Don't give up desserts to lose weight

Why you shouldn't give up desserts

When people begin their weight loss journey, one of the first things they give up is dessert. But by allowing yourself to enjoy dessert, you may actually lose weight faster.

Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia advises continuing to enjoy a portion of dessert while losing weight.

It is also worth noting that weight loss should not be your only health goal. Many other factors play a role, including sleep quality, stress levels, and hydration.

Strictly restricting the foods you love often leads to overeating later.

How to eat dessert properly

When you eat dessert, you should focus on your fullness and satisfaction. In particular, pay attention to hunger and satiety signals. Most people are used to ignoring these signals.

Start with a smaller portion of dessert. Then, if you eat that portion mindfully—for example, noticing its texture, taste, smell, and how it feels in your body—and feel you need more, you can eat more. You can start with one cookie or brownie instead of two, or with half a slice of cake instead of a full one.

Eating mindfully means paying attention to what you are eating and respecting your fullness and hunger cues. If you eat while distracted or feeling bored, you will eat larger portions and potentially overeat.

If you want to eat dessert, gently set your phone aside, turn off the TV, and step away from your computer screen. Just eat and notice the flavors, textures, and sensations the food creates in you. Try to enjoy every bite. Again, this may be more difficult if you have been ignoring your hunger cues for years.

Which foods to avoid when losing weight

To effectively lose weight, it is worth avoiding or minimizing the following foods:

• White bread and other refined carbohydrates: white rice, pasta made from white flour, pastries. They quickly raise blood sugar levels and contribute to weight gain
• Fast food and deep-fried products: French fries, nuggets, pizza, burgers. They contain many calories, fats, and salt
• Processed meats: they contain harmful fats, salt, and preservatives
• Sugary drinks: they contain a lot of sugar and few nutrients
• Alcohol: It contains a lot of calories and can slow down metabolism

You may be interested in:

• The number one berry that promotes quick and easy weight loss
• 6 morning habits that secretly lead to weight gain

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.