While cutting down on chocolate or limiting takeaway pizza is relatively simple initially, many of us will likely fall off the wagon shortly after.
When you embark on a health journey, you can become ‘annoyed’ that you have to say no to foods you would usually eat; or drink less than you usually would, and when this resentment builds up, it can lead to binge eating, due to feeling restricted.
While there does need to be a level of acceptance that you can’t eat whatever you like, whenever you like, and not gain weight, ultimately the key to creating a sustainable balanced lifestyle is to ensure it INCLUDES foods you like so you do not feel restricted.
Whether you enjoy some chocolate after dinner, a glass of wine at night or eating out and ordering a pizza, these individual higher calorie meals or foods CAN all be included in a plan that supports fat loss and weight control.
Keep reading to find out how to feel more in control around food, and stop bingeing on chocolate, pizza, or whatever it may be for you!
How to incorporate chocolate & pizza into a healthy lifestyle
Generally speaking, adding in an extra row of chocolate, or a higher calorie meal in the week, will not undo all your hard work, nor will it undermine your weight loss efforts.
Rather, it is when we overdo things by eating four rows of chocolate instead of one, or ordering pizza plus garlic bread plus dessert plus wine that undoes your efforts.
While including these higher-calorie foods or meals into your regular eating plan may feel a little daunting, the key to success is really taking the time to consider what you FEEL like eating.
Take the time to really consider which foods you enjoy eating the MOST, and how you can best use your calories each day.
To help with this, it can help to ask yourself questions like:
- Is today a special occasion, or just a regular day in which pizza is being served?
- What do I really feel like eating/have a craving for right now?
- Is this food worth my calories for the day ?
- I am craving something, what flavour, taste and texture will give me the satisfaction I am looking for?
- What foods do I love/enjoy eating the most?
- How can I turn this high-calorie food into a balanced meal?
- Am I best to enjoy a small treat each day, or a larger more indulgent meal a couple of times each week?
When you’re thinking about using these questions for these situations, make it feel special, something that’s really worthwhile for you, a real, pleasurable and enjoyable situation.
Make these guidelines for yourself so that you can have that front and centre and you don’t have to be stuck with spur-of-the-moment decision making.
Over time you will learn to differentiate day-to-day balanced eating versus special occasion meals in which indulgence is expected.
