Substituting within daily limits - do you do it?

[nothing2lose]

Okay. This morning the scales told me I have lost just over 2kg in around 2 weeks.
I am loosely following the CSIRO total wellbeing diet but also watching my caloric.

It was hot here yesterday and I went to the pool with DP, DD and some friends. I had only eaten my 40gm of all bran with milk and a coffee before we left at lunchtime. Stupid, I know. Anyhoo, mid afternoon I was hungry. Everyone else got an ice cream. I wasn't going to get anything but once at the kiosk I decided to get a frosty fruit icy pole. They are supposedly 99% fruit, 90 cals and 20gm carbs.

It was very nice but I felt guilty. I rationalized it by telling myself I am "allowed" a glass of juice within my daily fruit allowance so this was the same, but frozen iykwim...

Got home at 6-ish, ate chicken breast with salad (and my daily multigrain bread serving because I didn't eat lunch and was hungry).

Then DP went to the shops for something and came home with 'a surprise' for me - new splice icy poles, again 99% fruit, but only 63cals and 17gm carbs. I had one. Still. Within my daily allowance.

What do people think? Is this okay? Or is it a slippery slope? Do you ever do this sort of thing then rationalize it by saying it is within your allowance????

Thanks

[Phteven]

The way your body processes refined sugar is very different to the way it processes sugar from fruit so even though it's in your daily allowance I think you should avoid them.

[Astrid]

I would say starting the slippery slope, just by going by my experience. It is harder to keep on track with things if you allow tweaks here and there. Have been doing it myself lately and am suffering for it, this heat is horrid for keeping on track!

[helle]

If I eat crap I usually rationalize it with extra exercise.

[RhiChiChi]

I would say starting the slippery slope, just by going by my experience. It is harder to keep on track with things if you allow tweaks here and there. Have been doing it myself lately and am suffering for it, this heat is horrid for keeping on track!

^^ same thoughts here. Whilst they are low calories I wouldn't be substituting empty foods with ones that are going to fill you up, give you energy etc....

[Floweryfields]

Not sure about the odd frosty fruit hurting, but you are NOT eating enough in a day if what you've listed is all you've eaten today. That will send you into starvation mode.

[sushee]

Ok I personally think deprivation is a slippery slope in itself. So there will be days that you indulge because you feel like it. Do it, don't feel guilty. Just don't make it an everyday thing. Once every week or so, I will have a treat like ice cream. Or I'll have some pistachios (which I'm addicted to). But I won't have chocolates and pistachios and ice cream all in one day, and I won't have it every day.

So don't beat yourself up. You are allowed to live a little, you know.

[nothing2lose]

Thanks everyone

I think once a week should be ok. The CSIRO plan allows for two "indulgences" of about 100cal a week which I haven't had over the two weeks. I want, as much as possible, this to be the way I eat from now on, so I need to not totally deprive myself. Otherwise I will go back to old habits. I know this is a battle of the mind.

If only I could feel so bad about not exercising everyday

Ausgirl - yesterday was a bad day. I only ate 1000 cals all up but that's not usual. I still know it was bad.

[Melbournemumma]

I hear you on the excercising thing. Ive had a shocking week with 2 sick kiddies and ive done very minimal excercise. Good luck with your weightloss journey.

[beckoes]

once a week i let my self have something naughty. I followed the total well being for a while, thought it was great but too much counting for me. At the moment i am not eating ANYTHING processed, so nothing with numbers or ingredients i dont recognise as whole foods. im finding that way its easier not to cross the line in the sand. a bar of chocolate or icey poll might be within my daily allowances but it is full of numbers and 'stuff' so its not on my menu. otherwise i can talk myself into having it cause its 'allowed' and with in a few weeks ive given up my diet and got back to old habits! but im still going strong doing it this was, longest ever!
dont be too hard on your self though, you have to have some food pleasure.

[Rouge]

I agree with Sushee.

The thing is you change your mindset. You don't "fall off the wagon" you had a treat. So when you have a treat you make sure you are good for x amount of time until you can have your next treat.

But if you are going to treat don't eat crap. Eat something you ABSOLUTELY love. Do not waste it. And do not feel guilty. Losing weight is the main purpose. But you also need to maintain it after, and the best way to do that is to change those mindsets now. I lost 17 kgs and have managed to keep it off and started losing more by keeping myself in this mindset. I think the slippery slope begins when we start having LOTS of treats. When the enjoyment turns to guilt, and we don't work towards allowing ourselves these little treats. And then it becomes emotional eating.

You are doing awesomely btw xx

[Feijoa Mum]

I loved what Joanna the nutritionist on excess baggage said "that no food is bad food" "its all about frequency and portion control"

My girlfriend is seeing a personal trainer and nutritionist and has lost 25kg so far but he has told her that once a week she is to have a "cheat meal" (not a full cheat day)
The reasoning behind this is that your body gets used to processing all the good food and by having a treat once a week it shocks your metabolism into not become complacent.

There is so many he said, she said ideas into weight loss it can become very overwhelming

You will adjust and realise what works better for you and your lifestyle. The exercise will come, I needed to get the food side of things downpat in my head first, then I started ramping up on the exercise front. Now I do feel guilty if I havent done any for a day and I love how I feel so much better for it (granted it is after the fact )