How often do you let yourself eat what you really want?

when I go out I order exactly what I want, but I do try to limit going out. I just think, if I'm paying for it, I'm not picking the healthiest option, I am picking what I want.

once a week if i absolutely need to or for a special occasion. but i try to stay within a 2000 calorie day if i have one of those days. and i log it anyways. you gotta have some treats!

In order to make this a life style and not a diet that i will start and stop I try to make good choices but the reality is in life there will be times we eat to much or have a few drinks more than we should In the past the choices and the slips were every day so I got very fat now the choices are mostly good choices and when they arent I dont worry about it just start over the next day living clean and healthy I have been doing this for 4 years now ( anniv May 22nd)

I indulge when the craving is so bad its all I think about!! However, I always try to stay in my calorie count! But today someone brought in red velvet cupcakes which are my fav and it wasnt even that good!!! 2 sweet!! So my good eating habits are starting to kick in!

I eat out twice a week. I always stay within my calories. I plan for meals and have even gone to Five Guys burgers. I generally skip that bread at places like Olive Garden, Red Lobster and only have a little at Outback.

The answer is pretty much whenever, I just plan for it.

I skip the heavy carb items like bread, rice and potatoes - but not every time. I don't eat fried food more that once every 3 or 4 months. I have a little chocolate just about every day, and enjoy birthday cake on birthdays.

I almost always eat exactly what I want. I "save" for the extra calories and I don't eat as much by sharing with my husband.

I always let myself eat what I want, and what I want is usually super healthy. I've been eating a vegan diet with very little sugar and no chemicals for over 4 months now, and I've noticed that I no longer WANT that piece of cake or that sugary doughnut. I would much rather have some coconut yogurt with berries or a big bowl of oats with peanut butter.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THIS! GINGER IS MY SISTER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER!

you vegan sistah!

if you start restricting your faves you are more likely to fall off the 'get healthy' wagon. if you have cravings look for close alternatives. i.e. chocolate- in Canada they have 8 packs of different chocolates my faves are york patties at 70cals and coffee crisp at 100cals.
you have xxxx amount of cals per day work them in or exercise extra to compensate. there can be room for your macdonald burger and fries you just need to find room or find a better for you version. maybe smaller burger- chicken burger salad or fruit instead of fries
etc....

If I'm going out to eat, I'm pretty much chalking it up as a cheat day (you never really know how they are cooking your food, so, I assume everything towards the bad). Even if it isn't my rest day, I still count it as my cheat day for the week. I'll eat my normal balanced diet on my rest day, but, I usually pair my rest days with my cheat days. However, once a month, I'll have one meal 3-4 days out of the week, usually lunch, where I'll have whatever I want. Within reason of course. But, one day I'll stop at taco bell for a steak taco supreme and an extra taco (no soft drinks of any kind though). When you break down what you get out of that meal, the only thing that really gets maxed out is the sodium. Drinking plenty of water through the day can offset much of the effect of a high sodium day though. For the most part, per week, you should only allow yourself 3-4 "anything you want" meals.

Over time, my "anything" meals have evolved. It used to be anything fast food on cheat meals... Now, I can't remember the last time I had anything but taco bell (last sunday). Now, my go to cheat meal is a huge steak, a loaded bake potato, some steamed broccoli (with butter), and a side salad/caesar salad, or, a giant bowl of pasta with a lot of think fatty sauce. I will, however, show up to my favorite wings place every once and a while still, but, it's rare... I often don't feel too good after one of those meals, but, it keeps the binge sessions away.

I think of my calories like money. Once I've spent them then I'm done until the next day (although on very rare occasions I overspend) and I use those calories on things I really want sometimes. I don't think you can totally deprive yourself and stick with that for life. Whatever we do it needs to be something that we can do long-term or otherwise this is a waste of our time (IMO).