Man oh man, I'm craving pizza!

Do you think it's safe to go around the corner to the local pizza joint to pick up a couple slices? So far today I've taken in about 900 calories. I've been on a diet for almost 5 weeks now and have gone without junk food since. Will I ruin my progress, or will I be safe? If I had to guess, I'd say each slice is about 380 calories, but that's a total guess. I'm guessing the each slice is about 7 or so ounces. (They're the thick Chicago style pizza slices.)

I'm 6' tall and weigh 244 (down from 265 five weeks ago.) My daily calorie goal according to the site is 2150.

make pita pizza! get 1/4 cup pasta sauce &2oz. light mozerella string cheese with any veggies you like on top of your pizza!! mmm

about 300 cal, very filling &satisfying

It's important that you don't feel deprived. A couple slices of pizza now and then is no biggie.

if you have that pita pizza i mentioned above you wont feel deprived at all. i havent had any actual pizza in over a month &i dont feel deprived one bit.

If you have pizza i wouldn't opt for the thick chicago style. Can you get thin crust with light cheese and mostly veggies???

I love pizza myself and I am a waitress at a restaurant with realllly good pizza. And thats what I do to get my fill of pizza!  I never use to like thin crust but its really good when its crispy

If you must have your pizza, how about cutting in a slice into two, chew slowly and make it last, and have a salad to fill you up? Save the other half for another time when you crave pizza again. Now you can have pizza for two meals instead of one.

By the way, it certainly won't ruin your progress to have pizza for one meal. Just eat a little less/work out a little more the next day, and your body will cope.

I gave in, I had two big 'ol slices of thick Chicago style pizza. I feel like crap now, but it was worth it. I have only to compensate big time tomorrow.

I'm about to go work out for an hour or so now too so hopefully the pizza won't make too much of a difference.

Also, after eating those 2 slices, I'm still under my daily calorie intake; that's gotta count for something no?

ofcourse it does. Just make sure you don't deprive yourself for the rest of the day just to make up for it. If you have one day of eating a bit more than normal it's ok, just try to not eat more than you spend, so you don't gain any back. It's so important not to feel deprived when you're dieting and if you eat something you really want every now and then it's not the end of the world.

You're not suppose to feel deprived, so I'm glad you had the pizza.  Maybe next time try the thinner crust.

I make pizzas at home on tortillas and reduced my cravings.

congrats on your 21# loss.  Whatever you are doing, it's working!

Original Post by mortalmonkey:

I gave in, I had two big 'ol slices of thick Chicago style pizza. I feel like crap now, but it was worth it. I have only to compensate big time tomorrow.

I'm about to go work out for an hour or so now too so hopefully the pizza won't make too much of a difference.

Also, after eating those 2 slices, I'm still under my daily calorie intake; that's gotta count for something no?

Adding in some food like that, once in awhile, is more than reasonable.  I suspect you lowballed how many calories was in that pizza, though. 

Original Post by curtinks:

Original Post by mortalmonkey:

I gave in, I had two big 'ol slices of thick Chicago style pizza. I feel like crap now, but it was worth it. I have only to compensate big time tomorrow.

I'm about to go work out for an hour or so now too so hopefully the pizza won't make too much of a difference.

Also, after eating those 2 slices, I'm still under my daily calorie intake; that's gotta count for something no?

How many calories per day are you taking in, that 2 slices of Chicago style pizza on top of 900 calories kept you under? And how do you know how many calories are in that pizza?

I don't know how many calories are in the pizza, I estimated based on the info for pizza on this site. I guessed that there were probably between 800 and 900 calories on the pizza. So add that to the 900 calories that I had already consumed and I consumed roughly 1,800 give or take. Seeing as how my daily calorie intake is supposed to be 2,150, I figured I was still under my daily allowed limit. I didn't eat anything else yesterday.

Interesting.  I can't imagine eating that many calories at this point. 

Chicago style pizza is higher in saturated fat, but no big deal if you want to eat it every other week or so.  I personally like the thinner crust better, but as long as you stay within your alloted calories it doesn't matter as far as weight loss goes.  The only thing I would recommed is to cut back on saturated fats on other days to balance it out.  I have "real" pizza at least twice a month and never feel guilty for it!

Okay, I've mentioned this before and no one ever tells me if its a bad idea or a good idea. But when I want a "bad" food I look for the healthy alternative to it. I mean normal pizza is already loaded with sodium anyways, so why not just get a frozen smart one pizza or lean cuisine pizza? That way you can easily calculate how much "bad stuff" you ate. So you are not left wondering and over or under compensating? Which I also noticed a lot of people that cheat punish themselves, why I don't know, I mean I know you feel guilty but its only human. You should have seen me on Easter I ate some pretty not good things but the very next day I got right back on track and instead of losing 2 pounds this week I lost 1.5. I think of it this way, its better than nothing at all and I knew it was coming- I'm the one that cheated. I dunno, I am not trying to be mean at all. Sorry if it comes off that way.

I'm with Lillys and Peacelove....I have been having a lot of fun coming up with recipes for healthy versions of some favourite "cheat" foods, like burgers (for my boyfriend) and pizza (for me, I LOVE pizza). When we have any cravings, we get to eat all our favourites, guilt-free! And because they are not loaded with fat or sodium, I don't feel all gross afterwards.

Sure, if you can buy it in single slices thats good...
Just get 1 or 2 (2 max i would say) and then bring them home, whip up a yummy salad and bam, great dinner :)

Its okay to have one meal every now and then where you eat poorly.


However! in case your interested... you can make yummy pizzas on tortilla wraps :)
They're generally low calories, the thin ones anyway.
Then you just put on some slices of raw tomato, onion, sweet peppers, basil and cheese (i dont eat cheese but if you can eat it then you could even think about low fat cheeses) and put it on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for 10 mins for the cheese to melt.
:) I really like it.

We make our own  personal pitapizzas on a semi-regular basis (about 2-3 times a month).  That way I know EXACTLY what's in it, and can decide whether to make it as healthy as possible (whole wheat pita, low fat cheese, veggie) or if I can afford a few more calories, salt, and fat, I can make it more like the "real thing" with white pita and a couple slices of pepperoni, or ham, or some sausage.  The healthiest ones can come in at 200 per pita and even a fully loaded one isn't more than 300.  I had my reservations about using low-fat cheese on pizza, but it makes no discernable difference.  I love it.  It's not Giordano's stuffed pizza, but it definitely satisfies the pizza urge.  I'm afraid Giordano's is a very rare event now.  Just way too many calories.

Original Post by lillysmominpa:

Okay, I've mentioned this before and no one ever tells me if its a bad idea or a good idea. But when I want a "bad" food I look for the healthy alternative to it. I mean normal pizza is already loaded with sodium anyways, so why not just get a frozen smart one pizza or lean cuisine pizza?

 I've always felt for me, if I am craving something, I'd rather have it, in moderation, and account for it, in my daily intake, than try and create a healthy version.  It's never as satisfying to me.  I don't have many cravings, but when I do, for something like a cheeseburger, I'd just as soon get the burger, as a turkey meat alternative.  I eat enough turkey...lol.

Yeah I guess it's a question of how often you have these kind of "cravings"...if a rare occasion, go ahead and splurge, if it's fairly often (I like to have pizza once a week or so) then better to create healthy guilt-free version. My boyfriend says my pita pizza is better than any take-out he's ever had anyway. I use tomato paste mixed with herbs, pepper and a bit of salt (much better to have control over the salt, than the pizza sauces which have a lot of sodium), low-fat cheeses blended with a tablespoon of real parmesan for taste and texture, veggies like mushrooms and onions, and soy pepperoni. It's seriously delicious, only noticable difference from real is that there is no slick of oil after you cook it...which is a good thing!

 Sharz my pizza sounds much like yours....I had doubts about the low-fat cheeses when I first tried them too...but totally unfounded, they melt brilliantly! I thought, what a find! But I guess the secret's out ;) They sure don't taste very good on their own though, blech, totally bland and rubberly.  I have to buy a small wedge of real cheese every once in a while to get that sharp cheese fix.

Cheers to pizza! I say if it fits in your calories, and you're all balance and good to go, then why the heck not? You're fine. You're working out and fine.

I personally enjoy South Beach Diet pizza at 320-350 calories for a personal one. *shrugs* but I doubt it would satisfy  your craving. When you are craving the real deal, nothing else will suffice. I've learned that instead of trying to work around what you want, to just eat it. Because in the end you'll end up eating it anyway.

this is so nuts b/c I am having a mad craving for pizza too!!! argh