You shouldn't eat that...

k2d4p

I don't know if this will help anyone, but I am hoping it will hit home to someone. I read in several posts that people want to eat something they "can't". Or, the feel that they shouldn't be eating something or feel bad after they eat something that is bad for them.

I want to share what works for me. I don't think that it will work for everyone, but maybe it will work for a few. I, like many others, feel like I have always struggled with my weight. I have dieted I don't know how many times and failed every single time until this time. What I finally figured out is that depriving my self just doesn't work. Anytime I set out saying something to the effect of no candy or no ice cream or no more dessert, the 12 year old in me comes out and suddenly that is the only thing that I want. Then, I would fight with myself for however long that particular diet lasted and I would ultimately eat that item, feel terrible and another diet would fail because I felt I couldn't do it.

I came to the conclusion that sweets aren't bad. Neither is candy, ice cream, dessert or anything else like that. What IS bad is eating a carton of ice cream, or eating a box of cookies, or an entire bag of chips.

When I decided that I need a life style change, not another diet, I swore I would never deprive my self of ANYTHING, EVER again. I do limit myself. I eat 1 cookie instead of 5. I measure out a cup of icecream instead a half gallon. I really do find that allowing myself to have these things usually turns out I don't want as much. They are not the "forbidden fruit".

I eat very well and I have lost a good amout of weight so far. What I am just trying to get across it to not be so hard on yourself. Allow yourself to have a treat now and then. Just pay attention to how much you allow yourself. Like I said, this works for me and maybe it will help someone else. Good luck to everyone

hjy319

Thank you, like you I have doen the diets, too many to count or remember! I have found this site and am making a lifestyle change, I believe that you can eat anything, you just need to be careful of the unhealthy stuff and make sure you log it and be accountable for it.

sharonuk10

Well said.. I do not do without.. I allow myself treats and eating out. I do not do cheat days after all what is there to cheat on. If I wanna a cookie, cake, ice cream, chocolate I will have a portion not the whole LOT!!

shaunarlr83

Thank you and very well said, there are certain things I try NOT to eat because I don't know if I can stop once I've started but other things that I know are bad like pasta for example, I have learned to eat alot less of. I think you are absolutely right by the way. One thing I can't figure is why I have a sudden hunger for things that I never did before, I don't care too much for ice cream , used to buy it all of the time and the kids were the only ones who ate it but now I can't stay out of it lol, oh well, I think I am still doing good on a daily basis, so I will just go with it!

nikapp13

i completely agree... i do the same and if i want something high in calories i pump up the exercise that day to allow for it...it seems to be working so far.

ThaiKaren

How very true, I have fallen by the wayside so many times, just as you describe. I think moderation is the key word here.
By the way, well done on what you have acheived x

brittanyscherich

Here's a good trick: Take a box of cake mix and put in a can of diet pop. Cuts the calories like crazy! And it tastes just as great

Lyadeia

Here's a good trick: Take a box of cake mix and put in a can of diet pop. Cuts the calories like crazy! And it tastes just as great

Is that seriously how things like the Sun Drop Cake are made? I've been looking for a recipe, and if all I gotta do is get a lemon cake and bake it with nothing else but a can of Sun Drop...

wolfchild59

I'll use the word can't sometimes, but it's usually just a way to keep myself focused on my goal at hand. Inside I know that if could and, if I wanted just accept going over calories that one time it's not going to hurt me in the long run.

What's actually been funny over this past almost-year are the people around me. Especially my co-workers. I've never called this a diet. It's always just been calorie counting and eating healthier than I was before. Mostly because I hate the word diet. It always has such negative connotations and so much pressure and so many bad vibes associated with it. Plus I never really did see myself as "dieting", I was just making a new way of eating for myself. Which meant I never cut anything 100% out of normal eating, I either just found a new way to enjoy it or would leave enough room in my day to have that bit of indulgence.

But my co-workers would see me with something like a small piece of birthday cake (which I actually skipped each time except for on my own birthday) or a piece of Halloween candy or something similar and _they_ would freak out. Telling me that they thought I couldn't eat that kind of thing, what was I doing, you can't eat stuff like that on a diet, etc. And I'd always have to explain that really, I can eat anything I wanted, I just have to hold myself accountable, make sure I log it and adjust my days and calories accordingly. And they'd just stare at me like I was insane. lol

Mamoonie

You are oh so right!!!
I could not imagine to NOT have chocolate ever again, or whatever is high in calories. I have not changed my "diet" i.e. food intake at all, only cut portions and upped exercise (from 0 to something). I still eat unhealthy, but less in quantities.

MM

k2d4p

I'll use the word can't sometimes, but it's usually just a way to keep myself focused on my goal at hand. Inside I know that if could and, if I wanted just accept going over calories that one time it's not going to hurt me in the long run.

What's actually been funny over this past almost-year are the people around me. Especially my co-workers. I've never called this a diet. It's always just been calorie counting and eating healthier than I was before. Mostly because I hate the word diet. It always has such negative connotations and so much pressure and so many bad vibes associated with it. Plus I never really did see myself as "dieting", I was just making a new way of eating for myself. Which meant I never cut anything 100% out of normal eating, I either just found a new way to enjoy it or would leave enough room in my day to have that bit of indulgence.

But my co-workers would see me with something like a small piece of birthday cake (which I actually skipped each time except for on my own birthday) or a piece of Halloween candy or something similar and _they_ would freak out. Telling me that they thought I couldn't eat that kind of thing, what was I doing, you can't eat stuff like that on a diet, etc. And I'd always have to explain that really, I can eat anything I wanted, I just have to hold myself accountable, make sure I log it and adjust my days and calories accordingly. And they'd just stare at me like I was insane. lol

This is exactly what I am talking about. Diets are almost always viewed so negatively. I also hate that word. I don't tell people I am on a diet either. My family and I are eating healthy now. There is a HUGE difference!

As far as your co-workers, you are right on in my opinion. Like you said you are not on a diet, you just eat better now. (and probably better than most of them do honestly.)

EvelynForsyth

Its so good to see you all manage how you eat your treats or 'can't' food and feel good about it! It'sabout time i kick my guilt feelings in to touch!

Cytherea

So true! This is exactly what I do. I never deprive myself of anything if I really want it. It has worked brilliantly for me.

I'm on the same page with you guys about the "diet" thing too. I've never called it that myself, but didn't realize just how much that would bother me when other people called it that. I recently was visiting family, and every other comment out of my dad's mouth was about my "diet." More often than not, it was negative, things like "can you eat that on your diet" and "why are you eating so much, what about your diet?" He even told my husband that he needs to make sure to keep me in line and stop me from eating too much! It was Christmas, of COURSE I'm going to eat more- but it isn't like I didn't account for that! What I'm doing is not a diet that is going to be messed up by a few days of eating more. What I'm doing is for the rest of my life, and guess what, there are holidays!

slindsey137

I never say Im -on- a diet, just that I have -changed- my diet. I mean really everyone is on a diet, its just a matter of how healthy it is! The thing about treats is that they should be just that, a treat, not a staple. I particularly love making my own and making them just a little bit healthier. For instance, when I made my daughters birthday cake last week, I used only egg whites and substituted apple sauce for the oil. I never use diet stuff, personally. I dont like the manufactured sugar, for most people (I do understand there are those who cant have real sugar at all) sugar is perfectly healthy in moderation. Only about 15 calories / tbs.

MassiveDelta

OP hit the nail on the head. Dont restrict yourself so badly that you become obsessed with having it. I eat some form of sweets just about every day.

The other day I even had a .... A Twinkie Oh My *GASP*

So what.

The only exception to this rule of allowing some cheating is.....SODA and FAST FOOD but thats me!

scagneti

I have one 30 calorie Lindt chocolate every day right before I leave for home from work. Would it be more "sensible" to have a cup of broccoli, carrots & cauliflower for the same number of calories? Probably. Would that cup of veggies keep me from snacking on the sweets throughout the office and give me a reward to look forward to each afternoon? Not at all. Am I going to spend the next 60 years without eating chocolate? No effing way!

NuclearGirl

I agree with you entirely. Many diets in the past have failed for me because one little slip means you're a failure - so you fall back into your old eating ways and wallop - all the weight (and sometimes a bit more) comes piling back on.
I've just told my friends that I'm having a lifestyle change - they are all thumbs up about it. I also explained that sometimes they may see me eating a packet of crisps, or a biscuit or piece of cake. I just figured that I need to reach my goal weight by eating the sort of things that I will be eating after I reach my goal weight - and that includes an occasional treat, like a meal out, or whatever I fancy. What I'm not going to do is return to my old eating habits. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us :-)

mariasheehan

I agree with you 100%, I never deprive myself of anything and it's helped me lose a total of 25 lbs :-)