The problem with wheat-based foods for me is that whatever satisfaction the flavor delivers is completely undermined by insatiable cravings for more afterward.

Potato chips? Sure, I can eat one and I'm done. Chocolate? A bite and I'm set. Raisin bran? One taste and it takes Olympian willpower to avoid eating half the goddamn box.

Granted, it could very well be a purely psychological phenomenon; forbidden fruit always seems the sweetest.

"Hmmm this is a religion not.
Yes yes strong in you the force is,
but remember this you must, yes.
Herh herh herh..."

A wonderful friend brought a plate of baked treats. She's so nice but we didn't want them so I passed them on to people who did. I didn't say anything because she loves to bake but she's known for months that I eat ancestrally and my grandson wants to stay very lean for cross-country next year.

I think people have trouble grasping the concept that we might actually reject such foods as not wanted--they think we have tremendous willpower. :-))

I'm not going to regret a moment of oysterstuffing, gingerbread, and rum and egg nog. Tomorrow is a new day back to normal again but these Christmas family treats see to delicious to pass on. Merry Christmas and enjoy it!

I ate completely Paleo, very proud of myself :P . I even made paleo treats for friends, but didn't eat them. The only thing I tried was one tiny bite of non-paleo pumpkin pie and it was way too sweet. Think my tastebuds have changed a lot in the last few months!

I succumbed to one of my grandmother's homemade rolls. It was delicious, but man is my tummy ANGRY! Lesson learned...the hard way.

I got my sister to slowly transition to eating "paleo" months ago so I had someone else to help me make yummy goodies. I though my grandmothers peanut butter 'buckeyes' were great when i was little but cashew butter and dark chocolate was pretty freaking sweet!

I ate a bite of angel food cake and have been sneezing since :(

I ate so many M&Ms, peanut butter filled pretzels, Ferrero Rochers, almond Hershey's kisses, cookies, gluten-packed rolls etc. etc. I felt so terrible later that night and into today, but it was all worth it. For me, not being an ascetic for a few days a year is probably a lot better for my overall well-being.

Is this a Christmas cheat thread? Well, I didn't cheat with any wheat or dairy (makes me sick and it's not worth it), but I had ten dollars worth of stone-ground mexican yerba mate chocolate in one sitting. I thought it had a high percentage of cacao solids (aka yummy saturated fat fuel) due to its lack-o-lactose, but it turns out 50% of it (it being two 3 ounce bars) was organic cane sugar. I have not stopped bouncing off of the walls yet.

I roasted a whole duck with kohlrabi for Christmas, delicious. These past few days we also had lamb chops, and fried beef tenderloin with foi-gras and truffle mushrooms. All Paleo. My only cheat was a can of coke (a brand that uses "better" sugars & water than Coke/Pepsi).

Oh yeah, I had mashed potatoes for Christmas and they weren't worth it. The bit of tiramisu, now that was worth it.

I had a different experience from the question asker.

I voluntarily, happily, knowingly consumed Xmas foods that represent exceptions to my normal fare.

I drank Bailey's Irish cream over ice. Was one of my dad's favorite drinks. Can't remember the last time I tried it. Quite a delicious sweet, creamy, alcoholic drink. I did not feel compelled to consume the entire bottle.

I also ate not one but three small slivers of key lime pie. I almost never eat dessert anymore; sweet tooth non-existent or practically so. The taste was delicious. I felt no reflex to down the entire pie.

Add to this two medium servings of Merlot.

And a small serving of mashed potatoes.

This in addition to my usual Paleo fare of turkey and green beans.

In short, more sugar and starch than usual for me. And gluten, no doubt, in the pie crust.

Effects? None that I am aware of, either yesterday or today (day after).

I enjoyed the food. My jeans fit the same as before. My mind feels clear.

I really do think there's a huge expectancy factor in so called "cheating." To wit:

"I ate food I know I shouldn't have. I knew I would feel physically and mentally awful as a result. I did in fact feel physically and mentally awful as a result. I confirmed the outcome I expected. I tell everyone about this as if I have achieved decisive results in rocket science."

If you're going to cheat, it should be worth the pain that might result. I'm sorry your Mom's ravioli didn't make the cut ;)

I fared way better than I did on Thanksgiving. We do German food for Christmas- I had some noodles, a couple slices of rye bread, and quite a few cookies; made it through the weekend without the painful bloating I often get from mass quantities of gluten. I also had some popcorn at the movies Christmas evening (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- I highly recommend!) and have since consumed a pint of ice cream :/ Looking forward to getting back on track with a Whole30 in January!