How to cheat a little at Christmas

[tamado]

So I hear people talking about cheat days and things like "oh well, it's Christmas".  I've lost 35 lbs in the last 2 1/2 months and I am not willing to throw that out, but it is nice to allow myself a little indulgence here and there.  Sometimes that means a bit of a cookie instead of the whole thing (and not often).  I have quit drinking all sugar and if I feel like a cocktail, I've switched to whiskey with water or just on the rocks.  I just discovered that almond milk and spiced rum is delicious, so for a holiday treat, I may allow myself a couple of those.  I'm all about compromise, not wanting to make myself hate life but not drinking a few thousand calories in an evening either.

So, my question is, what are some treats you like to have with limited guilt?  For example, I occasionally allow myself yogurt with granola and add some chocolate sauce - it's almost as good as iced cream.  

[I-train-hard]

I eat dark chocolate 90% love that.

Well, I know that life is a single shot so from time to time I brake my habits and eat whatever I want.

I don’t have any guilt about that 🙂

[Oh_Pamela]

I have a rum and diet without any regrets.

*This is only during the Hanukkah/Christmas season.

And St. Patrick's Day.

And Tuesdays...

Seriously, I fully intend to gorge myself on paprika chips and bbq flavored nuts.

[emili]

I have tons of cheats, but my cheats are still OK. My favorite is frozen yogurt- once per week, popcorn- aire popped with salt and spray butter- everyday. nacho chips and salsa- hmm mostly when I drink beer so maybe every other week. And tons more. I do like Captain and diet coke. I drink Corona Light. I did drink Licor 43 at my Christmas gathering which is so sugary- but it is so good- I ran an extra few miles to compensate. I work out a lot so I have no guilt either...

[WendyB]

I dont cheat. I enjoy myself and get back on track the next day.

I have found if I say lets have a cheat day they can turn in to more. So when things come up I now enjoy with in moderation and move on. Life happens you need to have have what you want and enjoy it.

Just learn how to control it so it does not get out of hand.

But I love Wine and that is probably my thing to enjoy.

[SunsetRunner]

Enjoy all your food choices, try eating foods nature intended to have mainly when desired (fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, fish..) as minimal as processed. Eat slowly until feeling comfortably satisfied not stuffed.

When eating those foods mainly, our bodies naturally prefer to have nutritious foods mostly automatically not wanting more when trying eating until having enough mostly. Those foods are in general lower in calories, have more benefits to the body for boosting immunity system, being able to recover faster when being sick..).. being satisfied for longer.

When having a dessert once in a while or a little treat, if nutritious rich foods mostly are your choice when eating, not having to feel guilty about enjoying a little treat once in a while.

Try sticking to one 'rule':

Try eating when being hungry, stop when satisfied. If feeling being stuffed (eaten more than usual), try eating again when feeling hungry, or notice if needing to force feed at breakfast the next day, skip breakfast if knowing the epic meal from Christmas was eaten in the evening the previous day, possibly not being that hungry yet at breakfast if felt stuffed the evening before.

Aim to eat until feeling comfortably satisfied again at the next meal, even if it means eating 'less' than otherwise.

Our bodies try balancing everything out when having eating to little over time or to much and try to compensate by telling needing to have more, or feeling fine, not needing more. Try tuning into your body how you feel (you don't need to eat the whole restaurant portion when being satisfied with eating 2/3rd of the portion instead).

When wanting that dessert, but getting the feeling if eating more from the main course, would be feeling stuffed if having the dessert, leave some more food left of the main course to make room for dessert.. and be able to enjoy without guilt and possibly not getting the 'have eaten to much feeling' afterwards.

Never cheat either, though having everything with care. If for example feeling needing to force feed, allow to have when feeling can have a bit more.

[awood08]

I absolutely love red velvet cake. And I always get this delicious red velvet roll from my son's fundraiser every year, and I'm not going to miss out on it. So instead of before where I'd eat what I want of it regardless of portion/serving size. I turn 8 servings into 16 servings and that automatically cuts half the calories out, and I limit myself to once slice.

Same with ice cream, I keep my favorite low fat chocolate ice cream in the house. But instead of a full serving, I half it or grab one spoon full and eat that. Self control is key, I fortunately can take a bite of something and leave the rest behind without struggling. Some are unable to do that and about 4 months ago, I was one of those people. I think over time you learn to make better choices and choose better options!

[SebringDon]

My favorite "cheat" is to not cheat, but to earn my "cheats." I don't do treats on my "normal budget" calories, the calories I earn based on my normal exercise goals.  If I want a couple of my wife's peanut butter buckeyes, I have to add an extra 170 calories of exercise to my day. If I want a slice of her Yule Log, I've got an extra 231 calories to earn in exercise that day.

Today, I've been in a Weekend Warrior Challenge, and I doubled my normal step count today. I had a larger-than-normal portion of prime rib for dinner and I just finished a homemade root beer float without the tiniest shred of guilt, because I earned the extra calories on top of my normal routine.

[Mcore]

I believe that's the way it should be @SebringDon. No regrets! I'm learning to eat healthy again and also combine my exercixe routine so I can lose weight even faster and still be allowed to eat some chocolate (I'm a big fan of chocolate). Up to this day I feel great and I'm starting to see the results. 

[josephz2va]

I wind up eating a fortune and the next day burn it hard to lose it again. Usually my offset weight gain is 2-3 pounds up then it goes away the following.

[SunsetRunner]

Eating healthier overall and anything else in moderation @Mcore

Up until dinner had healthier foods when getting a appetite, healthy dinner eating.. and had some chocolate mousse after (though it's been freshly made) so still a healthier choice I guess..

Don't deny a little treat on occasion, that can prevent binge eating later on.. (mostly in case binge eating comes that means eating everything in sight if not careful).. so eat until satisfied on the healthier foods and have a treat when wanting to and there's a bit of 'room for'..

[Mcore]

Well said @SunsetRunner! Happy Holidays my friend. 

[SunsetRunner]

Scary thing is to let go and trust your precious body, even knowing eating healthy foods until satisfied.. today had one coffee, a half liter of water and no appetite or hunger yet.. may be due still having enough since yesterday.. @Mcore

Other days eating something more in the morning, noon or afternoon (and if eaten more during the day, taken less automatically at dinner if already feeling quite satisfied)..

Though try eating when the body tells to regardless the time, not at standard times.. the only time eating with family is at dinner itself..

If coming from a past when over-eated on cookies (even if that's a longer time ago).. but knowing not having those anymore and eating nutritious foods mainly, there should be no reason to be scary and let the body guide..

Still be scary sometimes.. tuning into your hunger in the moment and how much your body needs.

Some foods can surpress hunger for a while, strangely when exercising can not be hungry for a longer time either.. though not keeping track of the calories (since healthy foods), so could have eaten just enough for the body to still be satisfied.. also depends if dinner was later in the evening, or eaten at midday, or a bit after.. to be hungry quicker, or not hungry yet or how much was eaten, or eaten a bit less..

Dear body its not you, it's me to start trusting you more and more every day when nourishing to nourish when hungry. When not hungry, needing to force feed, not having more (but not being stuffed, eating until comfortably satisfied on the healthier foods).. or if eating just a little bit if it's possible to eat more until more satisfied and having enough.. trusting you.

Not nourishing with junk foods you don't like.. but with foods nature provides us at every opportunity to eat, or to skip meals when not hungry.. honoring your signals..

[I-train-hard]

Well, from time to time, to be precise -once every 3 weeks I allow myself to eat as much as I want up to the point that I know I ate too much but that feels so good and I know, for a short period of time, that  Haven exist ….

Peace!