Thread: confused about fat vs carbs

If you're truly using it as a sanity thing or a cheat, etc, which I would say is no more than once a week, I would say it doesnt matter. I go for the most natural form of something. Screw the fake or low cal crap its usually got a chemical or something in it thats better off left at the store. What matters are your running totals for calories,protein,carbs and fat. Hell you could fit it in without even having to worry about it.

^^ I couldn't agree more. Get the best ice cream there is, enjoy it, and resume dieting.

Yup. It's a cheat dude, enjoy it and just jump back on the horse. Hell last night I had a chicken parm sub and garlic knots. As long as it's not an everyday thing (I usually go bi-weekly) then just enjoy it.

Great replies and not much to add, just that the question made me grin and I avoid freezer/fridge stuff for treats.

I'd 2nd Built's suggestion of getting a good one. Find the most pricey, extravagant luxurious ice you can get reasonably local. Insist on nothing less.

Nothing will kill your progress much quicker than a 2 gallon container of Walmart's finest sitting in your freezer and staring at you every time you open it. And that's the reason I avoid treats that go in the fridge or freezer...

Cold or chilled stuff tends to be too tempting and you're repeatedly reminded. As such I prefer to restrict myself to a treat that involves dressing up in my finest T shirt (I live on Borneo) and eating out.

I don't care who you are or how much willpower you think you have, if it's in the house you'll eat it. As such NOT letting crap into the house in the first place is much, much easier than resisting it at 11 at night when you're feeling a bit peckish. Walnut and caramel chunk scoop v salad is not a battle you're gonna win.

Treating yourself is good now and then but crap in the house is not treating, it's tempting.


B.

Originally Posted by Biggly

I don't care who you are or how much willpower you think you have, if it's in the house you'll eat it.
B.

Is this really how it is for most people? I've never been this way. I start dieting and I just turn it off. Even dieting hard, if I want ice cream, I have a spoonful of Häagen-Dazs, enjoy it, brush my teeth and go to bed.

What do you think drives the late-night binge behaviour, Biggly - is it just hunger? The reason I ask is because I always eat my dinner fairly close to bedtime, and always have a snack before I to sleep. I'm simply not all that hungry at night - night time is FEEDING time to me. Do you think maybe it's because people eat dinner too early?

Could well be, as it's a routine for most people. Heck I've set my alarm to wake up in the night for protein before (ha) but for most they just do as they normally do and expect different results.

If you normally nibble something you shouldn't at certain times then the urge to nibble something in the house is very strong - but if it aint there then any such urge passes quickly enough.

"I fancy something savory" or "I fancy something sweet" doesn't have anything like the power of "I fancy that tub of Hagen in the fridge".

Even storing healthy stuff in biscuit tins or similar bright junk packaging can trigger urges.

I don't claim fantastic willpower, far from it, but I go without such junk. Not by resisting it but by not making it readily available and by contrast ensuring I have healthy stuff that IS available.

It's been shown that if you go shopping while hungry you'll buy sweet crap - it's a simple tip; ensure you're well fed first. It's much, much easier to decide not to buy something than to resist eating it later. After all, one won't hurt? Just finish the packet...

But how did the packet get there? Tooth fairy? Don't buy it and you won't eat it.

Eating out or eating at work can be issues by themselves but resisting buying the crap in the first place is the easist and most effective way of "resisting" it.



B.

I'm with Biggly on this one - I see no reason to tempt yourself by having this stuff in the house. I might have good willpower, but iron it ain't.

thank you, and very true- i think the responses i have gotten are great!
i admit there are certain 'trigger foods' that are diet breakers for me and i have learned to avoid keeping them around the house, esp. when ive made a commitment to myself and have a fitness goal i cant wait to achieve.
i think ill find what would make me happy in a 'treat', buy smaller amounts, and enjoy responsibly-haha

im still curious about the carbs to fat proportion or ratio when it comes to getting lean and losing body fat. intuitively i would think to limit fat intake more than carbs- since with regular exercise they go to energize my workouts. then again ive seen enough tv cooking programs that focus on limiting carbs- its all believable but i dont think that absolutely restricting both gets me into a healthy p/c/f lifestyle. where can i find more info about what is best? thanks again!