Just Eat the Damn Cookie!

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See I knew I had a love for more intuitive eating when it was ok to have cookies. This week was filled with lots of M&M cookies, carrot cake cupcakes, and even a chocolate cupcake or two. You might be wondering what the point is if you are trying to lose weight, but that’s just it. Losing weight is the after effect of doing the “homework.” Right now I am just working on listening to my body, and letting myself know that cookies, cupcakes, and whatever other sweet treat I crave is OK to have in my diet!

If you guys are anything like me, you have a sweet tooth with no end! No matter how healthy I eat, I will ALWAYS have a sweet tooth, and I am ok with that. It’s when I start denying this sweet tooth that becomes a problem. When the “shouldn’ts” creep into my thoughts that one lovely cupcake turns into six. This week I was bound and determined to enjoy and indulge my sweet tooth and not feel guilty about it EVER!

Many of us have had the good food/bad food thoughts for so long it feels really odd, even illegal, to tell yourself that if you want a cookie get yourself a darned cookie! One cookie is NOT the end of the world, and it’s not even something that you should really weigh heavily in your mind. If your brain is screaming “I WANT A COOKIE,” eat the darned cookie!

 

“Don’t wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty.
Chocolate isn’t like premarital sex. It will not make you pregnant.
And it always feels good.”
― Lora Brody

I was having one of those days on Tuesday. It was about 8:30pm and hubby and I had gone grocery shopping for the week. We bought some M&M cookies, which are one of my favorites, and I was really drooling for a cookie! I waited a little bit to see if I really wanted one or if it was just because I knew they were there, but after 15 minutes I really wanted one still so I gave myself permission to eat three cookies with a nice tall glass of milk.

Rather than plowing through the cookies like I do on a binge, I removed all distractions and I enjoyed each and every single bite of those cookies. It was divine! Miraculously by the end of the third cookie I felt satisfied and didn’t even think about the rest of the box that was still in the kitchen. It was amazing to NOT think about sweets because I listened to my body and said “Why yes, Ashley, you CAN have a cookie!” Giving myself permission was kinda awesome!

In my normal routine, I would’ve craved a cookie, told myself I shouldn’t have some, then get mad, and proceed to eat half the box! Then Mr. Guilt would enter the room and there goes my whole evening. All over a stinking cookie.

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis

 

I have to say that I really enjoyed eating cookies like I did this week. Actually, enjoying the cookie without ANY guilt and no more obsessive thought was the highlight of my week. Working on eating more mindfully has been working so well for me, that I have actually had a Milky Way candy bar in my kitchen drawer for almost a week now. This may not seem like a big deal, but normally those babies don’t even make it home!

You know what folks? Give yourself permission this week to EAT THE DARNED COOKIE (or whatever treat you prefer). If you have a sweet tooth like I do, just follow these simple tips to indulge your sweet tooth and you just might be shocked that your binges and cravings aren’t quite as obsessive as they were before!

 

1. GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION: This one deserves all capital letters! Keep working on keeping the “shouldn’t” and “can’t” words out of your eating vocabulary. EVERYTHING has a place in a well balanced meal. Even your favorite sweet treats!

2. Remove all distractions: Don’t eat in front of the TV or while talking on the phone. Make sure that you pay attention to each and every bite. That way you can savor each wonderful morsel! If you are eating one of your favorite things, why would you not want to realize just how awesome it is!

3. Take smaller bites: Instead of taking big honking bites, take smaller bites and chew slower! Enjoy the tastes in your mouth, and pay attention to all the flavor. I love eating cupcakes with forks. They are like little mini cakes, and that way you get frosting with almost every bite!

4. Try something new: When indulging your sweet tooth, try something new! Most of us that tend to binge, binge on the same things over and over again! Explore outside of your comfort zone, you just might find a new favorite!

5. Make it from scratch: Rather than buying your favorite treat learn how to make it from scratch. If you start cooking it yourself, you might find that you prefer your homemade version. It not only saves money, but it takes your love of your sweet to a whole new level. You can customize it and might find a new twist that you like even better.

I challenge you. No, I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU to eat your favorite treats this week without any guilt! You might just be shocked at the results!

Are you trying to eat more mindfully? Make sure to check out all of the intuitive eating posts here at Crunchy Frugalista!