Sometimes moderation just isn't even worth it..
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HappyCampr1 wrote: »scorpiophoenix wrote: »I think a big part of this process and moderation is adjusting our mentality of what a portion is. Sure, a small piece is not nearly as satisfying as a large piece. To me a small piece is better than nothing. Two slices of pizza is not nearly as satisfying as an entire pizza, but two slices is better than nothing. Planning those treats in advance helps you prepare for the amount you will be eating and it will make it more satisfying.
This. I'd rather have half a brownie (or two slices of pizza) than no brownie. Or pizza.
One slice of pizza is plenty satisfying for me. Two bites of brownie isn't. Big difference, lol.
I look at it like some things are worth it to you and some things aren't. Some things I'm willing to almost half-starve myself for the rest of the day for, in order to fit them in. Other things are totally not worth the suffering I'd have to do to fit them in. Everybody has their own idea of what's worth it. Apparently brownies are not worth it to you. That's ok. Carrot cake is hardly ever worth it to me. Staying in your calories just shows you what you really love most.
P.S. - The brownie brittle is awesome!
I can't starve myself. I get sick and dizzy and it's just not possible. I don't handle hunger well at all, and it kinda sucks when you're trying to lose weight, frankly...HealthyFit23 wrote: »What about a brownie quest protein bar?
Nope. I like Quest bars but I don't remember being impressed with those at all.
I'm going out for lunch now though, and I should have 800ish spare calories today (without counting the ones I have 'banked' if needed), so heck, we'll see.0 -
I just want to say that brownies break my heart. I love them so much, and they just do not fit into my calories. Why do they have to be so wonderful??0
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Now I want to stop at Wegmans and get a pan of brownies. I love them so.0
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OP - consider the opposite of your post...would it be better to just restrict everything that you think is too high calorie or 'bad" and never eat it???? I think the middle ground is the best ground, but that is just my opinion...0
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AngryViking1970 wrote: »Now I want to stop at Wegmans and get a pan of brownies. I love them so.
Speaking of things that break my heart, I went to college in a town with Wegmans and now live 1000 miles away from the nearest one. Weggies, why can't you come to the Midwest?
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Sometimes that's the power of making your own. With stuff like brownies, you can probably cut the calories down significantly by cutting/substituting the sugar and fat.0
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I feel the same about cake. I don't want a 2x2 piece of cake for 150 calories. I want a friggin' monster size piece that I can enjoy, but not for 500+ calories! UGH!!!0
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I'm the same way, I live for these Flaming Hot Cheetos here in the U.S. but when I read the calories I think " I have to run how long to burn this off?" Not worth it for sure! A few years back when I lost weight it got to the point where I would steal a chip off someone and I DIDN'T even like the fake cheese, processed taste anymore. Your body really does get use to eating better and all the fake, high calorie stuff tastes bad. Do you have access to fiber brownies? There's one brand, Fiber One, that has 90 cal fiber brownies and satisfies me when I need a brownie.0
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There is a gentleman on here and when he knows he is going to have a "not so good" meal or day he will walk (his main exercise) off the calories in advance of the "treat". So instead of having the treat and then busting your butt to burn it off he burns it first. Works for him. I have a secondary issue of being a diabetic and my numbers have been WAY to high so I am off all sweets. And its Valentines day and my daughters birthday next month! Have a great day everyone!0
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OP - Have you tried the fiber one brownies? They are pretty good for 90 calories. I personally like the crunchy edges so Sheila G's Brownie Brittle is awesome too for 120 calories a serving. If I am low on protein, a warmed up double chocolate chunk Quest bar is a good choice - it is fudgy and very chocolatey like a brownie (160 calories and 20 grams of protein, 17 grams of fiber!). When I am trying to satisfy my cravings whilst staying within my calories, those are my go-tos for brownie cravings.0
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I could happily sit and scoff chocolate all day long, and could have done years ago without gaining a pound, but my slow, middle aged body says 'no' these days, sadly.
It sucks, I agree. Moderation is damned hard to achieve, especially when our sweet tooth is screaming at us. I am a biscuit and sweet freak. I now carefully study the calorific and fat contents like Sherlock Holmes, and there are sneaky treats that satisfy and are still not totally naughty.
My UK favourites are Marks &Spencer Ginger Snaps and Mcvities Jaffa Cakes. Ginger Snaps are 35 calories each and Jaffa Cakes 46 calories, and at least I can get my choc fix with the Jaffa Cake!
In saying this, it takes mammoth will power not to eat the whole box, as opposed to just one or two!
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OP I feel you. I'm close to my goal weight too and the deficit I can sustain is only 1-200 cal a day. that means I lose a little over ONE POUND A MONTH. And I'm hungry almost all of the time, except for maybe the first hour after a meal. Changes are so slow and so subtle that getting into the mindset of "it's only 500 cal, it won't make a difference" actually does make a difference. That brownie splurge would erase my deficit for 2-3 days. And that's hard. And sometimes its just more conducive to your long term goals to put things back and feel unsatisfied. And that's ok. So let me commiserate in your sadness. Because I'm sad too.
Also when you are hungry a lot, its like a constant low grade stress and all of the decisions you make during the day to stay within your caloric goals add up and deplete your ability to handle that stress. And stuff gets harder to resist and if you've used up your tank of willpower for the day and now it's the evening and you are looking at brownies in the grocery store it's very easy to say, "well, just eat one..or half of one" but actually that can be pretty hard to do. Personally, once I decide to eat a bit of whatever it is, I end up eating more than I originally intended. I have to have all of my calories for the day, including dinner and evening snacks pre-thought out because I am so fatigued from being hungry and making the choices that will result in a deficit all day long that I'm done.0 -
So you didn't actually moderate?
And now you are sad.
Ok.0 -
I agree- all the people on here who are like "fit the food you love into your goals" if you're happy to eat a sliver of pizza and a teaspoon of ice cream, well done, but I find it hard to work in a reasonable amount to satisfy, given how unfilling these foods generally are. I find it easier to avoid them altogether because I am just not a person who does anything by halfs.
I often practice avoidance because I also want the whole darn thing.
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Agree with you, OP, and the person who said "who wants four chicken wings?"
This is the reason I'll argue with the fast-fooders all day long. They'll say, "Why miss out on McDonald's and cheesecake and pizza, I can fit it into my calories...." Riiiiiiiiight, you can fit one of those meals into your day and then suffer the rest of the day by hardly having anything to eat. Maybe their stomachs and hunger cues working differently than I, but when I'm exercising like a *kitten*, I'm hungry all of the time.
Anyway, I feel your pain, OP, and am about to make myself stay under calories through the weekend, which means healthy food and probably no wine or beer. Boo!0 -
I so understand this post. I'm still trying to grasp the moderation thing when it's not satisfying in the end.
I'm in the beginning stages and it's hard. Hopefully you will find a substitute 
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GoPerfectHealth wrote: »I agree- all the people on here who are like "fit the food you love into your goals" if you're happy to eat a sliver of pizza and a teaspoon of ice cream, well done, but I find it hard to work in a reasonable amount to satisfy, given how unfilling these foods generally are. I find it easier to avoid them altogether because I am just not a person who does anything by halfs.
I often practice avoidance because I also want the whole darn thing.
Oh I like that. Practice avoidance. It's easier for me than practicing moderation.0 -
Try this brownie recipe too - no stevia/truvia; uses honey and applesauce. http://www.jillianmichaels.com/fit/lose-weight/ultimate-healthy-fudge-brownie0
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I had my first Jaffa cakes when I bought a box at an international market last weekend. Thankfully, I had someone to share them with but I still ate 6 of them that day. They are very tasty!shufflewick71 wrote: »I could happily sit and scoff chocolate all day long, and could have done years ago without gaining a pound, but my slow, middle aged body says 'no' these days, sadly.
It sucks, I agree. Moderation is damned hard to achieve, especially when our sweet tooth is screaming at us. I am a biscuit and sweet freak. I now carefully study the calorific and fat contents like Sherlock Holmes, and there are sneaky treats that satisfy and are still not totally naughty.
My UK favourites are Marks &Spencer Ginger Snaps and Mcvities Jaffa Cakes. Ginger Snaps are 35 calories each and Jaffa Cakes 46 calories, and at least I can get my choc fix with the Jaffa Cake!
In saying this, it takes mammoth will power not to eat the whole box, as opposed to just one or two!
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JustinAnimal wrote: »Agree with you, OP, and the person who said "who wants four chicken wings?"
This is the reason I'll argue with the fast-fooders all day long. They'll say, "Why miss out on McDonald's and cheesecake and pizza, I can fit it into my calories...." Riiiiiiiiight, you can fit one of those meals into your day and then suffer the rest of the day by hardly having anything to eat. Maybe their stomachs and hunger cues working differently than I, but when I'm exercising like a *kitten*, I'm hungry all of the time.
Anyway, I feel your pain, OP, and am about to make myself stay under calories through the weekend, which means healthy food and probably no wine or beer. Boo!
you can't fit a 500 calorie meal from fast food or pizza into your day???
even if you are on 1200 calories a day that would leave you 700 for the remainder of your day; or, heavens forbid, you could go over by 100 calories and eat 1300 instead of 1200...0 -
I'm saving all those recipes, lol.
You'll all be glad to hear that we went out, and we shared a dessert of two brownies (with ice cream and whipped cream), and I still have plenty of calories left for dinner.0 -
Have you tried VitaBrownies (50 calories, tons fiber, vitamins) or Vitacakes (100 calories, more fiber)? They are so good and really meet the craving.0
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jess1992uga wrote: »Have you tried VitaBrownies (50 calories, tons fiber, vitamins) or Vitacakes (100 calories, more fiber)? They are so good and really meet the craving.
I tried the Vitatops and wasn't a fan, but I got a EnergyLoaf this morning from the same brand (the banana nut one) that was really good, so I might try those...0 -
It's really all about your philosophy. "Moderation in all things" is, to me, an unworkable maxim. The classical maxim (inscribed, apparently, on the walls of the temple of Delphi) was "Nothing to Excess".
And even Emerson, one of many to whom "Moderation in all things" is ascribed, appended it to say "Moderation in all things, including this."
But "Moderation" "Enough/Sufficient" and "Excess" are all different things.0 -
OP I feel you. I'm close to my goal weight too and the deficit I can sustain is only 1-200 cal a day. that means I lose a little over ONE POUND A MONTH. And I'm hungry almost all of the time, except for maybe the first hour after a meal. Changes are so slow and so subtle that getting into the mindset of "it's only 500 cal, it won't make a difference" actually does make a difference. That brownie splurge would erase my deficit for 2-3 days. And that's hard. And sometimes its just more conducive to your long term goals to put things back and feel unsatisfied. And that's ok. So let me commiserate in your sadness. Because I'm sad too.
Also when you are hungry a lot, its like a constant low grade stress and all of the decisions you make during the day to stay within your caloric goals add up and deplete your ability to handle that stress. And stuff gets harder to resist and if you've used up your tank of willpower for the day and now it's the evening and you are looking at brownies in the grocery store it's very easy to say, "well, just eat one..or half of one" but actually that can be pretty hard to do. Personally, once I decide to eat a bit of whatever it is, I end up eating more than I originally intended. I have to have all of my calories for the day, including dinner and evening snacks pre-thought out because I am so fatigued from being hungry and making the choices that will result in a deficit all day long that I'm done.
I agree with all of this. I lost the weight I needed to lose a few years ago and have been maintaining ever since. I am hungry almost all day, every single day. Except for the rare times when I allow myself to eat to satisfaction (that's 3-4 slices of pizza or an entire box of Samoas, btw, I have been at least low-grade hungry for something like three years. It's draining and distracting, and if I added it up, I'd probably be appalled to know how time and energy I spend every day I spend talking myself out of eating more food.
I would love to be one of the people for whom moderation works, but for me, a two-bite brownie or one slice of pizza is nothing but a tease that makes me want more. Avoidance works better.
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I've been craving a brownie.
I don't know what kind of brownies you like, but have you ever tried the Think Thin Chocolate Almond Brownie bar? It's 150 calories and to me the perfect consistency of the kind of brownies I like, when I am wanting a brownie.
I actually prefer it over a brownie, because I like eating it but doesn't make me feel queasy afterwards (I've always had a problem with sweets where if I eat more than a small amount my tummy feels upset afterwards). This may mean that the bar would not be sweet enough for most and/or may actually be very gross, but from a non-sweets loving person I guess advice on sweets may be shaky.
Otherwise my "moderation" tends to be I eat 1-2 thousand calories of the thing I want and just call it a 3k day. Not sure that's what they mean but meh. I like food and am good with just losing a pound or so a week.0 -
I think this OP illustrates one of the reasons why I 1) Love being a large muscular man who can east over 2500 at maintenance w/o much activity, and 2) don't usually feel the need to be well below 15 percent body fat except POSSIBLY on vacation or in the summer time being that I live outside Chicago.
If I want a brownie, I eat a brownie. Not a binge sized brownie, but yes, probably 400Kcals worth of Brownie. I'm probably going to end up adjusting my eating SOMEWHAT after that to make it a 250-300Kcals hit just naturally net.
Do the math, that's 1/13th of a pound. That's 4lbs a yr if you allow yourself this type of indulgence once a week....so the question is can you limit yourself to once a week splurges and can you devote 2/4 weeks in May to a cut for summer when you really want to be lean.
I dunno, can you?
I would actually-for most males- let my weight float maybe 3 times as much as that during the colder months and go for a gradual cut around every mid to late spring for 8 weeks to get into summer shape.
It also goes to the unrealistic goals of some women; not every female is built to be 115lbs guys, plenty have the height, frame size and natural tendency towards lean mass to make 150lbs/140lbs a reasonable goal that will allow enough eating to make staying around a maintenance number less of a chore.
If you're constantly trying to eat like under 1500Kcals, you are probably (with obvious exceptions for petite people) going to be fkn miserable all the time.0 -
I'm not the biggest fan of brownies, but mostly had to give up pies except on holidays. I love apple pie covered in ice cream or decadent salted caramel chocolate pie. These are absolutely delicious, but a serving can easily go north of 500-600. I don't say I can never have it, because I do a few times during the year, but I have definitely cut them out of my day to day diet.
Day to day, I have replaced those things with desserts that are all under 250 cals. Low fat ice cream/sorbet, fun sized chocolate bars, Nutella on crisp bread or thinwhich slices. So overall, I don't feel particularly deprived.
I am a 5'5.5" tall woman and my TDEE is 1800-1900 a day depending on which formula you are using. A good slice of that chocolate pie would be nearly 1/3 my caloric intake for the day at maintenance. That ain't no joke.0 -
I've been craving a brownie. I had to do some groceries today so I picked Wegmans...It's just ridiculous... Two tiny one maybe two bite brownies = 220 calories...This 'healthy eating' thing just sucks at times.
I see what you are saying.
Today, I took a food photo instead of having a decent breakfast – I wanted a piece of fried fish for lunch and that was the price. It was “delicious.” I do this every month or so.
I must say, I mocked the WW Chocolate Bliss when I first removed the wrapper. The strange thing is – I found myself still buying a box once a week. Instead of using it as my “entire” snack, I make it part of a trio (perhaps with popcorn, fiber bar or fruit mixed with no sugar yogurt) and spread it out thru the evening. I’m not saying the “entire box” wouldn’t taste better – but I have other foods I like even more
The waffle is the size of a half dollar with a tiny single strawberry / blueberry & a drip of yogurt and squirt of sugar free syrup – all for under 25 calories – take away the waffle and you have about 2 calories. LOL
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