Does anyone else let themselves enjoy their favorite foods?

I've seen a lot of posts on here about how much people miss certain foods or won't eat certain foods (chocolate and fried foods topping the lists!). If I go to a hockey game with my dad or bake cookies for my boyfriend, I'll get a burger or eat a cookie. I just always log it into my calorie counter, and try to plan the rest of my meals accordingly to make up it. I've continued to lose weight (probably at a slower rate than those who cut out those things completely). I was wondering if there's anyone else like me, who eats these things and is okay with it.

PS - I'm going to breakfast tomorrow with my dad and I'm going to get pancakes, what should I eat for lunch, dinner, snacks, etc. the rest of the day?

You're doing exactly the right thing...... learning how to control your weight within 'real life'.   Real life dictates that from time to time you will go to a hockey game with your dad and eat a burger.   It would be a different kettle of fish if you were eating burgers every day, of course. 

When you go out for the pancakes, obviously don't have a great big stack dripping with syrup (?).   Ask for two or three instead, go sparingly on any toppings, eat them slowly, sip your coffee and enjoy the time with your dad.  Go with your normal lunch and dinner, a piece of fruit or two as a snack... you'll be fine. 

I agree with gi-jane...a couple years ago I tried cutting certain foods out of my diet all together and well that just left me wanting them more and when I finally gave in it was ugly!  Now, like you, if I'm out and want a burger better believe I get one!  I've made small changes like whereas I would normally always get a cheeseburger, now I just leave off the cheese because honestly if I want a burger then the cheese doesn't make a big difference to me.

I think you sound like you're doing things the right way instead of depriving yourself which almost always eventually leads to going overboard in one way or another :)

I do the same thing.  If I know I'm going out to eat I try to eat lots of fruits and veggies so my calorie count for the day is low... until I get to the restaurant and have some decadent cheesy thing!!!  If I'm craving some McDonald's french fries... I'll have them... but I'll just have a small.  I feel really deprived if I can't have the foods that I love.  I try to balance it with lots of healthy things.  Thankfully I also love broccoli, salads, veggies, and whole grains.

i'd suggest avoiding too many carbs for the rest of the day, since that's what pancakes are mostly made of.  you could maybe suggest he use half whole wheat flour half normal to make the pancakes a wee-bit more healthy

and/or bring your own sugar free syrup if necessary.

and yeah,
it's fine eating a little unhealthy every once in a while, just work around it.

:]]]

i do the same thing, to an extent. if i'm at school and want a box of smarties from the vending machine once a week, i'll get it. i'll still count it, but i'll eat it and enjoy it.

You could see if they have cornmeal pancakes.  They're superyummy, a bit higher fiber/protein than regular and don't absorb quite as much syrup so you can get the same "drenched in syrup" flavour and feel with less syrup.

I don't ever want to feel deprived when I go out.  Breakfast should be the easiest to eat because you will have the rest of the day to adjust your calories.  While most restaurants are happy to please by poaching an egg instead of frying them, I really doubt that you'll find a restaurant that would be willing to make a special batch of pancakes with whole wheat just for you.  If it's the syrup you want then I'd order french toast instead of pancakes.  Did you at least check the calories in the food list for pancakes?  It should show you the dimensions (4-inch, etc) so you will have an easier time knowing how much to order and/or eat.  It might not be exact, but better than not knowing anything when you go in there.  I take my own SF syrup when I go out for breakfast, since I like Smuckers SF the best, and I know how much I can have.  Every restaurant will have a 2 or 4 oz portion cup for you to put your syrup in.  Even if you use regular syrup you will still have means to measure with.  Enjoy your breakfast with Dad.  That's nice. 

I eat really healthy everyday, I still have some sweets (I love baking), but I keep within my calories range everyday and make sure I have a nutrition rating less then a B or a B+.  Almost everyday my rating is an A.  I eat mostly vegetables, fruit and whole grains.

But, one day a week, Friday or Saturday, I can eat whatever I want and the rating and calorie intake doesn't matter.  I have a weekness for Sour Cream n' Onion Ruffle Chips.  Sometimes I might eat a whole bag, I don't care.

I have lost over 30 pounds while doing this.  I eat between 1300 to 1400 calories a day.  On my cheat day, I might eat around 3000, sometimes more.  It is a planed binge.  I love it.  Without that day, I wounldn't have lost all the weight that I have.  I would be junking-out all the time.

I make sure to get my daily allotment of chocolate ;)

I do eat what I want.  Like you, I adjust my other meals to meet the calorie count I've set for myself.  I am trying to lose 30 pounds but I'm not trying to stop eating my favorites foods.  I'm teaching myself to eat healthier but I'm also allowing myself to enjoy all foods. 

I am at my heaviest I've ever been.  I want to make permanent changes in my eating habits.  I don't want to remove anything I enjoy.  So I just edit myself.  I think in the long run I'll have a better chance at keeping the weight off.

Ditto you. I always go out to eat when invited and eat things I like. It's not realistic, as a 22 year old, for me to avoid these things for the rest of my life. I love them!

But I just don't order the WORST thing on the menu or eat as much of the things I like as I used to.

Heck yes!  to unsweetened chocolate =]

I definitely still eat my favourite foods! And it seems like fairly regularly too!! Yet this is the first time in my life I have actually lost weight for good...which is why I like calorie counting, you can eat healthily but also plan in treats to keep you on track, less likely to binge etc :) I looove it! Today I had a biiig icecream, zero guilt because I planned it in, and we should be able to enjoy high cal foods from time to time :)

If you're 'dieting', then I guess you'd have to stop eating certain foods, particularly if you're following some kind of plan ... but for those of us who are going for lifestyle change (I get the impression that's the majority here -- at least on the threads I read), then there's no need to give up anything you enjoy -- so long as you eat these foods in moderation and as part of a balanced diet, I can't see why anyone would have to completely give up any of their favourite foods. I eat pizza once a week and have some kind of chocolate or cake most days, and I've lost 70 lbs in six months -- I'm 7lb away from being in the healthy weight range and I haven't hit any plateau or motivational problems. I'm sure I'd have been far less successful if I'd tried to live on salads or cut out other foods I enjoy.

I eat dark chocolate every day.  I usually have half a square of Baker's Premium 70% dark chocolate with 5 or 6 almonds.  The ocasional cheat day can be a good thing, since it shakes up your metabolism and helps prevent plateauing.  Not more than once a week for a real cheat day, though, and eat your favorites sparingly the rest of the time, being sure to record them -  you should be fine.

I love the fall and winter holidays, food included. So I've enjoyed apple pie, sweet potato caserole, halloween candy, pumpkin cheesecaee, frosted sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, eggnog, etc. 

So even though I've eaten all the regular stuff, I'm much better at portion control and moderation. My goal through all this was to reach overall wellness, which imo includes cookies! Just not the entire contents of a cookie jar.

I don't eliminate anything. I am of the opinion that except for alcohol, there is no food out there that should be a no no (unless you are allergic of course). I still enjoy pizza with my family, and I will never let go of my fries. I just enjoy the higher fat foods I love in smaller quantities, or in a healthier version. I have to have cheese on my cheeseburger, but I no longer eat it with miracle whip. Mustard, ketchup, pickles, onion, and lettuce are fine for me now. And if I make it at home, I make sure to grill or broil it, and use the leanest ground beef I can find. When I have pizza, I will only have one slice. If we order it out, I make sure and order a thin crust, with mushrooms and black olives, and either pepperoni, canadian bacon, or grilled chicken. If I make it, then I again use thin crust, either grilled chicken, canadian bacon, or turkey pepperoni, black olives and mushrooms, and on the half that is for me and my husband, I also put green olives, and then on the slices that will just be for me I also add onion, and green pepper. When ordering fries out, I only get a small order, and when I make them at home, I bake them. Sometimes I even use squash instead of potatoes. I feel that I live in the real world, and a lifestyle change that is going to work has got to work with that world. If I know in advance that I am going out to eat or that I am going to a party, I make the best eating decisions before, during, and after the event, and try to get a good work out in. If I am able to see a menu and/or nutritional info before hand, I plan the whole day so I know exactly what to do and when.

Original Post by healthydiet101:

But, one day a week, Friday or Saturday, I can eat whatever I want and the rating and calorie intake doesn't matter.  I have a weekness for Sour Cream n' Onion Ruffle Chips.  Sometimes I might eat a whole bag, I don't care.

I have lost over 30 pounds while doing this.  I eat between 1300 to 1400 calories a day.  On my cheat day, I might eat around 3000, sometimes more.  It is a planed binge.  I love it.  Without that day, I wounldn't have lost all the weight that I have.  I would be junking-out all the time.

I've never heard of this, but I'm impressed!  And you look so thin!  

I eat what I want.  At least once per week, I try to eat intuitively (with no visits to this site except maybe to the forums).  Every vegetable I cook is treated to a little extra fat from oil, butter, or possibly even bacon grease.  And I've lost nearly 40 lbs this way. 

As cray as it sounds, it works.  That is 2 of us now that does this and it has worked for us!!