pizza!

So I've been having some insane cravings for pizza lately and have avoided it completely (until last night when I just needed to sink my teeth into one). I ended up getting a personal size Veggie Mediterranean (from Panago) with no mozzarella or feta cheese on it. Toppings included onions, kalamata olives, tomatoes and spinach.

Do you think this is okay to eat? I really (and I stress really) want to eat pizza (I'm trying to cut down on fat and calories by removing meats and cheese) and I am totally content with each a multigrain crust with just sauce and a few veggies on it.

Any advice for alternatives or substitutes? I think I'm craving the dough more than anything
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Replies

  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    It sounds healthy enough. If it fit into your calorie and nutrition goals, then it's fine for weight loss too. I eat pizza pretty regularly. Pizza can be a balanced meal if it's prepared correctly.

    But even if you want a pizza that isn't quite so healthy or calorie friendly, that's okay once in a while. Just eat a little lighter on the meals or days around it.
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    If you have to say "I can't" rather than "I don't" when thinking about any kind of food, you haven't made sustainable changes and any results will vanish when you are no longer able to say "I can't"

    If you want pizza, have some, just don't have the whole pizza and fit it into your day by either tweaking the rest of your food for the day, increasing your activity or both...

    I've lost a ton of weight without taking anything off my menu, I just don't put as much of it on my plate...
  • Urban_Princess
    Urban_Princess Posts: 219 Member
    Thanks, bcattoes and justal313. I can definitely fit it in my daily counts without tweaking much. I have made huge nutritional changes to a point where I don't crave a lot of the cr@p I used to eat nor do i have the appetite for it. My kryptonite is just pizza.

    justal313, when you said "you have to say "I can't" rather than "I don't" when thinking about any kind of food, you haven't made sustainable changes and any results will vanish when you are no longer able to say "I can't"", do you mean that I have to come to a point where I just do not want it anymore rather than trying to avoid it as much I am right now? I think that's what you're getting at? I totally agree with you if that's what you meant. I understand what you mean by portion control, however, I took off all the junk and fast food from my menu and substituted it with greens, salads, and a well balanced meal (something that never existed prior to this). I guess I'm trying to avoid being one of those people who have a 1200 cal/day allowance and they eat just a chocolate bar for lunch.
  • uptomoonandback
    uptomoonandback Posts: 35 Member
    Maybe I look at things the wrong way, but I eat pizza all the time (it's in my top 10 items), I just eat one piece for lunch or something like that (not saying I only eat 1 when I hit up Cici's :smile: ). I say as long as I'm in my calorie goal I am good.
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    Specifically I was differentiating between changing your dietary habits and going on a diet. If you go on a diet to get healthy then as soon as you stop eating paleo, or cutting out carbs, or whatever else you eliminate to get healthy, you'll go back to where you were if it was a sacrifice you stop making instead of a change you've made.

    Other than eating less, the only thing I've "cut out" is putting potato chips in my tunafish sandwiches. I realized it was strictly a texture thing and I wasn't tasting the potato chips. They are a LOT of calories to not taste. For texture I've added extra onions and crispier lettuce and if I want chips, then I'll have a small amount and enjoy them by eating them with my hands off a plate or out of the bag.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    Wow, pizza with no cheese? Well, it wouldn't be okay for me! Seriously, what's the point of eating pizza then? If it's the dough you crave, then just go all in with a plate of biscuits and gravy.

    ETA: If it's pizza you want, get a Digiorno thin crust pepperoni pizza. It's about 340 calories for 1/4 of the pizza. If you're like me and eat half of the pizza, that's still less than 700 calories for dinner. It's delicious, filling, and not so heavy that I can't go run 3 miles afterwards. Yes, I do this about 3 times a week.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    The only thing I see wrong with the pizza is a lack of cheese. Add some back in and you've got a complete meal - protein, fat, carbs and veggies. There is no need to eliminate cheese, just eat an appropriate amount that can fit in your calorie allowance.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Eat all the pizza! Just make sure it's a good one, don't waste your calories on crappy pizza like I did last week. If you crave pizza, have something you'll like, even if it's 100 more calories. I would definitely have cheese on it.
  • mrsmarit
    mrsmarit Posts: 229 Member
    I actually make my own pizzas at home. Either with a tortilla as my crust or I just purchased from flat out breads that look a flatbread pizza crust.


    Then you can add what you want and eat the whole thing. Usually with pizza the crust is the most calorie dense part and by using a tortilla or the flatout I don't have to worry as much.
  • Ughh I love pizza and will eat like 5 pieces or more.
  • Magdaloonie
    Magdaloonie Posts: 146 Member
    Cutting out pizza would not be sustainable for me. And there's always cheese! My husband and I make our own and I have calculated 3 different crusts, 3 sauces and a bunch if different topping combinations. None of it is so high that it can't be fit in, even the Greek with 3 cheeses and kalamatas and sometimes chicken or bacon. My only concessions are not eating half the pizza for one meal and slightly less cheese. As another poster said, if I'm going to eat pizza, it's going to be good pizza!
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    seriously, that sounds really delicious. i love pizza, and can't take it out of my diet. but instead of eating a whole pie, i'll get a couple of slices or an individual pizza with veggies and chicken on it.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Do you think this is okay to eat? I really (and I stress really) want to eat pizza (I'm trying to cut down on fat and calories by removing meats and cheese) and I am totally content with each a multigrain crust with just sauce and a few veggies on it.

    Any advice for alternatives or substitutes? I think I'm craving the dough more than anything

    Well, you're still alive so I presume it was okay. How did it taste, that's the important part.

    Next time, I'd substitute a real pizza, which includes cheese, but that's me.

    Seriously people, food is not evil, just eat it in moderation.

    Rigger
  • Ugh you're not alone, today my boyfriend ate some cold old pizza and even that smelled just so amazing hah! I look at these cravings as a test of will power and passing them just makes you that much more determined and serious about your weight loss. good luck and stay strong :)
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    if it fits in your goals then it is no problem to have. i prefer a nice hearty nine grain crust but nothing wrong with traditional either. but no cheese!! what's the point of pizza then! :laugh:
  • SeriousBen
    SeriousBen Posts: 41 Member
    I make low calories and (fairly low) sodium pizzas by using whole wheat pita bread instead of regular dough, light mozzarella cheese, turkey pepperoni, onions and green pepper. You could also add mushrooms if you like them (I don't). It's very tasty and pretty close to the real thing!
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    If you have to say "I can't" rather than "I don't" when thinking about any kind of food, you haven't made sustainable changes and any results will vanish when you are no longer able to say "I can't"

    If you want pizza, have some, just don't have the whole pizza and fit it into your day by either tweaking the rest of your food for the day, increasing your activity or both...

    I've lost a ton of weight without taking anything off my menu, I just don't put as much of it on my plate...

    QFT this is the only way to be sustainable on any diet.... Make it fit, Enjoy it, and live your life.... best of Luck
  • ThePlight
    ThePlight Posts: 3,593 Member
    Maybe I look at things the wrong way, but I eat pizza all the time (it's in my top 10 items), I just eat one piece for lunch or something like that (not saying I only eat 1 when I hit up Cici's :smile: ). I say as long as I'm in my calorie goal I am good.
    Exactly what I do, this way I avoid binge eating.
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    Eat the pizza. This is a really good guide for filling out your diary and fitting in treats. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/925464-fitting-it-in-giggity
  • Pollywog39
    Pollywog39 Posts: 1,730 Member
    Pizza contains all of the basic food groups - protein, veggies, grains. EAT THE PIZZA......stop stressing, fit it into your day, and enjoy every bite!

    http://www.cpkfrozen.com/pizza

    There are many lower calorie versions out there........my faves are the California Kitchen frozen ones. Thin crust, nummy toppings, and you can get a bunch of different varieties.... ......the Sicilian Thin crust has cheese, meat, deliciousness......and you can eat a THIRD of the pizza for 360 calories, 17 g's of protein, and it's GOOD. (a little high in salt, if you're watching that.)

    So many pizza options, so little time :bigsmile: :bigsmile:
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    Sometimes you really need to just fulfill your craving... If not, you'll eat other "healthier" things to try and fill that craving but you'll still want the pizza.
  • sally_jeffswife
    sally_jeffswife Posts: 766 Member
    If you have carbs like pizza, just make sure that you always have some kinda protein with it and a veggie. Then it will balance out your blood sugar and you will still lose weight. If you are having like 4 pieces of cheese pizza with doritos or something you will gain weight cuz its all carbs on top of carbs without protein or veggies. But if you instead have like 2 small slices of some kinda meat pizza and have a side salad with it or something like that then it will balance your blood sugar cuz you will have the right proportions of protein,carbs, n veggies and you will still lose weight.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    Ugh you're not alone, today my boyfriend ate some cold old pizza and even that smelled just so amazing hah! I look at these cravings as a test of will power and passing them just makes you that much more determined and serious about your weight loss. good luck and stay strong :)

    Actually, I don't ignore cravings. I have the item I am craving but in moderation and in proper portions. Why shouldn't you? In fact, I believe it is healthier to find a way to incorporate your favorite foods in your plan. I refuse to give up cake, pizza, and burgers for the rest of my life so I don't give them up now.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    If you have carbs like pizza, just make sure that you always have some kinda protein with it and a veggie. Then it will balance out your blood sugar and you will still lose weight. If you are having like 4 pieces of cheese pizza with doritos or something you will gain weight cuz its all carbs on top of carbs without protein or veggies. But if you instead have like 2 small slices of some kinda meat pizza and have a side salad with it or something like that then it will balance your blood sugar cuz you will have the right proportions of protein,carbs, n veggies and you will still lose weight.

    You gain weight from too many calories. Period.
  • Pollywog39
    Pollywog39 Posts: 1,730 Member
    Having California Kitchen Sicilian thin crust in about 10 mins. A third of the pizza for 360! I could eat the whole thing, but I WON'T..............that's the beauty of eating what you want, and making good choices.

    :glasses: :glasses: :love: :love:
  • I agree with everyone else, you can eat it as long as you're not scarfing down an xl by yourself. Whenever I crave pizza, but I don't feel like giving in completely, I've used a piece of whole wheat (English muffin, slice of bread, pita, etc.) add some marinara and a bit of cheese and throw it under the broiler, and wah-lah, pizza!
  • LB2812
    LB2812 Posts: 158 Member
    If you have to say "I can't" rather than "I don't" when thinking about any kind of food, you haven't made sustainable changes and any results will vanish when you are no longer able to say "I can't"

    If you want pizza, have some, just don't have the whole pizza and fit it into your day by either tweaking the rest of your food for the day, increasing your activity or both...

    I've lost a ton of weight without taking anything off my menu, I just don't put as much of it on my plate...

    ^ This!

    Your changes should be sustainable long term... are you really NEVER going to eat pizza again? If not then find a way to fit it in...
    I think the one you had sounds delicious! Then again I also love tomato pie (with no cheese) and veggie topped pizzas... but if you're looking for a traditional pizza with cheese, then have it! If you try to ignore your desire for it, your just going to end up binging on it another time.
    Also, you can try making your own at home. I'm a huge fan of english muffin pizzas... the muffin is about 100 calories, some sauce, some mozzarella cheese, some cheddar, some parm... I can measure it out so I keep track and it satisfies me. Of course, sometimes you just want REAL pizza too - so I have a slice (or 2!)
  • blably
    blably Posts: 490 Member
    The only thing I see wrong with the pizza is a lack of cheese. Add some back in and you've got a complete meal - protein, fat, carbs and veggies. There is no need to eliminate cheese, just eat an appropriate amount that can fit in your calorie allowance.


    this

    seriously id die without pizza, i have a real one (well with cheese haha) every two weeks, it fits my weekly macros and thats all taht matter...pluis im effin happy after it haha, or should i say my buds are
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    My sustainable diet includes pizza but not just any pizza, most are nasty tasting and the reason I built a wood burning pizza oven on the property.......it does a great job with steak and chicken too. :wink:
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Eat the pizza. This is a really good guide for filling out your diary and fitting in treats. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/925464-fitting-it-in-giggity

    This.

    Plus protein and fat are your friend - not your enemy. You should be getting adequate amounts of both in your diet. I would suggest doing some research and reading before you decide that cutting meats and cheese from your diet is the best plan.