Can I eat Snickers even if it fits my calories?

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Replies

  • LMick1986
    LMick1986 Posts: 431
    I have Snikcers icecream most weeknights :) A calorie is a calorie. Your car can't tell whether is petrol came from BP or Caltex, your body can't tell if your calorie came from a Snickers or a salad.

    My car can tell.....and it can tell within about a mile from the gas station. 900 dollars later, my car doesn't get a certain type anymore.
    Same with my body. Yes, a calorie is just a calorie. However, certain calories can definitely make you feel better or worse. Now, having said that, don't completely cut something out of your diet though if you really like it. People tend to fail when they just up and drop everything that's "bad" for them. Just cut back and over time, you'll see/feel a difference.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    Calorie deficit for weight loss.

    Nutrient makeup for health.

    That said, eat your Snickers. It won't hurt your weight loss if you are still in a deficit. If there's another reason you don't want to have it...like you're diabetic...then don't eat the Snickers.

    Like I said in another one of your threads OP, don't overcomplicate things. :flowerforyou:
  • LMick1986
    LMick1986 Posts: 431
    Calorie deficit for weight loss.

    Nutrient makeup for health.

    I like this. It doesn't get much clearer that this.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I had one for breakfast yesterday ... Call the nutritional cops. :)
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    Can I have Butterfinger bars? I mean, really?! Somebody please send Butterfinger bars to me here in South Korea. I haven't seen one in 3 years!


    www.expatexpress.com

    You're welcome.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Can you physically eat it? Yes. Should you? That's a different question.

    If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, trying to fit in Snickers, or cake, or a stick of butter, is probably not wise. It's about making better choices for the rest of your life. It's about having a sensible relationship with food and not having a binge mentality.

    That's why I don't believe in "cheat" days and the like. If you want to eat something, eat it and move on. Don't binge, don't beat yourself up and don't question your choices. If you do any of the above, then you need to work on your relationship with food, sugar or whatever has a hold over you.

    I completely disagree with the part in bold. I think that working foods I enjoy into my daily goal is the best way to make sure I keep off the weight I've lost. So far I've been in maintenance for 9 months. Allowing myself a wide variety of foods helps me stick to my goal. If I thought I had to eliminate ice cream, cookies, and the like forever I would not have stuck with this for the past two years. I would have just stayed fat.

    I do agree with the second part, at least for me. But many people have success with cheat days and the like. For me personally working in small amounts of "treat" foods daily is more effective than trying to eat 100% "healthy" all the time and then having a treat day. With the treat day system I feel pressured to fit in all the foods I enjoy in one day and I end up overeating. It's better for me to allocate 20% of my daily calories to have some ice cream or another treat. Then I've got 80% of my calories for whole nutrient dense foods.

    ETA: also a big part of maintenance is realizing that life happens. There are going to be parties, and dinners out, and people who bring cake to the office for your birthday. Those who have the skills to work these situations into their plan are going to be more successful (and happier) in my opinion than those who insist that they can never have sweets again. IMO the all-or-nothing mentality is the way to set yourself up to binge.
  • Greywalk
    Greywalk Posts: 193 Member
    Go for it and add a couple of miles to balance it out. :) I love snickers but limit myself to how often I get one. I use them as rewards for accomplishing goals etc.
  • 4daluvof_candice
    4daluvof_candice Posts: 483 Member
    Can I have Butterfinger bars? I mean, really?! Somebody please send Butterfinger bars to me here in South Korea. I haven't seen one in 3 years!

    three years without Butterfinger?!? :sad:
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    taste-snickers4.jpg
    homer-simpson-drooling-picture-7410.jpg
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    If it fits your calories and macros, then hell yes!

    Sometimes the sugar macro is a problem. Its really low on here for some reason.

    Sugar isn't a macro. Macros are Carbs, Fats, and Proteins. Sugar is a carb, therefore a derivative.

    And yes, MFP, by default, sets your protein goal too low and your sugar goal too low. You can manually change this to fit your specific goals though.

    However, unless you have a medical condition, such as diabetes, then you have no real reason to track sugar specifically. Just pay attention to overall carbs.

    right, gotcha!

    So Im going to take out the sugar than. I always thought that sugar from chocolate (even thou it fits my day) would be a problem because of the sugar and what not.

    thanks

    Nope, not a problem at all!

    The things that I track are Carbs, fats, proteins, fiber, and sodium.

    THIS! I have an ice cream at the end of my day every night, so long as it fits in my calories. If my macros look good, I'm good to go! I've found that since I do that, I have 0% want/need/feel to binge. And guess what? I'm still losing weight steadily and at a healthy pace!

    In short, eat your Snickers and do it with a guilt-free conscience :)
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    Why don't you make yourself do extra exercise to earn one when you want one but have it as a rule that you meet your basic calories with healthier foods?
    Cause this leads to an eating disorder. Think about it. You keep making "bad" choices and you use cardio to cover up the real issue. The real issue being a lack of self control and not using moderation.

    Never use cardio to cover up the fact that you're eating too much.

    This is exactly what I was thinking. I never make exercise something I do to allow myself to overeat. Set a realistic calorie goal and you will be able to have a few treats along the way.
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    Go for it and add a couple of miles to balance it out. :) I love snickers but limit myself to how often I get one. I use them as rewards for accomplishing goals etc.

    Food as a reward for reaching your goals? This seems a little counterproductive - for me anyway.
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    Is it ok to eat snickers if it fits your daily calorie allowance? Or is that going to *slow down* your weight loss (even thou it fits the allotted daily calories). Im asking because I know its not HEALTHY, but I can have it and not go over my calories.

    Thoughts? Opinions?

    Absolutely - 300 calories of deliciousness. You can search for it on the food database - when you log your food.
  • mjbell642
    mjbell642 Posts: 229 Member
    If I do eat one... it's those small FUN size ones. Gives me the chocolat kick. It's the other stuff I fight to avoid.. like potato chips, french fries, etc...

    GOOD LUCK !!
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Of course you can. I know this can be a difficult mental block to overcome for some people, but there is no food that will make you fat if you don't eat too much of it. If it fits your calories AND you have otherwise satisfied your nutrition needs for the day, then enjoy.

    I generally allot myself sufficient calories for at least a Klondike bar or other treat, and a beer on a daily basis, even while dieting down.
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    yes you can :)

    As long as you have tracked your calories accurately and have had a decent enough amount of protein for the day then go for it!

    As long as you hit your protein and (good) fat macros, and have had enough servings of healthy carbs (fruits, veg and grains) then you can fill in your cals with whatever you want. :)
  • If you don't allow yourself treats ever, you're going to end up binging on them later. I have a sweet tooth like you wouldn't believe and yeah, I do give into it often, but I've still lost weight every week since July. You just have to be smart about it.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Can I have Butterfinger bars? I mean, really?! Somebody please send Butterfinger bars to me here in South Korea. I haven't seen one in 3 years!


    www.expatexpress.com

    You're welcome.

    ^ Your lifeline to Butterfingers and Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix
  • Of course you can. I know this can be a difficult mental block to overcome for some people, but there is no food that will make you fat if you don't eat too much of it. If it fits your calories AND you have otherwise satisfied your nutrition needs for the day, then enjoy.

    I generally allot myself sufficient calories for at least a Klondike bar or other treat, and a beer on a daily basis, even while dieting down.

    Yup, all of this. If I don't have enough calories left at the end of the night for some ice cream and a beer/glass of wine, then it better mean that I had a delicious fried dinner.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Just had a couple of 'fun size' (odd marketing term) ones right on bed time.

    What?! Eating chocolate AND after 6pm?

    Sweet Jesus On A Moped I'll be the size of a Zeppelin come the 'morrow! ;)
  • RitaSantoss
    RitaSantoss Posts: 986 Member
    I think the answer is yes, yes you can!
    As long as it fits into your carbs intake. Yesterday I ate a Magnum Sandwich ice cream as an afternoon snack since it was my cheat day and I even had a better intake of calories and nutrients.
    The trick is for you to fit whatever you want to eat into your daily calorie goal.
    If you do that, then you will be fine.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, trying to fit in Snickers, or cake, or a stick of butter, is probably not wise. It's about making better choices for the rest of your life. It's about having a sensible relationship with food and not having a binge mentality.

    That's why I don't believe in "cheat" days and the like. If you want to eat something, eat it and move on. Don't binge, don't beat yourself up and don't question your choices. If you do any of the above, then you need to work on your relationship with food, sugar or whatever has a hold over you.
    I'd suggest the opposite if anything; unless you plan to go on never having a chocolate bar in your life again, if you can integrate one in to losing weight, you've got more chance of not putting it back on again.

    I suspect a snickers bar is an excellent post-workout 'recovery'?

    I always post this in relation to the 'health' of sugar etc, worth a read:
    http://www.simplyshredded.com/the-science-of-nutrition-is-a-carb-a-carb.html
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Can you physically eat it? Yes. Should you? That's a different question.

    If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, trying to fit in Snickers, or cake, or a stick of butter, is probably not wise. It's about making better choices for the rest of your life. It's about having a sensible relationship with food and not having a binge mentality.

    That's why I don't believe in "cheat" days and the like. If you want to eat something, eat it and move on. Don't binge, don't beat yourself up and don't question your choices. If you do any of the above, then you need to work on your relationship with food, sugar or whatever has a hold over you.

    Wait? You're talking about a sensible relationship with food and then advising that the OP never eat a Snickers, cake, or butter ever again? Binging and deprivation are opposite sides of the same coin and both are indications of disordered eating. Balance and moderation are key and can be learned.
  • CMB1979
    CMB1979 Posts: 588 Member
    Can I have Butterfinger bars? I mean, really?! Somebody please send Butterfinger bars to me here in South Korea. I haven't seen one in 3 years!

    www.expatexpress.com

    You're welcome.

    Cool. I'd also love Rootbeer, but at $38 plus as much for shipping for a single 2 liter bottle, I'll stick what's available here. lol
  • jillianbeeee
    jillianbeeee Posts: 345 Member
    my philosophy is if it fits into your calories for the day. Then you can eat it. Thats whats great about this plan.
  • Snickers contain peanuts.. peanuts have protein ;-)
  • tmpecus78
    tmpecus78 Posts: 1,206 Member
    Make it fit and enjoy eating it. Anyone telling you you cannot is a moron!
  • Ofcourse you can if it fits! Moderation is the key!
  • chirosche
    chirosche Posts: 66 Member
    The calorie deficit makes sense. You really have to know your body. Just be careful though because you can trigger an insulin spike which can in turn trigger cravings, which in turn can create new fat cells. I wouldn't do it on a regular basis. Occasionally is fine. But you might want to read up on the affects of spiking your insulin levels. Actually, it can be a good thing if done on controlled days, like once a week. Then you have something to look forward to and it could actually trigger fat loss. This process is known as refeeding.
  • Alix68
    Alix68 Posts: 30 Member
    Why not? Your body doesn't suddenly slam the brakes on the metabolic process because it's a Snickers calorie instead of a lettuce calorie. It's just a unit of energy.

    does this also apply to a glass of wine?