Is Eating Dessert Out The Way To Weight Loss?

October 20, 2018 Ashley 0 Comments

“Have your cake and eat out too.”

Nope. That’s not a typo. You read that right.

Eat out – not in – for weight loss.

Sounds counter-intuitive, right? Especially when you hear about how many calories you stand to gain by eating snacks you didn’t pack yourself before work or school. And, while that still stands for the workplace, the rules change when it comes to restaurants. That said, it applies namely to dessert. In fact, according to the food pros, we do better to eat our sweets only when dining out. And why? Well, think about it. Let’s run a quick comparison. Think of the last time you went out to that fancy restaurant in the city. The one so nosebleed level snobbish that it didn’t even have the prices listed and the name sounded like a French dance club. You looked amazing. Freshly platinum’d locks on point and tummy tucked nicely into that gorgeous corset dress. And then you ordered the chocolate cake. Now, try to recall: how much did you eat? A bite? Maybe four – before you just couldn’t anymore? Okay, now let’s compare how that same meal would go back at home, in your sweatpants. (And not the cute ones you wear for bae – I’m talking “back of the closet, hobo clown, not even the Salvation Army would accept them” sweats. You know the ones.) You’re all alone and in ugly mode already. No one’s there to judge you.

So, how’s that same meal look?

(Well, now that your judgmental tone has ruined it, I’m not…)

So, you get it, right?

The point is – we’re more likely to exercise restraint (and not smite our week’s exercise efforts) when we enjoy our desserts in public. That’s when our ego tells us everyone’s watching. The spotlight’s on us. (In reality, fewer people care than we think do. But, so long as our self consciousness isn’t going anywhere, why not put it to work?) In public, we can employ our personal insecurity, shame, and fear of society judging us to our advantage. Also, if we’ve got good company distracting us, we’re more likely to wanna just fill our bellies – not our empty hearts. So, that’s the rule: try to keep the sweets for social meetups. And what’s the exception to the rule? The one that accounts for that Godiva you’re gonna buy in addition to your public slice of pie? Or maybe even the fact that you just loathe eating out at all?

I mean, I’m not judging.

Purchasing desserts to demolish in the privacy of my own home used to be one’ve my favorite pastimes.

It’s kinda like a junkie absconding to his hovel to enjoy his body obliterating prize in private.

(Really: who wants to be seen when they’re in the throes of blissful witlessness?)

TBH, I often feel that way about the regular meals I’m not overdoing. (It’s impossible to eat sushi gracefully, am I right?) But, if you tend to overdo dessert and aren’t willing to use the social eating tool to fix it, there’s still a workaround. The way I worked my way out’ve that dietary downward spiral was by backpedaling. The idea’s not to quit it altogether. (Unless you think you need to.) The idea, rather, is to quit buying the whole bag when you’re at the grocery store. The trick’s simpler than one, two, three. Or, in this case: one; just buy one serving. In the old days, we’d have to settle for the “fun size” of crappy Halloween candies. These days, though, most stores sell a single square of that raspberry cacao you’re craving. Or half pint sized Ben ‘n Jerry’s. Or, if you want that same slice’ve pie or cake for home that you don’t enjoy eating socially, the bakery section generally has everything from tiramisu to single servings of turtle cake.

Simple, right? It doesn’t take a squad of scientists to figure it out.

That said, simple doesn’t always mean it’s easy.

So, if, after all that, you’re still struggling, click here how to buy more wisely for weight loss.