4 Healthy Things That Happen When You Start Eating Dessert Every Day

June 5, 2017 Mental Health

I grew up a fat kid. I have no shame in it, as it has made me who I am today. When I was in my early 20s is when I decided enough was enough and taught myself the better ways of eating. Slowly over the years I would learn more and adjust. I have gone to the extremes of being vegan, raw vegan, vegetarian and now just eating in balance. However, there was a time when I had strict ‘no you can’t eat that food’.

Even though, I don’t think that is the healthiest way to eat and be mentally sane I do think it taught me in some messed up way how I eat now. I happily pick a salad over a burger or a veggie over french fries. They are foods I really enjoy eating, but there was a time in my life when I absolutely did not touch dessert. I also had this fear that one bit would lead to 100 bites and I wouldn’t be able to control my sweet tooth. Yeah, I am one of those people with a sweet tooth and a strong one. I definitely do not ignore my sweet tooth but still usually pick the healthier option.

I definitely do not ignore my sweet tooth but still usually pick the healthier option. When I stumbled across as article in Men’s Health on how one lady, just like me used to ban desserts had a change of life and now eats them, totally awakened her who perspective on eating dessert. Her conclusion, eating dessert is a good thing and here is why she says so!

I became satisfied with smaller portions.

To my total surprise, giving myself the freedom to indulge didn’t turn me into a bottomless pit for doughnuts and ice cream. I still find myself craving something sweet most days. But nine times out of 10, a chocolate peanut butter cup or a small cookie is enough to hit the spot.

And when I do have something a bit more indulgent, I eat until I’m satisfied, not stuffed. Sometimes, I’ll still polish off every last crumb or wipe the last bit of frosting off the plate with my finger, but I also have no problem not finishing something if I’m full. Even if something tastes incredible, I now know that shoveling in another bite is rarely worth the bellyache that inevitably follows.

I stopped feeling guilty about eating cake.

Whether I find myself at a café with friends, a big family meal, or a restaurant with my husband, opportunities to indulge come up all the time. In the past, I’d usually skip dessert on these occasions and end up feeling deprived. Or if I did say yes, I’d overdo it and feel guilty, which would drive me to eat even more junk.

Those kinds of things just don’t happen anymore. Now that I allow myself to have dessert whenever I want, I don’t feel compelled to scarf down sugary stuff that I don’t really want just because it’s there. And a few times a month, when I get a hankering for something indulgent, like an ice cream sundae or a really delicious pastry, I’ll have it, enjoy it, and move on.

I had to buy new pants.

You’d probably expect me to say that after a few weeks of daily dessert, my pants started to feel uncomfortably tight. Instead, I lost about 7 pounds in the last year, without altering any other aspect of my diet. My weight has always been in the healthy range (and still is), but these days my body feels lighter and my stomach feels flatter.

By giving myself permission to eat dessert whenever the mood strikes instead of bingeing once or twice a week, I’m actually eating less dessert overall.

I stopped the cycle of self-loathing.

I used to eat huge portions of dessert to feel like I got what I “deserved” for the week, which would leave me feeling guilty and out of control; like there was something wrong with me because I wasn’t capable of enjoying a moderate helping like a “normal” person.

These days, that stuff just doesn’t factor in. I enjoy every bite without a side of self-loathing. And when I’m finished eating, I no longer think how I wish I had more or how I’m gross for eating so much. Instead, I think, wow, that was so good.

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4 Healthy Things That Happen When You Start Eating Dessert Every Day

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