How 6 Women Used Cheat Meals To Help Them Lose Weight
“After a big move I decided it was time to get back on track with my health. I started running but wasn’t seeing much change, likely because I was still eating the same way. I was reluctant to diet because I love sweets and adore baking. But I figured there had to be a way to eat healthfully while not completely giving up my favorite sweets. So in January I started a 12-week challenge. I planned all my meals the first week, and I felt wonderful after eating more fruits and veggies. Every day I ate breakfast, a snack, lunch, a second snack, dinner, and then a sweet treat. I tried not to eat after 8 p.m. It wasn’t as hard as I thought. And even though I was still eating what I liked, I still lost five pounds that first week. After the first week, I decided to set a goal to only eat treats on the weekends. I still felt like I needed something sweet after dinner though. So I found healthy dessert recipes that I could make during the week that would fit in with my nutrition goals. My experiment has been a total success! I’m losing weight (more than 15 pounds now), feeling fabulous, and I’ve also learned to enjoy my indulgences more. Now I eat them in moderation, which makes sweets taste even better. I’ve also found myself eating dessert slower to really savor it. I am still in the challenge, which ends in April, but my goal is to keep eating healthy when it’s over.” —Carielle Cofax, 29