Desserts every day?

I'm two weeks into maintenance mode and find that I'm enjoying desserts just about every day! It seems too good to be true, but I'm able to keep under my 1800 calories, and still maintain my ratio goals (30% fat, 20% protein and 50% carbohydrate) for the most part.

I realize these goals are a little too liberal for some, but it's enough for me. Is there something I'm missing? Anyone else enjoying their new calorie intake with daily desserts?

Your maintenance goals sound good to me!

I'm maintaining too... but I don't indulge in desserts that often :(... because I know myself -- if I start, I don't stop. One cookie always leads to the entire box. Its that lack of self control/sugar addict unfortuantely.

I wouldn't say daily, but perhaps 3-4x's per week, I enjoy dessert. And by dessert, I mean something other than fresh fruit with whipped cream. ;-)

It's a fact of life for me that I'm simply never ever going to give up ice cream completely. I grew up eating it every single day (thanks mom). It's comfort food for me!!

So when I started on this voyage, I knew that there had to be a way to be able to lose and then later maintain my weight, while still enjoying ice cream. And "occasionally" isn't enough, realistically speaking. Occasionally is just fine for chocolate (it's not my favorite), or candy (too sweet), or sugary bday-type cakes (also too sweet)... but not for ice cream.... mmm....

During weight loss, I stuck to skinny cow bars. Now that i'm on maintenance, I do have regular - even premium - ice cream. The trick, I've learned, is to keep it to a single serving and dish it out into a teeny tiny bowl to make it look bigger than it is!!!

So if it's premium (like Ben & Jerry's or Haagen Daz) then it's just 1/4 cup. Yes, I measure it. If it's not premium, then it is more like 1/2 cup (read labels ... one serving should be about 250 calories).

Otherwise, when out at restaurants, my DH and I will share a dessert about once a week. Who knows how many calories are in it. We don't normally eat chocolate desserts, and tend to go for things that aren't overly sweet. We tend to go to nicer restaurants - NOT chains - so the desserts are not UNGODLY HUGE portions either. And he always ends up eating about 3/4's of it, while I have only about a 1/4.

I've maintained since October, so there's your proof it can be done. ;-)

I reached my goal weight last July, and have been maintaining ever since. I have one dessert after dinner every night, and still everything is going great. They are of course the light options (reduced fat carrot cake, sugar free chocolate mousse, and that sort of thing). On average they are about 100-150 cals, which is fine. And they are really good, the real thing would be too sweet for me now I think. I recommend frozen yogurt instead of ice creams. Also, on Saturdays I have a bigger dessert, and not necessarily from the light range.

Hope this helps. I think if you are smart about your dessert it takes the pressure off and makes you not to crave sweets and possibly give in to a massive sugar binge...  

"It depends on what "dessert" is to you.

I'm also doing 1800 for maintenance, and even after a few months in that mode, I'm still pleasantly surprised at what you can "afford" calorie-wise within 1800. 

So, in terms of adding up calories, if the dessert fits, it fits. My concern though, is that you (or anyone) needs to be careful not to use too many calories for empty foods. This has nothing to do with weight loss/maintenance, but just eating well rounded. Probably with dessert, it's not the issue of whether you have dessert every day, but how many calories is it (200 seems reasonable for every day; 800 calories per daily dessert would not leave much room for nutrition!). I suspect that if you've spent time in low-calorie diet mode, you've probably learned enough about portion size and calories that you're eating reasonable desserts (and not 800+ calories per slice apple pie a la mode!)

 

 

 

Well, not every single day, but I am less likely to have a really small sliver of cake, but rather the actual serving size when the occassion arises.  Just everything in moderation.

A calorie is a calorie no matter how you "slice" it; so if it fits and works go for it!  In the long run, do you feel better eating a calorie of substance or an empty calorie ....

Again, everything in moderation .

Thanks for the comments. Like you said, I think the keys are in moderation, enjoying reasonable portions of a reasonable dessert (maybe a little more extravagant once in a great while:)

Food was meant to be enjoyed, but not to abuse yourself with. 

I'm maintaining and enjoying daily desserts but my desserts are fruit, which i actually like,  so i don't know if that counts or not.  i don't really have a big sweet tooth so i don't keep them in the house.   if i had all those sweets around, i'd go on an outrageous eating craze.

I have a 35 calorie fudge bar every night if I'm "good" during the day - some days I LIVE for that fudge bar!

i usually eat rice cakes. they come in all different flavors and i personally like the caramel rice cakes. they have no fat and its only 50 calories for one cake!
try it! :D

I have a few rules

#1)I can have as much SF jello as I want at anytime  

#2) Life is too short not to include chocolate 

That being said... it all depends on what you consider a dessert.

For instance lately I have become fond of protein pancakes with apple and SF syrup. Or FF ricotta cheese  with almond flavoring strawberries and fiberone.  If I need a chocolate fix I indulge in 60 calorie chocolate pudding with fiber one and reddi wip. To really wipe out a choco craving - Cocoa via bars are exceptionally good with only 90 calories.

I try to keep healthy less evil treats readily available.  I feell the only way to survive and maintain a healthy weight is to live in moderation and not deny yourself some treats. However... it is always best to try to make the treats healthy when possible. 

 

 

I've been maintaining for over a year and each day at 4pm I have a dark chocolate bar (55g) for 260 calories.  I also have a healthy dessert like fruit and yoghurt after dinner.

I've found I still like to eat healthily for meals - salads, meats, tuna, veges, potatoes etc but to make up 2000 calories nett I'm best not to make it all up in really low calorie food or I find I'm preparing and eating food all day which is difficult to maintain!  So I do include some healthy higher calorie snacks and some unhealthy ones too that I really look forward to and budget for in my calories.  And I don't feel guilty about as they are within my allowance.

I am new to cc and hope I can eat dessert too.

I am cutting back right now to lose the 3lbs I gained back (I lost 30 lbs about 1 1/2 years ago) eating too many sweets in the evening, but I have found that I can lose weight at about 1500 calories a day and still have one of my favourite (and nutritious)  desserts every day, 1/2 frozen blueberries with 1/4 cup 3% yogurt sprinkled with a little low calorie granola.  only 150 calories or so. Try it, it is a fantastic replacement for ice cream. The granola gives it a sweet crunchy lift.  Like I used to do with  icec ream, i crave it every day.  I also eat 2 President's Choice Whole wheat fruit cookies (home made style) every day.  I love them with tea.

I had chocolate, ice-cream, cheesecake, sugar, all throughout my weight-loss and obviously now when I'm still maintaining. Perhaps I would have lost quicker if not for the dessert but I love it too much to give it up. Portion control is the key, heck, controlling yourself is the key, but yes, it is definitely possible to have dessert every single day!

I'm still little scared, but they are slowly creeping back into my life. I did much better without them, but I add little chocolate, a few jelly beans or licorice last week or two. I guess good goal is to keep it under 200 cal.

I think it's up to you! If you keep your calories in check, dont go over maintenance & it makes you really happy, then why not?

I can't control myself, heh. I cannot keep cookies in the house because I will eat them all, not just one. I can't control myself & I'm not ashamed of it. Everyone has vices, you know?

I'm not a big candy or jello person, I am an ice cream sundae with the works, crepes almandine, molten hot chocolate cake kind of girl. Whenever I have the serious craving I allow a full blown dessert in my calories for the day. It doesn't work for everyone, but I usually drink a lot of water & eat only some fruit & veggies when I'm really hungry. Then... I go out with friends & order a glass of champagne, a modest dinner and fabulous dessert. Mmmmm... sooo nice!!!

I've just gotta do that for myself. I only gain when I have bingeworthy ingredients in the house, so I can't buy or make them unless I'm leaving them at someone elses'. I do keep some lite canned whipped cream & put it on cherry yoghurt with some sprinkles so I feel indulgant, but that (at 5 calories a Tbsp) is the only bingeworthy food that wont get me down if I use too much.

People say to eat before you go out so you don't go overboard. I go overboard regardless of whether I've had 6 mini meals during the day! It's worth it for me to wait for debauchery ;)

I like Kacka's idea of keeping the deserts under 200 cal.  I took a plunge today and had dessert.  It was a whole meal worth of calories.  Good thing I exercised but chances are I did not loose.  Thus, the idea of keeping desserts around 200 calories is something I can manage.  Thanks for the idea.

Thanks everybody for your ideas and input. Sometimes I have to remind myself that food is not the enemy, and it is designed to be enjoyed (everything in moderation). There are some things I still have to be extra careful about because it's just too tempting to have 'just one more 1/2 a piece....'

 

I have a small low-fat yogurt every day for dessert.. I love it and wouldnt take it outta my diet, its low-fat but tastes really naughty so it feels as if im eating a high calorie & sugary food but im not. And i love it!