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Do you think it's a good or bad idea to reward your weight loss with a sweet treat or high-fat meal? Like after every 5 or 10 pounds I lose, I reward myself with a piece of cake/pastry, or some special burger?
Do you think it's a good or bad idea to reward your weight loss with a sweet treat or high-fat meal? Like after every 5 or 10 pounds I lose, I reward myself with a piece of cake/pastry, or some special burger?
This is a loaded question.
This method will work for some people, not for others. YMMV.
You'll get a lot of opinions on this but in the end, what works for you is what works for you.
As for me, I work "treats," if I want them, into my daily calorie goals. And if I don't want them then I don't.
It depends on you. I basically put myself on a lockdown. I could still have the fast food I love in certain calorie limits (and only certain items when I achieve certain activity levels), but I cut out sweets, pasta and pizza - my biggest triggers. After losing 20 pounds, I reintroduced ice cream - I can have one large spoonful a day, but even then, I don't always have it.
I allow myself fast food "treats" when I have very active days - but I really am careful as to what I eat in those moments. I go to Chipotle and have a bowl with a double serving of black beans, no rice, cheese, 3 kinds of salsa, meat and guac, and I get a bag of chips to eat the bowl with. It's a calorie bomb, but the fiber and protein in it fill me up for the day - I usually eat it at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon and skip dinner. Or I go to Smashburger and get sweet potato fries and a black bean burger, another calorie bomb, but loaded with fiber and protein. Generally, I focus on emphasizing protein and fiber in those meals and try to keep the regular french fries out of the picture. Mostly unsweetened iced tea to drink, but sometimes a diet soda if I'm craving a little sweetness.
I know if I have pizza or pasta or buy a box of cookies, I will eat it until it's gone. Bread is only allowed when it's part of a sandwich. (I'm mostly gluten-free these days, except for when I get fast food. Not sure if that makes a difference.) I'm really just trying to avoid empty carbs. Ice cream works because it's a very satisfying treat. When I get to my goal weight, I will re-evaluate what I'm allowed - currently halfway there.
Overall, I find rewarding myself for pounds lost doesn't really work for me. It's like opening a doorway to backslide. I do better when I compare my activity levels with my calorie intake and then decide how much I can splurge without derailing myself.
I'm kind of in this situation. I'm losing weight and getting thinner but I haven't strayed away from treats. I just simply cut back big time. I think it can be a bad thing to go cold turkey for some people.
Look at weight loss on a time line along with eating junk food. Don't look at everything in a small sample size but a large sample size. If you're improving overall you're winning. A treat here & there should not be a huge set back.
Do you think it's a good or bad idea to reward your weight loss with a sweet treat or high-fat meal? Like after every 5 or 10 pounds I lose, I reward myself with a piece of cake/pastry, or some special burger?
Its a bad idea. Its ESPECIALLY bad for a person who has lots of weight to lose. Someone who is already fit, or at their target HEALTHY weight has a bit more lee way because they arent trying to overcome lifelong horrible eating habits.
And really, arent almost all people who are obese and/or in need of losing weight, obese/fat because of the constant "sweet treat or high'fat meals"?
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