what I've been doing, just including some cheat items with my meals and not adding in a whole additional meal/snack. Hopefully that's ok!

XXforhubby - Here's the basic breakdown of how I'm dieting, which is very different from how I was eating before:
Wake up at 5:30am
Coffee with a little almond milk around 7:30am/8am
Lunch at noon: veggies and a little chicken, sauce
Small meal around 3ish (sometimes): snack
Dinner around 6:30pm

My "cheats" include sometimes eating more protein (via eggs, chicken) and also cheese or some snacks with my meals.

[atomic sagebrush]

I don't even know that those are cheats, Luv.

Cheat = an extra large supreme pizza. Not some cheese with your meal!

[Butterflies buttercups]

My cheats are like when I've already eaten 1500 calories then eat a chocolate bar before bed ! Can't help myself this time of year ! X


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[honeybee37]

Wow, those do not sound like cheats to me!!
I had spent almost a year on LE but post miscarriage, my very loose version just includes not snacking and not eating meat. And aiming to be under 1800kcal. Now I know for most of you this is NOT LE so please don't follow me on this, but just to reassure you that your diet sounds very very LE to me! (I became very obsessed with it over several points and for me at the minute, this is the best I can do)


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[XXforhubby]

Wow, those do not sound like cheats to me!!
I had spent almost a year on LE but post miscarriage, my very loose version just includes not snacking and not eating meat. And aiming to be under 1800kcal. Now I know for most of you this is NOT LE so please don't follow me on this, but just to reassure you that your diet sounds very very LE to me! (I became very obsessed with it over several points and for me at the minute, this is the best I can do)


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Honeybee37, what exactly do you think the LE diet is, if you don't mind me asking? What you describe that you are doing now IS the LE diet! There are no magic foods. While you may not be keeping track of protein and fat totals, sticking to no snacking, not eating meat, and 1800 calories, I bet you are well in the limits.

You're doing a great job!!



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]One Last Pink Sway[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

[honeybee37]

Honeybee37, what exactly do you think the LE diet is, if you don't mind me asking? What you describe that you are doing now IS the LE diet! There are no magic foods. While you may not be keeping track of protein and fat totals, sticking to no snacking, not eating meat, and 1800 calories, I bet you are well in the limits.

You're doing a great job!!



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]One Last Pink Sway[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

Ha, I wish I was, XX! I did it religiously for a while, weighing everything and sticking to the fat and protein limits, but my meals are waaaay bigger now and the days when I've tracked I've been within (higher end) of fat, but at maybe 60g protein. I'm fine with that to be honest, it's ok for me where I am emotionally at the minute and I am prone to getting food obsessive plus I'm still dealing with my miscarriage. I'm no longer exercising but being veggie, no snacking, wine and black coffee is fine and fits into my life quite easily. I guess we will see what the future holds! I'm feeling positive today after strong ov pains and positive opk (haven't dtd as wasn't sure if miscarriage was over and was worried about infection risk), but pleased my body seems to be moving on.

Sorry to have hijacked this thread!! [emoji51]


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[honeybee37]

When I was "doing LE properly" I ate minimal cheese whereas now I have cheese daily...
and am eating breakfast (bagel with jam, and black coffee). I will try and drop this but it gets me out of bed at the minute!


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[XXforhubby]

I still think you're doing great and what you are doing is very pink friendly [emoji6]!



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]One Last Pink Sway[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

[atomic sagebrush]

When I was "doing LE properly" I ate minimal cheese whereas now I have cheese daily...
and am eating breakfast (bagel with jam, and black coffee). I will try and drop this but it gets me out of bed at the minute!


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Um, no, you can have cheese every day doing LE Diet properly.

It is limits, limits, limits. If you are in limits, you are doing LE Diet. :)

Some people go up to as much at 1800-2000 cals a day 50-60 g fat, 50-60 g protein and this is still in LE Diet range

[business.woman]

Can I ask about the Ice cream ?
I am now on HE diet and I can't help myself but to eat ice cream with a cookie lately [emoji26] , this made me worried !



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[XXforhubby]

I wouldn't worry about it! I had plenty of ice cream when TTCing my DS1 and DS2!



[emoji170][emoji1379]DS1, [emoji577]DS2, & [emoji602]DS3[emoji170]
[emoji166]One Last Pink Sway[emoji166]
My Ovulation Chart (https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/579920)

[business.woman]

XXforhubby , I really hope so !
Sugar and sweets in general makes me nervous because I had a lot when I conceived my DD !


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[atomic sagebrush]

Ice cream is fine on HE Diet.

I know there is a misconception about sugar swaying pink but it is one of those "pH" things that doesn't work.

There is a kind of "girl mom" diet where people eat a lot of sugar, but just sugar. So they maybe have a candy bar and a diet coke for lunch, and thing "oh sugar makes girls" but it's because they were not eating super healthy anyway.

[LuvMyGuys]

Additions to that 'meal plan' are that the meals that I have been eating have been higher in sodium than I was aiming for. And also, I'll have the occasional bag of chips or ice cream with my meal :/

[business.woman]

Ok now I can happily enjoy eating ice cream LOL ! Thanks


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[Throwaway_panther]

Additions to that 'meal plan' are that the meals that I have been eating have been higher in sodium than I was aiming for. And also, I'll have the occasional bag of chips or ice cream with my meal :/

Occasional isn't going to harm anything, and chips or ice cream aren't the sorts of things to make or break any sway! And what do you consider much higher for sodium? Even though the general consensus here is that the mineral diets don't do much (especially since in all of my reading, I think the mineral diets were just tangentially pH diets...?)

I definitely had the occasional ice cream following a meal before conceiving my DD -- in fact, outside of alcohol, I'd say ice cream was one of my bigger vices right before conceiving DD (since I'd "save up" all my calories and then starve all day and then have a big meal + ice cream since it was such a hot summer and fall).

[LuvMyGuys]

Ha, I wish I was, XX! I did it religiously for a while, weighing everything and sticking to the fat and protein limits, but my meals are waaaay bigger now and the days when I've tracked I've been within (higher end) of fat, but at maybe 60g protein. I'm fine with that to be honest, it's ok for me where I am emotionally at the minute and I am prone to getting food obsessive plus I'm still dealing with my miscarriage. I'm no longer exercising but being veggie, no snacking, wine and black coffee is fine and fits into my life quite easily. I guess we will see what the future holds! I'm feeling positive today after strong ov pains and positive opk (haven't dtd as wasn't sure if miscarriage was over and was worried about infection risk), but pleased my body seems to be moving on.

Sorry to have hijacked this thread!! [emoji51]


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No need to be sorry, you didn't highjack this thread at all. I can relate to a lot of what you and others here are saying, so I appreciate all your posts and replies :)

[LuvMyGuys]

Occasional isn't going to harm anything, and chips or ice cream aren't the sorts of things to make or break any sway! And what do you consider much higher for sodium? Even though the general consensus here is that the mineral diets don't do much (especially since in all of my reading, I think the mineral diets were just tangentially pH diets...?)

I definitely had the occasional ice cream following a meal before conceiving my DD -- in fact, outside of alcohol, I'd say ice cream was one of my bigger vices right before conceiving DD (since I'd "save up" all my calories and then starve all day and then have a big meal + ice cream since it was such a hot summer and fall).

Thank you! Now I don't feel so bad about my occasional ice creams either! I'm definitely eating less since I got used to not eating as much as before, so when I have it, I appreciate it so much more!

[Inhope]

I have just started the LE-diet and so far I think that I'll be able to manage to stick for it. BUT the hardest things for me to give up is the candy on weekend evenings (friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings) for me, with 3 small children, these times are the best of the week (boring, right? LOL). The children sleeping and me and my DH alone with a lot of candy and a good movie :) And it really depresses me to give it up.

I eat about 1100 kcal a day Monday to Thursday (no problems at all) and I'm planing to eat and drink 1000 - 1300 cal extra (wine and candy), in other words 2000-2300 cal, Friday to Sunday to compensate the small amount cal on Monday to Thursday. My BMI is about 18 so I don't need to loose any weight. I eat about 45 g protein and 50 g fat a day.

So what do you think is best RE the eating pattern on weekends. Either I eat like this:

Friday:

Coffee

9.30 (16 h since my last meal the day before) two sandwiches with cheese. Coffee

2 pm lunch - mostly vegetables and coffee

6 pm a small sandwich and maybe some sparkling wine before.

Around 8-9 pm candy (and movie)

Saturday

Either cheat and don't wait 16 h since the candy meal the day before, and eat the first meal around 10.30 or 11 am
Or skip it and wait to 1 or 2 pm and eat my first meal then.

About 2 pm vegetables and coffee

6 pm two sandwiches and maybe two glasses of sparkling wine before.

Around 8-9 pm candy (and movie)

Sunday
Same pattern as Saturday. But no candy or wine at night. Just some candy for desert after lunch and dinner. And then wait 16 h for the next meal the day after.

The candy will not break my protein or fat limits and I think that it would be good for me to increase the cals on weekends to prevent to much weight loss. The problem is that it will not be 16 h between my last meal and the first the day after and if I don't exchange it for another meal it will also be an extra meal. If I eat around 11 the next day it will only be 14 h between.

I think that it going to be hard for me to stick to the diet for 12 weeks (and probably more) if I don't have my candy cheats on weekends to looking forward to. I guess what I'm asking for is if you think that it's ok to eat candy for about an hour or one and a half at 2 nights a week and either skip the first meal the day after and eat after 16 h after the candy the night before or if it's ok to cheat at Saturdays and Sundays and just wait 14 h and also add the candy as an extra meal? Do I make sense at all?

I really would like to hear how you do?

I hope that you could understand my English, it's not my first language.