Damn you chocolate fudge brownie ice-cream...

So at work today they were passing around miniature tubs of ben and jerry's ice-cream. I could not resist for the life of me. I looked at the calories and it was less then I thought it would be... 220. So my question is- How harmful is it to eat fattening food like ice-cream if you eat it in little quanities? I have little self control when it comes to sweets and I usually end up eating something like that every day. I can maintain doing that, but is eating just one little dessert a day like that going to slow you down a lot?

I know how you feel, I gave in and ate a butterfinger today :-0!!!! Anyway, if you only do this once in a while it should be fine. It would be fine, per say, to eat one serving (not and entire pint) of B&J ice cream once a week or so. Go for it, treat yourself once in a while. You deserve it.

I feel you...damn the vanilla strawberry creme filled piece of cake I just ate here at work.  Urrghhh and I was doing so well today lol!

Yep, definitely.  One time of eating it won't do anything.  Since you're having it (or you had it), might as well enjoy it! As long as it's not a habit, it's fine!

My problem is I do it almost daily... I usually still stay under my calorie allowance though. I say to myself "okay, eat healthy today.." but for some reason something always comes along. People need to stop bringing cookies to work!

I would say if it works into your daily balance - go for it.  Just make sure you are getting enough protein and fiber as well.  I used the calorie calculator on www.nutrition.about.com to determine that to maintain my goal weight I need 59% Carbs, 25% Protein and 16% fat.  So as long as you are balanced with the right nutrition it's fine.

I know right?  My job is notorious for having junk food all the time for christ sakes theres a candy drawer right next to my desk!

We always have food at my job too.  The other day it was someone's birthday and my boss's secretary made a huge new york style cheesecake (which I absolutely love).  I went in to the breakroom with everyone but as they were passing the cake around, I realized I didn't even want it - even though I love it - because that's 600 calories I don't need to eat on something with no nutritional value.  Food is fuel.  I need to give myself the right kind of fuel. 

PS I'm not always that good and have broken down several times along the way but I try and that counts right?

haha yup, we have a candy jar... Next week we have a ice-cream pie contest too!

What IS it with all the crap at work? Someone brought in cinna-bons today....you can smell them EVERYWHERE.  I wish more people would realize that food can be an addiction....they wouldn't offer cocktails to a recovering alcoholic, would they?  I'm pretty sure the advice to an alcoholic is "stay out of bars" but I can't very well stay out of work now can I? (wow, that's tempting....).  Very frustrating...

Second-hand obesity must end!

i just downed a pint of stonyfield farms organic after dark chocolate non fat frozen yogurt. today was my cheat day and that was my cheat food....it was good but i wish i hadn't of eaten it at all. it was a lot for only 400 cals though.

Second-hand obesity ... that's AWESOME!  :-D

I have at least one "fairly healthy" dessert every day. This is usually a fat free pudding, 100 calorie packs, all fruit popsicles, etc. This cuts down on binging.

I did try that web site you posted about carb, fat, and protine needs and I had a hard time finding it. The link to get you closer is http://nutrition.about.com/od/changeyourdiet/ a/calguide.htm

Just FYI for anyone wanting to try it.

I didn't read all of the posts here but I just got soo excited when I saw you mention chocolate fudge brownie ice cream!! My grocery store carries Edy's slow-churned yogurt-blend ice cream in this flavor! It's 120 calories for 1/2 cup... I don't think that's so bad because it is definitley worth it! It is DELICIOUS!

This is the website in case you want to look into it... Edy's

Im reading the above posts with "complaints" about being seated next to a candy draw..thats NOTHING!

I own and manage a Chocolate Fountain Rental here in the caribbean!

Someone please feel sorry for ME :)

ps. i could never ,ever refuse a strawberry dipped in chocolate! Thats my typical daily serving of fruit! J/K!

Wow! That must be hard! I guess a chocolate dipped strawberry is a good treat, especially if you have the really good quality chocolate.

I'm not sure I'd find it easy with all the southern food though...!

Good luck :)

"I could not resist for the life of me."

Really? If someone put a gun to your head, you could not have resisted? The truth is you could have resisted... and you would have if  the IMMEDIATE consequence was great enough.  Think about it... if you behaved today, and the reward was (literally) tomorrow you would have a perfect body, then of course you would behave. If you were thin, but ate 4000 calories today, and the consequence was tomorrow you would be 100 pounds heavier... you would have never gained weight. And thank goodness, nature is more forgiving, that one bad day won't make a big difference.  But the downside, is that it is easier to gain and harder to lose, because the change is so slow.

With weight loss/gain, the reality is about long term consequence or reward.  That's why people struggle day to day.  You know how a small child needs immediate consequences for his actions... or he doesn't get it? He only responds to what the consequence will be in the next  five minutes.  The more mature we get, the longer-range our vision of consquence and reward.  People who have the ability to visualize goals farthest in advance, and do the actions necessary to get there, are the people most likely to succeed in all avenues of life.  It takes practice, but you can learn to override temptation, because you know you will feel better if you don't give in.

Here's an example from my life today. I got up this morning and didn't feel like going to my class at the gym. I was sleepy and wanted to go back to sleep. And I did go back to bed. But I knew I would feel better later in the day if I went to the class. I laid there about 3 minutes, then decided I should get up and go through the motions... hot shower, a pot of caffeine, get my gym clothes on and so on.  So I am home again. It was a good class and I am glad I went.

So it 's about having the maturity and experience to do what you know you should do, even when you don't feel like it right now, because you know you'll feel better tommorrow.

To answer your question... cheats are okay within your calorie allowance. Just don't do it a lot. Everytime I have a low-nutrition food, I remind myself that it is in exchange for a food my body needs.

Thanx for that link agaangelhoff Its really cool and super helpful

Shiptona-  I do tend to exaggerate things. That is my personality. Of course I wouldn't eat it if I had a gun held up to my head... But self control is an issue for me. I lost weight and did it without giving up junk food. I just went to the gym and worked out extra hard to compensate. So I lost weight but I am not completely healthy because I went about the wrong way doing it. Eating healthier will be a day by day struggle for me. I appreciate all of your advice and I admire your will power. I'm at the point where I probably would have stayed in bed. However, you just put things into a better perspective for me, so thank you!

Hey there,

I was reading an article from that girl Jillian something or another from Biggest Loser and she said that as long as you count for it in your daily calories it is fine to have a treat- even once a day.  I remember her saying her weakness was Reeses Peanut Butter Cups so I would think it would be fine as long as you are not going over your calories for your weight loss and you are eating healthy for the rest of your meals.  I always like those sugar free puddings- one of them is dulche de leche and it is only 60 calories- has like carmel on top- YUM!  I still lose weight even if I eat one of those a day.  good luck :D