Saving up for a special meal

funkygas · February 2014

So tonight I'm planning a special meal for the family - turkey burgers followed by peaches and cream pie. All homemade by yours truly. And tomorrow I will have the opportunity to eat a gluten-free hamburger and fries when I travel to the US. I'm trying to eat light this morning - had an egg-white omelette with veggies for breakfast, a quinoa bar for a morning snack and I've just had a tuscan salad with sliced ham and a balsamic dressing for lunch. My problem is that it's still about 5 hour before we have dinner and I'm worried I'll be hungry between now and then ... and binge on whatever is in the cupboards. I don't want to do this (obviously) since I'll have quite a lot of calories coming in over the next 24 hours or so.

How do you cope with being hungry, and having the willpower to resist food, knowing that soon you will be splurging on really yummy food?

LRoslin · February 2014

Stay busy, drink water (hot tea if you like it, feels more like a "snack" since it has flavor and is warm), chew sugarless gum. Go for a walk and get away from the kitchen cupboards. If you have a hobby that can keep your hands busy (knitting, for example) try doing that.

DemoraFairy · February 2014

I do something to distract myself. Either play a video game or go out. If I'm distracted, I don't get hungry, or notice that I'm hungry. I regularly go to events where I want to look my best, and have no trouble not eating anything for the whole day until dinner when the event is over, because I'm constantly walking around, looking at things, talking to people and not thinking about food. Similarly if I'm planing games all day it just doesn't occur to me to eat anything (though I find being out of the house works better).

uncharted01 · February 2014

i like to munch on a small handful of nuts if i get hungry. they're a good source of healthy fat and protein and they're yummy! or you could always get in some extra exercise to help offset your meal.

but remember, one "splurge" meal isn't going to derail your weight loss!

WBB55 · February 2014

Me?

In your situation, I like to eat things like kimchi or broth. Next-to-no calories, but still a bit satisfying. Maybe cucumber slices with vinegar and pepper. Something like that.

970Mikaela1 · February 2014

Just believe that what I am waiting for will be the best ever. And worth the wait.

funkygas · February 2014

An update - I got home from work and thought I'd just have a piece of chicken and a slice of cheese - high in protein and fat, and should keep me full, right? Well, then I started making some granola for my husband and I had a spoonful of that. And then, because I'm flying out tonight, he suggested we get the kids, watch TV and have some crackers and cheese. I thought I'd just have a little bit of brie and a few crackers, but kept on eating. Also had a rice cake with 1 tbs natural peanut butter (I weighed it too).

The turkey burger was awesome, and so was the peaches and cream pie ... but then because there were 4 pieces left over and I was leaving, my husband and I shared another piece to only leave 3 pieces for the 3 of them.

I know I've eaten too much and I'm not planning on eating again until breakfast on the plane (I'll forgo the dinner). The strange thing is that I don't feel totally bloated ... I don't feed GOOD, but not as bad as I thought I would. Do you guys think this might be just a catch up from not eating much for the previous few days (averaged around 12-1300 cals, normal goal around 16-1700)?

Still going to have my big splurge at an American burger joint tomorrow - I've been looking forward to this ever since this trip was planned. Will be >1000 cal in one meal, but I'm planning to hit the hotel gym afterwards tomorrow for some weights, then some cardio on Sunday, and return to 'better' eating for the rest of the week. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

kmglennie · February 2014

I'd say just picking yourself up and getting back to your plan is the only way forward. Maybe look back at where your plan didn't work out this time, so that you can come up with a better plan for the next time you're having a splurge meal. Perhaps keep your calories closer to normal during the week so you don't feel as deprived and in need of snacking before your big meal or something along those lines?

concordancia · February 2014

What you experienced is one reason you shouldn't skip meals to make up for upcoming meals: You will be soooo hungry when you get to the cheat food that you will just scarf it down as fast as you can, and then probably look around for more.

Cut back slightly leading up to splurges, but don't try to make up each and every calorie and sending yourself into NOM NOM NOM mode.

dieter1200 · February 2014

have 1/2 can of soup with a 1/2 can of green beans, is about 150 calories, and will tide u over, if u get hungry.

funkygas · February 2014

Just as an update (if anyone cares!) - I didn't have dinner on the plane but the breakfast was a few slices of gluten-free bread and a few slices of rockmelon. I then waited until I could have the gluten-free burger and fries, followed by the peanut butter slice without eating anything else (yay!). And after that, I was quite full ... but had to go shopping for supplies for the rest of the week here in the US. I went to Whole Foods (and fell in love with it!), and could actually try a few samples, but only a few. Dinner tonight was a vegan salad, with some grapes.

I didn't get to the gym this afternoon, but I WILL go tomorrow morning!

So overall, I think I've learnt that if I'm going to splurge for a special meal, I need to be out of the house, so if I feel like eating something I have to pay for it! Thanks for all your comments and suggestions!!

Saving up for a special meal

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