poll- treat day/ treat meal

I have small treats on some days (i.e. a Hershey Kiss or an Oreo). I find it easier to have one here and there than to restrict myself. I usually always have the treat after I workout, so I've "earned it."

I eat ice cream every day but in moderation and I make it fit. I've lost 110 pounds.

I eat a small treat any day that I really "need" it. I don't reward my good eating with bad food, it gives food false power (emotionally speaking).

I can eat treats everyday, in moderation. If I do not eat them is fine.

I've worked quite hard to create the mindset that if I want a treat whatever the day I can have it very easily if it slips into my calorie goal. However, that obviously means less of the other food I would have had that day and it usually puts me off. I could have salmon and lots and lots of yummy roasted veggies or I could have a chunky chocolate bar and probably feel tired and lathargic afterwards. 90% of the time I go with the meal. But knowing I truly have a choice in the matter has made me much more successful with sticking to my goals. I used to be incredibly strict - 'NO WAY can I have chocolate or chips on a weekday!!!!' it was totally the all or nothing mentality and totally the wrong mindframe to have. :flowerforyou:

I cut back threw the week, so I can have a cheat day or cheat weekend.

Make your treats fit daily! You deserve them!

I allow myself small "treats" pretty often...a couple of times a week, but not every night. It is easy for me to get in the habit of eating too few calories and then having a surplus of 300-500 in the evening and making some sort of coffee mug brownie or going out for ice cream after logging some calories for exercise. I don't think that's the worst thing, but I don't wanna do it every night!!

As for "treat day" - Saturdays are usually my treat day. Not a cheat because I still fit everything into my calories. Generally I do give myself more leeway when it comes to my macros though...more likely to have a restaurant meal that puts me over on sodium and/or fat. My husband and I take a lot of road trips and do sight-seeing, and when we're not on a road trip we pack in TONS of walking and hiking or biking. So we have a lot of extra calories to "spend" on Saturdays on food that we don't normally eat Sunday through Friday. It's our time to embrace all of the crazy delicious food that's out there...pad Thai, banh mi, cupcakes from a fancy place...we look forward to it and it works for us.

I'm dieting the way i want to: by stuffing my fat face with whatever i want in moderation. Want some jack in the box? Fit it in my calories. Want a bowl of ice cream? Fit it in my calorie budget! When i live like this, i never feel like i'm sacrificing anything. I have what i want all the time so why eat more? I stick to my calories most of the time. BUT...

...There are times when you just want to eat more and you can't simply stick to your tiny calorie budget. Sometimes there'll be a barbecue or a special event. Or thanksgiving! Oh god thanksgiving. I swear...if you don't stuff your face on that day of all days, you're doing it wrong. I make a rule for myself:i can eat at maintenance once a week (which for me is 3,000 calories) At least if i eat at maintenance, i can't feel that bad because it's not like i'm going to gain any weight from eating that day. At worst, i pause my progress for only 1 day. Which for me, makes it worth it. I usually don't give myself this 'treat day' because i don't feel like i need it, but it's good to have that option.