poll- treat day/ treat meal

XLMACX

Just wondering out of curiosity what people find works better for them I know everyone is different and take different approaches to what suits them but wondering,

Do people prefer to fit treats daily in to their calorie goals or do they cut back a little through the week to have a treat meal or treat night. Or do some not cut back and have their treats night/meal regardless if going over weekly cals?

I normally have a treat day and cut back through week but thinking of just having one treat meal the night of my weigh in as the treat days are just that full of treats which really im just eating for sake of it becuase its a "treat day" lol

xcalygrl

I have small treats on some days (i.e. a Hershey Kiss or an Oreo). I find it easier to have one here and there than to restrict myself. I usually always have the treat after I workout, so I've "earned it."

kristinhowell

Everything in moderation! It works better for me than cutting it out altogether.

That being said, counting calories has made me more aware of what's going into my body and I have noticed myself naturally going for things that are healthier for me than I have in the past. But, if I want a brownie, I'm going to eat that brownie if I've got the calories (noms).

The only thing I have to set a limit on is fast food, or I'd make myself sick eating it every day.

Supertact

I eat ice cream every day but in moderation and I make it fit. I've lost 110 pounds.

GiveMeCoffee

I plan my day to include my nightly dessert, and if that puts me over occasionally I don't worry about it. It's about consistency not one night or one day over.

This weekend I knew I was going away and will be over almost every day, so I did try during the week to be a little lower than normal. But again I don't worry about it too much, weekend away I will enjoy it, come back on Monday and go on with what I was doing.

hmroebuck

I eat a small treat any day that I really "need" it. I don't reward my good eating with bad food, it gives food false power (emotionally speaking).

dammitjanet0161

A little of both, when you account for exercise calories. If you looked at my diary you'd see a small amount of chocolate or a biscuit here and there most days, which fit into my daily allowance (or might send it over slightly on the days I don't exercise). However, when I exericse I don't tend to eat back all of my extra calories, as long as I net enough cals I don't feel I need to as my daily goal is pretty high (things would be different if I was only on 1200!). At weekends I've been going 200-300 over my allowance which I guess puts me round about maintenance or slightly higher on those days BUT the deficit from the exercise days seems to balance out the weekends, even with the odd little treat worked in every day as well, if that makes sense?

Sorry, quite a long winded way of saying I'm not very good at being super-strict with myself and only having one cheat meal/day!

prgirl39mfp

I can eat treats everyday, in moderation. If I do not eat them is fine.

XLMACX

What I do is have a low cal chocolate bar every day like a cadburys fredo frog then I tend to have 1-2 drinks from work vending machine so cappuccino. But then on a Saturday I just gaze on treats throughout so I will have a Mcdonaldz milk shake a higher cal chocolate bar like a mars bar, make fajitas that night and also some vodka diet colas, im just thinking maybe its better to have things as and when I want them as long as in calorie goal rather than saving all these cravings for the weekend.

Im going to try it anyway stick to my 1600 daily add more treats in as and when I want them then Friday night have one treat meal to the value of 500! Shall see how it works 

alexuh

I've worked quite hard to create the mindset that if I want a treat whatever the day I can have it very easily if it slips into my calorie goal. However, that obviously means less of the other food I would have had that day and it usually puts me off. I could have salmon and lots and lots of yummy roasted veggies or I could have a chunky chocolate bar and probably feel tired and lathargic afterwards. 90% of the time I go with the meal. But knowing I truly have a choice in the matter has made me much more successful with sticking to my goals. I used to be incredibly strict - 'NO WAY can I have chocolate or chips on a weekday!!!!' it was totally the all or nothing mentality and totally the wrong mindframe to have. :flowerforyou:

malibu927

Ice cream or chocolate nearly every night, depending on how many calories I have left.

XLMACX

good point and good way to look at things im hoping this way will work better for me too x

Francl27

It's better to fit what you like in your days, if at all possible.

SharonCMach

I cut back threw the week, so I can have a cheat day or cheat weekend.

asdowe13

Everyday is Treat day!

eels4peels

Make your treats fit daily! You deserve them!

XLMACX

Its so hard on the weekends for me I drink every weekend that an extra 500 cals on a bottle of wine x

seltzermint555

I allow myself small "treats" pretty often...a couple of times a week, but not every night. It is easy for me to get in the habit of eating too few calories and then having a surplus of 300-500 in the evening and making some sort of coffee mug brownie or going out for ice cream after logging some calories for exercise. I don't think that's the worst thing, but I don't wanna do it every night!!

As for "treat day" - Saturdays are usually my treat day. Not a cheat because I still fit everything into my calories. Generally I do give myself more leeway when it comes to my macros though...more likely to have a restaurant meal that puts me over on sodium and/or fat. My husband and I take a lot of road trips and do sight-seeing, and when we're not on a road trip we pack in TONS of walking and hiking or biking. So we have a lot of extra calories to "spend" on Saturdays on food that we don't normally eat Sunday through Friday. It's our time to embrace all of the crazy delicious food that's out there...pad Thai, banh mi, cupcakes from a fancy place...we look forward to it and it works for us.

TavistockToad

I follow IIFYM, and if you look at your weekly goals as well as daily you can fit in a few treats!

Losingthedamnweight

I'm dieting the way i want to: by stuffing my fat face with whatever i want in moderation. Want some jack in the box? Fit it in my calories. Want a bowl of ice cream? Fit it in my calorie budget! When i live like this, i never feel like i'm sacrificing anything. I have what i want all the time so why eat more? I stick to my calories most of the time. BUT...

...There are times when you just want to eat more and you can't simply stick to your tiny calorie budget. Sometimes there'll be a barbecue or a special event. Or thanksgiving! Oh god thanksgiving. I swear...if you don't stuff your face on that day of all days, you're doing it wrong. I make a rule for myself:i can eat at maintenance once a week (which for me is 3,000 calories) At least if i eat at maintenance, i can't feel that bad because it's not like i'm going to gain any weight from eating that day. At worst, i pause my progress for only 1 day. Which for me, makes it worth it. I usually don't give myself this 'treat day' because i don't feel like i need it, but it's good to have that option.

XLMACX

This is why I consider mfp method and buying. A good polar HRM because the weekend I burn most calories and eat the most but with my tdee I have been losing weight at 2lb-1.5lb so I think I might be jus twisting my money, I beat myself up when I go over calories on weekend sometimes so a HRM would probably put my mind to rest hmmm tough one! X

LessHeavyVeggie

I tend to leave a little room for a treat after dinner (50-150cals) or if I'm going to the pub/out for dinner/craving a certain treat/meal or something then I'll eat light the rest of the day to leave room for it. That way I don't feel deprived of anything. I stay within my goal everyday, as in the past I rationalised overeating by thinking 'just this once won't hurt'. It turns out 'just this once' was pretty much all the time! I've found by fitting things into my goal, I'm learning to be able to have just a small piece and stop at that which should serve me well in future. I'm also finding my appetite is changing, I had a 500cal dinner last night (falafels, egg, sauteed veg and tzatziki) and I was stuffed - not sure if this is scientifically right, but I think I'm not going to be able to eat the huge feasts I had before now I'm used to smaller portions.

But that's what works for me - if you're having treat meals/days and you're losing then well done! No need to fix what isn't broken.

mom2_4gr8kids

I work treats into my daily calories. I'm afraid a cheat day would turn into my previous horrible eating habits, so I haven't tried it. My birthday is in August and I intend to have a meal that really can't fit into my daily calories. Counting the days...

Last night, I didn't have enough calories for the Hershey Kisses I really, really wanted. So I went out and exercised (started C25k, very proud of myself), that gave me the calories I needed for my treat. In the end, exercising took the craving out of me and I had a granola bar instead.

Fit_Chef_NE

I have a proper treat where my calories allow it. On days when I'm short, I eat a square or 2 of 90% lindt dark chocolate. It totally sates my inner chocoholic. I usually add a good helping of berries. Delicious together.

MKEgal

My doctor told me that I should always aim for no more than my goal calories (goal weight x 10), and treat exercise like a bonus toward losing.
If I'm really hungry at the end of the day, or it's a special event & I "need" more calories (birthday party?) I'll eat 1/3 - 1/2 of what I burned in exercise that day.
Thanksgiving all bets are off, though it doesn't take as much to fill me up as it used to, so that's not as bad as it could be.

Most days I'll fit what I want into my calorie goal. I'll have a few cookies, or chips, or a piece of chocolate, or if I'm planning to meet friends for a burger I'll plan the rest of the day around that.

I make a rule for myself: i can eat at maintenance once a week (which for me is 3,000 calories)

So you want to maintain your weight at 300 lb? You must be very tall.

by fitting things into my goal, I'm learning to be able to have just a small piece and stop at that

Yes, yes, yes! THIS!
Once a month my gym has pizza, and this past week was the first I'd ever managed to hit that night. Haven't had pizza in a long time, and I really enjoyed eating it, but I had what would probably amount to 1/6 of a large pie, which isn't a terribly large serving, and it fit into my calories for the day, and I didn't feel like I wanted more, so I was really happy with myself.

Also, find 'cheats' that feel naughty but aren't.
Sugar-free fat-free chocolate pudding with berries is one of my favorites.

kissmeplease305

Pizza for diner today!

mommyofjan

Today was my treat day. I had Little Caesars thin crust pizza. It was divine lol. I also treat myself most nights to a low calorie ice cream. Skinny Cow salted pretzel caramel bar is wonderful and only 160 calories. I make sure that by the end of the day I have enough calories to be able to eat the ice cream bar.:happy:

XLMACX

So it's looking more at treats day then a full day of treats! Well I went over my allowance by 300 last night I shall what tonight brings x

Lil40

Every day a huge milky coffee! No chocolate whatsoever, unfortunately for the time being it has been banned. Once I have one I want more!! So it has been replaced by fresh dates or prunes (not quite the same haha!)

DawnieB1977

I prefer to have a cheat day and cut back in the week. I usually do it on a Sat. My kids like me to bake something, so my cheat/treat is usually cakes or cookies. So I just eat my usual meals then have a couple of cupcakes or whatever. It's probably the only time I eat my exercise calories.

If I have treats everyday, i might end up eating too much, like that square of chocolate might turn into three.

I've just had a baby, 10 weeks ago, and when I was pregnant I allowed myself a treat most days, within calories, and I gained too much.

cincysweetheart

Both. I'll have a treat when I want one, if I can fit it into my calories for the day. I don't cut back, but I will also allow myself a "free meal" every so often. That being said… I've only had two days where I was over and I think the grand total of how much I was over those two days combined was less than 800 calories. So, even my treat meals don't cause too much havoc for me.