One thing I try to do is avoid even tasting a new food I know is high in calories...because if I like it I might eat it again (and again, and again), so it seems better to never know what it tastes like to begin with. Even calorie counting... we know the wrong meal can wipe us out for the day and we need to eat our calories wisely so we don't get hungry throughout the day.

A friend was telling me about this sundae he ate, it was some chocolate, peanut butter crisp ice cream in a chocolate coated cone bowl or something...and he said it was so good I should try it one day (I don't tell everyone I'm on a "diet"). I was thinking about how loaded in calories it was to begin with, and what if it really was that good, I would never have it again, so why bother? Same with restaurants, new cookies or chips in the stores,- I stick to what I know already and don't try any new high calorie things.


I also try not to feel bad that I'm missing out on eating those yummy foods or trying new high calorie foods. sometimes I feel jealous other people can eat fattening foods all the time and not worry about their weight. in a way, I'm learning to no longer eat for fun but to just eat to keep my body going.

does anyone else do this? have you found sticking to your basic foods helped you lose weight and keep it off? do you stick to treating yourself to your oldtime favorites so you don't get hooked on a new high calorie food?

You know, I'm new enough that I haven't thought about this at all and it's a good point to ponder for sure....

Ice cream is absolutely my downfall and my ultimate favorite food and so if someone described that treat to me I would likely end up eating it one way or another.... however nowadays I'm more likely to share it with a friend or two who are also health conscious. I find that no matter who I'm eating with.. if I suggest splitting or sharing something they're always up for it. And if I want it again then.. I guess I'll just have to be more social and go out with my friends more.

Early in weight loss, it's best for lots of folks to simply avoid all those "trigger foods" that might derail the food plan. It's important to make better habits.

That said, as time goes on and one has attained goal, I don't see any reason to not TASTE new foods, depending on the individual. Foods I don't need to taste, for example, are anything from a fast-food restaurant. Foods I might like to taste are gourmet foods from a high-class restaurant. The point is, A TASTE is where one has to stop if it's not a food one has planned for. Even if a food is "fattening," one can make the choice to eat it if one plans wisely.

But again, early on in weight loss isn't the time to be going off plan.

That sundae you described? No way. I wouldn't eat that ever, unless I had two friends to split it with.

Jay

well, since I know what works for me. If I am told about something new. That sounds delicious and I tell myself "no, you can't have it". I obsess about it. I mean it just consumes my thoughts. I am a naughty little rebellious thing. So....I would just go and get it. However, I would bring back up. More people..and I would share it. I just want to try it...not eat 1200 cs worth of it.

I do but I be sure to calculate the calories even if I just have to wing it. For me I love trying new things so I view it as getting to try a 2000 calories treat for the low price of 50 or 100 calories! You just have to be sure you stop at 1 spoonfull.

I'll have one single bite of someone else's. Then I did get to experience it.

OMG, I love ice cream. I keep ice cream sandwiches (150 cal) in my freezer and have one almost every night. I eat it slowly and make the flavor & texture last. On my past diets I would never have kept this indulgence in the house. But, I've learned that I have to retrain myself to enjoy in moderation. I can't go the rest of my life without ice cream, but I can learn to enjoy high calorie foods in amounts that my body can tolerate.

IMO there is no such thing as food that is bad for you. It's all about portion control. Even an over abundance of fruit is bad for you and a total lack of fat is equally bad.

I tend to lean toward the philosophy that it is better to stay away from new, unhealthy/fattening foods. I have a hard enough time staying away from foods I know taste good, why add new foods into the mix?

I think part of this philosophy comes from the fact that I hate to try something new that is terrible for me, to only find it was not really worth the calories.

Screw that. Life is too short. I try whatever I want to try I just don't go nuts.

Wow, prinny, look at your ticker and all those prinnies! You're getting close!

Jay

I pretty much adhere to that philosophy for a couple of reasons. First, you don't have to cut out any food entirely to be healthy. Some people don't realize that maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn't require sticking to a diet composed entirely of spinach and broccoli 100% of the time. As long as the bulk of your intake comes from fresh, nutrient-rich food, having a few chips or a sundae cone isn't going to ruin it. Second, moderation is a skill that can be learned, and (I sincerely believe) can make one's life easier in the long run. I love that I can now go anywhere and enjoy any food, whether at a barbecue, birthday party, restaurant, etc., and know that nothing will derail me. I'm glad that I can have a piece of pie now and then, or share that slice of wedding cake. I eat it, savor it, and never, ever feel guilty about it. Enjoying treats only hurts your weight loss if you let it.

That being said, I also think that acquiring that skill might be easier for some than for others. It was very difficult for me in the beginning because I had so many triggers. Basically, anything that combined fat and sugar unleashed my inner binge monster, so moderation took a long time for me to master. You might need to steer clear of trigger foods for a little while, then reintroduce them one at a time. That's what I did. Now I don't need to avoid any food.

Remember, right now you may feel like the food controls you, but you can learn to control the food. Just take it at your own pace

I go with the philosophy of ...is it worth it to me? I have only been able to stick to a well balanced diet because I include all the foods that I crave. ..but I always ask myself "is it worth it to me?" I know that if I have something I have to make room for it somehow. I adjust my food for the rest of the day or few days if needed or I increase my exercise. I like increasing my exercise because there are some days when I am HUNGRY and need an extra snack.

...but one thing I do is find the best option for my craving. I know the healthiest hamburger, ribs, hotdog, pizza, ice cream...

One thing that I do is a monthly "this is way out of my diet" day. I can have what wouldn't fit in my diet even with healthy adjustment like my cravings foods above. I still look at nutrition....I decide what portion size I can that isn't too outrageously out of my limits, and I have it that day. Because my control can be limited I rely on my husband, friends and family to help me get just that portion size. For July I had cheesecake icecream....Aug (last night) was a steak cut that I wouldn't allow in my diet. I had only 5 oz but the Sat fat in it was enough for a full day's worth. Next month....we will see.

I find that if I don't have special treats now and then, I set myself up for failure. So I have them, enjoy them, forgive myself, and move on.
Sheri

My rule is that if I can figure out how many calories is in something, I can fit it in to my diet--if I really want it. I might just have a little bit, but no matter what, I log it in. No cheating!

This is important for me because I live in Thailand, where LOTS of stuff is not labeled or just plain hard to figure out nutritionally. A lot of us girls love eating som tam (spicy green papaya salad) for lunch. Well, I recently figured out that it's loaded with sugar. I asked for it without sugar once and almost gagged. I guess they balance out the other flavors with sweetness, and I think it really adds to the calories, which is true for A LOT of food here. Everything is super sweet, so I have be really careful eating off plan.