a word on healthy choices

chubiD

So, everyone talks about "making healthy choices" as being one of the keys to weight loss. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with that. It's just that I was thinking about it the other day...

Why do we assume that choosing an apple over a cookie is always a healthy choice?

Before people start yelling at me: I know apples are healthier, have water and complex carbs, etc, whereas sugars and fat are the main components of a cookie. However, I think that on some occasions, the cookie is the healthy choice. Why? Because it's the MENTALLY healthy choice. Feeling deprived is never healthy and can undermine many good efforts.

I'm not trying to say that we should indulge on cookies every day; but if sometimes you do indulge a bit (specially if you stay withing your calorie goal), you make sure that voice inside your head won't be screaming "I hate dieting" until making you give up...

Just saying.

zeeeb

i totally agree with you there. you need to factor in treats so that you feel human. for me it's chocolate. i factor in a chocolate treat every weekend. and i factor in the fact that i like to have a couple of drinks every now and then, and factor in that i like to have cake if i go to a birthday party... all that means extra exercise, but i still feel human, and don't feel like i'm forever saying "oh no, i can't eat that, i'm on a diet".

i can still enjoy life. i put months like december into "maintenance mode" i don't even attempt to lose weight in december, but try not to gain. that way, i am a human, i can enjoy christmas. sure i'll make the choice of cherries and apricots and prawns (i'm in summer here) over the sweeter fattier options where i can. but there is no way i'll sit at the christmas table with a plate of vegies or salad and a glass of refreshing water torturing myself.

Sidesteal

Why do we assume that choosing an apple over a cookie is always a healthy choice?

Because people make blanket statements without considering the context of the diet as a whole.

shakybabe

I love chocolate but luckily I can resist it for most of the month if I put my mind to it, however the week before TOTM.. no chance!... the cravings are in full swing so I save my treats for that week.. eat at maintenance level and do extra exercise so I'm still at a deficit.. for this week I eat it every day but still manage to lose a few pounds besides the water that went on.

I'm not worried as I'm still losing anyway and I don't drink coffee, smoke or drink loads of alcohol (though I do like the occasional brandy & coke). I think 'everything in moderation' is important.. (apart from things I'm allergic to!)