Once and for all, is junk food/dessert indulgence ok or not

dennis_n
dennis_n Posts: 29
in Health and Weight Loss
I would like to know if and how I'm hindering the weight loss by eating ice cream and or less than healthy fatty meats or high sodium stuff, provided I manage to keep a balance in my everyday MFP nutrition and stay under the calorie limit.
Should I feel bad about it or not?
Sorry for asking a stupid question. I just don't want to be at war with food every day.
«1

Replies

  • markrichtsspraytan
    markrichtsspraytan Posts: 89 Member
    Not. Stay within your calories. Stay close to your macros. You will see progress.
  • IndigoFlowers
    IndigoFlowers Posts: 221 Member
    Don't feel bad - Enjoy them!
  • kaseyr1505
    kaseyr1505 Posts: 624 Member
    I eat junk food. I lost 46 pounds in about 9 months. If you want it, eat it. Practice moderation, and you'll be fine. Food is food.
  • 15ruth99
    15ruth99 Posts: 8
    I LOVE ice-cream! I have found a flavor I didn't like or a brand I had not bought. I think I would have been happy working in an ice-cream place where they had me sample all the ice-cream and give them a report of my findings - ALL EXCELLENT!
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I definitely think it's fine to include some indulgences in the context of an overall balanced diet with an appropriate calorie goal and macros.

    But you're not going to get an answer "once and for all."
  • desidieter
    desidieter Posts: 195
    If it fits into your macros/calories, I don't see a problem. I think some people around here have a problem consuming these things within moderation, so they cut it out. But everyone is different. You have to do what works for you. If you can make those things fit and are still seeing the type of results you want, then I say go for it! :bigsmile:
  • adamitri
    adamitri Posts: 614 Member
    I eat a half cup, 67g of choco chip ice cream like three times a week. I make it fit into my day and not go over.
  • RachelInSpace
    RachelInSpace Posts: 23 Member
    I don't think it would be sustainable to never eat the foods you enjoy. From what I understand, you can eat literally whatever you want, as long as it fits into your caloric needs for the day. And, there's no reason to beat yourself up if you go over every once in a while. You can check your weekly stats and, if you're careful everyday, you might still be under for the week!

    This is what I've been told and read many times on these forums. Of course, I'm not a professional (or even a fit person) so I could be wrong and, if I am, feel free to call me out!
  • annaskiski
    annaskiski Posts: 1,212 Member
    You're more likely to stick with your diet if you include indulgences.....Keep it liveable
  • scorpiophoenix
    scorpiophoenix Posts: 222 Member
    Confirmed junk food eater here. :drinker: Lost almost 28lbs so far and feeling much better about my future sustainability than the last time I lost this weight by cutting out the foods I love. And ultimately went back to. Moderation!
  • libbydoodle11
    libbydoodle11 Posts: 1,351 Member
    IIFYM
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    I just had a Klondike bar whilst reading this. and peanut butter on a pumpkin muffin. get your macros figured out for your goals eat your protein and fat then indulge in your preferred treats!
  • fitrookster
    fitrookster Posts: 7
    IIFYM
  • PrizePopple
    PrizePopple Posts: 3,133 Member
    I had cake and beer yesterday, and was under my caloric goals. I've lost 10 pounds in about a month. If you fit it into your daily goals then no problem. Sometimes if I'm low in my calories I'll have 1 or 2 Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, and enjoy the hell out of them. :drinker:
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    The empty bowl next to me held gelato an hour ago. Treats in moderation are a-ok
  • 15ruth99
    15ruth99 Posts: 8
    Oops, hit the return key - I wan't finished. Having said all that (my love for ice-cream) I must confess I feel for ice-cream the way an alcoholic feels about his/her next drink. It is addictive; I want it; and I think about it all the time. I can't have just a little and be satisfied. I tried to justified that Weight Watchers ice-cream was o.k. - it is not. They are all empty calories. You have to make up your mind if you truly want to lose the weight or if you want to continue playing the game of acting like you want to lose the weight. It has to come within you - what you are willing to set aside to be able to lose the weight you want to lose. How determine are you to lose the weight? Having said all that, today my husband and I went out to dinner for our 26th anniversary. I kept my meal light and I did have ice-cream afterwards - the first time in two months and 23 pounds lose later. I don't see myself having it again at all this year because I am very serious about getting 60 more pounds off. Good luck.
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    Browse through my diary for the last week or month or year.... I believe my ticker speaks for itself. Cake, ice cream, and/or cookies almost nightly.
  • shexy16
    shexy16 Posts: 68
    Deprivation doesn't work for me personally
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    Oops, hit the return key - I wan't finished. Having said all that (my love for ice-cream) I must confess I feel for ice-cream the way an alcoholic feels about his/her next drink. It is addictive; I want it; and I think about it all the time. I can't have just a little and be satisfied. I tried to justified that Weight Watchers ice-cream was o.k. - it is not. They are all empty calories. You have to make up your mind if you truly want to lose the weight or if you want to continue playing the game of acting like you want to lose the weight. It has to come within you - what you are willing to set aside to be able to lose the weight you want to lose. How determine are you to lose the weight? Having said all that, today my husband and I went out to dinner for our 26th anniversary. I kept my meal light and I did have ice-cream afterwards - the first time in two months and 23 pounds lose later. I don't see myself having it again at all this year because I am very serious about getting 60 more pounds off. Good luck.

    Yeah, I gotta disagree with the bolded. You can have treats and lose weight. It is possible. Myself and every one of my friends on MFP have done it.

    The key is moderation not deprivation. You have to make changes that will be lifetime changes, not just a "I'll do this until I reach my goal weight"…Nope. You need a plan for the rest of your life…

    ETA: OP I'm gonna hold you to this being the last time any of us see this topic...:laugh: :flowerforyou:
  • pattigorman
    pattigorman Posts: 33 Member
    According to my Eating Disorder therapist and nutritionist it's all about equal parts mindful eating (eating when hungry stopping when satisfied and learning the difference) and working to get in all your nutrition for the day. Junk food/dessert is all a part of this.
  • chilly1470
    chilly1470 Posts: 178 Member
    DO NOT EAT SWEETS AND JUNK FOOD!! To excess. Use moderation in all your meals and snacks. Do not go over your daily goal and you will lose. My only mistakes with "goodies" (as some like to call them) has been not logging or measuring them correctly, or over indulging. You want ice cream at the end of the day, just save room for it. You want pizza with sausage, just fit it in. Make sure you have the calorie info so you can log it. I don't advise eating this type of food all day long, since your body needs so many different nutrients in order to burn calories. Eat balanced and sensible meals and you will be able to have those goodies. No sense in suffering through this.
  • skeeter2584
    skeeter2584 Posts: 34 Member
    It's perfectly OK to have ice cream if you want it, just not enough in one sitting to make the poor tooth fairy jump off a bridge. It's likewise OK to have a burger from a fast food place now and again, provided you don't have 50 slices of bacon, 10 jars of mayo, 3 super-duper-sized orders of fries, 5 pounds of chicken wings, AND 20 slices of deep dish pizza with it! In other words, it's PORTION control that you really have to watch.
  • GoingSlightlyMad
    GoingSlightlyMad Posts: 190 Member
    Go eat that ice cream! If you deprive yourself you'll probably binge later. Just be sensible about the amount and enjoy every bit of it :smile:
  • Supertact
    Supertact Posts: 466 Member
    I ate a double fudge chocolate cake while writing this reply
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    Personally if I didn't eat that stuff I would never be able to sustain my weight loss. I fall off the wagon if my diet is too restrictive.
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    I ate a double fudge chocolate cake while writing this reply

    Jealous! I want a double fudge chocolate cake. :cry:
  • jamax092
    jamax092 Posts: 4
    I eat frozen yogurt, which tastes just like ice cream. Indulge in moderation if possible haha
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    It's fine for you.

    Unless it isn't.

    Try it and report back.
  • Murph1908
    Murph1908 Posts: 125 Member
    I've lost my weight eating ice cream, pizza, and cheeseburgers. I stay under my calorie goals, and it works.

    That's one of the things I think works about this system. If I have 100 calories to spend, I can have a guilt-free treat. Like i said in another post, I do try to eat my calories in a more healthy way (during the week, at least), but I do not feel guilty when I top off my calories for the day with an ice cream bar.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    You aren't a child. You don't have to ask if anything is OK because you don't need permission.

    If it's okay with you, it's okay for you.
    I would like to know if and how I'm hindering the weight loss by eating ice cream and or less than healthy fatty meats or high sodium stuff, provided I manage to keep a balance in my everyday MFP nutrition and stay under the calorie limit.
    Should I feel bad about it or not?
    Sorry for asking a stupid question. I just don't want to be at war with food every day.
    The nutritional aspect doesn't make a bit of difference for weight loss. If you stay under your calorie limit, you will lose weight.

    Eating healthy and meeting nutritional goals is for health, not weight loss.

Categories