NO SUCH THING AS CHEATING

usmcpatience

I posted this same topic a while back, but I, EVERYDAY, see people state that they had ice cream and thus were "bad" or that they were "cheating." I firmly believe in this mindset, and I hope everyone can see this someday...
Thus, I'm posting this again for more to see. Even if I can help ONE person to stop obsessing over the fact that they "cheated," I think it'll be worth it. ....


So, earlier today I posted a status stating that I was going to have some takeout pizza for supper... I made the comment that I had plenty of calories left, and I would probably only eat a couple of pieces anyway.
I got some super supportive comments about it!
I also had some people post their concerns (for instance...eating unhealthy food all of a sudden could upset my stomach...which is true).
I also had people say that they've BANNED pizza or that I was only ALLOWED to have two slices max.

So, I posted this as a comment on that status. However, I feel I said some fairly important things in here. I think everyone should take a second to read it...


First of all...I've gone "off" my diet before, and, yes...sometimes it upsets my stomach. (Chinese food is the worst!) By the same token, I have yet to totally binge on anything.I've been doing MFP for over 50 days and I've only ever gone over my calorie goal ONCE. I'll probably only end up having a couple of slices because I'll be very full after that.

Secondly, I don't believe in "cheating" or "not cheating." This is MY life. I'll eat what I want, when I want. I'm choosing to eat better (and less), but I will NOT deprive myself of anything. If I started depriving myself...I'd never have stuck with the diet as long as I have. Life is too short to deprive yourself...ask my brother.

Thirdly, I am in no major hurry to lose the weight I'd like to lose. I'm not doing this diet/exercise program for a quick-fix...I'm doing this for ME! I want to, as a general rule of thumb, treat my body better. If it only takes me a year to lose the 40 or 50 pounds I'd like to lose...HECK YEAH! However, if it takes me three years...I'm not going to sit in a corner and mope. I know that I've made the choice to better my body, and I have made great strides towards a better me.

kmcoulon

PREACH ON!!!

randi50

you are sooooo right!!

HisPathDaily

Thirdly, I am in no major hurry to lose the weight I'd like to lose.

Yeah, this is the big one to realize ... crashing isn't good for your body (or train your mind) ... though I have to admin, I have to keep reminding myself of this fact

waverly9876

I agree with everything you said. Im glad you spoke your mind.

abellante_0205

Ive been trying to lose weight for more than 2 yrs now... Feb 8th, 2009 was the day I realized I had to make a change... But you're right... if you deny yourself so much, you will be unmotivated... its okay to eat whatever sometimes, BUT i found if you do it too much, it will not do you any good so you gotta be careful of when you do that.

SueInAz

Hear, hear! This is exactly the right attitude! We are in this for the rest of our lives, kids. No one, and I mean no one, can survive on plain chicken breast, celery and water every day. Life is meant to be lived and for most of us, that means celebrations will come along and good (as in tasty, fattening and maybe even "unhealthy") foods will be served along with the joy and laughter of spending time with our family and friends. You don't have to deprive yourself every single day of your life. The next day, after you've had a good time, you just go right back to eating the way you do every other day, without guilt and without remorse because you HAD A GOOD TIME. And really, that's what life should be all about.

::steps down off her soap box::

annie_p

I completely agree with you! Although I do have a goal in mind of when I'd like to lose the weight...I think I'm doing just fine. I still eat pretty much whatever I want. Yes, I don't drink pop anymore, but it's not like I've banned myself from doing so. I still "sneak" sips of my husbands pop, or will randomly decide to have one myself. I stay within my calories and have been doing great. To each their own though!

JoJo1953

Girl I so agree with you!!!

qtpiesmom

I write about the same thing on my blog

enjoy your pizza

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/qtpiesmom

sftb

well said!

Heather75

Excellent post.

kerrbear79

I totally agree. I still eat "bad" unhealthy foods during my entire weight loss process. If I'm going to try to maintain the weight i've lost for the rest of my life then I am not going to deprive myself of things I love, as long as I am within my calorie goal. It's not a diet!

waverly9876

The other day I had some whole wheat pancakes and posted a topic about it. I had one person respond "oh i wish I could eat those".. UM YES YOU CAN! On that day, I had 3 pancakes, hashbrowns and turkey bacon and was still under my calorie intake. So, if you want to have something like pizza, ice cream, etc..do it ONCE in a while or else you will crave it all the time and never stick to your diet.

bethvandenberg

Love it. That's just how I feel. I want to eat better workout more and get into shape. I want to be healthier, more in shape and drop some weight yes, but I also want to live my life. I want to eat what I like. I am going to do it. I'm not on a diet. I'm on a way of life and I like my life the way I like my life. I workout hard so that I can fit in what I'd like.

Tell em sister....

Tarah1357

Agreed! Well said!

map1972

Well said! I agree.

traceybett

I SO needed this tonight. THank you for posting and speaking the truth.
Although I was way too bad at lunch today...... I will stop beating myself up over and move on.
It is a life long journey, and we aren't going to make perfect choices every day for the rest of our lives.

I just need to keep it in perspective and not continue on a binge.

THANK you

farmwife80

I completely agree!! Deprivation is no motivation!!

ShellyMacchi

exactly.. well said *S*

i intend to eat this way for the rest of my life... i deny myself nothing that i really want... i simply plan to accommodate it. No cheating..no banning... it's all 'just' food and 'i' am now in control of what i choose to eat, it no longer controls me.

i rather like it this way *grins*

north35

Thanks you are so right!
I even had hotdogs the other night for our one night a week TV movie night. That's what my kids wanted. It was a treat. We don't eat that way everyday and I think it's important to not exclude anything. Everything in moderation!

mrphil86

Anything out there can be bad for you. The key is moderation. I eat some pretty bad stuff sometimes but I do it in moderation. I have yet to seek the repercussions of what I have done and doubt it will happen.

baisleac

This! So totally this!

BabyDuchess

I agree with the things you said too. I have changed my whole mindset about food and I'm definitely eating healthier than I was 5 months ago....with that being said, I'm not closing the door to ANY food I want but I will still use portion control and use the tools MFP has given me to figure it in and not go over my calorie allowance. It's not realistic to think we are going to live the rest of our lives without the things we like/crave....the key is to learn to eat them in a healthy manner. Good luck to you in your journey! Oh...by the way, every Friday I have Chocolate Friday and I eat WHATEVER DESSERT I WANT.....hehehe.....but I also figure it in my calories for the day......I'm having my cake and eating it too!

MyNameIsNotBob

Totally agree. I had Chinese food tonight. It's Friday, and I like to have delivery on Friday nights. I made good choices (lots of veggies) and stayed under my calories. I wouldn't want to live a life without Chinese delivery.

MisMolly

So true! I have pretty much made up my mind to always make healthy choices...except when I don't. If I want a cheeseburger or real beer or pizza or ice cream or whatever, I am going to have it. But not every day. I really don't need or want it everyday and I think junk tastes better when you don't have it often.

BigBoneSista

Thank you. I appreciate your stand.

I hate to see people complain about the choices they made like someone force them to. If you decided to indulge then you did. If you over did it well you made that choice. Why get up here and have a pity party? I can't sympathize with you. What I can do is tell you to suck it up, make better choices next time and move on. Thats why I don't even respond to those types of threads and normally I don't even read them.

I don't cheat. I have allowances. I am living, eating and exercising realistically.

sgk0411

whole heartedly agree!

PST0622

I agree....THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CHEATING.....I eat what I want, when I want...just in smaller portions. I have to be happy with my life, and I love to eat!!!! Giving up the things I love is not an option.....So, not eating what I want is not an option. Just yesterday, I went to Brusters and got a single serving of cake batter ice cream on a sugar cone. It was the best thing I had yesterday, and I went to the gym and worked it, plus about 300 more calories off. Today, it was potato chips. I have lost 35 pounds by not cheating, but by being a responsible eater!!!!

chrisc31

I totally agree! I have no plan on ditching any of my favorite foods. I'm just learning to enjoy them in moderation!

missvics

Hah!!! I had pizza tonight too!!!! Yum!!!