When cheat days are unavoidable...

[Princess_G]

Hi all,
Major panic!
Today is CD2 for me and we will be TTC our girl this cycle. I've been unexpectedly sent away on a business trip for 3 days where we are treated to fine dining 24/7 - breakfast meetings are the norm as is food I don't touch on LE diet.
Pastries, cakes etc.
today is the first day and I joined in because I didn't know what else to do. Is this going to ruin my girl sway this month? Going to try my best to stay at 1200 calories but the foods may not be the wisest choices.
I'm panicking now that I have messed up! Will it matter at this stage in my cycle and can I make up for it by a really strict few weeks leading up to/following O?
I'm still drinking lots of peppermint tea/water but unfortunately lots of caffeine to help me through the 5am starts!

[porcelina]

Can you just drink coffee and avoid the pastries? Say you have some food allergies and are trying an elimination diet? Will people really notice? Or put something on a plate in front of you but don't touch it? Stick to fruit? I think if you just eat half of what everyone else eats for the other meals you should be okay, and maybe say you are a vegetarian? Not sure how well these people know you!

[Princess_G]

Can you just drink coffee and avoid the pastries? Say you have some food allergies and are trying an elimination diet? Will people really notice? Or put something on a plate in front of you but don't touch it? Stick to fruit? I think if you just eat half of what everyone else eats for the other meals you should be okay, and maybe say you are a vegetarian? Not sure how well these people know you!

They know me very well but not well enough for me to divulge personal info!
I was a bit disappointed that there was no fresh fruit on offer-literally just pastries! I need *something* to get me through business meetings without my stomach rumbling!
The caffeine also bothers me- praying I don't end up in boy territory this month.

[porcelina]

Wow, that is a bummer. Will you have time to shop for some fruit or even just some white bread beforehand? Maybe that could help? I can see why you are nervous! But, putting food on your plate and then just picking at it may be your only option!

[Becca.lms]

I'd just pick at it, eat the bare minimum. If you eat breakfast, skip lunch, have dinner. If you've been on the LE awhile is it worth the risk for just a few days. I'd bring your own food if possible.

[BabyGirl4Me]

Princess G - don't even worry about it! Seriously, DH brought home some lovely chocolate pecan turtles a few days before we conceived our DD and I indulged in some. Can you try maybe doing a light lunch or dinner to help make up for a pastry or two in the mornings? If you have pastry, Try to stick to the ones that are maybe a bit lower in fat/calories if you can. For example, cake donuts or a rich buttery croissant will probably contain more calories than say a fruit stick.

Another thing that's in your favor - pastries are mostly empty calories and there's not a ton of nutrition in them. If you were going to be treated to an all you can eat steak or BBQ dinner buffet I'd be a bit more worried for you because of all the nutrition and protein in meat.

I thrived on diet coke with caffeine while I was doing LE and I almost never had high doses of caffeine on a daily basis when I conceived DS. Caffeine really doesn't seem to sway blue based on all the pink bundles conceived here on diet coke, so I wouldn't worry about that at all.

If you maybe only take 1 or 2 things and pick at them a little bit, or order healthier foods if you're out to business meals and people comment, just say something like "Oh, DH and I are committing to a healthier lifestyle together and I have to uphold my end of our bargain" or something like that. If they have a problem with it, it's on them. I think everything will be just fine. Just stick to the ideas of LE to the best of your ability and that's really all you can do. Good luck!

[Becca.lms]

Wow do I want a donut now.

[Princess_G]

Thanks everyone. Feeling downhearted after today but have decided to skip dinner tonight/breakfast tomorrow and then tell everyone tomorrow that I am not feeling so good after indulging today! Perfect excuse I think and it means it was just one bad day as opposed to three.

[Princess_G]

Is there ever a good- or 'better' time to have cheat days on LE diet? I'm guessing leading up to O is terrible, but what about where I am now- on CD2 during AF??

[atomic sagebrush]

pastries are fine, I ate them when I was TTC my DD.

Do not EVER go below 1200 cals even if you had a cheat.

Caffeine is 100% allowed on LE Diet and the reason it was a no-no on FGD and IGD has been totally debunked.