Bruce: I’m following a healthy diet but will having a cheat meal throw off my weight loss?? 

Megan: A healthy relationship with food can be distorted especially when we might have emotional ties with food or categorize food as “good” or “bad”. There can be a little wiggle room, maybe 10% if you truly want to lose weight over time. The key is being sensible about it and sticking to that one meal, not a day of high fat, high sugar, and high carbohydrate foods. Having a burger and French fries or a couple slices of pizza isn’t going to throw you off too much, but if you add dessert, alcohol, and extra servings of everything, then you may erase some of your hard work. Know that you can have your “cheat” again next week, so you don’t have to act like you have to eat as much as you can because it’s your one and only time to have it. Look forward to it, enjoy it, and then be done until next week. 

If you have a question for Dr. FIT, email her at everybodysfit@gmail.com and be sure to check out her website www.everybodysfitoceanside.com

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