Reccomended amount of treats a day?
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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 tend to plan my day ahead and leave 20% of my calories for unexpected things.
I appreciate the advice!
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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 me0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »AlabasterVerve 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.
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Need2Exerc1se 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.0 -
lemurcat12 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.
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lemurcat12 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.
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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.0
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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
EDIT: even if I grab extra snacks, I make all my other food fit within the calories (on average, per week).0 -
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!!
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »AlabasterVerve 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.
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.0 -
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...0 -
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 ......(pop-tarts,cereal,cake,ice cream, candy,etc....)0 -
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.0
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