Excuses, Excuses: When My Mind Sabotages My Diet

"I don’t want it to go to waste."

Have you ever finished off your child’s ice cream or tacos because you didn’t want to throw out the leftovers? I have been guilty of this dieting offense more times than I care to admit.

It doesn’t seem like such a terrible habit until you really think about it. For instance, half a scoop of cookie dough ice cream contains 80 calories (35 from fat) and 3.5 grams of fat. Half a serving of boxed, prepared macaroni and cheese will add 145 calories (25 from fat) and 3 grams of fat. It doesn’t seem like much, but these calories are in addition to the calories you would normally consume in a day, and the surplus fat and calories add up incredibly quickly.

Let’s face it: if your child’s leftovers are still palatable enough that you want to scarf them down, they are good enough to wrap up and save for another day. You’ll consume less calories, and saving leftovers instead of eating them might just save you a little money.

"I need to get that taste out of my mouth."

This flimsy excuse has been employed countless times by yours truly. I usually rationalize my eating of sweet, fat-filled foods with this "gem."

This excuse simply doesn’t hold any water. Fattening desserts are scrumptious, but is the momentary pleasure worth sabotaging the positive strides you’ve made toward a healthier you?

Occasional treats are fine, but if you find yourself eating so many sweets that you are making excuses to yourself, it’s time for a change of tactics. Keep sugar-free gum handy, in a variety of flavors, which will keep your mouth fresh and your jaw occupied. At only five calories a stick, you’ll never have to feel guilty about your gum-chewing habit!

"I need to eat something NOW!"
When I get too hungry, I’m in real trouble. I always make the worst food decisions when my blood sugar takes a nose dive. If I don’t stay on top of my hunger, I find myself reaching for any food I can get my hands on: usually my husband’s fat-drenched chips and cookies. Ugh!

The key to cutting out this excuse is to keep an abundance of healthy snacks handy, and to eat before you get too hungry. Stock up on apples, carrot sticks, pretzels, string cheese, and other healthy snacks that will help carry you past these hunger pangs. And keep track of your eating habits. If you find that you’re always starving at a certain time of day, plan to eat a daily snack at least half an hour before that time of day arrives.

"Hey, it’s fat-free!"

Though I cringe to admit it, I have, on several occasions, over-indulged in fat-free treats. Fat-free foods have made tremendous strides in the past few years, and many of these confections now taste as good or better than their full-fat counterparts. However, just because something is fat-free, that doesn’t mean that you won’t gain weight by over-indulging. Fat-free items still contain calories, which can add up very quickly when four scoops of fro-yo are consumed in one sitting!

I hope you have learned from my biggest dieting transgressions, and I’d love to hear the various ways that you have rationalized bad habits. It never hurts to commiserate, right?