quote:

Originally posted by Bee:
Success! We just finished up dinner with a lovely plate of blueberries and strawberries. I feel satisfied and not in the least bit hungry. Definitely not as hard as I thought it would be!

Glad to hear that the new plan is going well! Sometimes it's just a matter of shaking up old habits.

Success! We just finished up dinner with a lovely plate of blueberries and strawberries. I feel satisfied and not in the least bit hungry. Definitely not as hard as I thought it would be!

The only "problem" I see is that I'm going through fruit and veggies like there's no tomorrow. If anyone has been looking at my "what's for dinner" entries, I've started adding fruit at breakfast too so I'm finally up to 8-9 servings/day of fruits and veggies.

So, to get in those two extra servings of fruit, I'm eating only 1 slice of toast or 1/2 an eng. muffin in the morning and replacing the other slice/1/2 with the fruit. In the evenings, I've ditched the dessert.

I'm sure that my body will be happy with the change and it really wasn't that painful at all.

I had initially planned to do this on an every other day basis but I really don't think it will be necessary.

I do have a date night on Friday and will probably split a dessert out with dh that night. That will probably be it for dessert this week.

I can't believe it's taken me this long to do this!

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:
PS... it is sort of funny how one person's "drastic" next step is another person's "normal".

Cutting way back on McBreakfasts was HARD and drastic to me, but dessert twice a week is what we've always done.

I think I've eaten breakfast at a fast food place two or three times in my life. For me, the hardest thing to cut is the mindless snacking -- especially at work or in the evenings. I haven't managed to make good 100% of the time on my Lent plan to give up eating after 8, but I have done much better than before.

For me, I'm doing this to cut back on calories - an apple will have 1/2 the calories of my lf ice cream plus will but the good calories, vitamins, minerals.

I'm also trying to set a better example for my dd.

Also, most LOW FAT pudding, ice cream, frozen yogurt desserts are in the 115-150 calorie range IF you eat the recommended serving size of a HALF CUP. And MOST people get portion creep in this area and often eat more than a ½ cup. And the ff/sf stuff isn’t very satisfying and that also leads to portion creep.

Even yucky desserts with artificial sweeteners run in the 100+ cal range.

A medium apple is 80 cals
A cup of cantalope is 55
20 grapes are 71
A kiwi is 46
A cup of strawberries is 46

Pudding and frozen yogurt calories do NOT equal fruit calories. They are more per serving.

And that leads to weight creep.

Something else that I forgot to post....for a short period of time, about 6 years ago we were doing dessert just about every night. It wasn't always dessert, but it was always a snack of some sort, but it wasn't because of hunger, it ws because it had become a habit. Well, it got to the point that the nights we didn't have anything my kids were whining incessantly about it. So we cut out ALL after dinner desserts, etc with the exception of once a week. Doing that broke the habit of eating when no one was really hungry, but also, it gave us all a great appreciation for the desserts that we do eat! We SO enjoy and look forward to that dessert each week. It makes it so much more fun, and more of a treat, and it always tastes so much better because we haven't had a dessert all week. It truly is a special thing then..... not just overeating (in the case of not being hungry) for the sake of having dessert, or empty calories.

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:


It isn't all about calories and weight for me.

That would be my answer as well....it isn't all about calories and weight. For me, it is about healthy habits, and about setting a good example for my kids. I, also, don't want to send my kiddos out into the world with a daily chocolate/dessert/chip/????? habit. That is why I try to show the example of healthy eating, and why I pack healthy lunches for dh....so that they see what healthy really looks like.

quote:

Originally posted by mountaingirl:
My first question is, since all calories, even fruit calories, over the amount that we spend are stored as fat, why does the type of sweet we choose matter?

Me personally, I don't have that many extra calories in my day. If I'm eating frozen yogurt, then I'm skipping a serving a fruit and short changing myself in the nutrition dept.

Also, I KNOW I'm sending my kid out into a world with too many calories. I could bet dollars to donuts that at some time in his life, he is going to struggle with weight. Why send him out in life with a daily dessert habit? Why not send him out with a daily fruit habit.

My dh grew up eating dessert every night and he doesn't eat any fruit most days. I don't know it there is a connection... He's only about 10 lbs over weight now, but he doesn't eat very healthy.

It isn't all about calories and weight for me.

Fer -- I agree with you on that one!! I love vanilla yogurt (light) with pineapple....... YUM now that is dessert to me!!!

I think fruit is a great dessert idea. A fresh fruit salad topped with a dollop of vanilla yogurt (for some protein) and maybe a sprinkle of nuts (for some good fat) and a marashino cherry is just heavenly!

Good for you Brie---- I wish I could be finally decisive about something -- I hope that I can follow in your shoes !!

quote:

Originally posted by mountaingirl:
OK, total honesty. I want you to go first, and tell me how it goes, so I can follow after. I need to make this decision too, because I'm way too attached to my frozen yogurt at 8 pm and it has to stop. Cold turkey has been the best way for me to quit things in the past, however....

My first question is, since all calories, even fruit calories, over the amount that we spend are stored as fat, why does the type of sweet we choose matter? This has been my crutch. I eat like a champ all day long, and then fall into my frozen yogurt ritual for comfort. If I ate a bowl of fruit, the cals wouldn't be that different - so why bother? Is it all just a head game? I'm asking myself this, but anyone who has answered it for themselves can feel free to share

Lynne

I think it is because all calories are created equal as far as weight loss, but not all calories are created equal for optimal health.

Fruit has more beneficial vitamins than frozen yogurt. Fruit has more fiber than frozen yogurt. Fruit has no saturated fat which can lead to high cholesterol.

I think too if you are eating an over all healthier diet, you will feel better and have more energy, which may lead to more or higher intensity exercise which may lead to more weight loss.

At the very least you will have a healthier heart and possibly also be fighting against certain types of cancers.

Dawn

OK, total honesty. I want you to go first, and tell me how it goes, so I can follow after. I need to make this decision too, because I'm way too attached to my frozen yogurt at 8 pm and it has to stop. Cold turkey has been the best way for me to quit things in the past, however....

My first question is, since all calories, even fruit calories, over the amount that we spend are stored as fat, why does the type of sweet we choose matter? This has been my crutch. I eat like a champ all day long, and then fall into my frozen yogurt ritual for comfort. If I ate a bowl of fruit, the cals wouldn't be that different - so why bother? Is it all just a head game? I'm asking myself this, but anyone who has answered it for themselves can feel free to share

Lynne

Tomorrow will be day 1 of the change. There are no more tempting/dessert foods in the house and my fridge is overflowing with fresh fruit.

I'll report back how it goes tomorrow : )

Go Bee!!! You really sound determinded!!! The "fruit instead" plan is a great one.

Just like someone else said, baby steps is the key just like it is with everything else. I'm sure that staying away from the "all or nothing" attitude here would also be a good idea. That is knowing that you are trying to break a habit here and simply making the decision to break the habit is a great accomplishment in itself!!!!!!!!

Way to go!!!!!!!! Give yourself as much praise as we all give you!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
I eat dessert about once a week. I do it mostly because eating sweets more often sets me up for cravings. I am less stressed having dessert about once a week.

I second this.

PS... it is sort of funny how one person's "drastic" next step is another person's "normal".

Cutting way back on McBreakfasts was HARD and drastic to me, but dessert twice a week is what we've always done. Even as I was moving in on my highest weight (and lowest emotionally) and eating 1/2 a cake... I ate it while Jamie was in kindergarten and not after dinner.

Sounds like a good plan. Maybe this will be just the shakeup you need.

Peg

I eat dessert about once a week. I do it mostly because eating sweets more often sets me up for cravings. I am less stressed having dessert about once a week.

You have a great attitude and mind set----
I am sure you can do this.

I remember the choc. and peanut butter chips too.

I ahve been trying to up my fruit each week too. less dessert leaves room for more good calories.

Bee,

You have done so well with every other decision you have made, that I have every confidence that you can do this too. After you've done it, you will come on here and tell us all how easy it really is and that we should do it too.

Dawn

Plus... it really is a baby step thing...

Remember when you were eating chocolate chips every day a couple years ago??? Doesn't that seem like a LONG times ago?