What Are Your Tips on Limiting Sweets ?

I limit myself to 200 calories of sweets per day. I log it right away so I know when I'm close to or at my limit. I eat chocolate almost everyday.

I still enjoy my sweets everday...

I plan and log my food ahead of time. That way I don't kid myself....'awe its just one more cookie...'

If its in my calorie allowance after planning healthy meals, I can have it. If not, I usually let it be.

Sweets are a really a hard thing for me. I've tried the whole moderation thing but it just doesn't work for me regarding sugar. The more sweets I eat, the more I want to eat in general. Seems to be a blood sugar thing. I just pretend I'm diabetic. Just cutting them out in general has been most effective for me. They don't have much nutritional value so I just try to find other things that I enjoy or that comfort me that are not food.

I still enjoy my sweets everday...

I plan and log my food ahead of time. That way I don't kid myself....'awe its just one more cookie...'

If its in my calorie allowance after planning healthy meals, I can have it. If not, I usually let it be.

Absolutely this. I prelog every day's meals and treats on the evening before so that I know I am meeting my calorie/macro/micro/fiber goals. And that way, if I am tempted, all I have to think is, "I don't need that cookie right now, I'm having ice cream tonight." :drinker:

When I want to devote some of my calories to a treat, I decide in advance how many calories and then I carefully measure out that amount. I take time to really savor the treat, too, by focusing on it and enjoying every bit. Sometimes it helps to have treats that are easily divided into some fraction of a serving, like jellybeans or chocolate-covered raisins. I don't waste calories on substandard things. When I buy Jelly Belly jellybeans, I buy ONLY my favorite flavors. If I decide to have ice cream, I won't "settle" for a flavor I don't like all that well. Why waste calories on something that's just so-so?

Sweets are a really a hard thing for me. I've tried the whole moderation thing but it just doesn't work for me regarding sugar. The more sweets I eat, the more I want to eat in general. Seems to be a blood sugar thing. I just pretend I'm diabetic. Just cutting them out in general has been most effective for me. They don't have much nutritional value so I just try to find other things that I enjoy or that comfort me that are not food.

This is because you're eating, but you're not getting any nutrition. Your feeding your body, and your stomach gets full momentarily, but you're still hungry because you're not nourishing your body. This is why good foods fill you up faster. MSG and some carbs work the same way.

"I'm the one doing all these errands. I deserve that XL triple shot dirty chai with whole milk, and extra whip cream"

ummmmm.....no, you don't.

time to learn some discipline and self control. easier said than done? maybe, maybe not. no one said this is going to be easy.

I still enjoy my sweets everday...

I plan and log my food ahead of time. That way I don't kid myself....'awe its just one more cookie...'

If its in my calorie allowance after planning healthy meals, I can have it. If not, I usually let it be.

^^^ This.

I am not about to give up chocolate and desserts.

So now i emphasize quality over quantity. I WILL make accommodations in my diet for a good pie, chocolate, or other tasty treat. But it also means i am not tempted by cheap costco cakes people bring to work, soda (aka liquid candy), etc. I want to make sure I get maximum enjoyment of every morsel of yummy sweetness without any guilt.

Today I am going to have a Moonstruck Truffle with some cognac. Actually i probably will have 1/2 a truffle today.

I also don't keep treats around the house. A box of truffles or good chocolate bar is an exception. So when my wife or I bake some cookies or other dessert, we have two each for two days, and then we make sure we give the rest away quickly.

Baby steps. I've been working my way off of them. First by replacing some of my favorites with lower cal versions - like fat free chocolate pudding or the weight watchers chocolate ice-cream bars. Then by incorporating more fruit. Also drinking your water everyday helps too not crave so much. Eventually now, when I think about stopping by for a McD's ice-cream cone like I always would...I don't even want one when I think about it

I find adding fruit to my day really helps keep those cravings down. I have the best success with a smoothie in the morning that tastes like dessert: 1/2 milk, 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1-2 tbs baking cocoa, a few drops vanilla, 1 banana, 1 tbs honey or sweetener of choice, 8-10 ice cubes. Blend until smooth. You can also replace the banana with 1/4 uncooked oats and a tbs of peanut butter. It sounds kinda weird, but everyone in my family is always trying to sip out of my glass and my husband has a vendetta against health food if that tells you anything. Feels like I get dessert in the morning so I don't feel the "need" to grab junk when I'm out. Plus bringing snacks with you in your purse and that's what you eat instead of the other things, no exceptions. I also usually have a pure fruit or fruit veggie smoothie at night when I'm feeling snacky and it kicks cravings to the curb.

You actually deserve NOT to have a whipped mocha caramel latte or whatever, your body deserves better than that. You deserve better than that.

It's taken me awhile to figure out the psychological side of things, and I still have to work on things sometimes, but you have to stay disciplined and really change the way you view food. It can't be "I can't have that" and has to be "I don't want that in my body for this reason: fill in the blank." You have to feel in charge, not like a deprived victim.

Viewing food as a no-no and "cheating" on eating healthy all the time only short-changes yourself. You can still have sweets once in awhile, just work it into your daily allotment, but stay away from foods you know you can't eat responsibly until you have better control.

Expect slip-ups and don't let them ruin your progress. One fancy coffee won't hurt you, but doing it everyday can really add up if you're not planning for it.

Most of the time I opt for a lighter alternative during the week, like yogurt with honey or light cocoa to nip the craving, but once in a while I'll have some chocolate or ice cream, a couple of times a week.

If I want it I make room for it, I never deny myself.

^

Deprivation has one definite result, binges.

I like the small single serving type of treats, like the Ghirardelli squares.

Yes! Little bits of chocolate are just fabulous.

One distinct difference I've noticed since moving to Europe compared to the US is that the portion sizes are smaller, ESPECIALLY desserts. Yet I think if savoring the food, a small slice of something truly delicious is just as enjoyable as a mammoth choco thunder at Outback (for example)

Less can be more and work on a regular basis.

I just find I tend to binge more when I eat them. They are a trigger food for my eating disorder. If you don't have disordered eating, each a little bit of the best possible things: the ones that are real TREATS, for special occasions, or a square of really good chocolate.I have tried a year on and a year off sugar in the past few and the year totally off was way lower on binges (like maybe only a quarter of my binges).

Don't deny...modify and analyze before you take a bite. Tempted by the cookie? Look up the calories first. Then log it. Then think about what else you could do with those calories. How long would you have to work out to burn it off? Still want it, and think you'll want more than one? Log 2 or 3 and go through the same process. Then, go ahead if you still want to. At least you'll know it isn't mindless eating.

Personally, I save calories for a treat of some kind every day. Sometimes it is at lunch, sometimes I save it up for evening. I prefer to save it for evening because sometimes when evening comes around I no longer want it and can create a slightly bigger calorie deficit.

I also use my sweet tooth as a motivator. If I didn't save enough calories for a treat, or I want 2 in the same day, I will exercise harder and/or longer to earn the calories for it.

EDIT: Also...fruit. It takes a week or two to train your brain to appreciate the natural sugar, but it definitely helps!