Eat Whatever You Want and Work Out

I'm the opposite, I watch what I eat because I know that will not work it off, sometimes that 500 calorie chocolate cake is just not worth 2 hours worth of jogging to me...and I HATE HATE working out, its a flaw I'm trying to change, but haven't yet and am not too optimistic...and I can control my craving a lot easier than I can my motivation for working out.

No, I feel like my workout is a waste, if I have candy/fastfood afterwards. For me it's the other way round: If I had something "bad", I feel the need to work out more.

Nope. I workout to lose weight and stay fit. I will 100% make sure that I don't miss a workout if I know I'm going to a party or out for dinner though.

I am a big foodie so sometimes I do indulge more than once a week because I know I will make sure to burn it off at the gym. When I do reach my healthy goal weight I usually try to maintain it which basically means to burn off all the extra scoops of ice cream I eat.

At first I was like that. But then I started seeing the connection between my diet and quality of workout. Granted- I let myself indulge a few times a week. But for the majority of the time, I'd rather eat healthy and have more energy for my runs.

I primarily work out to stay strong and fit, but being able to have a guilt-free glass of wine every night is definitely a great perk!

@zeze same here. Its much easier for me to watch what I eat than it is to workout every day (or for a decent amount of time)

I wouldn't say it's the main reason, but yes. I'm back into hardcore marathon training, and it's so nice to be able to eat anything I want (within reason, since I'm a vegetarian) and to still see body fat melting away. Plus, if I don't eat more food than I normally would, I don't have the stamina to make it through my long runs. So while it's "cool" to criticize Gwyneth for her comment, I actually have to totally agree with her.

No, but it certainly takes the guilt away when I over-indulge in junk food one or two times a week.

No. I workout for body conditioning, so I could feel and look my best. By the same token, I eat for the same outcome. Essentially, working-out and eating share the same goal, NOT to offset each other.

I realized a long time ago that I will never be able to "eat whatever I want." Even with working out, I have to watch what I eat or the pounds pile back on.

I used to have that mentality, but I soon learned that trying to work off indulgences (especially frequent ones) through exercise is not that easy. My energy level and overall body just feel better when I eat healthy. That's not to say that I wont indulge on occasion - if I do, I try to pick a high quality indulgence instead of simply a dessert for dessert's sake. I tend to enjoy the sweets more too that way

Not really. Plus it's extremely easy to consume even more calories that what one might burn off within less than an hour's time unless you're very very active regularly. I rather do both, not over indulge too often and try to be active regularly.

i work out so i can indulge when the time is right. i eat healthy 95% of the time, but working out gives me the ability to enjoy sweet treats or a french fry every now and again completely guilt free

I admit, I do tend to allow myself to splurge a little bit if I know I've been very active the day before and/or know I'm going to be very active later in the day. However, I really think this is what is holding me back from my fitness goals, so I've been trying to cut back. :]

Overall, though, while I'd like to get to a point where I can no longer feel guilty for my occasional indulgences, I'd also like to cut a lot of those bad foods out for life.

just doesn't work that way for me. While I do think I can eat more b/c I'm so active unfortunately if I "ate whatever I wanted" all the time and still worked out I'd still be overweight. I pretty much want to eat everything all the time!

Ever since I started working out, I started eating healthier because I felt it would be a waste to work out and eat "bad." But I cannot cut out ALL of the bad foods. I love cookies and chocolates so when I do indule, I just make sure to work out a little harder and I feel less bad. But I definitely don't work out just for the food.

No matter how much I work out, I can't eat whatever I want.

Kind of. I work out so that I can enjoy a little extra treat every day and not feel guilty about it. I like to eat a nice, balanced diet to give myself energy to get through my workouts. I know that if I ate whatever I wanted and still worked out, I'd still be fat because it's VERY easy to out-eat a workout.

I totally agree spectra! I have a pretty healthy diet, but I know if I slip up once in a while it's not the end of the world because I work out. I just don't go crazy and have junk food whenever I want it.

I work out to feel energetic and healthy!

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I am nursing my 10 month old and I workout 5 days a week. Also I live a very active lifestyle! I can eat anything I want until I'm stuffed all day and not gain a pound, but my body will feel sluggish and gross! I choose to eat very healthy foods and everything in moderation. I like feeling energized from my food, but I do have to eat about 500 more calories than before I got pregnant!

Absolutely not....I workout every day and carefully monitor what I eat, limiting processed foods and eliminating anything fried. I did not always eat so healthily and now I feel completely different. I make sure to balance out healthy fats, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, etc, but also allow myself a few treats every now and then. It's something I look forward to and moderation is the key! I think it's much better to allow yourself a small portion of something you love but isn't that healthy for you rather than completely cutting it out. It will only make you cranky and more likely to over indulge later.