You need to have something good at the end of the day, and it might as well be dessert! Some people tell me that they eat really well during the day, then go overboard at night, grazing aimlessly through their pantry and fridge. Replace this behavior with a green light for a real piece of dessert. Knowing that you can have something delicious at the end of the day will help you stick to a ”healthier” eating plan during the day.
Last night I had a huge chocolate chip cookie after dinner, and it was very satisfying. By giving myself permission to have a generous portion of dessert, I get to have what I really want, and it is easy to end the “eating” part of my day there. It takes a little planning. Somehow waiting until after dinner and scrounging through the pantry or freezer for some dessert I don’t even like won’t cut it. Think about what sounds good to you, and then make that stop at the bakery on the way home from work, class or running the kids to soccer practice. Don’t deprive yourself. Deprivation left unattended will just end up biting you in the “you know where”! And we don’t want that, so make time to take care of yourself, and for me that means making dessert! One of my favorite recipes is chocolate chip m&m cookies. See following blog.
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Hi Debbie,
I really like your blog because that is how my mom eats and she has always been thin and no one understood how she ate a bar of chocolate at night and never got fat but she ate a small portion at dinner because she preferred her dessert. How do you do it? If you are going to have a nice dessert after dinner, do you skip breakfast that day like you mentioned in your other blog? I was wondering about your system which is kinda like how the french eat. I just recently lost 30 pounds and have read a lot about eating slowly, savoring your food and eating what you like and you will actually eat less and not eating between meals like you do. I lost the weight but with a strict diet of eating a certain amount of portions of each food per day but no sugar, but I ate 5 times a day, but don't want to do this forever. Thanks so much!
Oh! and I almost forgot the most important question. What is that scrumptious dessert above the M&M cookie? haha
Hi Erika,
First of all, my daughter, Michele, will love the compliment on her chocolate pecan pie, which she created from a composite of various recipes! Michele made the pie for Thanksgiving and it was truly scrumptious!
Now I want to thank you so much for your reply and congratulations on losing 30 pounds. You must feel really proud! I would suggest making a gradual transition to eating 3 times a day and only eating foods that you really love! Utilize the discipline it took to be on a strict diet, but in a different manner, by giving yourself complete freedom to choose what you are going to eat, but committing to keeping it within the framework of three meals a day and no snacking! Because I love dessert so much that I must have a piece everyday, I consider it my third meal. So, to answer your question about skipping breakfast, I have found a comfortable way to eat everyday, and that is to have my coffee with milk in the morning, which I do savor, then have a combined breakfast and lunch anywhere from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This way I am able to have a substantial meal, where I don't feel cheated or hungry the rest of the day. However, some days I have a bowl of berries in the morning because I love berries and feel the need for fruit! During the afternoon, I drink alot of hot tea, because I love it, and try and remember to drink water (adding lemon makes it easier). I also do something physical, trying to refrain from using the dreaded “e” word – (exercise just sounds like work, and I think it needs to be some kind of fun movement or else you will just dread doing it!). Then late in the afternoon, I start thinking about what sounds good for dinner and will go to the little market close by my house and compose a dinner based on what vegetables look good, adding a meat or fish and some kind of starch. I make time for this because I love to cook and eat. Then I make sure to make a whole portion on my plate. It is visually appealing and sets some limits as to how much I can eat. Then, I sit down at a table and enjoy the whole plate of food, ideally slowly, but usually quickly because it is so good! Then I cut a whole piece of dessert, put it on a nice plate and sit down at the table and really enjoy it, knowing that I can have a big piece the next night, which keeps me from eating two pieces.
Now, you just have to use your clothes as well as your common sense as a guide to how much food you can eat. If your clothes ever feel a little snug, cut out bread or starches for a few days (keep the dessert!) or decrease the portions a little until your clothes fit better. And increase the amount of “movement” you are doing so you can eat more. Let me know if this was helpful. I wish you much success and happy eating!
Hi Erika,
First of all, my daughter, Michele, will love the compliment on her chocolate pecan pie, which she created from a composite of various recipes! Michele made the pie for Thanksgiving and it was truly scrumptious!
Now I want to thank you so much for your reply and congratulations on losing 30 pounds. You must feel really proud! I would suggest making a gradual transition to eating 3 times a day and only eating foods that you really love! Utilize the discipline it took to be on a strict diet, but in a different manner, by giving yourself complete freedom to choose what you are going to eat, but committing to keeping it within the framework of three meals a day and no snacking! Because I love dessert so much that I must have a piece everyday, I consider it my third meal. So, to answer your question about skipping breakfast, I have found a comfortable way to eat everyday, and that is to have my coffee with milk in the morning, which I do savor, then have a combined breakfast and lunch anywhere from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This way I am able to have a substantial meal, where I don't feel cheated or hungry the rest of the day. However, some days I have a bowl of berries in the morning because I love berries and feel the need for fruit! During the afternoon, I drink alot of hot tea, because I love it, and try and remember to drink water (adding lemon makes it easier). I also do something physical, trying to refrain from using the dreaded “e” word – (exercise just sounds like work, and I think it needs to be some kind of fun movement or else you will just dread doing it!). Then late in the afternoon, I start thinking about what sounds good for dinner and will go to the little market close by my house and compose a dinner based on what vegetables look good, adding a meat or fish and some kind of starch. I make time for this because I love to cook and eat. Then I make sure to make a whole portion on my plate. It is visually appealing and sets some limits as to how much I can eat. Then, I sit down at a table and enjoy the whole plate of food, ideally slowly, but usually quickly because it is so good! Then I cut a whole piece of dessert, put it on a nice plate and sit down at the table and really enjoy it, knowing that I can have a big piece the next night, which keeps me from eating two pieces.
Now, you just have to use your clothes as well as your common sense as a guide to how much food you can eat. If your clothes ever feel a little snug, cut out bread or starches for a few days (keep the dessert!) or decrease the portions a little until your clothes fit better. And increase the amount of “movement” you are doing so you can eat more. Let me know if this was helpful. I wish you much success and happy eating!
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