Dessert lovers, how do you control yourself at..

AlexB422
AlexB422 Posts: 111
in Food and Nutrition
Family dinners/ buffets! I just lose all control when a wide variety of desserts is placed in front of me! I try a little but of everything! And that adds up when you are trying 10 different things! I will do perfectly fine with all my other meals, but when I hit the end of the table......game over! Lets just say, I ate around 1,300 calories in just desserts today!

I'm freaking out because lately I have been horrible! Everyday this past week I've went over my calories because of desserts. Last night it was cupcakes, before that apple pie...before that Golden Corral...yeah.

I feel the pounds packing back on and in freaking out! Help!

Replies

  • AlexB422
    AlexB422 Posts: 111
    No help? Okay....
  • sprintto50
    sprintto50 Posts: 410 Member
    I find that I can't have just one dessert when in those situations and I don''t. I try a cup of coffee instead. Sometimes I give in but not often, and don't beat myself up over it. I also try mindful eating with desserts. If I eat it slowly and taste and smell each bite, I often find that restaurant desserts really are not that good. Home made ones are another story and I just stay away.
  • mikegales
    mikegales Posts: 32 Member
    I have a sweet tooth too. I have had some sort of ice cream every day for a month. Faithful logging and stop eating at or around my mfp calorie limit is what I do. One dessert per day is another way of putting it.
  • aloranger7708
    aloranger7708 Posts: 422 Member
    If you cannot control yourself, I wouldn't even have a TINY piece of anything. Usually I am all for moderation but if you can't do it, then just eliminate those foods. I am the same way; mega sweet tooth! I could eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and still never be satisfied. It gets easier if you stop eating those tempting foods less.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    SAY "NO, THANKS" AND STEP AWAY FROM THE DESSERT TABLE :drinker:
  • OMGeeeHorses
    OMGeeeHorses Posts: 732 Member
    I <3 dessert. My whole system is log it before I try it..because If I don't have a nutritional facts sheet or column for it, I will not try or eat it.. I just think of all the added fat and sugar that is in it that I don't need for my body and I am normally alright. Also I will not put desserts that I can't have more than one bite in front of myself or near me. This includes anything with lemon in it or cupcakes :D!! So if I can't figure out how much 1 tart or 1 cupcake is...I do not eat it..that is my rule :)
  • flexdirectcpr
    flexdirectcpr Posts: 103 Member
    I too am an equal opportunity dessert taster. I don't binge on sweets, but try a variety of them if I am in a setting that offers multiple options. Sweets have been the reason for my over days also this week. My plan from today forward is to drink a large glass of water before I have my meal and after. That way I will be too full to overindulge. I hope this works, for your sake and mine.
  • rozarotti
    rozarotti Posts: 139
    Dont buy them for your house and quit going out to eat, especially Golden Corral!! If you need a little sweet try frozen yogurt or Fiber One Brownies.
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    I just try and avoid them.

    For example, not keeping them in the house.

    Harder now as I live with a friend, but I try and make sure now I don't go halves on her treats.

    I get some 'treats', like chocolate mousse pots and yogurts, which I know I'm fine with... but with ice cream I'll eat the whole B&J tub in 1-2 days at 550 cals a pop...
  • DaughterOfTheMostHighKing
    DaughterOfTheMostHighKing Posts: 1,436 Member
    once you develop a taste for eating clean like fruits and such it gets easier to resist because you don't have that want for sugar.
  • leia_ophelia
    leia_ophelia Posts: 44 Member
    I have the same problem! I love desserts. I love chocolates.
    I try to have regular days without dessert and give myself cheat days so that on special days such as birthdays or dinner outs I can have my dessert and not feel too bad. I also try to work out to balance out the calories, then I equate it... like if I want that cheesecake that means 1 hr in the elliptical and1 hr in the elliptical would be painful so i should skip the cheesecake. Sometimes my only motivation for exercising is because I ate cake. it is still a work in progress.
  • AlexB422
    AlexB422 Posts: 111
    once you develop a taste for eating clean like fruits and such it gets easier to resist because you don't have that want for sugar.


    I lost 78 pounds and cut them out of my diet for awhile, but now that I'm maintaining, I started eating them again but once you start up again....
  • shootergirlnc
    shootergirlnc Posts: 50 Member
    I make a smoothie if I REALLY want something sweet. Today I used 3/4 cup of vanilla almond milk, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1/2 cup of blueberries, and 1 cup of spinach. You can only taste the vanilla and blueberries. It tasted like a liquid blueberry muffin! 221 calories, and a great way to sneak in protein if you're lacking for the day.
  • caly_man
    caly_man Posts: 281 Member
    dont hover around the desserts table, grab your portions on 1 plate, whatever they may be, walk away, enjoy

    and don't go back for seconds
  • SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants
    SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants Posts: 474 Member
    "NO MORE JELLO FOR ME MA!" anyone who can name that movie needs to add me lol
  • Andrea8985
    Andrea8985 Posts: 107
    I am all for dessert. I work it into my diet in a healthy way. However, I'm the same way. I have a major sweet tooth and can't help myself at buffets. What do I do? I stay away from the end of the table. If I notice that something looks particularly good, I'll have just that.
  • rpd911
    rpd911 Posts: 9 Member
    I find coffee after dinner helps, but if you have to have something for desert to get a sweet fix, I do Thomas light high fiber english muffins with a half tsp of honey and small shavings of butter. toast em up, put on butter and honey, less than 180 cal and even with my coffee i'm under 200.
  • SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants
    SisterhoodoftheShrinkingPants Posts: 474 Member
    once you develop a taste for eating clean like fruits and such it gets easier to resist because you don't have that want for sugar.


    I lost 78 pounds and cut them out of my diet for awhile, but now that I'm maintaining, I started eating them again but once you start up again....

    Im trying moderation for the first time in my life. Sometimes I win sometimes I lose. but MOSTLY Im winning because Im learning its just not worth it when I see those cals add up and that does help me chose more wisely. I want to be able to have my cake and eat it too...but if I have to choose between getting to my goal and continuing to "moderate" guess what Im going to choose?
  • bulbadoof
    bulbadoof Posts: 1,058 Member
    One bite of everything is enough for me. Two bites of my favorite. Buffets are easy cause you can choose your portion sizes - and therefore make them ridiculously small if necessary.
  • crandos
    crandos Posts: 377 Member
    i usually just go with and eat the ice cream or chocolates lol.
  • WhitneySheree88
    WhitneySheree88 Posts: 222 Member
    I usually get ice cream and a couple cookies. No, I don't need both but I have found that if I don't indulge then, I eat any and everything sweet later that night. Just be mindful of your portions
  • itsnikki
    itsnikki Posts: 4
    I just had that dilemma! I ate a few bites of cherry cheesecake and that was that. :) Oy would have been just enough to tick my hubby off, LOL, but it satisfied my sweet tooth. :)
  • cyclebummer
    cyclebummer Posts: 29
    Your 78 pound loss is impressive, testifying to will power stimulated by motivation.

    As with most things in life, goals are reached with motivation. Motivation to act can be inspired by all sorts of things. Re weight loss, quality of life, vanity, concern for family, general health, bp control, career, peer respect, etc. I bet one or more of those apply to you. It really is mind over matter.

    Understand what is motivating you to lose weight, focus on that, give yourself a good talking to about it daily. Then ressolve to just say no most of the time. Not all the time. We all fall off the wagon occasionally. That's ok as long as we climb back aboard.

    I do a dessert when convenient, but only a little, reminding myself that in 15 minutes I'll have forgotten about the opportunity to gorge as long as I don't give in to the moment. I also pig out at least once a week, usually on 'junk' food. Long as it isn't regular, it's ok.

    I do try to make sure that the remains of desserts brought to the house by family are taken home by family, and never make them at home. Out of sight, out of mind.

    You succesful weight loss mean you can put a stake in the heart of this dessert devil.
  • DonnaB0527
    DonnaB0527 Posts: 4
    Alex, I too have found that as I adjusted to fewer processed foods and MUCH lower sodium in my diet, I don't crave sweets *quite* as much. However ..... last week I took my grandkids (ages 6 and 3) to dinner and instead of a humongous dessert, I promised them that we would drive through Krispy Kreme to get each of them a donut. We pull up to the Krispy Kreme window and the "Hot Now!" sign is lit and you know what happened. I bought 6 donuts and ate 2 of them!

    So here are a couple of suggestions, from another die-hard sweet eater!

    First, don't beat yourself up over desserts. You love them, they give you pleasure. Acknowledge that. It's not as big a deal as you think.

    Second, go overboard? Okay, get out your calendar and/or your notepad (whether paper or electronic!) and make yourself a note. For the next 3 (or more) days, write down that you've already had your "splurge meal" for this week. Somebody brings in brownies at work? Look at your note. You had your splurge. Think about those yummy cupcakes or that lemon meringue pie you had and remember how much you enjoyed it. Pass by the brownies. There will be more next week.

    Third, try maintenance for a time. To maintain your weight, you get to add calories to your daily total. And if you're on Weight Watchers or something similar, get the maintenance materials from your meeting leader and you'll see that it's a nice extra amount of calories. Use those extra calories to enjoy your desserts for a week or two or three. Then, guess what? You're ready to go back to weight-loss mode, you've enjoyed your desserts for a time, and you haven't gained.

    I don't intend to give up desserts, but I do have to rethink them. It's the thinking and rethinking that's the hard part.
  • snowfallgently
    snowfallgently Posts: 21
    I so understand and I have been asking the same questions on how to tame my sweet tooth. For now I just need to say "no." It is a tough thing for me to do but I don't think at this point I can handle even a little bit.
  • Dragn77
    Dragn77 Posts: 810 Member
    I have such a weakness for cake and pie! For me, one bite and its all over...so I avoid having that one bite. Instead, I go for something I know I can control myself with...I like iced cream, but I dont have an uncontrollable urge for it, so I know I can have a little bit and be done.

    So yeah, instead of sampling a little bit of *everything* have it in your mind that you can sample one thing, or two things tops. Then decide which two things you will try. That way you're not denying yourself, but mentally putting a cap on what you'll allow yourself so that you dont go completely overboard.

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