Dessert off limits?

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Replies

  • CallieM15
    CallieM15 Posts: 910 Member
    A lot of people cut out desserts and do better BECAUSE without the processed sugar, they have less cravings for the caloric unhealthy foods.  I cut out sugars because I don’t crave them, therefore allowing me to eat a healthier protein/veggie diet. I still have cheat days, but I notice more and more I don’t want to eat the crappy desserts, more things like… Cheesy nachos. LOL
  • BigMech
    BigMech Posts: 472 Member
    I didn't swear off dessert's and sweets and I lost 260 lbs!

    I certainly ate dessert less often, and much smaller portions of it, but as long as it fit in my calorie limit and macros, I would have it. There was almost nothing I eliminated from my diet while losing the weight, just less of everything. It was all about portion control for me.
  • phillieschic
    phillieschic Posts: 615
    In my world, nothing is off limits. Everything in moderation. And, if I want to splurge on something decadent, I make sure I bust my butt during my workout to compensate for it.
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    I lost a total of 80lbs eating what I want, when I wanted it. Moderation and exercise is key.
  • Musikelektronik
    Musikelektronik Posts: 739 Member
    I read an article about weight loss and was a bit skeptical whan it said that you can still have desserts even when trying to lose significant amounts of weight (not just 5 or 10 lbs). I have sworn off all sweets because I thought it was necessary to limit or eliminate sugar as much as possible. I am currently not using any added sugar in any of my foods. Do you think its possible to eat sweets/desserts at all while trying to lose weight?

    Of course.
  • Musikelektronik
    Musikelektronik Posts: 739 Member
    I lost a total of 80lbs eating what I want, when I wanted it. Moderation and exercise is key.

    ^^^^ This.
  • thershey
    thershey Posts: 57 Member
    There are so many low calorie desserts on the market now and so many low calorie recipes on this site and many other sites that in no way should you have to cut out sweets altogether.
    I have a sugar free pudding snack everyday with my lunch, it gives me that little bit of joy after I have a good balanced lunch.
    Like others have said if I had to cut out sweets or anything completely I would not be doing this. When you deprive yourself that is when you fail.
    Like someone else said calories in calories out, if you want something work for it!
    Do a little extra excercise and have a small dish of ice cream or a cookie, it is all about portion control and watching your calorie intake. As long as you are not going over your calories for the day you are good.

    This is exactly why I love MFP, you do not have to NOT eat anything, you can eat what you like and what you want as long as you log everything that goes in your mouth. I have learned so much about healthy portions and what is good and bad.

    Hope all of this helps you!
  • JBApplebee
    JBApplebee Posts: 481 Member
    I read an article about weight loss and was a bit skeptical whan it said that you can still have desserts even when trying to lose significant amounts of weight (not just 5 or 10 lbs). I have sworn off all sweets because I thought it was necessary to limit or eliminate sugar as much as possible. I am currently not using any added sugar in any of my foods. Do you think its possible to eat sweets/desserts at all while trying to lose weight?

    Of course it's possible. It's called moderation. I used to eat 4 or 5 boxes of Girl Scout cookies during GS cookie time, but this year I had less than 1/2 a box total. Instead of eating a king size candy bar, I'll have a protein bar & some 1% chocolate milk.

    You'll never have sustaining success if you try to cut out something that you really like. Just use restraint & moderation, and you'll be fine.
  • MsMargie1116
    MsMargie1116 Posts: 323 Member
    Absolutely. Dieting isn't supposed to be a temporary solution -- "I'll get to X weight and then I can eat whatever I want again!" -- it's meant to be a lifestyle change. So, the way you eat and the stuff you eat while on a diet is meant to be how you're gonna eat even after you lose weight.

    So if you look at that and think "I'll never get to eat a pizza/chocolate bar/piece of cake/fries EVER AGAIN!" you are setting yourself up for failure. The more you deprive yourself, the more you will wear down your willpower and make it steadily harder to stay the course.

    Dieting is more about learning to moderate your food intake. Instead of eating half a package of Oreos, eat one. Instead of a giant slice of cake and a side of ice cream at the birthday party, share a slice with someone else and skip the ice cream. Or vice versa.

    Know your weaknesses, though, and definitely stay away from those until you get used to eating differently. If you LOVE a particular brand of sweet/chips/soda/cocktail what have you, and know you're not going to be able to stop at "just one", then avoid it.

    The best way to add treats into your diet is to plan your meals out ahead. I've included a soda for lunch into my meal plan and not gone over my daily calories because I tracked what I'd eat before I ate it. :) Plan around these treats, and it'll release the guilt and allow you to enjoy it, and reduce the chance of binging. You've already written down how much you can eat!

    ^^^^This - Very well said!!!^^^^
  • amymeenieminymo
    amymeenieminymo Posts: 2,394 Member
    Buy a box of angel food cake and a box of your favorite flavor of cake. Put both into one ziploc and shake them together really well. In a LARGE coffee mug put 3 Tablespoons of cake and 2 Tablespoons of water. Mix until frothy. Microwave for one minute. OMIGOSH so good and 140 calories for strawberry cake!

    bump
  • TeresaWash
    TeresaWash Posts: 283
    CALORIES IN.... CALORIES OUT
  • Raina27
    Raina27 Posts: 133
    I love my sweets, if I were to cut out all foods I love, I would hate this. Just spend a little more time working out so you can enjoy the foods you like. The key is moderation!

    I agree 100%
  • jjelizalde
    jjelizalde Posts: 377 Member
    Jello decadent 60 calorie chocolate mousse. Need I say more?
  • Drawberry
    Drawberry Posts: 104 Member
    Personally I follow the belief that a reasonable adult can consume foods they would normally eat, if they practice good portion control and don't make it a daily habit to chose high fat or high sugar foods.

    You could pick one day out of the week where you have dessert with your dinner for example. While cutting out sugars IS important, that doesn't mean that you cannot enjoy a reasonable dessert as part of a healthy lifestyle. Actively controlling the portion size and consciously picking a heather dessert choice can make sweet treats a regular part of your diet.


    There are lots of desserts out there that can be made with more health-conscious ingredients.Broiling, grilling, and baking whole or sliced fruit is a delicious alternative to a traditional chocolate or otherwise candy-like dessert. I've been meaning to try out this recipe in particular: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lemon-curd-berries-50400000120705/


    I love desserts with fruits, since I am not very big into chocolate and cake like treats my favorite desserts usually involve fresh fruit piled high onto fluffy pastries or an occasional fruit tart. A great dessert to me is a fruit salad with some mint, but I am sure that a lot of people crave things more sugary then I do :P

    This cheesecake here has 5 times less calories then a normal cheesecake at 245 calories per serving, and is topped with honey and fruit:
    skinny-cheesecake11.jpg?w=550

    While half a cup of Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream has almost 400 calories and 24g of sugar.

    Yogurt crepe's are made in handy little single-serving crepe dishes and are topped with seasonal fresh fruit;
    8f20f298ed89fdd0_strawberry-crepe.jpg
    Recipe: http://www.fitsugar.com/Blueberry-Strawberry-Yogurt-Crepe-Dessert-Recipe-18088814


    Make smart choices, keep portion sizes small, and you can still enjoy dessert as a weekend treat.
  • Vince_1964
    Vince_1964 Posts: 359 Member
    Depriving yourself of something you like/want may ultimately lead to failure in readjusting your lifestyle. If you're just "dieting" to get to some temporary weight loss goal - sure it might work in the short-run, but probably not for the long-term. I've lost about 20# so far (in about 9 weeks), but haven't really felt deprived. If I want a beer, glass of wine, drink, dessert, etc I have it! Not every day and not to excess, but I make sure I've got the calories left to enjoy what I like! It may mean an extra lap on the track, or five minutes more on the treadmill, but you can still enjoy your dessert!!
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Like it was said above, look for a lifestyle change, not for a depravation for a given time. That is why much people yoyo.
    How are you suppose to handle if you have the feeling everyday that diet is a pain ?
  • spudlovie
    spudlovie Posts: 56 Member
    I am learning to incorporate sweets everyday. This is a life style change for me and for somebody to say you can never eat anything again sounds awful. I eat it track it and move on. I think this is one of the ,son reasons I am not going crazy this time trying to lose weight.
  • CrazyGraciegirl
    CrazyGraciegirl Posts: 227
    I ate a slice of ice cream cake last night and stayed under 1,200 calories for my entire day. You have to watch your portions, and make sure you REALLY want it. If I want something, I see how it can fit into my calorie goals. I feel like if I deprive myself I'll stop eating healthy all-together because I feel unhappy.
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
    I eat cake, chocolate, pizza, takeout, 400 calorie frappucinos, I will have at least 2 of these things a week. Maybe once or twice month I have lunch, cake and coffee with a friend, comes in at 3000-4000 cals for the day and hasn't affected my loss one bit, 43lbs and 10% body fat down in 7 months :-)
    The key is to work them into your macros, and don't eat loads of them every day - a healthy balanced lifestyle where nothing is 'banned' is much easier to stick to long term. A stupidly low cal diet where you aren't allowed any 'Bad' foods usually results in breaking the diet and bingeing on all the things you feel deprived of.
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