Just got back from our cottage. My husband, two teens and I have a once-a-year tradition of canoeing to a nearby island and having a classic French picnic. This time we brought along a whole-wheat and a white baguette, four types of European cheese, shaved hot Genoa salami, condiments, and a bottle of wine (for hubs and me). I figure I did about 1,800 calories' worth of damage, but it was SO worth it! I think occasional indulgences are good for the soul, as long as they're planned and involve very special foods. What do you think?

Freelance
blog: www.englishgrammargripe.com

Mmmmmmm...French bread, cheese and wine?


Love.

Yep, totally worth it.

Congrats for raising teens who didn't demand their share of the wine - as French teens would have.

Sounds absolutely delightful! What a great tradition! Ditto what Bill said. I guess that explains DS13's affinity for wine. Somebody needs to tell him he's German. Maybe we need to start a tradition with brats and beer! Oh wait - that's called "the weekend".

LOL! My 16-yo DD is completely uninterested in drinking, which I suppose is a good thing. Hubby and I have offered her wine on a few occasions, but she's never accepted. 14-yo DS does occasionally have a few sips, but that's about it. I honestly don't think we've done anything to raise them that way -- it's just who they are.

F.

I think I needed to read this. I've been on Weight Watchers since January 18th. I have tracked everything I've eaten and I haven't had a single week where I've used all my available points, let alone gone over them.

I was fired from my job on July 10th after a year of increasingly stressful bovine excrement. I have been out of my mind with stress and anxiety since then.

I accepted a new, and freaking awesome, job today.

My husband, who has been 100% supportive of my weight loss effort, told me tonight that tomorrow evening, we are going to our favorite Mexican restaurant and that we're going to have dinner and drinks and that I'm not tracking a blasted thing. I protested. He insisted.

I think maybe he's right. I need a night off.

Congrats on getting through all of that and staying OP. And on having such a good wise husband. Go and splurge! We all need those "diet/maintenance vacations" once in a while!

Dagmar

I know there are some diets where you can't indulge like this or it beaks ketosis... but, I really do think it's worth it. If the situation is controlled and planned and you get right back on track. I think we shouldn't think of foods as "good" and "bad"... I just am so sad when I hear someone say "I really shouldn't be eating this".. why not? On occasion it's not bad! I say go for it and go right back.

Congratulations!!! And I hope you had a fabulous Mexican meal last night. Speaking of Mexican, I recently discovered canned tuna with chipotle (made by Clover Leaf). I use it to make grilled tuna and cheese panini. My son and I are nuts about it.

F.

I think that finding joy in your chosen way of eating is a major key to longevity and happiness. For me, settling in on the simple fuels of whole foods most of the time, and an occasional (every two months or so?) splurge of a glorious indulgent meal has brought me a lot of peace and a subsiding of the "binge monster". There's nothing I "can't" have, though there's plenty of things I choose not to eat; I feel like I'm finally getting a good balance between what I want to weigh, and how much I'm willing to do to get there. As I work toward a stronger emphasis on my overall health, my weight is following along.

Garnet, congrats on the new job! We spend way too much time at work to hate what we do!

Congrats 2727 !

Indulgent meals are necessary, I think, for mental health. What I really like is when, after an indulgent meal, I wake the next days feeling well. That means to me that I didn't abuse myself, but my mind/body needed a brake. My goal is to be able to enjoy my 'lean' and indulgent meals equally.

Mmmm French picnic. That sounds wonderful.

I'm going camping this weekend on Cape Cod and really looking forward to well-buttered lobster and tons of seafood, some of it fried. I agree that indulgences are a fantastic thing so long as they are kept "special."

HOWEVER, I don't see why fancy food in reasonable portions shouldn't be a daily thing.

I do this with my boyfriend almost every weekend! It's my bread, wine and cheese are my all time favorite foods.

Thanks, all! I had a wonderful dinner and found that my tastes have really changed in the last 6 months. Instead of having nachos like I'd planned, I spied a special of shrimp tacos... I had 2, OMG! The shrimp was perfectly cooked and spicy! Other taco fillings were avacado, red cabbage, radish and I don't know what-all but OMG GOOD! It was served with cilantro/lime rice. OM FREAKIN' NOM. And I had beer. Several beers.

I'm not counting points or calories from the meal. Don't know what they are; don't care. I'll get back on the bandwagon tomorrow morning.

Garnet, it sounds like a special occasion, celebrated in style! Dinner sounded !!!

Um ... Just which restaurant were you at? I'm always on the prowl for new spots,