If you want to have your cake and eat it too, but you still worry about weight loss, don't despair. It's entirely possible to enjoy the sweet things in life, such as delicious cake, while still losing weight. Unfortunately, you can't just lay around and eat chocolate icing all day, though regular exercise, making sensible decisions about the amount of cake you eat and paying attention to the overall caloric intake of your diet will help you to keep the pounds off.
Step 1
Eat heavier foods such as cake at lunchtime, around the middle of the day, then have a light dinner, suggests Dr. Gabe Mirkin, a practicing physician, radio talk show host and author of the book "The Healthy Heart Miracle." Eating heavy meals late in the day may cause you to gain weight because your body does not have time left in the day to burn off the calories, says Mirkin.
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Step 2
Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, which have a low energy density, meaning they have few calories, but will make you feel full longer, says MayoClinic.com. Incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet will help you consume fewer calories while still feeling satisfied after mealtimes.
Step 3
Eat cake in moderate amounts after a meal, not instead of a meal, advises weight loss expert Deirdra Price, author of the book "Healing of the Hungry Self." Price defines a moderate amount as whatever you can fit in the palm of your hand.
Step 4
Watch your calorie intake, and keep a food diary. According to the Calorie Control Council, losing weight has less to do with what kind of foods you eat and more to do with the number of calories you consume. Tally up your daily caloric intake and try to keep it at around 1,400 to 2,000 calories a day.
Step 5
Substitute low-fat ingredients or low-calorie sweeteners in the cake and other foods that you eat. According to Dr. George Blackburn, cutting just 100 calories a day through small substitutions can make a difference. ''Those 100 calories add up to 10 pounds a year. Small changes in caloric intake can result in small but meaningful healthier weights," says Blackburn.
Step 6
Exercise regularly to burn calories, lose weight and keep it off. According to guidelines developed by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association, you'll need to do 60 to 90 minutes of moderately intense physical activity five days a week to lose weight or maintain weight loss. "Moderate-intensity physical activity means working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat, yet still be able to carry on a conversation," advises the American College of Sports Medicine.
Step 7
Participate in physical activities that you enjoy so exercise doesn't feel like a chore. Go biking, swimming, jogging or play tennis or other sports. Involve family or friends in your exercise routine to make the experience more fun.
Tip
You don't have to exercise for 60 to 90 minutes in one block, advises the American College of Sports Medicine. If it works better with your schedule, you can spread out physical activity in smaller periods throughout the day.
Warning
Don't binge or overeat when it comes to cake. Indulge your cravings without going overboard.
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