How to Cheat Without Wrecking Your Diet

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Special Splurges

Cheesecake vs. Creme Brulee

Best Bet: Cheesecake
While the two desserts have a similar creamy texture and vanilla flavor, a typical serving of creme brulee has 368 calories and 18 grams of fat compared with 182 calories and 13 fat grams in a two-ounce slice of cheesecake. If you're served a New York-style (read: huge) hunk, share with a friend. And skip the gloppy toppings: a quarter cup of strawberries in heavy syrup tacks on almost 60 calories. At 13 calories, fresh berries are the way to go.

Wine vs. Margarita

Best Bet: Wine
Cocktails with sugary mixers are virtual calorie bombs. There are 270 in a four-ounce margarita, 245 in a pina colada and 225 in a daiquiri. Wine has about 100 calories. Calories aren't the only concern, though. "The trouble with alcohol is it produces a 'what-the-hell' attitude," says Rolls. Drinking can lower your resolve to eat smaller portions or make healthy choices. Food slows the rate at which alcohol enters your system, so have your wine with dinner, not before. If you must have an aperitif, try a wine spritzer -- half wine, half sparkling water or seltzer. You'll lower the alcohol content and cut the calories of your drink by half.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, December 2005.

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dbattle2929 wrote:

I always thought by eating unhealthy treats while on a diet was a horrible thing to do and I found myself feeling guilty for doing it. But as mentioned, by depriving myself I craved the unhealthy treats even more and I eventually diverted from the healthy path. I currently have been awaken by a new found motivation and readiness of my body, mind, and spirit. I'm going to incorporate this in to my goal.

5/9/2013 08:20:14 PM Report Abuse

Dawn005 wrote:

The whole point of the story is that if you constantly deprive yourself, eventually you will give up on healthy eating, whereas occasionally allowing yourself a treat could lead to being able to stick to those healthier choices longer-term. I am finding that it really works. I have lost over 70 lbs so far and still losing, and it's by allowing myself an occasional controlled treat that I still feel motivated. So any of these choices can be good choices in the long run.

4/9/2012 10:46:11 AM Report Abuse

jeanniewhite11 wrote:

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but none of these are "good" choices. Of course, depriving yourself all the time will not help you stick to a healthy lifestyle change. I tell my clients that if you want a piece of cake eat a small slice just don't eat the whole cake. If you want dessert out with friends, get one dessert and share it with yours friends.

1/8/2012 07:49:08 AM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

I feel any diet that limits you from cravings leads to binge eating. So allow myself great tasting snacks like YoCrunch candy yogurts. They have Oreos, Crunch Bar, m&ms, etc so any of those always help. www.yocrunch.com

10/14/2011 05:06:59 PM Report Abuse

christine1179 wrote:

Um, sorry to nitpick, but these foods are not "without" calories as you state in the lead-in to the story.

9/19/2011 05:18:54 PM Report Abuse