Treats: small amounts throughout the week/all at once?

fangmouse
fangmouse Posts: 119
in Food and Nutrition
Okay I'm having this dilemma going on. Currently, I've been treating myself daily (having a bite of cake or a piece of chocolate or a tablespoon of ice cream almost every day of the week, but still eating within my calorie recommendations), but I'm afraid that it might hinder the weight loss. Eating such teeny portions of treats make me feel satisfied and I don't feel sick unlike the times when I would finish a whole portion of cake or ice cream (meaning say, 1 cup or something). I don't feel deprived when I eat like this and I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

I used to eat really healthily (no treat foods, just pure, whole foods throughout the week) and I have a full serving of unhealthy food twice to three times a week, usually in the weekends. For example, I would eat lots of vegetables, fruits, non fat yogurt and broth and skim milk throughout the week and on friday, I'll have a cup of frozen yogurt (around 200grams), saturday I'll have a cup of ice cream with some cake and on sunday I'll eat a full plate of pasta. I don't do that anymore and I can't tell which gives me greater progress in term of losing weight.

What do you guys do? Have small treats daily or big servings once or twice a week?

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    i meet my nutritional needs daily...in fact, I go above and beyond...and I eat ice cream or cake or candy or whatever daily. if your nutritional needs have been met, you don't really get extra credit...if you have calories left over and you can fit in a piece of cake and you nutritional needs have been met then have a piece of cake.

    weight control is about energy (calorie) balance. You need so much energy to maintain your body weight...if you consume less energy (calories) then your body has to dip into fat storage to make up for it and you lose weight...if you eat a balance of energy (calories) you will maintain...if you eat a surplus of energy (calories) you gain.

    Barring certain medical conditions and allergies, what you eat really isn't all that important to weight loss. The composition of your diet is going to have a greater impact on your overall health and well being and body composition...but weight control is all about energy (calorie) control.
  • fitchocolatechip
    fitchocolatechip Posts: 14
    Well first, I def don't eat 100% clean! I eat protein bars with sugar alcohols, REAL sugar, soy protein, etc...almost everyday! So I want to say that first:) Personally, I follow iifym- If It Fits Your Macros. Basically you can eat anything you want, as long as at the end of the day you are plus or minus 5 grams of your fat goal, protein goal, carb goal, and fiber goal. Now, some people eat pizza and poptarts and say that's iifym. It is! But I don't personally follow that. I try to eat healthy, but again with the protein bars....not clean whatsoever. Also, I eat Enjoy Life cookies about 2x a week (they are cookies but healthier- sweetened with fruit juice and gluten free, dairy free, nut free, soy free, egg free). My goal is to maintan and gain weight and honestly I do not see much of a difference. I never ate 100% clean all day everyday with a huge treat day. What I used to do is eat 90% clean and then have a huge treat day or two days. My weight really bounced all around then and now it is pretty stable. I would say what I am doing now is closest to you with your eating a small treat everyday. I personally like this because it is all bout moderation and eating this way doesn't seperate one food from another or deprive you or glorify junky foods to where you crave them- it emphasizes moderation which I think is key:) But that is my opinion and there are lots of others out there. THis is a really long reply and I'm not even sure if it makes sense but I hope it helps you!:)
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    If you hit your macros you can eat whatever you want :-)
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    I don't think you should over-think which way is giving you the greater progress. If you're hitting your calorie goal and your macronutrient goals, you're not going to have a problem. What is perhaps more relevant is which way is more satisfying for you? The way you describe it, it sounds like having a bite of cake or a tablespoon of ice cream suits you at the moment. If it's working, I don't see a problem. Personally, one bite of cake wouldn't be satisfying for me. I'd rather have more, or none at all. You have to do what works for you though.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    Well first, I def don't eat 100% clean! I eat protein bars with sugar alcohols, REAL sugar, soy protein, etc...almost everyday! So I want to say that first:) Personally, I follow iifym- If It Fits Your Macros. Basically you can eat anything you want, as long as at the end of the day you are plus or minus 5 grams of your fat goal, protein goal, carb goal, and fiber goal. Now, some people eat pizza and poptarts and say that's iifym. It is! But I don't personally follow that. I try to eat healthy, but again with the protein bars....not clean whatsoever. Also, I eat Enjoy Life cookies about 2x a week (they are cookies but healthier- sweetened with fruit juice and gluten free, dairy free, nut free, soy free, egg free). My goal is to maintan and gain weight and honestly I do not see much of a difference. I never ate 100% clean all day everyday with a huge treat day. What I used to do is eat 90% clean and then have a huge treat day or two days. My weight really bounced all around then and now it is pretty stable. I would say what I am doing now is closest to you with your eating a small treat everyday. I personally like this because it is all bout moderation and eating this way doesn't seperate one food from another or deprive you or glorify junky foods to where you crave them- it emphasizes moderation which I think is key:) But that is my opinion and there are lots of others out there. THis is a really long reply and I'm not even sure if it makes sense but I hope it helps you!:)
    I'm not sure how much you know about If It Fits Your Macros, (IIFYM) but most people who follow it (who do it properly anyway) eat what you would probably call "healthy", but not necessarily "clean". It's not about eating pizza and poptarts all day. In fact, the way you describe your way of eating, it sounds pretty similar to IIFYM.
  • GingerLolita
    GingerLolita Posts: 738 Member
    As long as it fits your calorie deficit, either way works :)
  • colortheworld
    colortheworld Posts: 374 Member
    I go by what I am in the mood for. Sometimes I want a daily treat, sometimes I would rather have an extra bowl of soup or serving of veggies than something sweet. As long as it fits in your calorie goals, it isn't going to hinder your weight loss. And from the sounds of it your small daily treat keeps you satisfied, which will help keep you from binging.

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