Crabby >:[

phira

I hate dieting.

I normally don't do it, but over the past several months, even as I've been trying to get back in shape, I just keep gaining weight. I'm down to only a couple pairs of jeans that fit comfortably, and I'd rather get back down to my normal weight than buy new clothes. I got an account on MyFitnessPal, and just tracking food is helpful. Which is good--I'm a good 15 lbs over my normal weight (I thought I was only 10!).

But dieting makes me SO FUCKING CRANKY.

It's not even just because low calories make me cranky. I know a lot of people get all, "Look, here are the delicious recipes I use!" because it's like, look, no matter how you slice this, I'm not going to enjoy this. Eventually, I'll be maintaining weight instead of trying to lose it, and I'll be exercising more, and it'll be a lot easier. But man, am I cranky.

So that this isn't just me whining about not eating food, please share your favorite desserts when you're dieting or trying to eat super frickin healthy.

JCbride2015

Skinnycow Cookie Dough ice cream bars are da bomb.  Salty/sweet/crunchy/low-cal heaven.

ETA: I'm also back on the MFP wagon after vacation over spring break.  Sometimes just thinking to myself that I'm dieting makes me grumpy and I want to eat everything in sight!

phira

@JCBride2014 Yeah, just the concept of dieting makes me want to eat an entire box of Milk Duds. Which I did a couple days ago. 615 calories. lolwhoops.

mbross3

I love Greek yogurt with any fresh fruit, berries and/or a little bit of honey. Low fat frozen yogurt or ice cream is also a good option if it ever gets warmer.

I also really like making popsicles using fresh juice and fruit and frozen yogurt. 

I know it sounds weird, but I also really love quinoa muffins. You can put fruit, honey, granola, chocolate chips, etc in it and bake them and they're healthy and full of protein and super adaptable to whatever you like!

I also use MFP! I use it in conjunction with FitBit and generally like both--FitBit makes me feel good about my daily activity levels. 

BF just finalized plans for us to spend a week with his family at the beach this summer and so now, although I generally feel good about my body, I'm freaking out a little about being in a bathing suit for a week--and with his whole family!

ETA: JCBride2014-- LOVE those skinnnycow bars! They sell them at my law school cafe which has definitely been my downfall the past semester!

JCbride2015

@mbross3 I'm so jealous.  Our law school cafe is the worst.  We have nothing tasty and everything is overpriced!

@phira Whoops.  That's okay, I've definitely eaten a whole container of guacamole over the course of like two days before.  With an accompanying huge amount of chips and salsa.  Oops indeed!

KPBM89

I don't know of any good desserts, so I'm actually going to watch this thread for everyone's responses, too.  I always say the rhyme "Something sweet after I eat" because I love sweets and desserts.

jdluvr06

I don't have the biggest sweet tooth so when I want something sweet I usually just eat some fruit. My favorites are strawberries and oranges.

mschristie123

I'm obsessed with the skinny cow ice cream sandwiches. 140 calories of shear deliciousness.

phira

I am going to Whole Foods on my way home for "delicious" salad fixins so these ideas are great.

It's a really good thing that I love popcorn, that I have an air popper, and that I grew up putting Pam butter-flavored spray on my popcorn instead of butter.

EverAfer

Diets don't work for me. I can't plan that many healthy meals, especially when I live with FI and he eats horribly!

I started seeing a nutritionist made simple changes: switching from frying to grilling or baking, trying out more vegetables, reading labels, and learning to do portions. And adding more snacks to help with hunger. Cause I get really HUNGRY all the time when I'm dieting, then I binge.

lc07

What has helped me is eating lots of small meals and snacks all day long instead of the standard 3 meals. Otherwise I'm a cranky low blood sugar mess. It also helped to cut out sugar and alcohol and things that make me "Crash" afterwards. I prefer savory to sweet so I'm no help in the dessert department. 

Also drink LOTS of water. It will help flush toxins out and often times when you're dehydrated you confuse that for hunger. It also helps me with crankiness. 

ElcaB

First, whenever I'm trying to eat better I always drink tons of water. It will help, trust me. 

One of my favorite light desserts is plain Greek yogurt with fresh fruit, a splash of vanilla, and a packet of Splenda. If I'm feeling super deprived, I'll add two small dollops of whipped cream. 

I also love Dove's dark chocolate. Just letting one slowly melt in my mouth usually satisfies my desperation for sweet things. 

I once read eating an apple will dissolve cravings and I have to say, in my experience it's pretty true. Try it! 

beachyone15

Try putting grapes in the freezer! Those are especially good on really hot days.

The other thing I like to make is "fake" ice cream sandwiches. Just put cool-whip (I use the light) between two low-fat graham crackers and freeze. I swear, they are amazing!

arrippa

jdluvr06 said:

I don't have the biggest sweet tooth so when I want something sweet I usually just eat some fruit. My favorites are strawberries and oranges.

Booo! Just kidding, I am jealous. My sweet tooth resembles that of a 13 year old boy's sweet tooth (I love candy).

Phira-I bought some popcorn toppings that have a sweet taste to them but no calories for my air popped popcorn. That sort of helps with my sweet tooth cravings. Otherwise, I usually use butter buds as a popcorn topping.

 

Swazzle

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup of quick oats

1/4 cup of peanut butter chips

Mix it all up and bake for 15 minutes on 350. 

THEY ARE SO GOOD! 

wandajune6

We eat a lot of fruit. I also keep these mini dark chocolate bars in the freezer. They help.

phira

Swazzle said:

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup of quick oats

1/4 cup of peanut butter chips

Mix it all up and bake for 15 minutes on 350. 

THEY ARE SO GOOD! 

... goddamnit why don't we have any peanut butter chips?!!

Swazzle

@phira - I made them with chocolate chips first and they were good but the PB chips take it to a whole other level! 

CrazyCatLady3

I feel you.  I've actually been working my butt off at the gym and find it challenging to lose weight still because the hard work outs make me hungry!

Look for Diana's Bananas in the frozen dessert section at Whole Foods.  It's a chocolate covered banana, tastes delicious, and only 130 calories (plus vitamins and fiber from the banana part!)  I like to partially melt mine in the microwave for 35 seconds, so it tastes like it's freshly dipped in chocolate.

phira

I bought bananas and froze them with plans to use them for smoothies. Should I have peeled them and cut them into pieces first? I am new to smoothie making and fruit-freezing.

@CrazyCatLady3 I wish I had looked for those last night! They sound super yummy. I ended up buying Tofutti Cuties, which I haven't had since college. It's so hard to eat just one.

CrazyCatLady3

phira said:

I bought bananas and froze them with plans to use them for smoothies. Should I have peeled them and cut them into pieces first? I am new to smoothie making and fruit-freezing.

@CrazyCatLady3 I wish I had looked for those last night! They sound super yummy. I ended up buying Tofutti Cuties, which I haven't had since college. It's so hard to eat just one.

http://www.dianasbananas.com/our-products/

They are super yummy.  Last time I bought 4 boxes "just to have in the freezer."  Oops.  If you get the dark chocolate ones you will get your chocolate fix in and shouldn't need to eat more than one.

kitty8403

I turn into the smoothie queen when I am on a diet. I keep costco bags of frozen berries, freeze leftover coffee in ice cube trays, throw in dark chocolate or peanut butter, buy out the store for Greek yogurt, etc, etc. Lately I've been experimenting with chai mix and banana or pumpkin, and this morning played around with a mocha raspberry shake (chocolate, coffee ice cubes, raspberry yogurt, etc). Just throw whatever sounds good in a blender, make sure it includes some healthy stuff and some protein, and call it breakfast. :-)

Another favorite is tapioca with skim milk and either chocolate melted in or fruit on top. Feels much richer than it is.

kitty8403

phira said:

I bought bananas and froze them with plans to use them for smoothies. Should I have peeled them and cut them into pieces first? I am new to smoothie making and fruit-freezing.

For frozen banana, I peel a bunch, maybe break them in half so getting them in the blender is simpler, and chuck them in a ziplock Baggie in the freezer to use as needed.

Can also mix a little coconut oil with melted chocolate (dark is healthiest), dip your bananas, and then freeze on waxed paper-covered cookie sheets.