Who Says You Can't Splurge On Low-Carb?

This Associated Press story about a Valentine, Nebraska man who has lost 573 pounds over the past year through gastric bypass surgery hits on something that I believe needs to be addressed within the context of livin' la vida low-carb.

Patrick Deuel tipped the scales at 1,072 pounds in June 2004 and decided to do something drastic to help him get his life back. He was basically an invalid who obviously had heart trouble, full-blown diabetes, and needed oxygen to breathe. This guy was a ticking timebomb just waiting to explode to an early death.

He chose to have gastric bypass surgery and implement exercise for the first time ever to help him lose the weight and is impressed that he can finally feel his ribs for the first time in a quarter century! That's a big deal to someone who has never been able to do that. I had a similar feeling the first time I could see my rib cage in the mirror after losing my 180 pounds. It's these little things that keep you going on your weight loss efforts.

As a spokesman in the obesity debate now, Deuel said something that the author of the story decided to use as a jab against low-carb programs such as Atkins.

It seems that Deuel has not completely given up on junk food that he enjoys to eat and which contributed to his gargantuan appearance before losing weight. The story states that Deuel "doesn't believe in total deprivation" and "defiantly refuses to consider any foods taboo."

"If you have a craving and don't take care of it, it's going to grow and grow and grow and it's going to make you do something stupid - binge," he says.

These "binge" moments for Deuel happen twice a month and have helped him get through his weight loss without the temptation to fall off the wagon.

"I've lost 102 pounds in 70 days, eating what I wanted," he says. "Tell me it doesn't work ... For me, the easiest way to stay on my diet and not go absolutely crazy to is eat [to satisfy the craving], get that out of the way and get back on the program."

The author of this article said the "Atkins and South Beach faithful might shudder" at this notion. But not me.

This may come as a shock to a lot of my low-carb friends because I have not seen it in any books nor has it been recommended by anyone in the low-carb community. But one thing that has helped me persevere through the weight loss and even the weight maintenance of my low-carb lifestyle are planned binges. You might call them my "splurge" meals.

Most people don't ever plan their "splurge," they just go all out when temptation hits them and eat to their heart's content. That's not what I'm referring to.

Instead, I have a date circled on my calendar that I have predetermined is my time to eat and enjoy whatever I want to eat for one meal. Just ONE meal is all this is good for! Whether it is pizza, Mexican, Italian or whatever floats your boat, you can eat all you want of whatever you are craving the most until you get your craving fulfilled.

But then you get back on the program. Immediately and no further "splurge" until the next time. When I was losing weight, I did this about every 6-8 weeks. It kept me going when temptation would be at its strongest because I could look at the calendar and see I had a meal coming up for me to enjoy the foods I couldn't have. It took away that excuse that I'm "depriving myself."

Even now that I am simply maintaining my weight, I still have a planned "splurge" about once every couple of weeks or so with my wife. I have been known to eat as many as 30 slices of pizza during my splurge meal. GASP! I know I just caused some of my low-carb friends to fall out of their seats. But it's true. It's what I do to allow myself the opportunity to eat foods that I cannot normally have while still enjoying the benefits of lost weight and improved health.

"An occasional indiscretion is OK," a doctor in the story says. "Every once in a while you have to have a piece of chocolate, providing you're not carrying the bag around all the time."

That's my philosophy exactly. But you have to realize that these "splurge" meals WILL DEFINITELY kick you out of ketosis for several days and your weight may not go down very quickly. However, I have been fortunate enough to be able to lose any extra weight that I put on because of this "splurge" meal within less than a week of doing it. If I don't need to "splurge," then I don't. But it's nice to know I can use this method from time to time to satisfy my cravings.

Keep in mind that this "splurge" meal plan may not be ideal for everyone. But it worked for me. You may not need to do this and be thankful if that is you. But this could be the key ingredient that some of you have been looking for to help you be successful as you are livin' la vida low-carb.

But please be careful not to rationalize this method when you see a box of doughnuts at work and tell yourself that THIS will be your "splurge" meal. It doesn't work that way. Plan it well in advance, look forward to it to avoid temptation, do it enjoying every single bite and then get back on the plan as soon as possible. It's that simple and it worked for me. Hopefully, it will work for you, too!