Splurging?

TheFitHooker

Today I was out walking with my walking partner, we are pretty much doing the same kind of diet and new life style stuff, which makes it easier cus I have someone there who knows what I'm going through on all this. Well we got on the subject of splurging. We both see a weight doctor, she actually recommended him to me, and he is wonderful! But anyways, she started her diet about at the weight I'm currently at, she's lost about 30lbs, I've lost about 22lbs since starting this. I've lost a total of 66 from this and when I was on the diabetic diet when I had Gestational Diabetes (long story) Ok well I found out tonight that basically right now we are going through the same thing. Her and I both have quit chocolate, cokes, fried foods, all this junk stuff cold turkey. All the sudden we have started craving these things out of the blue. She asked her nurse today about it, the nurse told her that splurging is pretty important just in moderation, to eat healthy but once a week have something your body is craving, even if it's just a bite or a sip. The one thing I've not craved that she has, is a coke, but I get my caffeine fix with my coffee in the morning, she doesn't drink coffee, and I don't use sugar either.

See I'm one who beats herself up when I am 100 calories over my limit, which doesn't happen often, but I will pretty much punch myself in the face for it (not literally). If I cave into a craving and it's not healthy I beat myself up for it. Thanksgiving is coming up, I keep saying "I just won't splurge till Thanksgiving." Is that a bad thing to do? I really don't think I'm going to do THAT bad. I figured if I set my calorie intake to 2000 I will probably eat less then that, and I won't get mad at myself, my weight won't go down, but it won't go up either. Or should I still splurge once a week till Thanksgiving and use that 1 day as my splurge day for that week? I don't want to deprive myself, but I'm horrible about beating myself up. I've beat myself up all week cus I really didn't do so hot this week on eating, but yet I still lost 4.5 pounds (From the doc's scale) from mine I lost 2lbs (Which is the one I go by because the doc scale I usually go in toward the evening time I weight myself in the morning and go by the lower number which has always been mine.) So seems like anytime I beat myself up, I end up losing more then I expect.

JoDeeD

If I get a craving I try setting a goal of some sort and reward myself with that craving when I get there and at least maintain for 2-3 days. I met my 1/2 way mark this week and rewarded myself with something I ate 2-3 times a week prior to starting MFP. It gives me something to strive for but also makes me learn self control. I set my goal almost a month ago (4 weeks into MFP) because I was really craving it, but knew I shouldn't eat it. I lost 12 pounds in the time period since I set the goal. I think I worked harder towards it because of the reward. The other think I do if it is a really strong craving is look up the calorie count (and other nutritional numbers). That sometimes turns me off. The salt content of most things turns me off more than the calories. On most days I have difficulty getting to 1200 calories, but salt is harder to keep under control. Good luck. You are doing wonderful!

chevy88grl

You have to do what is going to work for YOU. For me, I couldn't do the "one thing I crave, once a week" thing. No way. I tried the all or nothing route when I first started this journey and I quickly realized it wasn't going to work for me. I am a binge eater. I need to be able to eat what I want, when I want it so this feels like a lifestyle change vs a diet. I learned about serving sizes and I follow them. I've found it works best for me to do it this way. Do what you think will work best for YOU. Remember this isn't a diet, this is your life. You have to figure out what will be sustainable for you.

Alexdur85

It's not bad to splurge but don't splurge for a week straight. I totally splurged today. I probably had 500 calories over my limit and really the last few days I've been going over my limit but today it was because of junk food not because I was super hungry. If you feel that you will go overboard and are happy not splurging then don't splurge. If you feel you can control yourself and allow yourself ONE DAY out of the whole MONTH then by all means PLEASE DO!

Also, the woman seemed to be stating that you shouldn't "splurge" but allow yourself a treat once in a while. I will tell you this though.. I am going to log my food on thanksgiving, I will try my best to eat the best food there but if there is pumpkin pie.. I will be having a slice.. maybe even two!

TheFitHooker

Thank you for your response. I set goals but they are not food goals, they are things I want like each month I set a goal and if I reach that goal I'll reward myself with something I want, like this months Goal wasn't about how much I weighed but to fit into a certain outfit, and now that outfit is actually falling off me so I'm well passed that goal, which kinda sucks since I wanted to wear it to Thanksgiving but then not really cus I'll be glad to go get some new clothes lol. But yeah the goal award was new jogging shoes since my current shoes are worn out. When I hit a milestone in my journey, and I'm talking like seeing 165lbs, I'm getting the DSLR I want. That's a big reward for my hard work. I look at a photo of that camera every day and it helps me stay on track, and looking at my before photo's help too.

Most the food I crave, I can't even really get to it, like yesterday I had a craving for cake frosting, but not any cake frosting, it's from a cake factory that shut down a long time ago and no one knows how to make frosting like this place lol. So no worries of me eating that haha.

KathyEarhart

My motto is if it fits in my calorie goal, I'll eat it. I usually wait until the end of the day and see what's left and then have a sweet. I ate an ice cream sandwich almost every night this week and still lost 2 lbs. for me, if I feel deprived, I'll quit and binge eat. So treats work for me to be able to maintain this lifestyle.