She Strengthens

The Sweet Truth About Dessert and Dieting

When it comes to fitness and nutrition, one question always stands out: Can I eat dessert on this plan? The answer might surprise you. Building a plan that doesn’t feel sustainable will likely lead to failure. That’s why it’s essential to rethink the no-dessert approach.

Let Go of the Guilt

The idea that certain foods are off-limits is a major reason why people struggle with food relationships. It’s time to break free from this mindset. The no-dessert mentality stems from the belief that some foods are “good” and others are “bad.” But this simply isn’t true. How you eat foods, not the foods themselves, is what makes all the difference.

Your Body, Your Rules

Focus on understanding your body and making rules that work for you. What works for others might not work for you, and that’s okay. Take the Paleo diet, for example. While it can be a healthy approach, it might not work for everyone, especially those who love pasta and bread. The key is to find a balance that suits your lifestyle.

The Magic-Bullet Theory

Diets like Paleo propose that certain foods are “healthy” and can be eaten in excess. However, even healthy foods can lead to weight gain if consumed excessively. A healthy diet is not the same as a diet that helps you lose weight. It’s essential to understand this distinction.

Eat All the Foods

Stop asking, “Is this a good food?” and start focusing on balance. No one food will make you fat or thin. Create a healthy relationship with food by allowing yourself to enjoy what you love in moderation.

Healthy is Enjoying Life

Before starting any plan, remember that healthy is enjoying your life, finding the right situations to eat the foods you love, and not worrying about missing a day of exercise. It’s about consistency, sustainability, and patience.

Dessert + Imperfection + Basic Foods = A Healthier You

Research shows that most diets work, but why choose one that makes you miserable? Eat vegetables, fruits, proteins, and healthy fats, but don’t restrict yourself entirely. Allow yourself to satisfy your cravings in controlled portions.

The Science of Dessert

Studies have shown that restricting food entirely makes it harder to stick to a plan. Eating dessert with breakfast might even help you lose more weight and keep it off. The key is to include splurges in your nutrition approach to stay motivated and sane.

Prioritize Your Health

Your job is to prioritize your health, not to be perfect. There are many ways to eat your way to the body you want, and the only way that definitely won’t work is the approach that asks you to abandon dessert—or any other food you enjoy—completely.