Milkshakes and "cheating"

Good motivation for staying on track. Thanks for sharing.

I don't believe in cheating because I'm not taking a test. This my life and it's real, not a test.

OTOH, I distinguish in my mind between planned indulgences and giving into impulse. I do both, of course, being human. But when I give into impulse, I still consider it a mistake and figure out how to avoid it next time. When it's a planned indulgence, then I just sit back and enjoy it.

For example, I made Snickers Brownies the other day. I did put some sugar substitute in for part of the sugar but for the most part they were full-on brownies. I told myself I would have no more than one a day and so far that's all I had. If I start to have more than one, then I know I need to change something about my plan.

I have to agree Marie,  It's choices not cheats.  We get to live with everything that we decide.

Thanks everyone. Great thoughts from all.

MacMadame: I so LOVE your comment! This IS my life, not a test. -Wonderful words. A keeper for sure.

McMadame is right. Making a poor food choice is not cheating. And in maintenance phase many of us can eat small amounts of what might not be considered ideal healthy food. I confess to eating a very small portion of homemade gellato on july 4th. it was exquisite. I didn't gain weight and I was able to eat maybe 1/3 cup of the stuff and stop. won't do that every day or probably not again for a year or more.

So you learned from your experience what we are all learning which is that eating a modest amount of a rich food on occaison is not a disaster and that high sugar high carb foods that we all used to gorge on are no longer the be-all end-all that they once were and we have the power to choose to take or leave them. Its why I tell the newbies not to eat that one bite of cake at 2 months out - its not the cake its the ability to be selective that you are working on. Diane

I totally identify with the "being selective" aspect,  as I find that tolerating only tiny to small amounts of things has made me extremely selective of the foods that I choose.

When the chips and salsa comes to the table at the Mexican restaurant, I know that if I eat more than one or two, I will not have room for something better that is to come, so I am forced to make the choice to eat just a taste of the salsa with a chip so that I have room for my chalupa, or guac salad. or whatever I have chosen to eat. (these are my usuals)

I never envisioned being able to limit my intake like this, but I am extremely  thankful for it.