I absolutely agree. Moderation is key. I think it's harder to be restrained and have just a small portion of something you're craving than it is to deny yourself it altogether, but once you've learned that self-discipline that's required to eat moderately, it's so liberating. I hated feeling like I had no control around food, and not allowing myself to taste it or even see or be around unhealthy foods was just another facet of that food-victim, no-self-control mentality.

For me, I think it's insane to go on thinking about and craving a food but "banning" yourself from it altogether. I very rarely have cravings, and I think that's because I don't persistently refuse myself the things that I really feel like eating. Why would I want to punish myself like that? To me, that sort of thinking screams "argh, fat person crazy diet" and not sustainable, normal and healthy lifestyle.

I'e been craving pizza and ice-cream recently, to get over the ice-cream I got myself some sorbet that doesn't have many calories or fat in it at all, but I'm still at a loss as to how to cure the pizza craving other than just ordering one...any ideas?!

My darling 17 year old son is a terrific cook, and last night made himself a calzone...it looked and smelled SO good...

I relented, and let myself have two small bites. Just to get the taste. And, I was fine.

Then 13 year old daughter decided to eat ice cream next to me on the couch...chocolate, with chunkies all in it. Again, I let myself have two bites. Small bites, but again, the taste was what I was craving.

I find cravings are different from being hungry...so bites for me are all I need. I need that taste. I wasn't hungry. If I'm hungry, then that tray of roasted veggies hits the spot. If I'm craving...then I need that taste. Might as well take a small bite or two, get it over with.