Ok, so it is something we try to avoid....something we regret when it happens. Perhaps we feel guilt, anguish and regret, when we cheat on our diets. Even worse, we fear the effect our cheating will have on the scale and on our overall motivation. Sometimes we cheat and then figure we have "blown it" so we might as well give up.
So what I am suggesting is a radical approach to the whole issue of cheating. What if we acknowledge the fact that we will cheat from time to time. In fact most of us know when it is imminent!! We can feel the urges building. One thing we can do to combat the "build-up" is to allow ourselves a treat or 2 every single day. This doesn't necessarilly mean treats that are bad for us, either. I consider fresh, grilled shrimp a real treat, just because I love them and they are a bit more expensive than ground chuck or boxed mac and cheese.....yeah, a bit.....lol! But I look for the sales and I buy a 2lb. frozen bag which I hoard for a couple of weeks doling out small portions for myself. And I mean hoard! I give the kids a shrimp, and I feed the family other things for their meals. I feel totally justified in this since they can and do eat all sorts of things I can't! Why is it worth it to slurge on the price of shrimp? (of course only if you like shrimp) It is because 4 oz. of shrimp are only 112 calories. Compare that to any other lean protein source (except egg-whites) and you can't beat it for a protein source. I don't know about you but egg-whites rarely would cut it for me for a supper choice, but I can eat shrimp almost every night of the week and look foward to it. (For anyone with high cholesterol.....you will need to eat shrimp rarely if at all since unfortunately even though the calorie count is low...the cholesteraol count is high!) To compare other 4 oz servings of protein sources; flatfish such as flounder or sole, 133 cal, lean white-meat chicken, 196 cal, firm tofu (1/2 cup) 183 cal, eye round steak (all visible fat removed. This is the leanest beef you can eat) 198 cal, lean pork (boneless center cut) 190 cal.
As you can see, the choices that you make for your healthy diet meals can make a big difference in your total calorie intake. Another example is in your breakfast choices. Kashi unsweetened puffed cereal is only 70 calories in a cup, whereas some granolas and so-called health cereals can be as much as 230 cal in a 3/4 cup or more. Read labels....measure and weigh your portions until you get used to what a serving size looks like. If you are attempting to average around 1200 calories a day on your weightloss diet, you can reach this total purely in the content of your meals or....
YOU CAN CREATE A TOTAL CALORIE DEFICIT FOR THE DAY THAT ALLOWS YOU TO CHEAT!! Now, mind you, you should make total nutrition your overall priotity. But as you can see from the calorie examples above, carefull planning can give you some room to play with. If what you want is a luscious dinner with gravy....then count out the calories in advance. Make choices earlier in the day for lower calorie, healthy foods for breakfast and lunch. If what you want is an ice cream sundae or some other indulgence, then make lower calorie healthy choices in your day's meals. Even better, choose lower calorie options of your favorite indulgence foods....such as the new Weight Watcher's round ice cream sandwiches for only 130 yummy calories verses 230 for the average ice cream sandwich or bar!! Or what about the fabulous No Pudge brand (available at health food stores) brownies? For only 100 calories for a full-flavored lucsious brownie you can indulge yourself easilly with 1 a day if you crave brownies......plan a little more to save calories elsewhere and have 2!!!
So PLAN to cheat and enjoy every minute of your indulgent treat and skip off to weigh-in day without a care in the world, remorse or guilt. With forethought and a little math you CAN have it all....a slim, healthy body, and your "cake" (or whatever your craving is), too!!
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