Cheating...interested How Many Of You Do

[celiac3270]

Off the board, [a member] said that [he or she] felt that most celiacs on these boards cheat on the gluten-free diet. I never have, never would, and question that you all do, as well....hence, the poll. Thanks!

Besides, I think it would be interesting to see how many diagnosed celiacs adhere to the diet....though this probably wouldn't be very accurate since I would expect that if someone was on a message board for this, he or she probably takes the diet more seriously than a celiac who is not.

[KaitiUSA]

There is absolutely no way I would cheat!

[tarnalberry]

I'm neither formally diagnosed, nor very sensitive, nor got very sick from it, and I won't cheat! I can't imagine _intentionally_ cheating on this one, myself. I can imagine someone who hasn't had to practice food-related will power in the past doing so, but I can't imagine finding that acceptable instead of figuring out how to learn to not do it. (I don't mean to sound harsh, it's merely the expression of my lack of understanding.)

[celiac3270]

Yes--I don't understand because, besides the fear of these other complications, I feel so much better without the gluten. After being sick so long, I could never cheat and therefore, I don't really understand it, either.

[bmorrow]

No, I don't cheat. It took too long to find out why I was so sick, and besides I still occasionaly get glutened and that is not pleasant!

[Carriefaith]

Nope! no cheating with gluten here... accidents... but no cheating.

I recently cheated on my lactose free diet (gluten-free pizza crust with skim milk in it) and I was sick for about 3 days after! Not pleasent! and it would be even worse if it had of been gluten!

[ianm]

Cheating is not an option. I was sick for 36 years, why in the hell would I want to intentionally waste even one minute more?

[anewsprue]

I would not cheat. I've only been gluten-free for about three weeks and have had a couple unintentional glutens slip in with the results being absolute misery. I had some very good days and want to keep em coming!

[celiac3270]

Ha...I just saw under view new posts...how many of you cheat...this is something that could go under the "you're celiac if..." topic. LOL...nobody but a celiac would understand what I, a 14 yr. old, mean when I'm asking how many people cheat

[KaitiUSA]

Haha celiac3270 your right. If new people got on here to find more info about celiac and just read that part they would think

[mytummyhurts]

I don't technically cheat. I've been on the diet for a few months now and sometimes, while a don't intentionally eat gluten foods, I may eat something that I'm not sure about just to see what happens. I haven't been doing that recently though. I know I shouldn't and eventually I won't. But I'm still getting used to all the rules. As I know more and more and am finding more to eat I don't really do that anymore. I have craved foods I can't have, but it never even crosses my mind to eat something I know I'm not supposed to. Why would I intentionally put myself through that torture.

I'm sure that some people would though. And it's true that people who come on this board are probably more serious about their disease. And understand it better. My parents know someone else who has this and they said he will pick a bun off a hamburger and then eat it anyways because it doesn't make him sick. This was just after I really started researching this stuff and I immediately said, then he doesn't know that could still be causing him damage.

My sister said if she tests positive for celiac then she still couldn't go gluten free. We'll see if that happens though. I said, even if it causes permanent, irreversable damage? And she didn't seem to care.

[jknnej]

It seems to me that someone asymptomatic would be more likely to cheat.

Most of us find severe diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, etc, etc very unpleasant, as do most people. But people who don't get sick when they eat wheat even though they have celiac disease would be much more likely to cheat b/c they don't feel what is happening to them.

I would never cheat and avoid gluten like the plague.

I try to stay dairy free but I'll cheat on that. Even if it gives me a slight tummy ache, it's nothing like gluten poisoning.

[mytummyhurts]

It seems to me that someone asymptomatic would be more likely to cheat.

That makes sense!

[flagbabyds]

Never in 14 years of the diet have intentionaly cheated, except when I was four and at preschool I made a pasta picture w/o realizing, but I don't think that that really counts . Yes I would bet many more asymptomatic people would cheat because they never feel the pain, and they don't know what the diet is doing for them, and don't realize that they are doing damage to their bodies because most people think that it doesn't damage as long as you don't get sick. And they are sooooo wrong!

[psawyer]

I was diagnosed at the end of June 2000. During the first three months I occasionally knowingly ingested gluten in small amounts, but each time I paid for it. I have had a few accidents since, but have not knowingly ingested gluten since that last beer I had in early October that year. I know better now.

[Guest gillian502]

God no, never. I'm so freaked out about this disease I'm downright paranoid about getting glutened even by accident!

[veggf]

Hi,

Cheating isn't an option. Ouch!--accidently gluten consumption hurts enough, why would I want to do that on purpose? And I agree with who ever said it already, the bigger health risks also make me too scared to cheat.

[tonyevans]

I think that newbies to the diet, that find this forum, have many questions and one of those, probably the one they want to know most but can't get a good answer from a Health Professional is "What happens if I take the occassional meal containing Gluten?"

The explanations to your reasons why you don't cheat and eat the occasional gluten are very valid in the context of that question to diet newbies.

Personally I don't cheat and I do find myself in situations where a choice of diet is not available, so I either abstain or ask the cook to provide me with only the items I consider 'safe'.

After the intestinal gymnastics I underwent when going back to a Gluten inclusive diet for one month, prior to gastroscopy, I determined to stay loyal.

Tony E

New Zealand

[CMWeaver]

We're newer to this board. Eventhough I have celiac twins, I can confidentally say that even they....like many others......do not cheat or try to sneak anything past anyone. I have been amazed at how they seem to "like MOST" of their gluten-free foods and snacks.

This was a good question celiac3270.

[Guest nini]

I can't imagine cheating on the diet. I did not enjoy the effects of being glutened, so there is no way that I would do it intentionally knowing what would happen.

My dad, on the other hand, is new to the diet and even though his dr.'s told him to go gluten free for his symptoms, they didn't officially dx him with celiac (now I HAD to get it from somewhere and he's got all the symptoms ) so my dad still cheats... a) he's afraid he's going to have to give up his fave foods even though I have shared all my wonderful gluten-free finds with him and he hasn't noticed a difference in the way he feels yet (because he's CHEATING!!!!)

[Peaches503]

Hi all,

I would never cheat! Any gluten that gets into my diet is purely by accident. I am still new at it, so I'm probably not as good at getting rid of gluten as I want to be, but I really am trying. I would never cheat - there's just too much at risk!

-Peaches

[Turtle]

No cheating here....I want to be healthy and that means NO gluten. My biggest issue since i'm still learning (diagnosed end of April 2005, started gluten-free diet May 1st) is "hidden" glutens. I see a nutritionist the first week of June so hope she can provide some more educational info and such. This site has been so helpful as well as supportive. It's clearly evident by all the posts that if you stay gluten-free you feel much better and you're living a healthy lifestyle. I don't know about ya'll, but who wants to cheat and then suffer the consequences of having diarreah, cramping, fatigue, etc. Frankly, i'm enjoying not having those symptoms (even if it has only been a short time for me on the diet). Anyhow, my theory is.... having to be gluten-free is not the end of the world. It could be worse, we could be in a situation where there is no way to heal our bodies. Hang in there everyone and happy mother's day to those of you who are mommy's.

Turtle

[Guest barbara3675]

Having been gluten-free for nearly 10 months now, I can say that I don't cheat on the gluten-free way of eating and that is easy for me, cheating is not an option. I think when you know the consequences, why would you risk it? I wonder why this way of eating is so easy for me to stick with and sensible weight control eating has always been so hard for me to stick to?????!!!!!! I have gone back to Weight Watchers now and am doing very well with that, but that is a day-to-day struggle for me where eating gluten-free is just an excepted way of life. I am so hoping that they will continue to go hand-in-hand for life as they are for this day.

Barbara

[darlindeb25]

Almost 4 years here and I have never intentionally cheated--I have been glutened by accident, but would never cheat--I was even asked by the Chicago Hospital if I wanted to be tested for free, but I had to eat gluten for 6 weeks prior--I told them ABSOLUTELY NOT--i dont need a sheet of paper to tell me what gluten does to me--I have no gluten in my home, I read everythng that goes in my mouth--I even have my sweetheart reading ingredients and watching for places that say gluten free on their signs--keep up the good work everyone!!!!!! Deb

[mytummyhurts]

I wonder why this way of eating is so easy for me to stick with and sensible weight control eating has always been so hard for me to stick to?????!!!!!! 

I was never able to diet before either. I wouldn't even consider it because I knew I couldn't resist. I'm very weak willed. But this disease doesn't give you an option. When we have cake or donuts at work I have no desire to eat them. I may be a little (very little) sad, but I never want to eat it. Because I know I'll spend the rest of the day in the bathroom, so it's not worth it. On a regular diet though you don't really feel the consequences right away so it's easier to cheat and not feel too guilty.