TGIF, folks…
I can’t even tell you how excited I am that it’s Friday! This week in SLC has been NO JOKE. LOOOOOONG work days and I’m sort of exhausted. I cannot wait to step on that plane tomorrow afternoon.
Food this week has been good though, surprisingly. And, unfortunately, I’ve been too busy to eat for the most part… grabbing a quick Subway meal every night and not having time to stop for Starbucks in the morning for an SCM. As if!!!
While I’m excited to get home, I hear that Denver is going to be chilly this weekend…. as in the snowing kind of chilly (in the high country at least.) Oh, how I loathe winter… isn’t it a little early for this???
On the bright side, I guess that means that I can curl up in front of the fireplace…. 🙂
Letter from a Reader
I got this letter from a reader this week that I thought it would be a great one to share with you guys. When I emailed Joann back and told her I would be responding via blog, she seemed very excited to hear what we all had to say…. so let’s give her our feedback!
I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I love it! I have tried so many of your recipes and they have become staples throughout my week. I have always wondered, how do you feel about cheat meals? Are they safe? Do you have a cheat meal once a week or month? Congrats on losing all the weight. Can’t wait to keep reading more from you!
Hi Joann –
First and foremost, thanks for reaching out! I love that you’re a fan of my recipes… as someone who enjoys cooking and loves food like I do, that’s a MAJOR compliment! Thanks!
I think your question is a great one for several reasons: 1) I don’t schedule cheat meals regularly and 2) I have a feeling the NTTC readers may have an opinion on this!
So… Do I cheat from time to time? Absolutely. I don’t really consider it a “cheat” meal/day, but there are times when I have a piece of cake, or other times, I’ll eat out with friends. During these moments, I let my hair down a little, but I’m always conscientious of the impact. I try to keep the rest of the day on point when this happens.
I’ve been eating like I do for almost 2 years now, so it’s really become habit. On most days, it’s just not worth it to me to eat something that has a ton of extra calories and fat. I’m at a point where I can’t really splurge on a HUGE meal for two reasons: 1) I’m getting pretty good at knowing the calories of an item and knowing how hard I’d have to workout at the gym to counteract it and 2) there’s a lot of stuff that makes me physically sick now that I used to enjoy. It’s crazy to me that these indulgent meals that I used to love are now something that shocks my system. So weird.
On some Saturdays (my weigh in day), I’ll enjoy something that night for dinner that I don’t usually get to have. Example: I think I’m going to have italian this Saturday. Not a huge quantity, but some homemade pasta just the same. I usually try to pick a day that I’m not going to feel guilty about doing it, and I pick a day when I’m not going to be weighing for a few days. And, this isn’t every Saturday.
Usually, I reserve my “cheat” moments for those unexpected moments… as opposed to planning them. For example, my boss wants to take me to lunch, a friend from out of town shows up unexpectedly, a challenging work week needs to end with cocktails. Anything I plan for, I try to make sure that it’s on track… if Plan B shows up, then I have wiggle room.
My BIGGEST recommendation to you is to assess your ability to BOUNCE BACK from a cheat meal/day. If you try it and get WAY off track… I would say the timing isn’t right. If you’re able to enjoy something a little more decadent once in a while and go right back to healthy eating after, work them in as often as you see fit.
I’d also encourage you to look at your goal. Do you have a lot to lose? Do you have a goal your shooting toward with a deadline? Consider how this activity may or may not set you back and decide from there. Remember: 85% of losing weight comes down to what you put in your mouth afterall…
Bottom line: FOOD HAPPENS. You are going to be faced with that amazing meal more than one time. If it’s something you truly want, manage it into your life in a portion that makes sense and is not guilt-inducing. And, don’t let it ruin the good thing you’ve got going. You’ve been working to hard to let it all slip away!
Alright, folks, you’ve heard what I think… how about your thoughts?? What do you think about cheat meals? Do you schedule them regularly? Does it help you on your journey?