Reccomended amount of treats a day?

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Replies

  • Izzyxo3
    Izzyxo3 Posts: 29 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    Izzyxo3 wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    I don't quantify it. If I want cake and have the calories for it I eat it. Sometimes it fits my macros and sometimes it doesn't.
    I guess most do however sometimes I really do misjudge just how many calories things have x I will make sure to keep it low calorie to make sure I have no more calories than my goal x Thank you!

    I tend to plan my day ahead and leave 20% of my calories for unexpected things.
    I do for breakfast since I agree it's a good idea to keep calorie intake low therefore making workouts not so hard. Lunch and dinner however I do not since I like to see how I feel at the time :blush: I do however plan my snacks out.
    I appreciate the advice!

  • Izzyxo3
    Izzyxo3 Posts: 29 Member
    MFD7576 wrote: »
    Izzyxo3 wrote: »
    Hi there, I'm curious to know how many treats you allow yourself a day? Also do you work them off? I personally know for sure I eat to many with my sweet tooth for crisps and chocolate.

    Theres a fine like what people consider treats and not. I don't put a number to them, I have as numerous a day if my calories fit them.

    To me a treat is peanut butter and celery but to others a treat could be a deep fried oreo. Its what ever you can make fit in your macros, and most importantly don't punish yourself over the number of treats you eat one day, it just means they could fit! Hope this helps

    Quality over Quantity in this case

    Thanks for the advice x I think it's great your treat is quite health but I would define it as a very yummy snack, unless it us hard to get. "However when you say it just means they could fit" This is not always the case for me
  • Izzyxo3
    Izzyxo3 Posts: 29 Member
    The recommended amount is as little as you need to be happy. Only you can answer that question.

    I agree with this. For me, it varies. I may have zero treats, I may have 2-3.
    If you were to have 3 what might you have? x
  • Izzyxo3
    Izzyxo3 Posts: 29 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    That ends up kind of circular doesn't it? The question is how often or how many treats a day do you eat. If all that counts as a treat are those things I rarely eat, then fewer than one per day, for sure. (Although I still don't think that means I ought to eat them as rarely as possible. Pie is a treat for me and I eat it on holidays and maybe 5 times a year otherwise. I'm sure I could be just as happy eating it just on holidays and cutting out those other 5, but why would that be a positive?)

    Anyway, I guess I need to know what OP considers a treat to answer the question.

    She did, about halfway up the page:

    Sorry, to be more specific I mean high in fat and sugary foods like cake, chocolate, sweets etc. No matter what quantity

    Ah, I totally missed that, thanks.
    Eat treats how ever often you like. I was just stating my opinion.

    I didn't think otherwise. I think we are simply understanding "treat" differently, though, so I was interested in that.

    IMO, two of the biggest treats of the year are the first strawberries and the first corn.
    I guess I should change the title to fatty foods
  • Izzyxo3
    Izzyxo3 Posts: 29 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Izzyxo3 wrote: »
    Hi there, I'm curious to know how many treats you allow yourself a day? Also do you work them off? I personally know for sure I eat to many with my sweet tooth for crisps and chocolate.

    How do you define a treat?

    I guess I'd define it as a food where the calorie count is substantially greater than the nutrient benefits, at least compared to other alternatives. Using that definition, I'd include something like cheese in that, as well as higher calorie/fat meats (liked pulled pork), at least in part.

    It's impossible to count up a specific number, though, especially since it makes a huge difference how much you eat. A lunch place near me sells squares of different sorts of high quality chocolates. Eating one of them for, say, 80 calories shouldn't count the same as eating a 600 calorie piece of cake.

    Anyway, I find it impossible to quantify--instead I think of it as eating mostly nutrient dense foods and satisfying my nutrition goals (but always in a tasty way!) and then incorporating some extras for just taste (for example, some butter on fish, some cheese in my omelet), as well as some kind of extra--maybe a Quest bar as a post workout snack and/or dessert (usually about 200 calories of ice cream or sometimes cheese post dinner).

    How much I can fit it depends on my overall calories. I fit in less when I was doing 1250 calories as now, when I've been doing 1700 or so. I fit in more when doing maintenance and on a biking trip!

    I don't specifically "work off" the treats I eat--I really don't think that's a healthy way to approach workouts or food, for that matter. I do factor my activity level and workouts into my calorie goal.

  • Izzyxo3
    Izzyxo3 Posts: 29 Member
    Izzyxo3 wrote: »
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Izzyxo3 wrote: »
    Hi there, I'm curious to know how many treats you allow yourself a day? Also do you work them off? I personally know for sure I eat to many with my sweet tooth for crisps and chocolate.

    How do you define a treat?

    I guess I'd define it as a food where the calorie count is substantially greater than the nutrient benefits, at least compared to other alternatives. Using that definition, I'd include something like cheese in that, as well as higher calorie/fat meats (liked pulled pork), at least in part.

    It's impossible to count up a specific number, though, especially since it makes a huge difference how much you eat. A lunch place near me sells squares of different sorts of high quality chocolates. Eating one of them for, say, 80 calories shouldn't count the same as eating a 600 calorie piece of cake.

    Anyway, I find it impossible to quantify--instead I think of it as eating mostly nutrient dense foods and satisfying my nutrition goals (but always in a tasty way!) and then incorporating some extras for just taste (for example, some butter on fish, some cheese in my omelet), as well as some kind of extra--maybe a Quest bar as a post workout snack and/or dessert (usually about 200 calories of ice cream or sometimes cheese post dinner).

    How much I can fit it depends on my overall calories. I fit in less when I was doing 1250 calories as now, when I've been doing 1700 or so. I fit in more when doing maintenance and on a biking trip!

    I don't specifically "work off" the treats I eat--I really don't think that's a healthy way to approach workouts or food, for that matter. I do factor my activity level and workouts into my calorie goal.
    Ok.
  • jaqcan
    jaqcan Posts: 498 Member
    It varies day to day. Today, my treat was a very late and very big breakfast. Eggs, hashbrowns, cheese, ham; all wrapped up in two warm tortillas. Other days it's an ice cream bar. But I have a "treat" every day! It keeps me happy.
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    edited July 2015
    Most days I have 1 treat in the evening.

    I typically pre-log a 100 calorie fudge pop for the evening and then make everything else fit. I sometimes have some goldfish crackers, if they fit my calorie goals, but I've been known to grab a handful (almost half a serving...) if I'm craving them. I'd eat a whole bag of them though if given the chance.

    On the weekends I typically grab a few M&M's (20-50 calories worth, so really not much at all) on top of the evening snack.

    I'm 18lb down and plan on sticking at my current calorie goals until we go on vacation (in 3 weeks). After vacation I plan on going to 1lb/week instead of 1.5lb/week. Those extra 250 calories/day will probably get consumed as goldfish crackers :naughty:

    EDIT: even if I grab extra snacks, I make all my other food fit within the calories (on average, per week).
  • professionalHobbyist
    professionalHobbyist Posts: 1,316 Member
    85% cocoa dark chocolate is a treat and good for your heart.

    I have some every morning with coffee, rarely ever miss.

    A diet disaster isn't a treat. But a there are indulgences I can manage.

    I can grab a brownie with a cup of coffee at Starbucks before a morning bike ride and it is burnt off is 7 miles or so.

    Of course I give myself treats. I deserve it!!

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Izzyxo3 wrote: »
    The recommended amount is as little as you need to be happy. Only you can answer that question.

    I agree with this. For me, it varies. I may have zero treats, I may have 2-3.
    If you were to have 3 what might you have? x

    3 would be something like fruit, nuts and chips/salsa ; or cocoa roast almonds, strawberries with goat cheese and a snack size snickers

    It just depends on what strikes my fancy that day.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    you have a calorie target...just hit that...you don't have to work it off just because it's a treat...if it fits in your targets, it fits in your targets.

    to answer your question though, I do not have "treats" daily...
  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    edited July 2015
    Don't let others persuade your decisions on what you 'want' to eat vs. what you 'should' eat.............

    I know my calorie goal, I know how to get adequate nutrition daily, and I always find 'room' in my daily diet for the "taboo" foods :naughty: ......(pop-tarts,cereal,cake,ice cream, candy,etc....)
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I don't really have a set schedule, but I have some good chocolate in the afternoon and always leave room in the calorie budget for a beer. I just adjust the budget by either eating less or moving more.