Opinions please, regarding calories

Do you guys think that it is okay to eat something that is not necessarily good for you, if you made/have room left in your remaining calories? I'm not talking working out to have a cookie, I mean you ate really well all day and have enough calories left over for something frivolous. What do you guys think?

Replies

  • akj_25
    akj_25 Posts: 244 Member
    anything in moderation is fine.

    I am guessing you are not planning on cutting out frivolous foods from your diet for the rest of your life so why not allow yourself to have the occational snack and learn now how to control you intake of such foods.
  • lkplibra
    lkplibra Posts: 147 Member
    I do. It makes me happy, keeps me balanced so I don't overindudge later.
  • LAS_1980
    LAS_1980 Posts: 156
    Most definitely!!! Especially if it won't make you go over your daily limit. Heck yes!!! That is why "lifestyle changes" work, not diets! Eat what you want, just in moderation. You can't deprive yourself for the rest of your life or you will never succeed.

    JUST EAT IT!!!! :bigsmile:
  • DollyMiel
    DollyMiel Posts: 377 Member
    Yep. Welcome to a smart approach to life.

    Food isn't your enemy, so don't make it one! Enjoy!
  • sdumma
    sdumma Posts: 126 Member
    anything in moderation is fine.

    I am guessing you are not planning on cutting out frivolous foods from your diet for the rest of your life so why not allow yourself to have the occational snack and learn now how to control you intake of such foods.

    /\ completely agree with this
  • You can do it and still lose weight. Ideally you shouldn't eat junk, but sometimes you have to live and let live. The calorie count means the most, just don't load up on all junk all the time and you should be good.
  • tajmel
    tajmel Posts: 401 Member
    In my opinion, food MUST satisfy at least one of two goals: it must be nutritious, or really make you happy. Do I always hit that? Heck no. It's hard. But it's something to strive for. If you're going to have something frivolous, make it a high quality, delicious something.
  • furrina
    furrina Posts: 148 Member
    Of course.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Go for it.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    Do you guys think that it is okay to eat something that is not necessarily good for you, if you made/have room left in your remaining calories? I'm not talking working out to have a cookie, I mean you ate really well all day and have enough calories left over for something frivolous. What do you guys think?

    Perfectly fine. If you are in your calorie limits, so what? You can lose weight eating 1200 calories of twinkies. But if you are eating really healthy all day and then have enough calories left over for pie, do it! You will still lose weight, still be healthy since you have had all your macros for the day and vitamins/minerals, etc...and you won't crave anything cause you aren't restricting anything.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Totally. It's what I do all the time.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    By the way, you can always make some really awesome recipes that taste like the original only are "guilt free." I literally have cheesecake every freaking day, but it's high protein and nearly sugar free. Tastes awesome too.

    Maybe if you had some good go-to *almost* guilty pleasure recipes that are basically guilt-free, you wouldn't even have to worry about this anymore. :bigsmile:
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    By the way, you can always make some really awesome recipes that taste like the original only are "guilt free." I literally have cheesecake every freaking day, but it's high protein and nearly sugar free. Tastes awesome too.

    Maybe if you had some good go-to *almost* guilty pleasure recipes that are basically guilt-free, you wouldn't even have to worry about this anymore. :bigsmile:

    Do you use the famous gp79 cheesecake recipe? It's The Best.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    It's perfectly fine. Look at my diary, it has at LEAST one beer in it every day, for the past 2 years.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    EAT THE COOKIE
  • juliekaiser1988
    juliekaiser1988 Posts: 604 Member
    If you have the calories, eat it.

    Stop fretting. It's a LIFESTYLE, NOT A DIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    By the way, you can always make some really awesome recipes that taste like the original only are "guilt free." I literally have cheesecake every freaking day, but it's high protein and nearly sugar free. Tastes awesome too.

    Maybe if you had some good go-to *almost* guilty pleasure recipes that are basically guilt-free, you wouldn't even have to worry about this anymore. :bigsmile:

    Do you use the famous gp79 cheesecake recipe? It's The Best.

    Yes, and it's freakin' awesome. I've even modified a few times. Last week I had cherry cheesecake, this week it was chocolate cheesecake, but none of the cheesecakes have been high calorie or sugary. It's amazing to me that fat free cream cheese and Greek yogurt tastes just like a "real" cheesecake. Just modify the spices and other ingredients and you have endless cheesecake recipes like the Cheesecake Factory...sans the guilt.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    By the way, you can always make some really awesome recipes that taste like the original only are "guilt free." I literally have cheesecake every freaking day, but it's high protein and nearly sugar free. Tastes awesome too.

    Maybe if you had some good go-to *almost* guilty pleasure recipes that are basically guilt-free, you wouldn't even have to worry about this anymore. :bigsmile:

    Do you use the famous gp79 cheesecake recipe? It's The Best.

    I still need to try that.
  • jmkmomm
    jmkmomm Posts: 3,247 Member
    I think it is according to if you are on a doctor prescribed strict diet. Like if you have very high blood pressure you can't pig out with a pizza and a bag of chips. My husbands motto is that you need a rewards to have something to look forward to. I do't always adhere to that. I am trying to find sweet things that is healthier for me. I am finding that I love sweet fruits like pineapple. But if I have chocolate in the house I go overboard and cannot stop. I ate a whole box of 6 skinny cow treats in one night. Taht's 900 calories so it is allowed in my 1300 calories but not good for me. But if it were the reverse and I had 150 calories left I would be the one to fight you for that Skinny Cow treat.
  • if you cut out everything that is frivolous for you,, you will be more apt to go over your calories on a daily basis, I think having a day every week or two will keep you from wanting junk or feeling deprived of something you want.
  • I believe, and I have been dieting for 16 mos, that if you totally cut out everything you ever liked before, you may not be successful. So I say yes...in moderation, those things are ok to do once in a while...everyone has to have SOMETHING like that once in a while... Good luck!!
  • DinahKyle
    DinahKyle Posts: 186 Member
    You guys rock! I was seriously starting to freak out about it, you definitely made me feel better :) ALSO I need the cheesecake recipe!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    You guys rock! I was seriously starting to freak out about it, you definitely made me feel better :) ALSO I need the cheesecake recipe!

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/461619-ny-cheesecake-morph
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    Here's another good cheesecake recipe...

    PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

    12 oz fat free cream cheese
    12 oz fat free Greek yogurt
    3/4 cup Splenda
    1 can of organic pumpkin puree
    1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
    10 tbsp fat free sweetened condensed milk
    2 tsp cinnamon
    1 tsp ginger
    1 tsp nutmeg
    1 tsp salt
    2 eggs

    1. Beat the cream cheese until creamy. Add the Splenda and continue to beat.
    2. Add rest of the ingredients minus the eggs.
    3. Add one egg at a time being sure not to over beat.
    4. Pour in a pan and bake at 325 for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 200 and bake another 55 minutes.

    I made this one around Christmas and someone asked me why I spent the money on CHEESECAKE FACTORY food for them.

    But seriously, ever since Thanksgiving, I have been losing body fat eating cheesecake everyday. :drinker:
  • littlewhittles
    littlewhittles Posts: 402 Member
    I agree with moderation. If you have the cals and do it occasionally, enjoy! Depriving yourself all together always makes me resentful and cranky.
  • locoducky
    locoducky Posts: 31 Member
    The research that I have seen is those that allow themselves a cheat time once in a while stick to their goals better than those that strictly adhear to the guidelines. Some people may need to be very strict with themselves but for me personally, I tend to need an allowed time to cheat to not feel like I am reigned in too tight. I would assume that as long as you are getting the extra calories in a healthy way, something frivolous wouldn't be bad, as long as it doesn't contribute to an addiction. A quick example such as if your main addiction or struggle is with chocolate and you are trying to cut it out, having some chocolate before you have gotten a firm hand on the struggle probably isn't the best idea. :)
  • dominoid747
    dominoid747 Posts: 33 Member
    I think it's about mindset. If you are thinking "this food is good but this food is bad" then you are missing out a little in my opinion. If you think of it as "I can eat what I like, as long as I'm within these boundaries" then you will enjoy your food and you'll start to develop a better relationship with it. You don't need to be scared of that packet of cookies, you just need to learn how to have 3 and then put the rest back in the cupboard!