How often do people have treats

lauraloy2013

Hi everyone, I've been using MFP for 2 weeks and lost 3 pounds. I added a post last week because I felt that it was going slow and I had headaches and dizzy spells but since putting my goal back to 1lb a week putting my calories up to 1390 and eating back some of my exercise calories I feel much better and actually enjoying it. My diet before this was quite unhealthy eating take away and junkies of the week and doing very little exercise. In the last two weeks I haven't had take away but I have had some weight watchers low cal treats and rich tea biscuits in the evening as a treat and have stayed within my calorie goal. I think I need to take these treats occasionally as I was so used to take sugary snacks so often and feel that if I cut it out I will give in and gorge.

So what do people think? Is it ok to have these treats as long as it's in the calorie goal or I'll I stop my weight loss.

The treats taste so much better now that I've cut way down and I look forward to it and feel that I've earned it which I never thought would happen with chocolate haha

Thanks any opinions would be appreciated.

cantfail

As long as it fits into my daily calories budget, I eat whatever I want. IMO having foods that are forever and always forbidden is counterproductive. I don't want to feel deprived or punished.

02ruth

I agree that a few treats are definitely deserved if you keep to your calorie goals. I lost quite a bit of weight at the start of the year on here, and I was still having my favourite snacks. Just started again yeaterday to lose a bit more before the end of the year, and fully intend to keep having the treats, but staying under my daily limit, and making sure that the rest of my food is really nutritious.

cwolfman13

I don't categorize food as "good" or "bad" so I have "treats" whenever. I have calorie goals and macro goals and I hit those...how I hit those is irrelevant so long as I'm getting proper nutrition. If all of my nutritional needs have been met, I don't get extra credit for more broccoli and I don't get dinged for having a handful of jelly beans.

bajoyba

There's no harm in treating yourself if it fits into your calories for the day. If your nutritional needs are being met, I think a little indulgence is totally normal, and if you can eat the things you like, it makes sticking to a calorie deficit that much easier. I have a little dessert pretty much every day, and it doesn't seem to have affected my weight loss.

martyqueen52

I do IIFYM (If it fits your macros) or Flexible Dieting. I eat poptarts / ice cream. I even plan on stopping at Starbucks in an hour and getting one of their chocolate chunk cookies.

I don't care what anyone says, but, as long as you stay at or even slightly above the number MFP set for you (I'm assuming you picked 1lb. per week to lose, which is -500 calories from your TDEE) you will lose weight.

KateK8LoseW8

I eat a treat every day. I let myself get more of my calories from treats during my hormonal times because otherwise I would just eat the same amount and go over on my calories anyway. So yesterday I had three treats, but still under my calorie goal.

Phoenix_Warrior

I don't categorize food as "good" or "bad" so I have "treats" whenever. I have calorie goals and macro goals and I hit those...how I hit those is irrelevant so long as I'm getting proper nutrition. If all of my nutritional needs have been met, I don't get extra credit for more broccoli and I don't get dinged for having a handful of jelly beans.

This^

sunsetzen

I eat a treat whenever I feel like it. I just make sure I have the calories for it.

Rocbola

These "treats" are designed to be physically addictive. Most people on this site will disagree with me, but i view those items the same way a recovering alcoholic views whiskey. One is too many, and a thousand is never enough.

greenhudler

I have a treat every single day if I want to, I just be sure not to overeat on them and meet all my other nutritional needs. For example I may have a square of dark chocolate. Or a few chips.

laineybz

When I first started losing weight, i cut chocolate out. My "treat" was jaffa cakes. maybe two a day. Now i'm maintaining, i eat chocolate but in moderation. I workout and enjoy it!

tigersword

I don't categorize food as "good" or "bad" so I have "treats" whenever. I have calorie goals and macro goals and I hit those...how I hit those is irrelevant so long as I'm getting proper nutrition. If all of my nutritional needs have been met, I don't get extra credit for more broccoli and I don't get dinged for having a handful of jelly beans.

This.

KateK8LoseW8

These "treats" are designed to be physically addictive. Most people on this site will disagree with me, but i view those items the same way a recovering alcoholic views whiskey. One is too many, and a thousand is never enough.

As a recovering alcoholic - no. Just no.

Cindyinpg

I don't categorize food as "good" or "bad" so I have "treats" whenever. I have calorie goals and macro goals and I hit those...how I hit those is irrelevant so long as I'm getting proper nutrition. If all of my nutritional needs have been met, I don't get extra credit for more broccoli and I don't get dinged for having a handful of jelly beans.

This^

This plus infinity. It is people's advice like this that I took when I first started here and this has been the first time I have been able to maintain a successful weight loss plan. See ticker below. I have ice cream every single day, (and other treats some days too, I'm currently on a Poptart ice cream sandwich kick), and consistently lose weight, because I keep a calorie deficit. That's it. My diary is open if you want to peek. Losing weight does not have to be miserable. I will go grab a few helpful links.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
http://impruvism.com/flexible-dieting-basics/

Francl27

Every day!

EHisCDN

I have no intention of feeling completely deprived for the rest of my life so I work "treats" into my calories. Sometimes I go over my calories but I still eat below maintenance. It may make the process slower for me but it's definitely more sustainable.

SLLRunner

Hi everyone, I've been using MFP for 2 weeks and lost 3 pounds. I added a post last week because I felt that it was going slow and I had headaches and dizzy spells but since putting my goal back to 1lb a week putting my calories up to 1390 and eating back some of my exercise calories I feel much better and actually enjoying it. My diet before this was quite unhealthy eating take away and junkies of the week and doing very little exercise. In the last two weeks I haven't had take away but I have had some weight watchers low cal treats and rich tea biscuits in the evening as a treat and have stayed within my calorie goal. I think I need to take these treats occasionally as I was so used to take sugary snacks so often and feel that if I cut it out I will give in and gorge.

So what do people think? Is it ok to have these treats as long as it's in the calorie goal or I'll I stop my weight loss.

The treats taste so much better now that I've cut way down and I look forward to it and feel that I've earned it which I never thought would happen with chocolate haha

Thanks any opinions would be appreciated.

Laurel,

Wonderful news that you're feeling better after raising your calories!

I plan my calories accordingly so that I can have a treat each day. My big treat is So Delicious Cocoanut Milk Frozen Dairy Desert with no sugar added (no processed sugar, that is, but fruit juice). Actually, now that I think of it, everything I eat is a treat.

SLLRunner

These "treats" are designed to be physically addictive. Most people on this site will disagree with me, but i view those items the same way a recovering alcoholic views whiskey. One is too many, and a thousand is never enough.

What, in your definition, is a treat?

lauraloy2013

Thanks so much for all the replies. So much help. I feel a lot more content now. I'm always afraid that I'm enjoying it too much to actually be doing good but I suppose that's one of the good things about MFP. Thanks guys.

ChrisS30V

Whenever I feel like. In fact, I'm going to be baking a chocolate cake tonight and I plan on having a great big slice, or two. And why not? I exercised today, it easily fits into my caloric budget and by god I WANT it, that's reason enough for me.

Like one of the other posters mentioned, there's not a Health-God or other nutrition-related deity keeping tally of every "good" or "bad" food that you eat. There's foods that should be eaten in greater abundance because they have nutrients that your body needs (fruit, veg, etc.) and then there are foods that aren't quite as nutritious (cake, muffins, all that wonderful stuff). As long as you're eating enough of the former to meet your nutritional foods, it's perfectly fine to enjoy the latter within the limits of your caloric budget.

I'm not trying to point fingers or single anyone out, but if you'll notice, it's usually the people with the most restrictive (skinless chicken breast and steamed broccoli at every meal) diets that end up falling off of the wagon and binging their guts out at some point. IMHO being inflexible is not sustainable and is detrimental in the long run.