Cheating is a Diet's worst nightmare.  It is something that can undo literally months worth of work.  And yet, most Americans cheat at some time or another.  For many, that first step over the line sends them into a tailspin of out-of-control eating.  Many could argue it's because they feel deprived (come on, we're Americans, not that many of us feel truly "deprived").  Most of us could probably stand to feel deprived a lot more often than we do so we won't think we deserve things we don't.  Many blame society or special events or circumstances.  So why do some people fail continually and others seem to never (or rarely) fall off the wagon?  What I believe is the leading cause of cheating on your diet comes down to four simple steps.  If you'd like to cheat...these will get you there in a hurry:

Believe In Your Own Willpower - Essentially, you just need to believe that you are soooo strong that you can never be tempted to go astray.  Tell yourself that you've got it together and would never cheat on your diet.  Why do you need to work in healthy treats (or even the occasional planned unhealthy one)?  Those are for the weak ones who don't have the willpower that you do.  You don't need to plan ahead either, (again, that's for the weaklings) you'll always chose what's best for you no matter how hungry you might get.  Bring on the special events and circumstances, you're sticking to your diet come hell or high water...but it won't hurt to just think about the food...right?

Fantasize About The Other Food - You know what the "other food" is.  It's that stuff that calls you...tempting you to take just one bite to satisfy your craving.  Everyone has their own "other food" category - you know what yours is.  No matter what "diet plan" you are doing, it has "other food" that you are recommended to stay away from for the most part.  But you, you believe you're strong enough to handle it so you don't stop your mind when it begins to daydream about eating some of that food.  You begin to imagine how good it tastes and you wonder how something so good could be bad for you.  Bring on the sights, smells and whatever else you've got...you're strong remember...a little craving never hurt anyone right?

Compare The Other Food to The Good Food - You've done it haven't you?  "This salad would taste better if it were a big fat juicy burger, fries and chocolate shake".  You've been daydreaming about the other food all day and now it's time for lunch and it's leaving you feeling "less than satisfied".  Not because it's not filling, but because you're thinking about how it doesn't taste quite as good as what your willpower is now forbidding you to have.  And why can't you have it?  I mean, look at how strong you are?  Don't you deserve it for being so strong?  Why should you be deprived?  Choices?  You don't have choices, that stupid diet has made up your mind for you!  Why should you have to wait for that special dinner out with your spouse like you had planned?  You deserve that "goodie" for being such a "goodie" yourself all morning.  Besides, you're strong enough to say "no" the next time...right?

Eat The Other Food - You give in but you're still telling yourself that it's not that big of a deal.  So what if you blew dinner, you had that salad at lunch and you're so strong that tonight when you sit down to watch a movie with your spouse (and he has some of the other food) you'll just have your healthy snack like usual.  But then it comes time for that movie...your spouse is eating ice cream (or whatever strikes your fancy to imagine it is)...you've resisted eating when he/she has eaten it before...why do you feel so weak all of the sudden?  Where is this guilt coming from?  Didn't I deserve to cheat?  I should be allowed to be happy right?  Why am I not feeling as good as I thought I would?  Well darn it, I've ruined the day anyway..."Honey, do we have any more of that ice cream?"  And there you are, cheating again.

I've been through this cycle so many times I can usually recognize it by the first step.  And, if it stops there...or at any step between there and actually eating the food...I've won the battle.  However, I'm still paying for all the times it didn't stop there.  I literally carry that burden every day, but there is hope and later we will discuss "How to Treat on Your Diet".