Allowing yourself a treat to avoid bingeing

I think its totally fine to allow yourself to eat treats. Food is supposed to be enjoyed. One of the things I cut out daily is cream and sugar in my coffee. However, occassionally I allow it because like you said, it prevents me from binge eating. I feel like if I make a conscious decision to eat something sugary or high fat, I have the power. I also make a deal with myself...I set limits on my treats and make sure that I am also exercising. No exercise, no treats! It also gives me incentive to exercise. I tell myself(apparently I talk to myself a lot) that my required exercise is X amount but if I want a special indulgence I have to do X + ___(ie 300 cal burn). Now that I've learned a bit more about how many calories, etc are in the food I eat and the extra snacks that I want, I know what I need to do to get it. I am essentially Pavlov's dog...lol!

I think the point is for us to control the food, not the food to control us. I eat indulgences a couple of times a week. Sat night I eat exactly what I want. Another time or two a week I eat a piece of cake, candy or a fast food burger. During the week I try not to go over my calories (or not much over). On Sat I log it, but don't care if I'm 500+ calories over. Absolutely. I've decided I'm going to be in control and have what I really want. Sometimes I find it satisfying, sometimes I don't (cupcake this week). It's all in relearning how to eat.

I'll typically have a treat meal once a week. It's not a reward, but a way to ease me into healthy eating and honestly it keeps me sane. Sometimes since I have to wait all week for it to roll around and during the week I get cravings, I'll have something small to keep me from getting so obsessed with a bad food and hitting a drive through or something. My favorite right now is dark chocolate covered pretzels or almonds. These are small, under 100 calorie delicious treats that keep me going through the week. Plus the flavors are decadent and also salty and sweet, so I'm hitting everything I'm craving whether it is salty or sweet. Took me a while to figure this one out.

I think if you allow for those treats you are fine!!! I have late night cravings all the time, I just try to be sure to stay within calorie goal...

I do it. The more I deprive myself of something the more I'll think of it & when the time comes for me to have it I'd eat more than planning.
Perfect example: I learned not to give up alcohol or cheese for Lent (40 days.) The time I gave up alcohol, I was beyond plastered 3 days after, & when I gave up cheese I ended up eating a whole block/ 1lb of mozzarella for 3 or 4 days in a row. Lesson learned. Moderation.

I always have a treat. Every day. Yesterday I had cookies, the day before I had ice cream, the day before that I had a cupcake. Allowing yourself a small treat every day is great, it curves your sweet tooth and allows a few moments of food bliss. As for the posters who say they have a small treat and gain the next day, it is water weight. Especially if the treat is high in sodium. I don't pay attention to the weight fluctuations no more. I average about 2-4 lbs in fluctuation anyway...the faster you learn your fluctuation rate the better you will sleep at night, trust me.

Works for me! I have a small treat almost every day, and a treat meal once or twice a week. Always keep it within my day's calories, and it doesn't interfere with my weight loss.

JenetteMac: A treat that stays within your daily calorie goal will not make you put on weight overnight. It takes 3500 calories above what you need to create a pound of fat. What you might see on the scale is increased water retention, because your treat contained either/both more sodium or carbs than you're used to. Both will make you hold onto water, but it's just temporary--not a genuine weight gain.

i think it's okay to "treat yourself" every now and then as long as you stay within your recommended calories. I agree, when you put too many stipulations on what you CAN'T have, it literally drives someone to "cheat". On the flip side I believe that one shld only indulge periodically--there are way to many healthy foods that our bodies need and there are to many "alternatives" that can be found to substitute for what we call "treats".

Trust me, love me some "sweets", but I'm finding there are good substitutes as well that are BETTER for ME.

I had a Three Musketeers and a Diet Coke yesterday. I had been feeling hungry all day and when my healthy snacks, tea and water didn't work I went ahead and gave in to my craving. Once I indulged I felt full for a long time and came in right under my goal for the day. I had been eyeing up the candy aisle when checking out of every store recently so I knew it was coming.

Those sleeves of mini chocolate at walmart are great for this! And their dirt cheap. I like the mini snickers and twix, they also have reese but i think those are reg size...but they are individually wrapped so atleast its not 3 at a time.

I have a homemade iced cappuccino in the evening. I need something to look forward to, especially with a store full of treats right across the street. 155 calories, and after I'm done, I feel like I ate a pint of coffee ice cream.

I ate TWO oatmeal raisin walnut cookies last night. Those suckers were good. I gave into the temptation, and at first I felt bad, but I see the container sitting on my counter and don't feel the desire to have anymore. I satisfied a craving, it fit into my calorie allowance, no harm, no foul.

I am slowly adjusting to this idea. I used to binge all the time. I cut out all the things I loved to eat to avoid binging. Now I'm working those things back in, just in moderation. It's slow, but I haven't binged and I ate pizza the other day (the kind with a flour crust, not broccoli or cauliflower )

When I have a craving I usually buy whatever it is. Snickers candy bars are my favorite! Once I buy it I lose the urge but save it just in case that urge comes back. Waiting to eat it the next day also works for me because the craving is gone. It's like just having it with me makes a difference.