Have you ever heard of a “cheat meal”? Chances are, if you’ve ever tried to lose weight in your life, you know that a cheat meal is considered a sinful reward for your hard work and efforts at weight loss or working out. It’s pizza and ice cream and beer and wings and everything high fat and high calorie in between. So, what’s wrong with a cheat meal?
Somehow cheating makes these food items more desirable, more forbidden. We crave them more. When trying to reach a weight loss goal, it’s important to remember that no foods are off limits if consumed in moderation. What is moderation? If you are following a general healthy diet for weight management 80% of the time, then 20% of the time you can have what you want. But, you must be honest with yourself. When you start to go over the 20% (whether it’s a whole meal once a week or a small piece of chocolate every day) take notice and reign yourself in. Be your own coach and success will be just around the corner.
CHALLENGE: Change your mindset. Keep track of your guilty food pleasures. Do they fit the 20% rule? Then they are part of your plan for success, not a “cheat”. Rejoice in the fact you are following the plan 80% of the time (or more).