My most recent splurge was a handful of hot wings, drenched in ranch.
I don't have much of a sweet tooth.

Pretty sure my next splurge is going to be a bacon cheeseburger and fries from Five Guys. Oh my word . . . good stuff! But yes, I have to plan for it and prepare and count it in my daily calories.

Will I feel bad about it? Nuh uh - I will enjoy every greasy bite.

Now, off to my baked chicken and veggie dinner (which will also be delicious in much different way). :)

I completely agree with you mkendrick! Having those planned indulgences makes it feel like less of a diet, and more like a permanent way of eating. I never want to feel deprived from a particular food. It may be a very occasional thing, but I want to know that nothing is off limits. More than anything I think it's a mind game with ourselves ;)

I love having a mocha and pastry from Starbucks...that's my current yummy :)

Ok, as I read through these posts, I'll have you know that I am enjoying a Reese cup flurry from the creamy whip near my house. It's delicious and Reese cups are my all time favorite. In fact, I love Reese cups so much that I could eat an entire bag of them in one day. I did, however, get sugar free yogurt instead of the real creamy whip ice cream in my flurry. It totally hit the spot.

Mmmmm bacon burger and fries, good one! Everyone always raves about Five Guys, I need to try it out one day. Maybe after my cinnabon, haha. And saggzz, good call on the reese's cup flurry, that sounds great :)

Kristi78, I agree, it is a mind game. This whole diet shebang is a mind game. The trick is finding the mind game that works best for you, hehe. Learning what "rules" for the game work for us. Like I said in the OP, not everyone can do planned huge indulgences like I can. And I certainly absolutely can't be happy eating tiny treats more often. We've all just gotta figure out what works for us :)

there are these chocolate chewy nut cookies at a bakery near my house....oh my...best things i have ever tasted

Cool thread:)

This thread really resonates with me! I completely plan indulgences. Keeps me on track and prevents horrible breakdowns. Also, that sick, gross feeling after splurging actually helps with the long-term healthy eating habit. Because it is rare enough, feeling sick helps remind me why I'm doing it all!

How often do you all indulge? Do you actually calculate the calories so you don't go over for the day/week/etc? Or, are you just letting yourself go over every so often?

I don't calculate it on my splurge days so much. It's just a meal off. Although, I admit I'm super happy if I don't gain the next morning.

Walked by a cinnabon at the mall the other day for the first time in years. If I wasn't dieting, I would have probably had two since it had been so long!

how about some visuals? hehehe
 

Nabisco Pinwheel cookies...can't have them in the house unless i plan on eating them:dizzy:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0ItzggMSqAY/So...jpg?imgmax=800

Nutella Hazelnut spread. I wish this stuff came in individual servings!!

http://www.leftoverqueen.com/wp-cont...utella-450.jpg

Abcunnin, I account for them in the day so I don't go over my calories....they don't come around very often, but I make the splurge days count when they DO come around!

I generally have an official splurge day every month. My rules are: it MUST be planned two weeks in advance, if there's a wedding or birthday then it MUST be planned for that day, and I MUST get right back on plan the next day, no exceptions. Usually for my splurge days, I will absolutely eat light for a day or two before and a day or two after. Eat light as in lots of fiber and protein with some filling fats, staying on the low end of my calories (1200-1350). The day of my splurge, I like to be aware of calories coming in, but I just don't really care if I go over maintenance even. If I get Chinese buffet and ice cream afterwards, I know I've gone over my maintenance calories, but the tummyache the next morning will remind me to not do it again for a good long while.

For something like a 450 cal frosty from Wendys, I can actually plan that in more frequently into my regular on plan days. If it's a treat like that, it would absolutely be counted. I'd just sacrifice a few of my snacks for the day. Now just because I CAN do this, doesn't mean I do it frequently. I know that in the back of my mind that I'm technically allowed to have a frosty every day of the week, if I so chose. But is it really worth it? Is it worth it to have smaller meals, no snacks, and maybe a tummyache that day to have some ice cream? Usually, no, it's not. It pleases me that I naturally make the choice to have healthy balanced snacks over a treat. But it also pleases me to know that the treat is always available. If I don't want it today, maybe I'll have it tomorrow. It's never off limits.