NicoleGo ahead. Eat the donut.
Maybe you’re trying to lean out or drop a few pounds so you decided to watch what you eat. You read the latest diet books or blogs, and decide to forgo all sweets. After a couple weeks of staying on course, you drive by Dunkin’ Donuts and can’t resist. So you get the combo meal of two donuts and a coffee. And then you are offered chocolate cake at a function so you have that, too. Pretty soon the “no sweets” plan is completely out the window.
This is common when we try to make too big of a change to quickly. That’s why the New Year’s “I’m going to work out every day” resolution fails. It’s too much of a change and we can’t handle it. The same thing happens when we restrict ourselves of things we enjoy.
[Tweet “If you are trying to make any change, start in stages.”]
If you are trying to make any change, start in stages. If you have dessert every night, skip a couple nights. Or go to a smaller portion each night. Unless there are serious health consequences, don’t restrict yourself something you enjoy, just enjoy in moderation!
When I was diagnosed with MS, I was interested to see if there was a “better” way to eat. People sent me links about a “diet” out there that was essentially high-fat Paleo. And others sent me the information on the low-fat vegetarian. I thought, wow – these are on complete opposite ends of the food spectrum! My conclusion: Eat real food and enjoy everything in moderation. It seems to be working for me so far, and is certainly easy to maintain.
I just buy primarily whole foods – vegetables, fruits, proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. The only thing I “do” is try to aim for 2:1 or 1:1 carb to protein ratios to help keep my blood sugar stable. If you are eating natural food 90 percent of the time, is a donut or cookie or mocha with whipped cream once a week going to hurt? Nope.
Bob Seebohar calls these “misses.” It’s OK to have a few misses here and there, otherwise we’ll likely completely fall off the wagon. Marni Sumbal often writes that there are no bad foods. I agree.
If you’re looking to change how you eat, slowly swap out the processed foods for whole foods. Give yourself a couple months to gradually change your eating habits.
And while you’re doing so, go ahead. Eat the donut.
What is your indulgence food? Share below!
Nicole
4 comments
My indulgence food is really creamy, high fat ice cream! I really love Graters ice cream. Graters is a company from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am from Dayton, Ohio, so eating my favorite Graters ice cream feels like home. King Soopers carries Graters now. I was a happy girl when I found that out! My favorite flavor is coconut chocolate chip.
The next time I’m in the mood for ice cream, I’ll have to give Graters a try!
Hi Nicole!,
My latest addiction is to taffy. I went to Sam’s and bought this giant bag of salt water taffy. I eat it for breakfast and lunch. And then nothing until dinner. It is probably the worst habit I could have possibly talked myself into. I used to have a love affair with chocolate, but I was gaining weight. The Taffy, oh the taffy. I am genuinely ashamed. But alas, I cannot stop until I finish the bag. I thought about having people over and offering it to them for a treat. But then I thought, there’s no way. I’ll just have to buy more and that would be just too shameful.
So I am about half-way through, and instead of feeling guilty, it has become my new challenge. I will face my addiction head on. I will eat that taffy like I’ve never eaten before and when I finish that bag, I will finally be satisfied. That is, if my teeth don’t fall out first. I wonder if it will help me burn energy? Is that really a thing? Why doesn’t everybody eat taffy all day long? Could I have stumbled upon the answer to weight loss inadvertently? Maybe I’m a genius? Oh wait, that’s the taffy talking. HEEE HAAAAA HAAAAAA!
Thank you!
Sounds like you need a taffy accountability buddy! Someone to call and keep you off the ledge? 😉
You can put that bag down, I know you can! And hopefully you keep all your teeth!
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