For all of you that have a good amount to lose and therefore will be restricting for months to come (or years like me LOL), how often do you give yourself a splurge day?
I'm really trying to get that crazy-OCD-over-the-top-focused frame of mind to kick in and it's getting there, but every so often during the day I wonder when my next splurge day will be.
Part of me gets so excited at the thought and the other part gets a sinking feeling. I've found in the past that splurge days could be a slippery slope. Is it a splurge day or a splurge meal? Do I record everything I eat? Can I stop when I start?
Considering the headache I had the first 3 days of this diet, I really do suscribe to the belief that sugar addictions are real and tough to break. Will having a splurge day be like smoking that one cigarette after quitting for 18 months (oh, how I want that one cigarette! LMAO sorry, got sidetracked for a second there).
With the holidays coming up, it is going to be tough to stay on plan but I think if I get into the swing of it now, it will make it easier to at least make healthy choices at parties, playdates, holiday gatherings, etc.
So for all of those that have been successful and have given yourselves splurge days, what are your guidelines? Have you found them to be a positive part of your diet or a detriment?
i started the idea of splurge days when i did body for life back around 2002 i guess.
they recommend a splurge day once per week as a metabolism boost and just as a way of staying focused and it has always worked for me.
i didn't do a splurge day with MF b/c you can't otherwise it throws you out of ketosis. but i almost always do it when i'm dieting.
for me personally, i have something to look forward to when i'm tempted to cheat. something like "oh man, i really want a chocolate shake, but if i just hold on until sunday, i can have it then." then i can stay on track until that splurge day and stay focused on my goals.
i don't go crazy on the splurge day b/c that just makes me want to barf. but maybe i have fast food for lunch and a real coke. maybe some ice cream after dinner. but i don't do like a 4000 calorie day or anything. and honestly, after i've been dieting long enough, the splurge day really just become a joke. my stomach shrinks down and i can hardly eat anything. plus i feel miserable after a high fat & calorie meal. so i just have that one oreo. or the real ranch dressing at outback and have blue cheese on my steak, etc.
when on the wagon, I dont let myself have a full day - but I do reserve Friday and Saturday dinners as my splurge. Usually, they are meals with family/friends. I dont usually go crazy, because the restaurant style we eat over here has very small portions, or when bertrand cooks it is usually some fantastic french meal with meat and lots of veg and not much carbs. but... i drink and alcohol is just empty calories.
also, what apies says about shaking up the metablolism, i also often do a raw fruit/veg day around tuesday. so i am not eating the same thing every day which can stall metabolism - some days its more, some days its less.
i alos find when i usually REALLY crave a sweet later at night. and i have a rule that i cant eat it at night, but i can eat it first thing in the morning if i stil want. I just place it on my dresser.
MANY nights i put a nutty bar or some girl scout cookies or a jar of peanut butter on the dresser top. and when i wake up in the morning i look at it and think i was silly and just put it away. i think i have more strength in the mornings to resist and stay focused. i have to fight my night-binge demons often.
(sometimes i DO eat it in the morning, not real often, but i eat it without guilt)
Some of the best advice I ever got about this subject was from Megan. You don't need to have a cheat day, just have a cheat meal every once and a while. It's easier to snap back from. Plus a whole cheat day for me usually turns into 2 or 3 cheat days.
I have not started so called cheat days, but losing this weight has taught me to not freak when I eat something not so great. I just eat it, get back to eating right. Back in the day one bad item would cause my whole day to go bad and my thought was that I already screwed up. So, now when I start to maintain I will just have my one item I want and move on. I am learning to not obsess over food and that it usually does not satisfy me anyway, so why ruin a good thing.
However, I know everyone else has different relationships with food.
I just had a cauliflower pizza today while the girls had real pizza. It really did the trick and I do not feel the guilt and the bloated feeling I would have after eating it.
I also have learned to eat smaller portions now and it still does the trick. My portions were way too big before and that is eye opening how something that is not even that bad can rack up the calories with the amount I eat.
I have not started so called cheat days, but losing this weight has taught me to not freak when I eat something not so great. I just eat it, get back to eating right. Back in the day one bad item would cause my whole day to go bad and my thought was that I already screwed up. So, now when I start to maintain I will just have my one item I want and move on. I am learning to not obsess over food and that it usually does not satisfy me anyway, so why ruin a good thing.
However, I know everyone else has different relationships with food.
I just had a cauliflower pizza today while the girls had real pizza. It really did the trick and I do not feel the guilt and the bloated feeling I would have after eating it.
I also have learned to eat smaller portions now and it still does the trick. My portions were way too big before and that is eye opening how something that is not even that bad can rack up the calories with the amount I eat.
Good luck, Di! You can do it.
Melissa have you tried the zuchini fries yet?
I love them and they're super filling.
I'll tell you how to make them if you don't already know.
I have not started so called cheat days, but losing this weight has taught me to not freak when I eat something not so great. I just eat it, get back to eating right. Back in the day one bad item would cause my whole day to go bad and my thought was that I already screwed up. So, now when I start to maintain I will just have my one item I want and move on. I am learning to not obsess over food and that it usually does not satisfy me anyway, so why ruin a good thing.
However, I know everyone else has different relationships with food.
I just had a cauliflower pizza today while the girls had real pizza. It really did the trick and I do not feel the guilt and the bloated feeling I would have after eating it.
I also have learned to eat smaller portions now and it still does the trick. My portions were way too big before and that is eye opening how something that is not even that bad can rack up the calories with the amount I eat.
Good luck, Di! You can do it.
Melissa have you tried the zuchini fries yet?
I love them and they're super filling.
I'll tell you how to make them if you don't already know.
No, I have not had them. I would love to know how to make them. I think I did read about them, but totally forgot.
Anything else you did that was good? Getting kind of in a rut.
i started the idea of splurge days when i did body for life back around 2002 i guess.
they recommend a splurge day once per week as a metabolism boost and just as a way of staying focused and it has always worked for me.
i didn't do a splurge day with MF b/c you can't otherwise it throws you out of ketosis. but i almost always do it when i'm dieting.
for me personally, i have something to look forward to when i'm tempted to cheat. something like "oh man, i really want a chocolate shake, but if i just hold on until sunday, i can have it then." then i can stay on track until that splurge day and stay focused on my goals.
i don't go crazy on the splurge day b/c that just makes me want to barf. but maybe i have fast food for lunch and a real coke. maybe some ice cream after dinner. but i don't do like a 4000 calorie day or anything. and honestly, after i've been dieting long enough, the splurge day really just become a joke. my stomach shrinks down and i can hardly eat anything. plus i feel miserable after a high fat & calorie meal. so i just have that one oreo. or the real ranch dressing at outback and have blue cheese on my steak, etc.
that got long. but i hope ykwim.
Thanks April! Completely forgot about the metabolism boost factor. Now I want a chocolate shake LOL.
i alos find when i usually REALLY crave a sweet later at night. and i have a rule that i cant eat it at night, but i can eat it first thing in the morning if i stil want. I just place it on my dresser.
MANY nights i put a nutty bar or some girl scout cookies or a jar of peanut butter on the dresser top. and when i wake up in the morning i look at it and think i was silly and just put it away. i think i have more strength in the mornings to resist and stay focused. i have to fight my night-binge demons often.
(sometimes i DO eat it in the morning, not real often, but i eat it without guilt)
This is a great idea Megan! I am the worst at binging at night. It's always been my downfall.
Some of the best advice I ever got about this subject was from Megan. You don't need to have a cheat day, just have a cheat meal every once and a while. It's easier to snap back from. Plus a whole cheat day for me usually turns into 2 or 3 cheat days.
Exaaaaaactly! That is exactly what I am afraid of! I have a hard time getting back on track after having a cheat "day".
I have not started so called cheat days, but losing this weight has taught me to not freak when I eat something not so great. I just eat it, get back to eating right. Back in the day one bad item would cause my whole day to go bad and my thought was that I already screwed up. So, now when I start to maintain I will just have my one item I want and move on. I am learning to not obsess over food and that it usually does not satisfy me anyway, so why ruin a good thing.
However, I know everyone else has different relationships with food.
I just had a cauliflower pizza today while the girls had real pizza. It really did the trick and I do not feel the guilt and the bloated feeling I would have after eating it.
I also have learned to eat smaller portions now and it still does the trick. My portions were way too big before and that is eye opening how something that is not even that bad can rack up the calories with the amount I eat.
Good luck, Di! You can do it.
It sounds like you are in a really good place mentally with this diet Melissa! I am so proud of you! It really seems like you have the right tools in place to make this change last a lifetime. Everyone's ultimate goal, really.
And you are so right about the portions. I see that now from tracking calories so closely.
And thanks for the motivation! Seeing your pic on Facebook definetely helps keep me going!
I'll tell you how to make them if you don't already know.
Can you post how to make them? I love zucchini. Or is this something you order from MF?
no, it is real zucchini fries, I believe.
Kristi, are these the ones you are talking about?
Take a large zucchini and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Cut the hollowed out zucchini into matchstick fries. Place "fries" into papertowel lined collander and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 15-30 minutes - this helps draw out some of the moisture.
Take a large ziplock bag and add 2 tbsps of ff parmesan cheese (I also like to add a dash or two of crushed red pepper). Throw in zuke fries and shake, shake, shake.
Put on pam sprayed cookie sheet and bake in oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
I have not started so called cheat days, but losing this weight has taught me to not freak when I eat something not so great. I just eat it, get back to eating right. Back in the day one bad item would cause my whole day to go bad and my thought was that I already screwed up. So, now when I start to maintain I will just have my one item I want and move on. I am learning to not obsess over food and that it usually does not satisfy me anyway, so why ruin a good thing.
However, I know everyone else has different relationships with food.
I just had a cauliflower pizza today while the girls had real pizza. It really did the trick and I do not feel the guilt and the bloated feeling I would have after eating it.
I also have learned to eat smaller portions now and it still does the trick. My portions were way too big before and that is eye opening how something that is not even that bad can rack up the calories with the amount I eat.
Good luck, Di! You can do it.
It sounds like you are in a really good place mentally with this diet Melissa! I am so proud of you! It really seems like you have the right tools in place to make this change last a lifetime. Everyone's ultimate goal, really.
And you are so right about the portions. I see that now from tracking calories so closely.
And thanks for the motivation! Seeing your pic on Facebook definetely helps keep me going!
Thanks, you can do this, but I know when you have a little one and lack of sleep it really is hard. I honestly tried many times and it never would stick. I think doing this MF has helped me get the jump start and also teach me to really take note of what I was eating before. I use to think I ate well, but it was all that little stuff here and there that was killing me.
I think honestly like Kristi and everyone said. If you do eat something bad, just keep trucking and do not let it turn into a day. This way you will not feel so guilty and plus it all evens out when you go back to eating right.
Just make sure to cut yourself some slack and do not get down. It will be easier for you when you get out of that baby phase. I was not ready mentally till Mia turned 14 months or so.
and alcohol is just empty calories.
