How to kick that dessert addiction?
Replies
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Eating buffet style is hard, but can be done. You have to learn to "eyeball" and estimate calories. There are older threads with advice on how to do that if you do a search. You have to know what you usually like to eat and how many calories--about--are in there. Then look at lower calorie options such as vegetable plates. You can have some type of desert, but they can run 600 calories or more. You have to know your calorie budget and how much you can spend. Also, watch sauces and condiments. They are also high cal and have to be limited.2
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soukyfitness wrote: »Hi guys, so I have a problem. I'm pretty sure I'm actually addicted to sugar. Once I start eating it I can't stop, and I crave brownies or jelly beans constantly. I've been doing better lately, but used to horribly binge eat in the evening on things like whole pints of Ben and Jerry's (the best) or handfuls of Skittles. Was wondering what other people do to stave off cravings and resist reaching for the sweets?
Well, for one thing, I don't have any of that sort of thing within reach.
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soukyfitness wrote: »Wow thank you everyone for all the advice! It will definitely help me in my journey.
Unfortunately for me I can't just "not buy it" because I'm a college student and the dining hall where we eat has a buffet style, with many desserts right in front of your face. It's quite a challenge and some nights I'm so tired I just crave a brownie or something.
But everything is very good advice, and I will be sure to try everything!
Then fit it into your calorie limit.
Exercise is a good way to do that. Exercise is a win-win option! You get to exercise (yay!) and you can eat more.
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soukyfitness wrote: »Wow thank you everyone for all the advice! It will definitely help me in my journey.
Unfortunately for me I can't just "not buy it" because I'm a college student and the dining hall where we eat has a buffet style, with many desserts right in front of your face. It's quite a challenge and some nights I'm so tired I just crave a brownie or something.
But everything is very good advice, and I will be sure to try everything!
Then fit it into your calorie limit.
Exercise is a good way to do that. Exercise is a win-win option! You get to exercise (yay!) and you can eat more.
I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
OP, how about this - aim for 100 less calories every day and let yourself have one dessert ONCE a week. And don't eat dessert 'just because', eat it because it's something you really crave only.
I mean, it might help if you tell yourself that 'I can have it in 4 days, I'm just saving calories for it right now'. It's how I handle it at maintenance too - don't waste calories on something just because it's there, save the calories for what I really want instead. And it's hard and sad and depressing sometimes, but in the end it's a choice between being healthier and the food.
I do have that friend who can pretty much just eat cookies or pie for lunch and be fine, but I'm too hungry overall to do that.3 -
soukyfitness wrote: »Wow thank you everyone for all the advice! It will definitely help me in my journey.
Unfortunately for me I can't just "not buy it" because I'm a college student and the dining hall where we eat has a buffet style, with many desserts right in front of your face. It's quite a challenge and some nights I'm so tired I just crave a brownie or something.
But everything is very good advice, and I will be sure to try everything!
Then fit it into your calorie limit.
Exercise is a good way to do that. Exercise is a win-win option! You get to exercise (yay!) and you can eat more.
I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
OP, how about this - aim for 100 less calories every day and let yourself have one dessert ONCE a week. And don't eat dessert 'just because', eat it because it's something you really crave only.
I mean, it might help if you tell yourself that 'I can have it in 4 days, I'm just saving calories for it right now'. It's how I handle it at maintenance too - don't waste calories on something just because it's there, save the calories for what I really want instead. And it's hard and sad and depressing sometimes, but in the end it's a choice between being healthier and the food.
I do have that friend who can pretty much just eat cookies or pie for lunch and be fine, but I'm too hungry overall to do that.
I can't do it every day, but I usually manage it a couple times a week.
I do have dessert every single day, but most of the time it's low cal yogurt or fruit. Then a couple times a week, I'll have something that's up around the 300-400 calorie mark.2 -
This has been me lately. The study snacking is severe! It sounds lame but I've found dates to be the best thing for kicking chocolate cravings, and dried fruit (especially pineapple) for sweets. Still high in sugar but at least you get the fibre and vitamins with it too. Nibbling through a couple of dates is better than however-much-chocolate-I-can-consume in a sitting lol Also, dates and walnuts together is soo ridiculously good!4
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For me, I stopped eating them and never went back. I substituted it for my favourite fruits and nuts so that works really well for me.2
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I can demolish an entire tray of cookies without batting an eye, so I feel you on this. My favorite way to end the day now is a cup of plain greek yogurt mixed with two tablespoons of powdered peanut butter and half a scoop of chocolate or banana flavored protein powder. I whip it up and it becomes basically like eating a bowl of frosting. Really fills me up and doesn't kill my macros.3
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If you go to the drugstore like walgreens or CVS they have the teeny tiny cartons of ice cream. It's like a small hit of sugar and leaves you satisfied. You should also consider creating your own low cal desserts. Try 2 ingredient bagels, easy muffins, dark chocolate kodiak cakes with a little honey on top and a banana. Those kodiak cakes will change your life 1
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They might have some reasonable calorie desserts in your dining hall.
When I was in college I'd normally have coffee with milk and nurse it forever, but I know they had yogurts at the salad bar. (I don't recall if we even regularly had dessert, vs. on special occasions, although we probably did.)
Anyway, I'd try filling up on lower cal, balanced foods and then grab a little something if the calories make sense. Or maybe buy some good dark chocolates and have a small one a night or save dessert (if higher cal) for a couple of times a week only.4 -
I can demolish an entire tray of cookies without batting an eye, so I feel you on this. My favorite way to end the day now is a cup of plain greek yogurt mixed with two tablespoons of powdered peanut butter and half a scoop of chocolate or banana flavored protein powder. I whip it up and it becomes basically like eating a bowl of frosting. Really fills me up and doesn't kill my macros.
You genius! I've been making large batches of homemade Greek yogurt but never thought of whipping it with PB2 and protein powder. Sounds delicious!2 -
I get what you are saying. It's not easy. Portion control is hard but trigger foods are even worse.1
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@soukyfitness
Is that south Kentucky?
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2018/03/12/blue-bell-ice-cream-kentucky-indiana/415795002/
Blue Bell No Sugar Added Vanilla is 90 calories per 4 oz serving. Chop a couple of strawberries into it and go straight to Heaven.2 -
Why does a dessert have to be 600 calories?I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
I usually do just fine with a pint of Halo Top (240-320 calories), or a cup of Greek yogurt or maybe a few chocolate kisses or an Enlightened ice cream bar or something. My most recent favorite dessert is mango mochi ice cream, at about 160 calories per serving.
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I have gotten much better at eyeballing calories at my buffet style dining! I no longer reach for the fries because I know it will kill my goals. But something about brownies, definitely a trigger food. And late night studying when I'm exhausted doesn't do much for my willpower honestly.
I will try substituting, I don't know why I haven't thought of that! I love apples so maybe whenever I'm craving candy I'll grab an apple instead. It's really hard when my friends all go eat dessert as well. I'll just try harder to leave room for that "emergency dessert." Hard on 1200 cals but I can do it!
Thanks again everyone for your replies!5 -
Why does a dessert have to be 600 calories?I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
I usually do just fine with a pint of Halo Top (240-320 calories), or a cup of Greek yogurt or maybe a few chocolate kisses or an Enlightened ice cream bar or something. My most recent favorite dessert is mango mochi ice cream, at about 160 calories per serving.
I was wondering that too.
I've discovered that ice cream bars, for example, will vary from about 100 calories to about 350 calories. So on a weekend toward the end of a long bicycle ride, I might go for a 350 cal rich and decadent ice cream bar. Or if the ride was shorter and 350 might be a little bit much, I'll go for something with lower calories. I still get a yummy treat either way.
And the brownie in question in the Original Post ...
Depending on the size of the brownie, it might only be about 300 calories. If it were a massive brownie with icing and a scoop of ice cream ... yes, probably 600 calories. But the brownies we have in bakeries around here are quite small, they aren't iced, there's no ice cream ... and they probably only come in at about 300 cal.
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Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink wrote: »Don’t keep them in your house or buy them.
this. if their not around you won't have them.
edit... okay, I just read the post about living on campus.
maybe substitute the sugar craving with something far healthier; somebody else mentioned tea. that sounds like a viable option, right?
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Call your sponsor and find a meeting
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Why does a dessert have to be 600 calories?I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
I usually do just fine with a pint of Halo Top (240-320 calories), or a cup of Greek yogurt or maybe a few chocolate kisses or an Enlightened ice cream bar or something. My most recent favorite dessert is mango mochi ice cream, at about 160 calories per serving.
I was wondering that too.
I've discovered that ice cream bars, for example, will vary from about 100 calories to about 350 calories. So on a weekend toward the end of a long bicycle ride, I might go for a 350 cal rich and decadent ice cream bar. Or if the ride was shorter and 350 might be a little bit much, I'll go for something with lower calories. I still get a yummy treat either way.
And the brownie in question in the Original Post ...
Depending on the size of the brownie, it might only be about 300 calories. If it were a massive brownie with icing and a scoop of ice cream ... yes, probably 600 calories. But the brownies we have in bakeries around here are quite small, they aren't iced, there's no ice cream ... and they probably only come in at about 300 cal.
The 600 cal dessert mentioned is my fault. When I responded to the OP I was remembering my long ago college days--in the 70's with lovely pieces of iced cake on the dessert table. Funny, I was lanky and skinny in those days and ate what I wanted--fast forward 45 yrs and that's no longer the case. Sigh.1 -
snowflake954 wrote: »
Why does a dessert have to be 600 calories?I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
I usually do just fine with a pint of Halo Top (240-320 calories), or a cup of Greek yogurt or maybe a few chocolate kisses or an Enlightened ice cream bar or something. My most recent favorite dessert is mango mochi ice cream, at about 160 calories per serving.
I was wondering that too.
I've discovered that ice cream bars, for example, will vary from about 100 calories to about 350 calories. So on a weekend toward the end of a long bicycle ride, I might go for a 350 cal rich and decadent ice cream bar. Or if the ride was shorter and 350 might be a little bit much, I'll go for something with lower calories. I still get a yummy treat either way.
And the brownie in question in the Original Post ...
Depending on the size of the brownie, it might only be about 300 calories. If it were a massive brownie with icing and a scoop of ice cream ... yes, probably 600 calories. But the brownies we have in bakeries around here are quite small, they aren't iced, there's no ice cream ... and they probably only come in at about 300 cal.
The 600 cal dessert mentioned is my fault. When I responded to the OP I was remembering my long ago college days--in the 70's with lovely pieces of iced cake on the dessert table. Funny, I was lanky and skinny in those days and ate what I wanted--fast forward 45 yrs and that's no longer the case. Sigh.
Nah not your fault. OP mentioned the buffet being the problem, I don't know what kind of desserts they offer there, but in my experience, most buffet desserts (unless it's Chinese buffets) are pretty high calories (and the OP mentioned brownies, by the way). I suppose you could find 200-300 calorie options though.
The thing I would tell myself is that it's probably not worth the calories.2 -
snowflake954 wrote: »
Why does a dessert have to be 600 calories?I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
I usually do just fine with a pint of Halo Top (240-320 calories), or a cup of Greek yogurt or maybe a few chocolate kisses or an Enlightened ice cream bar or something. My most recent favorite dessert is mango mochi ice cream, at about 160 calories per serving.
I was wondering that too.
I've discovered that ice cream bars, for example, will vary from about 100 calories to about 350 calories. So on a weekend toward the end of a long bicycle ride, I might go for a 350 cal rich and decadent ice cream bar. Or if the ride was shorter and 350 might be a little bit much, I'll go for something with lower calories. I still get a yummy treat either way.
And the brownie in question in the Original Post ...
Depending on the size of the brownie, it might only be about 300 calories. If it were a massive brownie with icing and a scoop of ice cream ... yes, probably 600 calories. But the brownies we have in bakeries around here are quite small, they aren't iced, there's no ice cream ... and they probably only come in at about 300 cal.
The 600 cal dessert mentioned is my fault. When I responded to the OP I was remembering my long ago college days--in the 70's with lovely pieces of iced cake on the dessert table. Funny, I was lanky and skinny in those days and ate what I wanted--fast forward 45 yrs and that's no longer the case. Sigh.
Nah not your fault. OP mentioned the buffet being the problem, I don't know what kind of desserts they offer there, but in my experience, most buffet desserts (unless it's Chinese buffets) are pretty high calories (and the OP mentioned brownies, by the way). I suppose you could find 200-300 calorie options though.
The thing I would tell myself is that it's probably not worth the calories.
And from my experience ... unless it was a warmed gluten-free brownie ... it wouldn't be worth it.
I order brownies from time to time from bakeries and dessert menus here always thinking they'll be great, and they never are. They tend to be hard and tasteless hockey pucks.
That was, until I ordered a warmed gluten-free brownie because it was the only dessert item that even vaguely appealed me to at one particular restaurant. Now those are good! 1 -
snowflake954 wrote: »
Why does a dessert have to be 600 calories?I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
I usually do just fine with a pint of Halo Top (240-320 calories), or a cup of Greek yogurt or maybe a few chocolate kisses or an Enlightened ice cream bar or something. My most recent favorite dessert is mango mochi ice cream, at about 160 calories per serving.
I was wondering that too.
I've discovered that ice cream bars, for example, will vary from about 100 calories to about 350 calories. So on a weekend toward the end of a long bicycle ride, I might go for a 350 cal rich and decadent ice cream bar. Or if the ride was shorter and 350 might be a little bit much, I'll go for something with lower calories. I still get a yummy treat either way.
And the brownie in question in the Original Post ...
Depending on the size of the brownie, it might only be about 300 calories. If it were a massive brownie with icing and a scoop of ice cream ... yes, probably 600 calories. But the brownies we have in bakeries around here are quite small, they aren't iced, there's no ice cream ... and they probably only come in at about 300 cal.
The 600 cal dessert mentioned is my fault. When I responded to the OP I was remembering my long ago college days--in the 70's with lovely pieces of iced cake on the dessert table. Funny, I was lanky and skinny in those days and ate what I wanted--fast forward 45 yrs and that's no longer the case. Sigh.
Nah not your fault. OP mentioned the buffet being the problem, I don't know what kind of desserts they offer there, but in my experience, most buffet desserts (unless it's Chinese buffets) are pretty high calories (and the OP mentioned brownies, by the way). I suppose you could find 200-300 calorie options though.
The thing I would tell myself is that it's probably not worth the calories.
And from my experience ... unless it was a warmed gluten-free brownie ... it wouldn't be worth it.
I order brownies from time to time from bakeries and dessert menus here always thinking they'll be great, and they never are. They tend to be hard and tasteless hockey pucks.
That was, until I ordered a warmed gluten-free brownie because it was the only dessert item that even vaguely appealed me to at one particular restaurant. Now those are good!
I'm with you there. Unless it's our homemade brownies or the ones from our favorite bakery, they're ALWAYS disappointing (like most desserts in restaurants, honestly, let alone buffets).
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snowflake954 wrote: »
Why does a dessert have to be 600 calories?I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
I usually do just fine with a pint of Halo Top (240-320 calories), or a cup of Greek yogurt or maybe a few chocolate kisses or an Enlightened ice cream bar or something. My most recent favorite dessert is mango mochi ice cream, at about 160 calories per serving.
I was wondering that too.
I've discovered that ice cream bars, for example, will vary from about 100 calories to about 350 calories. So on a weekend toward the end of a long bicycle ride, I might go for a 350 cal rich and decadent ice cream bar. Or if the ride was shorter and 350 might be a little bit much, I'll go for something with lower calories. I still get a yummy treat either way.
And the brownie in question in the Original Post ...
Depending on the size of the brownie, it might only be about 300 calories. If it were a massive brownie with icing and a scoop of ice cream ... yes, probably 600 calories. But the brownies we have in bakeries around here are quite small, they aren't iced, there's no ice cream ... and they probably only come in at about 300 cal.
The 600 cal dessert mentioned is my fault. When I responded to the OP I was remembering my long ago college days--in the 70's with lovely pieces of iced cake on the dessert table. Funny, I was lanky and skinny in those days and ate what I wanted--fast forward 45 yrs and that's no longer the case. Sigh.
Nah not your fault. OP mentioned the buffet being the problem, I don't know what kind of desserts they offer there, but in my experience, most buffet desserts (unless it's Chinese buffets) are pretty high calories (and the OP mentioned brownies, by the way). I suppose you could find 200-300 calorie options though.
The thing I would tell myself is that it's probably not worth the calories.
And from my experience ... unless it was a warmed gluten-free brownie ... it wouldn't be worth it.
I order brownies from time to time from bakeries and dessert menus here always thinking they'll be great, and they never are. They tend to be hard and tasteless hockey pucks.
That was, until I ordered a warmed gluten-free brownie because it was the only dessert item that even vaguely appealed me to at one particular restaurant. Now those are good!
I'm with you there. Unless it's our homemade brownies or the ones from our favorite bakery, they're ALWAYS disappointing (like most desserts in restaurants, honestly, let alone buffets).
agreed, dessert has to be home made to be worth it 1 -
soukyfitness wrote: »I have gotten much better at eyeballing calories at my buffet style dining! I no longer reach for the fries because I know it will kill my goals. But something about brownies, definitely a trigger food. And late night studying when I'm exhausted doesn't do much for my willpower honestly.
I will try substituting, I don't know why I haven't thought of that! I love apples so maybe whenever I'm craving candy I'll grab an apple instead. It's really hard when my friends all go eat dessert as well. I'll just try harder to leave room for that "emergency dessert." Hard on 1200 cals but I can do it!
Thanks again everyone for your replies!
I'm not in school anymore but I still have to pull the occasional all nighter for work--being tired does me in almost every time too. My best strategy is to eat every couple of hours.
For a number of reasons, I eat a very low carbohydrate diet so I choose something that I find satiating and nutritious even if it might put me over my calories--sugar snap peas and guacamole, some bite size spicy salami, strong cheese, and raspberries are a favorite selection to rotate through the night (with coffee, or course). I set a timer and eat a small snack on a regular basis. It helps me power through and my will power isn't tested.1 -
Let me make sure I am reading that correctly -I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
If you do without *600 calorie* desserts* then you consider that to be "starving"?
How about eating more proteins and vegetables or at least fruits & complex carbs instead?1 -
Let me make sure I am reading that correctly -I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
If you do without *600 calorie* desserts* then you consider that to be "starving"?
How about eating more proteins and vegetables or at least fruits & complex carbs instead?
I don't understand your question. But yes, I could eat 1700 calories of what you listed and I'll still be hungry, so I can't spend 600 calories on treats (or bread, whatever).0 -
Let me make sure I am reading that correctly -I'm jealous of people who can 'just fit a 600 calorie dessert in their calorie limit' because I seriously could never ever do that every day without starving, and that's with a TDEE of 2300 calories.
If you do without *600 calorie* desserts* then you consider that to be "starving"?
That's not what she said. She said that if she uses 600 of her maintenance calories on dessert she ends up starving (presumably because she finds the dessert itself not to contribute much to her satiety).
I don't have that experience (it's quite rare that I have 600 cal desserts, but I don't think I'd be starving on that plus 1700 well chosen cals, but of course people are different), but I get what she is saying. (I avoid regular 600 cal desserts just because it doesn't fit with my other dietary goals at my maintenance calories.)2 -
Yeah, without exercise, I'm on 1400 calories to lose 1/2 per week. 600 is kind of a big chunk, especially since I like to spread my calories out and have small snacks during the day.3
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Same for me, I'm on 1200 calories and the problem with dessert is anything around 300 calories is a quarter of my calories, and it'll leave the rest of my meals very slim if I stay under my calories. So happy for all this good advice though, and today I looked in the mirror before my plan to eat jelly beans, and decided that jelly beans might ruin my progress so I decided not to advice did a mini abs workout instead!4
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