When you are on a diet, the one thing you know has got to go is dessert. Sweet, wonderful, gooey concoctions like cake, cookies, ice cream and pie are no-no’s, right? Losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle does not mean that you have to choose between a sexy black dress in a size 6 or a Sprinkles cupcake. You can have your carrot cake and eat it too.
I am a sugar queen. My mom swears that my first word was “chocolate.” I could not bear to give up sweets to achieve my health and fitness goals, so I compromised. Sort of.
The mind plays this dirty little trick on our bodies (and stomachs) when we crave something. When we want a treat, we can’t get it off our minds. So what happens? We agonize, we pace, we rationalize and then end up splurging way too much on something. Then you fall into what I call dessert depression. You feel good for about 10 minutes and then the chocolate euphoria fades away and is replaced with guilt. It’s like you had a one-night stand with brownie a la mode and did the walk of shame out the front door in the morning. Unfortunately there is no morning after pill for over-indulgence – just exercise (lots of it).
What if you found that you could have a sweet a day and could still lose or maintain weight? Hallelujah! Did you just hear the arch angels sing?
There is less anguish and guilt if you know that you CAN have that treat you’ve been craving since lunch. Then when you eat it, you feel satisfied, devoid of guilt. Now here is where the compromise comes in. Have a “low-guilt “dessert 6 days a week and a “real” dessert 1 day per week. Low guilt desserts are those that are low-fat and low-calorie, but still have real sugar and real taste to satisfy your sweet tooth. Then on that glorious seventh day, have what you please.
Ensure that you balance the sweet treats with healthy, low calorie meals and snacks. For example, eat whole wheat toast with low-sugar jam for breakfast, a tuna fish sandwich and green apple for lunch and salad with the protein of your choice and lo-cal dressing for dinner. Snacks could include a handful of grapes, hummus and carrots or pretzels. Then reward yourself with dessert after dinner.
The mistake that many of us make it to try and quelch the sugar-craving with foods that have sugar-substitute. Our bodies are tricky, but this ain’t their first rodeo. Our body can tell the difference between real sugar and fake sugar. Your craving won’t really go away if you try and get sneaky with a sugar-free option. Screw that sugar-free fad. You notice that the happiest people in the world aren’t sporting a sugar-free jello cup? Jello jigglers my foot.
I’ve used this method of low-guilt indulgence for over a year, coupled with healthy eating and exercise. Before I got pregnant with my son last November, I was the healthiest and most fit that I have ever been and quite frankly the happiest I’ve ever been.
Some diet gurus would argue with eating sugar in the evenings before bed and others might get you to count calories or points. However, I believe that life is balance. You have to reward yourself and enjoy the little things in life. Smell the roses and eat some Hershey kisses too.
Low-guilt dessert ideas are as follows:
• ½ cup of Ben & Jerry’s Fro-Yo
• Yoplait Whips yogurt cup, frozen
• Strawberries with fat-free International Delight creamer
• 100-calorie pack Oreos and a dollop of fat free cool whip
• Green apple with honey and Splenda mix brown sugar
• Fat-free chocolate pudding and dollop of fat free cool whip
• Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich
• Real Fruit Popsicle
• Caramel rice cake with Tbs of peanut butter and a sprinkling of chocolate chips
• Peach with a dollop of fat free cool whip and honey
Feel free to post some of your faves!
Sticky, sugary kisses,
Meg
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