Birthday cake delimma

I know, I know. If weight loss is our goal, sweets can't be in the picture. However, my husband and BOTH of my daughters have birthdays in March. (Within 5 days of each other to be exact.) Hubby doesn't care if he has cake, but I don't want to deprive the girls. (Going to be 8 and 2 years old.) The oldest is the one making the cake, since she wants to be too big for her britches.

Is it better to try to find something sugar free or just have a nibble of regular cake? I know what it's going to do to me on the scale, so I am prepping for that. I just want to get some kind of game plan going now so I don't have the last minute panic.

I would go with the plan, make a regular cake, not sugar free...  and PLAN to eat whatever amount you choose ( a nibble, a bite or a slice) and be done with it with no guilt and no shame...no worries...  its ONE whatever( nibble, bite, slice) and its not going to add 2000 calories to your day...     this is life, not torture...  live it...  one day at a time

This is a dilemma I am facing myself. My problem is I have my hubby's this weekend, 4 birthdays (in at least 2 parties) in Feb and 4 birthdays (including mine probably in 1 party) in March. As a matter of fact, I have at least one party in just about every month of the year. The good thing is that my family has been very supportive and understands I probably won't have any cake. For my hubby's we are getting ice cream cakes and I "might" snag one spoon of the ice cream.

 

Good Luck!

I like that you are thinking about it now.  I would have the family have a regular cake and plan for some special, (low carb, low cal) treat for yourself.  I used to like to make a 1/4 cup of Ricotta cheese with a tiny bit of splenda or some sugar free syrup.  It was my version of cheesecake.  I know that many people are going to tell you to just have a piece, I will not be one of them.  However, in maintenance, that might be different for me.  In maintenance, I would probably have a tiny sliver.

I say nay to any cake. Just because there are birthdays doesn't mean YOU have to eat cake or that you have to deprive your children of it either. I have 3 children, ages 2, 4 and 9 and my 9 year daughter fancies herself a baker. I applaud her, help her in the kitchen and tell her how good everything smells, but she knows I'm "getting healthy" and won't eat her cupcakes, brownies etc. right now. When I'm in maintenance I'll see then about working it in on occasion. Children are more tolerant and resilient than you'd think. Plus, at least for me, my children do not really care that much what I'm eating or not eating. 

I'm actually not as strict with my intake as others, but in March you'll be just 3 months out. It's not a choice I would make at that point. 

I believe this was the beginning of my undoing.
A bite here, a bite there. Eventually I lost all control & the desire to eat overcame the desire to be normal.
I think Elina has great advice, which if I understand correctly, is to choose something that is something that's ok for you to eat at this point in your journey.
Only you know if one bite or a little of something will derail you. Proceed carefully. Do not let your rationalisations take control.

Yes, you understand my advice perfectly.  Most people do not realize the power of one bite of something off program until they look at in in retrospect.  Some people can pull off having just "a bite", I was never one of them and most of us are not build that way.  It seems to simple, "just have a tiny bit", when the reality for many of us is that this is the opening door to hell. Sorry to be so dramatic, but I have way too much experience with failure to be mellow about it, failure really sucks. I prefer to keep that door firmly shut during the losing phase of my journey and I was extremely careful with it during early maintenance.  It wasn't until late into my maintenance, like six months or more, that I started experimenting a tiny bit while still keeping a very tight leash on things.  It took years to feel fully comfortable and secure with my strategies and ability to walk away.  I think most people just take it for granted that they can have a little bit, some are so very wrong, and the price is so very steep.

Yes, it is. I'm starting almost over & I don't have the benefit of only being able to eat a few bites like early on.
However, I will succeed (taking a big drink of water) by reading & staying here. One minute at a time.
You are right...I opened the door to hell & am trying to climb out. It's very steep here.
Joan

I have always had issues with sugar and compulsive overeating of sugar.  For me one bite is absolutely my undoing.  I can remember several years back, I had been really good and not eating any sugar, it was X-mas time and I was backing some cookies.  Without thinking about it I started licking my fingers.  Well, that little bit started to snowball out of control and the sugar was back into my diet.  So far I have been able to resist the sugar temptation, but I have to think of sugar like an alcoholic would think about 1 drink, one bite or drink and I lose all control.

My birthday and my son's birthday was this week.  I made him cupcakes, but stayed clear of them.  My treat was last night I got a burrito bowl from Chipotle with just the meat and cheese.  (Didn't have time on my actual bday to go get my special meal!)

Good luck with what ever you choose.

For my Daughter's Birthday she selected her cake ( regular cake) and I took a greek yogurt for me. It didn't bother her that I didn't eat the cake and it didn't bother me as I was having yummy greek yogurt :-)