How to Cheat on Your Diet

You know what they say: Variety is the spice of life. So, even though you and your diet may have been intimately engaged in a longstanding relationship, sometimes ya’ just gotta stray to keep it interesting at home. Of course, while you’re off on a pantry raid, you don’t want to get caught—not caught cheating, but caught being stuck with a few extra pounds than when you started stepping out.

But, first, some rules apply...

Be Discrete

The art of cheating on your diet doesn’t mean a license to partake in a three-day free-for-all. Mindfully escaping the dieting doldrums means exercising sound judgment when it comes to giving yourself permission to wander off to enjoy something deliciously naughty but reasonable. Making a date for an evening out once or twice a week for dinner, drinks and a decadent dessert is reasonable; gorging your gullet with an entire box of cookies in one solo sitting is not.

Practice Safe Slacking

Why take a chance on unwanted weight gain? Resist the temptation to stray from your regular routine and end up overindulging just because it’s what you thought you needed to feel satisfied. In other words, just because you have a roving eye for chocolate cake doesn’t mean you have to have it, unless it’s what you truly desire. Sometimes a flirtation is just that and shouldn’t go any further. For that matter, put your lips together and blow the whistle on all the flashy stuff on the pastry cart if that’s not your style. Maybe it’s plain frozen yogurt that really makes you go wild after all.

Keep Your Affairs in Order

Jot down the dish(s) that appealed to you most while you were out on the town. That way, you can get a pretty good idea of what types of food turn you on when you’re loose so you can repeat the experience at home. It makes it easier to balance the scales when it comes to moderation if you have a little black cookbook to refer to later.

Remember Where You Came From

When the last of the gooey chocolate glaze has been licked clean from your lips, it’s time to call it an adventure and back to home base. Otherwise, you might be in danger of becoming so lost in your revelry that you might be tempted to roam even further from your regular routine. After all, home is where the heart is. It’s also where you keep your bathroom scale.