Is That a Splurge? Fat Loss Nutrition Tip

Since we are headed into the weekend, I figured it is a great time to talk about the little "extras" that sometimes sneak into our nutrition plan that can be pretty harmless alone but add up to sabotage even the best of fat loss efforts.

As I read my email and checked out the flavors of the day for my local Rita's Ice place, I started to think about this topic and decided to make it a blog post. Yes you read that right, I am on Rita's email newsletter. I'm an East Coast girl at heart and I was super happy when Rita's came to Texas. Anyhow, back to the topic of this post...

I believe it is important to stick to a supportive nutrition plan that compliments your fitness and fat loss goals. Part of that plan is enjoying planned splurges or indulgences. It's easy to know that a banana split or burgers and fries are indulgences or splurges but what about those "healthy" little treats that don't fall squarely into the meal component categories or aren't a meal at all?

Not sure what I mean? Here's a list of "little treats" that many of us fit (or becoming fit) girls like to slide into the nutrition rotation. Do you consider these splurges?

Fat -Free / Sugar Free Jello or Pudding
Sugar Free Popsicles
Fat - Free Fudgesicles
Sugar Free Italian Ice
Fat - Free / Sugar Free Frozen Yogurt
Skinny Latte
Sugar Free / Fat Free Hot Chocolate

What do you think? I'll give you my personal take on the matter. Feel free to agree or disagree and share your opinion here in the comments section.

CONCITA'S ANSWER......IT DEPENDS!
Let me explain. If you are in a rapid results fat loss phase, I would say that anything that isn't part of a meal and doesn't fit squarely into the protein, produce, healthy fat, or appropriate starch categories is a SPLURGE. No worries though. You get to splurge 10% of the time. But during a serious lean out phase, these little treats count.

What about not so rapid results or maintenance?
In those cases, I would say experiement and assess. My little disclaimer here though is that when you first start a plan, you should count everything. This way you will know how your body responds when you are completely compliant (by completely I mean 90%) and you will have a good baseline for comparison when you are figuring out how your body responds to having the extras. I believe in outcome based training and nutrition. If what you are doing yields the desired result without setting you up for future failure (like going on a super low calorie diet that will eventually backfire), then stick with it. If your fat loss results are not coming along like you want then it's time to start counting those little extras as splurges.

So what "little extras" do you eat? Do you count them as splurges always, sometimes or never? Share with us in the comment section below.