Eating Terrible Food because you Have the Calories?

auteurfille22

Today, once all my meals and everything were done, I had about 900 calories left, about 330 from exercise. I was super proud, because in the past month and a half I've gained back 6 pounds from my lowest weight in over four years. But I just went and had tons of Lindt chocolate, butter, sugar, and pretzels. I'm not over my calorie goal, far from it, but I feel so guilty about having stuffed my face with such unhealthy and fattening food. Does anyone else deal with this - I have these moments of, "I have the calories, so why not?" but I want to be healthy and make overall lifestyle changes that will help me maintain once I get to my goal weight, and habits like this won't do that. I'm really disappointed in myself for my weight gain over the past few weeks and I really want to get back on the wagon and stay there, but I'm having feelings of doubt that I actually can.

Erinelda

If you have the surplus once in a while then why not? I personally think there is nothing wrong with any of those foods. I think overly processed foods and damaged heated oils are the real enemies. There is nothing wrong with a treat once in a while.

SDkitty

I wouldn't beat yourself up, eating some sweets does not immediately destroy your "healthy lifestyle changes". In all honestly it doesn't sound like you actually stuffed your face at all. If you had 900 calories available and you say you are still far from going over your goal, I'd say you indulged a little but nothing to worry about.

If you start doing it every day then maybe put a sticky on whichever cabinet has the fatty food that says "Are you sure??" :flowerforyou:

Briargrey

As long as you keep under your calorie goal and are hitting all the right nutrients, why not have items like this at times? No need to demonize them. Now, if you are going over your calorie goal, not getting good nutrients overall, or just aren't feeling well eating these foods, then don't or moderate them even more. Listen to your body.

onetooblown

those are not "terrible" foods... they sound like great foodz to me

RestartingAgain1

Ill have a chocolate or some cookie dough if it fits in my calories. I feel like its the reason I haven't cheated and gone over my calories.

Big_GBake

That shouldn't be a problem at all. I do it probably once a week. It keeps me from feeling like I'm dieting. Just make sure that you've had good things the rest of the day and you should be just fine. Just keep up the good work...

OmegaAlpha007

What? you had over 900 calories left after all your meals were done?... when did you do this after breakfast?

Plan your meals a day ahead, get as close as you can to your caloric goal with "clean food" then from there maybe you're allowed "terrible food"

Failing to plan is Planning to fail...

marvybells

those are not "terrible" foods... they sound like great foodz to me

my thoughts exactly....


OP, you need to be in a calorie surplus to gain weight. If you are eating at a deficit then you are not going to gain weight just because you ate chocolate and pretzels.

I have some sort of sweet treat every day. Been doing it for months. I just make sure that i stay at or under my calorie goal and I do not gain any weight. (i do not lose weight either, but that is because i am in maintenance. if i wanted to lose weight then i would simply lower my calorie goal.)

raindawg

I was short on calories yesterday and splurged on Ben & Jerry's ice cream to catch up. It was oh so awesome!

Donald_Dozier_50

900 calories would be a hell of a lot of broccoli... I do the same from time to time. To me, a calorie is a calorie.

jadashay

When I have the calories left, I try to stick to better sweet treats. All juice popsicles are perfect this time of year. That way I can feel indulgent but not guilty. I try never to demonize food though, no sense in beating yourself up.

Jkn921

I feel like that now as I gained a few pounds back and am trying to cut the sugar out as that's what is my 'enemy' at the moment. But before, I'd add a treat it once or twice a week, it prevents binging

tennisdude2004

If you've hit your protein, fats and micro nutrients and have calories left then you have a choice, you can either have a bigger deficit for the day or eat junk, or eat healthy.

As long as at the end of the day you are under your calorie target you will lose weight.

SezxyStef

Don't feel guilty...I eat a chocolate bar everynight...why because I have the space.

and those foods are not terrible....and creating new habits isn't about giving up treats it's about eating them in moderation which you did cause you stayed in goal.

cwoyto123

Calories in vs. calories out for weight loss.

you could get to 8% bodyfat eating pure cane sugar.

kindel2

I wondering about this. Thanks for posting, I wont feel sooooo bad now.

Aquawave

I have no willpower so none of that addictive junk is in my house. On a day when you feel particularly angry at the world, go into your food cabinets, toss it out and don't buy anymore.

Francl27

those are not "terrible" foods... they sound like great foodz to me

Yup. I have ice cream or chocolate every day. And it makes me happy.