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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have a Harvester sundae when on a diet?

59 replies

CurlyRover · 23/04/2018 16:10

Sort of a AIBU and also a WWYD.

I absolutely adore Harvester sundaes. Back in the day I used to eat one every time I went there. I haven't been to Harvester in about a year. I'm going this evening with DP and I don't know whether to have one or not.

I'm supposed to be dieting in preparation for our summer holiday in August. I've been doing really well and losing weight steadily and rarely eating unhealthy foods other than in proportion.

I really want a sundae but I feel so guilty about it. I also wonder if it's even worth the calories?

WIBU to have one? WWYD?

OP posts:
araiwa · 23/04/2018 16:59

If you eat youre sundae dont come back in a few months whinging about how bad you feel in your bikini

Do it properly

MushroomGravy · 23/04/2018 17:28

Food cannot be a treat. This is why so many people are overweight.

Actually there are a lot of complex reasons why people are over weight but I don't think that any of them are because they see ice cream as a treat food.

notacooldad · 23/04/2018 17:41

Food cannot be a treat This is why so many people are overweight.
What on earth are you talking about?

Maybe SOME people are overweight because they don't see high calorie, special occasion food as a treat but have it regularly. ( for example me!!)
You do realise most people think that treat means occasionly and not all the time.

AntipodeanOpalEye · 24/04/2018 05:26

You may as well. It doesn't matter if it's you 100 or 1,000 calories your obsessing over it and won't be satisfied unless you have it. Just make adjustments in the following days or do a little extra exercise.

TammyWhyNot · 24/04/2018 05:40

So what did you do, OP?

Personally I would have left it.

I need to get into a mindset where I see a sundae or a Mars Bar or a cupcake for what it is: a sickly tower of sugar and fat that is not good for me and undermines my healthy eating. I have to avoid sugar in order to wean myself off craving it.

MrsDilber · 24/04/2018 05:54

Life's to short and you are a long time dead, enjoy little things in life that give you pleasure.

Original poster
CurlyRover · 24/04/2018 07:15

I didn't have it in the end but only because DP had to work late so we couldn't go. It still leaves me with the conundrum for next time we go.

I need to get into a mindset where I see a sundae or a Mars Bar or a cupcake for what it is: a sickly tower of sugar and fat that is not good for me and undermines my healthy eating

This seems like a good approach @TammyWhyNot I've taken your approach with cinema food. That it's unnecessary and full of crap. Not sure why I can't take that approach with the sundae tbh.

OP posts:
flowerslemonade · 24/04/2018 07:26

For next time, if it's your favourite thing, I'd have it, but make sure its limited to that and that only,like you say it's a treat eating out somewhere, it's not like something you'd have in your house.

TammyWhyNot · 24/04/2018 07:38

You’ve done well to oust the cinema food, OP.

I find habit underpins my good eating as much as my bad. I’m trying to lose 2 stone and I have to break the bad habits otherwise it is torture with constant craving and temptation.

Once I am in my healthier eating habit it is easy.

So I don’t find treats helpful.

I think each person has to find what works for them.

Original poster
CurlyRover · 24/04/2018 08:43

I definitely wouldn't have it in the house @flowerslemonade

Tbh the more I think about it the more I'm not even sure if I want it...

Thanks @TammyWhyNot you're right in that it is all about habit. With the cinema it was a habit to eat even when I was full. I think it's things like that that need to be slowly kicked. I hope you manage to kick the bad habits and gain some good habits along the way Smile

OP posts:
pigmcpigface · 24/04/2018 12:33

I dieted and lost a lot of weight a few years back. I was very strict 6 days a week, but on a Friday night I allowed myself a slice of pizza or two and a few oven chips. I am pretty sure it actually helped me to lose more weight, because I used to find that I could run much faster and further the day after than on days when I was really restricting my intake.

Have the sundae, enjoy it, and get back on with the diet/exercise the next day.

Idontdowindows · 24/04/2018 12:44

When I think I'll be having a big meal I usually do extra activities beforehand. Swimming is pretty good, burns a lot of calories and is fun at the same time.

Original poster
CurlyRover · 24/04/2018 13:46

@Idontdowindows - I've always wondered about swimming. How many calories does it actually burn? I really enjoy it and would love to do it more.

@pigmcpigface - your approach sounds like a really good one. I think the key there is not going mad on that one day isn't it. I've had colleagues in the past who have been really strict in the week and then go totally mad at the weekend and wonder why they're not losing weight.

OP posts:
pigmcpigface · 24/04/2018 13:55

Curly - yep, you gotta keep it to one meal. But it can be really helpful to allow yourself a bit extra - not just psychologically, but physically too.

BarbaraofSevillle · 24/04/2018 13:56

Swimming depends on how you do it. It you do a few extremely slow lengths with your head out of the water gassing to your mate before retiring to the jacuzzi, burns hardly any calories.

If you swim a couple of thousand meters of front crawl at a pace that makes you breathless, rather more.

Idontdowindows · 24/04/2018 14:18

It depends on your weight @CurlyRover and your speed but at my weight (75kg) I burn about 300 calories an hour because I swim quite slowly. If I would swim fast, I would be looking at around 800, but it's quite hard to swim full pelt the whole hour, so I always only log the low score. The more you weigh, the more you burn with exercises.

www.runningtools.com/energyusage.htm

MERLYPUSSEDOFF · 24/04/2018 15:55

Forgo the starter or gloopy muck on the salad.

halfwitpicker · 24/04/2018 18:40

How many calories does one actually contain

TammyWhyNot · 24/04/2018 19:10

The Oreo cookie sundae has 778 calories.
Others around the 650 mark.
Harvester publish a full nutritional list of all their menu items.
Actually a ‘Sundae Best’, Raspberry or Strawberry, is only 284, but I guess that is a deliberately ‘light’ sundae and not what the OP has in mind Grin

TammyWhyNot · 24/04/2018 19:23

Actually the calorie levels for many, if not most, of the main courses are horrifying. And that’s before you add fries.

Idontdowindows · 24/04/2018 19:46

Calorie levels for eating out are horrifying anyway :(

LondonGin · 24/04/2018 19:49

the Ice cream is mr whippy soft style yes?
Well if you saw inside one you’d never eat it again! 🤢

Wishimaywishimight · 24/04/2018 20:09

If I really fancy something sweet & calorific I'll have it instead of dinner, not as well as. Last week I had a craving for apple crumble with cream so had that for my dinner on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it while staying within my MFP daily limit.

userofthiswebsite · 24/04/2018 20:13

A bit too much drama over this in the nicest way possible.

If you've gone several weeks/months without going off track you must have sufficient faith in yourself that you can generally resist temptation. Otherwise, are you going to never eat anything you like ever again? It's not like being only 3 or 4 days into a new regimen.

Saying this as someone who is also working to lose weight and making small, consistent progress on a daily basis. But today, I knew in advance would not be a weight loss day due to an event where lots of food is involved. Had a light breakfast and lunch in anticipation of that and the scales will probably be up some ounces tomorrow but I know it's a one off.

Have the sundae!

Pidlan · 24/04/2018 20:27

I don't think it's too much drama. People's eating habits are complicated and quite often emotional.
I, for example, couldn't have a sundae if I was on a diet, because it would trigger a binge that could go on for days, maybe weeks. I know my eating is disordered, but it's not uncommon unfortunately. I have lost loads of weight and have kept it off, but I can never not think about it, or I would eat everything mindlessly. It will always be a battle for me.