At 12WBT we don’t believe in denying yourself of the occasional treat, but that’s no excuse to overindulge regularly. The secret to weight loss success is learning to control your cravings and portion sizes.
Rest assured there are ways to satisfy a sweet tooth and still achieve weight loss success without breaking the diet.
The Golden Rules
1. Remain in control
This may be looking at a menu online before going out to a restaurant and deciding what options are the healthiest so you don’t make a rushed decision, or setting a number of canapés you will eat at a cocktail party and sticking to it. Whatever helps you stay in control!
2. Don’t over-do it
Indulging in the OCCASIONAL treat is ok – it’s a problem when it starts to become a weekly (or daily) habit. Overindulging on treats will not do your health any favours and you will likely not reach your weight loss goals.
3. Stick to your recommended calorie allowance
If you are planning on having a treat, factor it into your daily calorie allowance. Remember to try and keep these treats to less than 150 calories so you stay on track.
4. Know what’s in your food
If you are going out to a restaurant it can be hard to know what’s in your food or how calorie dense it is. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask to leave off calorie dense toppings like double cream or ice-cream.
Low Calorie Desserts
Here are some portion-controlled options to satisfy a sweet tooth without blowing your weight loss efforts.
- Fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate
- 2 squares of good quality dark chocolate
- Small tub of yoghurt topped with berries
For some more ideas check out these Healthy Ice Cream Alternatives.