Splurge?

I was sitting here, having my morning coffee, laughing to myself because I splurged! I had two (count them; 2!) packets of Splenda in my cup, and considered it splurging. "Hey! That's 8 calories right there."

Then, I started thinking about what "splurging" meant to me now, and realized that prior to changing my lifestyle and eating and fitness habits, did I even think about splurging, or did I just eat whatever, whenever? I don't ever remember thinking, "Oh, I'm splurging by eating this whole cheesecake over the course of a day!"

I know some talk about "cheat meals" and "cheat days" but what do people that successfully maintain healthy lifestyles consider splurging?

Replies

  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    I consider having two packet of crisps (Tayto Prawn Cocktail 25g pack) one after the other a splurge - a whole 270 calories, shock horror LOL - my so called 'splurges' happen once or twice a month, no biggie :smiley:
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I don't think in terms of having a splurge.

    generally i work to my weekly goal, whether that's at maintenance or a deficit, and then some days (birthday, holidays, special occasions) i over eat and don't worry about it not fitting into my weekly goal.

    those 'not worrying' days are probably less than once a month, as i am pretty good at fitting yummy stuff into my weekly goal (being a long distance runner helps this!)
  • swim777
    swim777 Posts: 599 Member
    A small vanilla ice cream cone from Dairy Queen once in a while.
  • RadishEater
    RadishEater Posts: 470 Member
    Perhaps once every couple of months I go over my calories by 100-300 calories, usually for some special event or family visiting. Otherwise I stick to eating all my exercise calories back or being a bit below.
    However I make sure to have treats everyday whether it is a some chocolate and wine or just wine or a giant spoonful of almond butter, which I have become addicted to now :)
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    I can't really think of anything.. usually a meal or day that doesn't even come close to hitting my protein goal. I don't feel so great about that. I would feel more comfortable going way over my TDEE vs coming way under on protein.
  • saragd012
    saragd012 Posts: 693 Member
    Every few weeks I want a "splurge" breakfast, usually after I'm coming up from a particularly stressful week of work. It's honestly less of a calorie splurge, and more of a "treat myself to breakfast" splurge since I tend to meal-prep inexpensive options. This morning was actually one of those, I had two fried eggs on a croissant and an energy drink I really like (but generally avoid). I have no guilt about it, but it was pretty much double the calories I'd normally have for breakfast. I do work in treats for myself daily, and I've been in maintenance/recomp for quite a while so I have more calories to play with. Even if I do go over a day or two I also have tons of days I'm unintentionally well under (usually on extremely active days) so I figure it balances itself out.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    I don't eat out at restaurants very often, so every time I do, it's a "splurge". I get whatever entree I want without worrying about the calories. Since it's only 1-2 days a month, it doesn't matter in the long run.
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    edited June 2018
    Once a month I save up enough macros for my ma's fried chicken and biscuits! mmmmmm!!!
    https://youtu.be/YNkQVoE1rC8
  • lorenzoinlr
    lorenzoinlr Posts: 338 Member
    edited June 2018
    I've been on this site for over 6 years. It's been tremendous for me in so many ways. But I've never been able to do disciplined maintenance with continued logging. I've accepted I'm either in a loss phase or I'm just cruising with what I want to eat. When I reach 5 lbs over I'm in a loss phase back to target. This cycle is once or twice a year.

    Lobster rolls. Nutritionally awful, particularly with the amount of mayo and butter the put on them here. But I need them.
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    HeyJudii wrote: »
    I was sitting here, having my morning coffee, laughing to myself because I splurged! I had two (count them; 2!) packets of Splenda in my cup, and considered it splurging. "Hey! That's 8 calories right there."

    Then, I started thinking about what "splurging" meant to me now, and realized that prior to changing my lifestyle and eating and fitness habits, did I even think about splurging, or did I just eat whatever, whenever? I don't ever remember thinking, "Oh, I'm splurging by eating this whole cheesecake over the course of a day!"

    I know some talk about "cheat meals" and "cheat days" but what do people that successfully maintain healthy lifestyles consider splurging?

    I'm currently on prep and splurging to me is not weighing or measuring my chicken, turkey, egg whites, etc. I left my food scale back in Jersey after a weekend there and had to deal with no measurements until my new one came in the mail..three days of "splurges". After my competition, my splurges will be enjoying an ice cream treat with my god son and drinking on my best friend's birthday party! Social splurges always get me. But it's part of making it a lifestyle.
  • LifeWithPie
    LifeWithPie Posts: 552 Member

    Lobster rolls. Nutritionally awful, particularly with the amount of mayo and butter the put on them here. But I need them.

    You and me both brother. Lobster rolls for life!
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    I walked over to Starbucks this very hot afternoon intending to splurge on a lite caramel Frappuccino. The barista informed me that they discontinued the lite base. So even sugar free syrup and no whipped cream, it was 300 cals. I promptly walked out and made myself a regular iced coffee.
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    edited June 2018
    I don't call them splurges or cheat meals or so worth it moments. I used to call it thrill eating. Every moment is a so worth moment as far as I'm concerned. New York cheesecake or homemade berry cobbler. Lasagna or lemon chicken scallopini. Spaghetti and meatballs. I having all of it in reasonable amounts. No more clean eating for me but I'm still avoiding romaine lettuce for now. Baked lasagna won't hurt you but the salad might. :p
  • Kathryn247
    Kathryn247 Posts: 570 Member
    Whether you're splurging ("treat yo self!") with calories or money, it all hits the bottom line. You can go over your calories for the day by 3,500, sure, but then you'll need a 3,500 calorie deficit over the next couple of weeks or your weight will go up a pound. You can buy a $3,500 coat that's not in your budget, but you'll have to spend less on something else to break even for the month.
    I had a 3,200 calorie day last week and it was awesome. So I guess for me a splurge is a high-calorie day or meal that I'll adjust for later to reach my goals.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,989 Member
    I don't eat out at restaurants very often, so every time I do, it's a "splurge". I get whatever entree I want without worrying about the calories. Since it's only 1-2 days a month, it doesn't matter in the long run.

    I realize I am picking nits but everything matters in the long run if you don't make CICO even out. Going over 1-2 times a month would slowly put weight on if you were dead even on all other days. I am a little obsessed, but I always work in the overage pretty quickly (within a few days).

    Yeah, in theory, but I'm never dead even. I've been maintaining successfully for a few years. Some days I eat at a deficit, some days at a surplus. It seems to even out for me.
  • collectingblues
    collectingblues Posts: 2,541 Member
    nowine4me wrote: »
    I walked over to Starbucks this very hot afternoon intending to splurge on a lite caramel Frappuccino. The barista informed me that they discontinued the lite base. So even sugar free syrup and no whipped cream, it was 300 cals. I promptly walked out and made myself a regular iced coffee.

    I know. That happened to me when I went for my post-run frapp a few weeks back. I ended up getting it anyway, because I thought it would taste good, but then I got home and saw what the calories were, and nope nope nope. That ain't happening again.
  • ryenday
    ryenday Posts: 1,540 Member
    edited June 2018
    I do 5:2 IF (two days a week I eat 500 to 600 cals). And the other days I’m loosely tracking calories (rarely weighing but using measurement like cups and tsp to keep my estimates in the ballpark). That gives me about 1500 extra weekly calories to make the five days pretty reasonable at around 1600 cals per day, or more often only eating 1350 the other days so I can save most of the two light day calorie savings for use on a weekend splurge day.

    So I often “splurge” on weekends. That would be allowing my self a piece of my husband’s King Ranch Caserole or a serving of Chicken Tika (servings in the 600+ calorie range) or a restaurant meal without worry, or two or three servings of potato chips at a party, or a small milkshake on a hot night.

    So usually I have one (rarely two) splurge a week, often in connection with a social engagement and use two severely restricted calorie days to keep me at maintenance.

    To lose weight I restrict any splurging to less than once a month for holidays or special days like my anniversary.

    Complicated, but when maintenance is is less than 9500 cals a week (1350 a day) ‘just fit it into your calories’ just doesn’t work for me. And life is too short not to splurge now and again!

  • WilmaValley
    WilmaValley Posts: 1,092 Member
    The occasional splurge is wonderful and to be enjoyed!!!!
  • LiftHeavyThings27105
    LiftHeavyThings27105 Posts: 2,086 Member
    nowine4me wrote: »
    I walked over to Starbucks this very hot afternoon intending to splurge on a lite caramel Frappuccino. The barista informed me that they discontinued the lite base. So even sugar free syrup and no whipped cream, it was 300 cals. I promptly walked out and made myself a regular iced coffee.

    I KNOW! That so fried my basket! I do Keto, so reducing carbs in my Starbucks is important. I figured out other ways....but that was a disappointment1
  • vegmebuff
    vegmebuff Posts: 31,389 Member
    HeyJudii wrote: »
    I was sitting here, having my morning coffee, laughing to myself because I splurged! I had two (count them; 2!) packets of Splenda in my cup, and considered it splurging. "Hey! That's 8 calories right there."

    Then, I started thinking about what "splurging" meant to me now, and realized that prior to changing my lifestyle and eating and fitness habits, did I even think about splurging, or did I just eat whatever, whenever? I don't ever remember thinking, "Oh, I'm splurging by eating this whole cheesecake over the course of a day!"

    I know some talk about "cheat meals" and "cheat days" but what do people that successfully maintain healthy lifestyles consider splurging?

    ...this just dawned on me...my Spenda package states 1 gram/package. One gram/package states '0 calories'....I've noticed too that some posted Spenda packages as '0' or like you have recorded '4 calories/package'...I'm so confused?

    Any ideas why this is??
  • HeyJudii
    HeyJudii Posts: 264 Member
    vegmebuff wrote: »
    HeyJudii wrote: »
    I was sitting here, having my morning coffee, laughing to myself because I splurged! I had two (count them; 2!) packets of Splenda in my cup, and considered it splurging. "Hey! That's 8 calories right there."

    Then, I started thinking about what "splurging" meant to me now, and realized that prior to changing my lifestyle and eating and fitness habits, did I even think about splurging, or did I just eat whatever, whenever? I don't ever remember thinking, "Oh, I'm splurging by eating this whole cheesecake over the course of a day!"

    I know some talk about "cheat meals" and "cheat days" but what do people that successfully maintain healthy lifestyles consider splurging?

    ...this just dawned on me...my Spenda package states 1 gram/package. One gram/package states '0 calories'....I've noticed too that some posted Spenda packages as '0' or like you have recorded '4 calories/package'...I'm so confused?

    Any ideas why this is??

    In the US, food manufacturers are allowed to put zero calories on anything that has less than 5 calories per serving, but the only thing that really has only 0 calories is water. As a general rule most things that say zero calories have around 4 and less than 5 calories.
  • CarvedTones
    CarvedTones Posts: 2,340 Member
    HeyJudii wrote: »
    vegmebuff wrote: »
    HeyJudii wrote: »
    I was sitting here, having my morning coffee, laughing to myself because I splurged! I had two (count them; 2!) packets of Splenda in my cup, and considered it splurging. "Hey! That's 8 calories right there."

    Then, I started thinking about what "splurging" meant to me now, and realized that prior to changing my lifestyle and eating and fitness habits, did I even think about splurging, or did I just eat whatever, whenever? I don't ever remember thinking, "Oh, I'm splurging by eating this whole cheesecake over the course of a day!"

    I know some talk about "cheat meals" and "cheat days" but what do people that successfully maintain healthy lifestyles consider splurging?

    ...this just dawned on me...my Spenda package states 1 gram/package. One gram/package states '0 calories'....I've noticed too that some posted Spenda packages as '0' or like you have recorded '4 calories/package'...I'm so confused?

    Any ideas why this is??

    In the US, food manufacturers are allowed to put zero calories on anything that has less than 5 calories per serving, but the only thing that really has only 0 calories is water. As a general rule most things that say zero calories have around 4 and less than 5 calories.

    I log everything more to keep from developing a habit of skipping things than worrying about being exact to the calorie. But if I used artificial sweeteners, I would accept the US labeling and not log it.
  • vegmebuff
    vegmebuff Posts: 31,389 Member
    HeyJudii wrote: »
    vegmebuff wrote: »
    HeyJudii wrote: »
    I was sitting here, having my morning coffee, laughing to myself because I splurged! I had two (count them; 2!) packets of Splenda in my cup, and considered it splurging. "Hey! That's 8 calories right there."

    Then, I started thinking about what "splurging" meant to me now, and realized that prior to changing my lifestyle and eating and fitness habits, did I even think about splurging, or did I just eat whatever, whenever? I don't ever remember thinking, "Oh, I'm splurging by eating this whole cheesecake over the course of a day!"

    I know some talk about "cheat meals" and "cheat days" but what do people that successfully maintain healthy lifestyles consider splurging?

    ...this just dawned on me...my Spenda package states 1 gram/package. One gram/package states '0 calories'....I've noticed too that some posted Spenda packages as '0' or like you have recorded '4 calories/package'...I'm so confused?

    Any ideas why this is??

    In the US, food manufacturers are allowed to put zero calories on anything that has less than 5 calories per serving, but the only thing that really has only 0 calories is water. As a general rule most things that say zero calories have around 4 and less than 5 calories.

    Thanks...yes i guess I've heard of that (I obviously forgot about it though!)