How to Cheat Without Feeling Guilty

October 26, 2011 by Toad 33 Comments

Esta muy bien

The title of this blog post refers to food, not men or women. I just thought I would clear that up for all readers of this post…

I just enjoyed a small scoop of Kuhai ice cream. I was debating with myself wether I should spend $7.25 on an “army strong” Mai Tai or some ice cream. I went with the ice cream and am glad I did. I saved almost $4!

The #1 key to getting away with a cheat without feeling guilty is to allow yourself to cheat for the rest of your life.

You are not going to go the rest of your life eating 100% healthy foods. If you want to then I wish you luck. Don’t ask me for help on your “fun” journey.

How many times one cheats depends on hundreds of factors. You have to decide what works for you. If you are diabetic then you will have to be more strict until you are at an ideal weight. If you are fit and healthy like myself then you have no worries until you see extra fat piling on that ole belly.

I’m not recommending you go out and cheat every day!

I rarely cheat but if I want some ice cream then I’ll eat some ice cream. If I want a Hawaiian pizza while in Hawaii then I’ll eat a Hawaiian pizza. I enjoyed this once and it was pretty damn good. I suffered no ill effects. If you have celiac disease then, well, you better be eating a gluten free crust!

If you tell yourself you’re going to cheat then it’s less likely to happen. If you tell yourself it’s OK to cheat then it’s less likely to happen. When you don’t allow yourself to do something then you think about it more. You start feeling pissed off inside because you are “not allowed” whatever non paleo food you are thinking about. I’m here to tell you that you are allowed.

What’s wrong with taking baby steps folks?

I love Robb’s approach where he says to avoid all grains, dairy and legumes for 30 days. Do this. If you can’t do this for 30 straight days then you may be hopeless. Nutrition is first. Get it dialed in. Understand what eating this way is like.

Then begin to experiment. Eat a little ice cream and see how you feel. Did you breakout? Was it as good as you thought?

Allow yourself to eat other foods you think you want. Everyones’ situation is different and so we must all approach our cheats differently. Some of us, like Robb Wolf, enjoy corn tortillas a few times every week of our lives. Some of us, like myself, loves peanuts and peanut butter and thus enjoys it when around.

Maybe you have a “cheat” food that you eat on a weekly basis.

When you do decide to cheat, eat slowly. Savor that food and take as long as possible to finish it. Live in that moment. Quit thinking about how bad it is to eat pizza or ice cream! Seriously!

Again, maybe you don’t want to cheat. However, I highly doubt this. Admit you want to cheat. Maybe you eat 2 not so bad cheat meals every Saturday. Sweet! Grok on! Spread the primal lifestyle my friend!

This is no freaking religion. This is a lifestyle that yes, everyone in the world should be living. Live it your own way. Just be aware of the damage that the slice of bread you just ate is potentially having on your gut. Be aware that the ice cream you just ate may lead to an acne breakout.

Realize that you are living on a beautiful planet. Realize that you only live once and that you deserve to have fun. You deserve to enjoy life. If you are eating strict paleo but are stressed out then you are not paleo. That’s not what primal/paleo is all about. It’s about enjoyment. Primal/paleo foods are awesome. But, let’s be honest – SOME modern foods are pretty kick ass too.

How do you cheat without feeling guilty? Maybe you’re not there yet? What is your favorite cheat? Is living in joy what we should be after more than the perfect diet?

Filed Under: Food, Life

About Toad

Is my name Todd or Toad? I'm a world traveler seeking true wellness. I'm not a fan of labels but the following describe me best: minimalist, foodie, entrepreneur, adventurer, writer, cook.

Amanda

Oh man, this is perfect timing for this article. I went through the 30 day meal plan pretty well and then after it was done kind of went on a bender. Need to get on the paleo boat again but I know I can its just being able to tell myself its ok to eat this or that will make it better I think and don’t think I will gorge myself from now on. My cheat is usually peanut butter, it is the best thing ever!
- http://www.fatburningman.com Abel James
  
  Have you tried Peanut Butter and Co’s Dark Chocolate? THAT stuff will change your life.
  
  I find that having a “cheat day” once a week works really well for people I coach (and myself). If you keep track of your cravings during the week, you can allow yourself one day to really indulge. This actually helps regulate leptin levels and can help you lose weight if you’ve been in a bit of caloric restriction.
  
  The real key though, is to cheat strategically. Easier said than done!
  - http://primaltoad.com Toad
    
    I love peanut butter…
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  I’ll be enjoying peanuts and peanut butter for the rest of my life unless I know I have a severe allergic reaction to it I’ll be honest… my favorite nuts are macadamias and pistachios. Peanuts may not be nuts but we refer to them as nuts and they are #3… I don’t buy them much myself but when they are free and around, I’ll eat them.
http://alilomneck.blogspot.com Ali

I cheat without feeling guilty by avoiding things I feel “addicted” to. For instance, I am a “chip-a-holic” so I rarely eat chips (potato chip, corn chip, fried vegetable chip…I love them all!). I know once I start, I will devour every chip in sight! Usually if I avoid a food long enough, that addicted feeling goes away. I had insane cravings for chocolate for a while, but I avoided it for a few weeks (maybe months?) and now I can eat a square and be satisfied. I occasionally get dessert while eating out and I don’t feel guilty since it only happens once every few months.

On the other hand, there are certain cheat foods that I’m pretty sure I’ll never turn down b/c they are worth the trouble. If you’re ever in Gainesville, FL and want to try out the best pizza I’ve ever had, check out Satchel’s Pizza (http://satchelspizza.com/) and order the deep dish. YUM!
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Lol. I think we all have those certain foods that we can’t stop eating. It’s been a while since I have enjoyed a chip. When eating out at mexican restaurants I’ll enjoy chips and salsa. It’s free, doesn’t seem to do me harm, and happens half a dozen times a year or less!
http://www.primalmomma.com Jill

My motto exactly
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  awesome!
http://therandomfamily.wordpress.com Kim

You rock my socks! I love to hear a voice of reason sometimes. I tell my family, “We’re Primal, but I’m not gonna be a Primalnazi!” LOL! I don’t see anything wrong with a special treat once in a while.
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Exactly. I’m a modern day caveman. Not a prehistoric caveman!
Nina

lol it seriously took me a good 60 seconds to figure out what you meant by the opening sentence! See, my brain is wired to think “cheat” only relates to food lololol
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Hahaha. That’s awesome. I just wanted to make sure no one was thinking about anything but food!
http://jasonwhurley.wordpress.com Jason Hurley

I toad-ally agree with you! If you don’t slow down and savor / enjoy your cheat foods, then what’s the point!?

My go-to’s are cookies and ice cream. Although here in Buffalo, NY a favorite food is chicken finger subs (spicy chicken fingers with lettuce, tomato, and onion on an awesome sub bun), so that’s a close 3rd!
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Love the type of agreement. There is no point when you rush. When you do, you feel guilty and only crave more!
http://primitiverenaissance.wordpress.com Ware

I’m a self-avowed foodie living on a college budget, so for me, the cheat is pretty straightforward. I cook 99% of meals at home, since I can’t afford to go out much. The few times a year I do go out, I go somewhere excellent and get whatever the chef recommends (a good example is here: http://primitiverenaissance.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/station-220-chefs-tasting-menu/ ), regardless of its paleo-ness. This applies when traveling, also, since I can’t afford to do it much: I will try the regional or national specialty of my destination no matter what it is. Basically, I save my cheats for things I couldn’t make myself, paleo or not, and I’ve found that keeps me honest the rest of the time.
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Great way to do it! So if you go to Italy are you going to eat pasta?
http://twobargarage.com Trey

100% agree with you. I can’t it when I’m eating healthy and crave a cookie and then someone offers me a carrot or something like it will make the craving go away. When I want a cookie, I want a freaking cookie! I figure that if I’m eating right 90% of the time then a hamburger or scoop of ice cream wont do me in. I live in the real world and I am far from perfect.
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Do you ever order the hamburger without the bun? It’s a billion times better. I decided to keep the bun once while in Hawaii and it was not nearly as good as it is without the bun – really!
http://www.thelovevitamin.com Tracy

I just cheated with a little bit of chocolate…. ate two squares and felt satisfied. Then I read this article and I had a few more! haha…… thaannkkksss Todd Chocolate is my weakness.
Yeah I cheat pretty often. Can’t agree more that life is for living, not for stressing out about every little thing we eat as long as you are eating a healthy diet most of the time.
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Lol. And, Tracy, we are so freaking young. If I was 60 I would be more “worried” about my “cheats.” We have thousands of days ahead of us before we get to that point! We can get away with cheats more easily. And, stress is HUGE as you know very well. If you start to cheat daily then take a step back and think about why you are doing so. But, for a here and there thing – this is different for everyone – no problem. We are all different and need to decide what is best for us!
http://coconutchai.wordpress.com Dara

Great article, and SO timely! My husband and I were just arguing – I mean discussing – this very topic! lol. Well said!
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Lol. Thanks!
Teree

I loved your post and completely agree with your philosophy on cheating…but honestly you just ruined it for me with your comment about “if you were 60 you would be more worried about your cheats” since I’m about to turn 60!! I’ve been following the primal lifestyle for a year now without cheating. 28 years strict vegan then raw foodie until a year ago. I’ve always followed my instincts and felt strong cravings for animal proteins about a year ago and just gave my body what I felt it needed…I’ve always been open to change thankfully. It was amazing to me how I was just instinctively drawn to the paleo lifestyle and how magically the blogs and websites and right information began to just show up in my life! Everyday for the last year has felt like a “cheat” to me since I am having so much fun and feeling so great eating the foods that had been forbidden to me for the last 28 years. Just recently…perhaps because I love the holidays…I consciously decided to allow occasional “real cheats” during the holiday season and have been enjoying more dark chocolate, organic ice cream and pumpkin pie once a week with my grand kids!! I’m really serious when I ask this…should I be worried? I don’t want to start something I may be sorry for later….thanks!
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Lol. At first, I wrote 50 then changed it
  
  28 years? Wow!!! That’s awesome. How did you feel while being strict vegan for that long?
  - Teree
    
    Actually I became a vegetarian when I was 16 so it’s really been 43 years a veghead and the last 28 years a rawfood vegan. I guess since I’ve never seen a doctor and had my babies at home I can honestly say I felt really good. A little over a year ago I lost my brother and best friend and I was experiencing a great deal of stress and last December had my first bout with the flu or at least what I think was the flu. It was during that time that I had the intense craving for some kind of protein and nuts were just not going to do it for me. So Yes I always felt good but now I feel better and stronger. I’ve always exercised moderately but NEVER had muscle in fact had become concerned thinking that I might be muscle wasting. In this last year I continued to exercise moderately… but for the first time ever I have muscles!!!
    
    I have to say that your smoothie recipes are amazing and really helped me transition…I’m really grateful to you for that!! I’ve always said…we learn from our children!
    
    Back to the cheating…I think I will just continue to trust my instincts…I think for now a little cheating even at my age is ok!! Smiles!!
    - http://primaltoad.com Toad
      
      That is quite the story Teree. Would you like to write up a “success story” to be published on this blog? Just your overall experience with veganism, the transition and how you feel now.
      
      And, would you like to write up a testimonial for my smoothie ebook?! Thanks for the compliment! I can just copy and paste what you said in this comment too! Please let me know!
      - Teree
        
        I would be happy to write my “success story” and I will…but with my schedule at the moment I probably wouldn’t be able to do it well until after the Holidays
        
        Feel free to use anything I’ve said for a testimony because I seriously love your book!!
        
        Your book was the perfect solution for me and very inspiring because for years being a raw foodie I used my vitamix at least twice a day. I really thought going primal would mean that my blender would start collecting dust so you can imagine how delighted I was to find your book!! First I thought…wow this is so cheap,,, then your intentions to continually send updates…I thought well even if I never hear from this guy again who cares because this is a great deal. I was so pleasantly surprised by your creativity and the use of many of the super foods I was familiar with especially chocolate since dark chocolate is one of the highest sources for magnesium on the planet!! Your book gave me so many idea’s and the confidence to again start creating and having fun with my blender again…not to mention you were a man of your word and continued to send updates with more and more recipes…I mean what a bonus!! I personally own several books on primal living but your book is my favorite fast and easy go to book…so thank you so much for sharing your creativity and for keeping your word! Oh and just so you know…the vitamix blender is awesome, but any blender will work with these yummy nutrient dense recipes!
        
        Thanks Todd
      - http://primaltoad.com Toad
        
        Write it up anytime… if you get it to me on August 24, 2014 then sweet… it’s better than never!
        
        Thank you Teree! I’ll be copying and pasting this paragraph onto my testimonials page… it will most definitely help the sales! I love your enthusiasm! Not sure if you noticed, but I will be “publishing” many other smoothie ebooks… think one dedicated to chocolate alone, another dedicated to “green” smoothies… another will be low carb, etc. Pre orders are only 99 cents!
Teree

Ok great! I will be sure to check out your other smoothie recipes to pre order. Thanks for doing what you do!!
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Do it! Tonight is the last night to grab Toadally Primal Smoothies for $4.95!
Pingback: 13 Tips to Make The Paleo Diet A Breeze
Brittni

I’m going on vacation for two weeks in a few days and I decided if I plan my cheats out, it may help. I’m allowed to eat all the junk I want from 4pm Christmas Eve to midnight December 26th. That’s about a day and a half and after that all leftover non-primal foods are off limits. It shouldn’t hurt me that badly, and it’s just not worth it to deny yourself on Christmas. I also plan on partaking in my family’s traditional New Year’s Eve Chinese Food Binge. And maybe a special treat a few times in the form of a slice of my favorite pizza growing up or a Christmas cookie. You only live once.
- http://primaltoad.com Toad
  
  Yes you do. Do what you wish! I do believe that within a decade it will be extremely easy for me to pass up on any true junk food.

How to Cheat Without Feeling Guilty

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