If you have the calories...

EMSNJOEY

And have eaten all of your meals for the day, is it ok to indulge once or twice a week in a treat? For example tonight I had 2 roasted marshmallows, Monday I had a piece of my nieces birthday cake. Both days I did not go over on calories. What are your thoughts. I know it is better to consume GOOD calories (fruit, vegetable etc).

Airplanedoc616

Gotta have a cheat day.

JennMuc

for sure!! If you have the calories and it's not an every day occurrence (because yes healthier calories are better), go for it!! If you deny yourself a treat now and then, especially when you can afford the calories, you will feel deprived and resentful!

Nikstergirl

I do it! If I've worked out well, eaten well and have calories left, I've been known to have a bit of ice cream or other goodie... measured and counted of course!!!! Enjoy! This is life after all, not some game show!

SimplyDeLish

If you look at this as a healthy lifestyle, you can eat anything you'd like. Just do it in moderation - even if it's everyday.

You are correct that healthy foods are better...but I can't live without some of those small "treats".

a_stronger_steph

Goodness, I'd be a mess if I didn't let myself have treats every now and again (er, and by that I mean nearly every day).

The question is, do you want this to be a plan you can stick with for the rest of your life? If I couldn't have marshmallows and birthday cake and chocolate and beer, well... I think I'd drop this site like a hot potato!

In summary: eat your treats and enjoy them, especially if you are still staying within calories!

calliope_music

i think so yes. remember, a healthy lifestyle is also indulging from time to time on things you like! life wouldn't be fun without the occasional piece of birthday cake.

kykykenna

I agree..otherwise I know I would go nuts!! If you are going to do it...eat something GREAT!! (like a roasted marshmallow!)

ItsLessOfMe

I make sure its in my calories. Sometimes I worry it will affect my weight loss but most of the time I realize it keeps me happy

katheern

I try to limit those treats to once every 2 weeks, even if it means going over calories for the day. I know even afterwards I will go back on track, though which is the most important, and honestly it will mentally help you to have those kind of treats every once in a while. The main point is, you probably won't GAIN weight as long as you stay under, but it definitely won't help you lose weight either if you do it too often, but if it helps you mentally in the long run that's really important too!

SheilaSisco

It is actually recommended to treat yourself every once in a while.. that is what makes this a MAINTAINABLE LIFESTYLE as opposed to another FAILED DIET. Good for you! enjoy those treats!!! They really taste so much sweeter when they're 'treats' and not 'everyday occurrences' anyway.

rockthehourglass

I have a couple Hershey's kisses...pretty much every day.

jujubean1992

a treat now and then is good for you! it keeps the binge feelings away. moderation is key! think how your going to eat the rest of your life. were talking about burgers fries and milk shakes and were most likely going to get them (me & three guys... they like their burgers) and i know i'm going to go over my calories but i've been having cravings for greasy food so i'm going to indulge and work out extra hard tomorrow morning.

maureendonahue

If you are generally eating good meals, and you have the calories, go for it. After all this is something we will need to do for the rest of our lives. I have been paying more attention to how my thinner friends eat. They have the cake or treat, but make different choices for lunch for example (a salad with chicken instead of pizza on a day we are having cake.) They also move around a lot more (walk upstairs to see a coworker instead of sending an email for example). They learned this eating style at a young age or through trial and error. We are learning it now.

I hope your daughter had a great birthday!

Jorra

If you don't indulge in cravings, they'll build up until you go crazy and binge!

I also agree with Sheila, you have a new lifestyle, not just a diet, and life includes cake!

jkestens63

If you look at this as a healthy lifestyle, you can eat anything you'd like. Just do it in moderation - even if it's everyday.

You are correct that healthy foods are better...but I can't live without some of those small "treats".

Aabsolutely!!! I'm having a Hershey bar for snack tonight. Still had lots of fruits and veggies but enough cals for a little something. Everything in moderation.

getitoffhord

If we always deny ourselves, we set ourselves up for failure. having a good treat here and there helps keep the cravings at bay. you can have what you want but a a few bites is better than the whole thing or nothing.

Pebble321

Hell yeah! Just keep the portions small and don't do it too often.
I drink cider or wine a few times a week and usually have cookies or chocolate every few days.
I know these aren't great habits but I limit the amount (ie 1 cookie, 2 squares of chocolate, 1 glass of wine, 1 pint of cider) and account for them in my calories for the day.
I have continued to lose weight pretty steadily (average loss is 1 kg, which is 2.2 pounds, every 10 days, though it doesn't come off that smoothly).
I started in January , knowing that the treats and snacks would be the biggest issue for me. The rest of my diet is usually home cooked meals with lots of fruit and veg, so they were already reasonably healthy, I just had to watch portion sizes.
Fitting in treats means that I can continue my lifestyle (which includes a coffee and cookies with my parents and a Friday night pint at the pub with my husband) but do it in a much more healthy and sustainable way.

brph26

I have treats pretty much every day. As long as i have the calories left or come in not too far over. I would never last at this if i couldnt eat what i wanted. All in moderation!

TAWoody

It's only up to you. Everyone has a different idea of what to eat and when. I wouldn't recommend having a large piece of cake every day but as long as you're losing or maintaining your weight go ahead and have some delicious things every few days.

rachelllk

Calories aren't the only thing that matter! I have like 900 calories left for today, but I'm way over my sugar. Definitely have a cheat day, just be mindful of all the other nutritional aspects of what you're eating!

rileysowner

No problem. Over all it is calories in and calories out. If you ate nothing but those things that would be one thing, but occasional treats within your calories will not hurt you or your weight loss. I don't even consider it cheating.

glendeb

Last night we had icecream because I had done a huge walk in the morning and was struggling to eat all of may calories.

I think its a great idea to have something a bit "special" or "naughty", we are after all making a lifestyle change, and so therefore have to live.

tammykoon

I set aside 200 cals a day for my "snack'. That might be a skinny cow ice cream sandwich or a 1/4 cup of m&m's. But I know me and I can't see myself living in a no treat world. I figure it would be better for me to learn portion control than to be miserable and crabby cause I want my chocolate.

megan4pr

I've found it's better to eat a few desserts now and then, rather than binge when you realize you haven't had chocolate in a month. haha. Goodluck!

SiltyPigeon

I have cookie (sometimes two) almost every day. Usually I make sure to buy oatmeal cookies that are only 70 calories a piece. I don't go over my calories. As far as I can tell, it hasn't hurt my weight loss or health. Occasionally (like today) I splurge on a chocolate chocolate chip cookie or m&m cookie or EVEN a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. :devil: :devil:

melibea

I do it all the time! I mean, if it fits within my calorie limits, and won't blow up my fat/sugar/sodium count for the day, I like to have treats just because I find that this way I don't feel deprived all the time, and in my particular case that is important because if I go too long without indulging in the sweets I like I will binge badly.

Jdismybug1

If you look at this as a healthy lifestyle, you can eat anything you'd like. Just do it in moderation - even if it's everyday.

You are correct that healthy foods are better...but I can't live without some of those small "treats".

I eat in moderation every day, I just try to make good choices.

Jdismybug1

I have cookie (sometimes two) almost every day. Usually I make sure to buy oatmeal cookies that are only 70 calories a piece. I don't go over my calories. As far as I can tell, it hasn't hurt my weight loss or health. Occasionally (like today) I splurge on a chocolate chocolate chip cookie or m&m cookie or EVEN a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. :devil: :devil:

I love skinny cow ice cream!!!!

Pandorian

It's a lifestyle choice for me, am I never going to eat cake again? Not likely, though I'll make my healither choices as much as I can... I'll take a sliver of cake as opposed to a sizable chunk, and enjoy the sweet addition. Turn down second helpings etc but since I'm not giving it up entirely I'll still have some on occasion. It's worked fine so far for me.

mamagooskie

I say go for it!