Good morning! 
Happy Hump Day!
Sorry that I didn’t post dinner last night. I really needed to UNPLUG and relax. I wanted a night at home with my hubby and puppy that did not involve staring at my computer. I hope you guys understand!
Breakfast was fun this morning! 
Last night, I baked an acorn squash with Olivio, agave nectar, and cinnamon. I mashed up the “guts,” but left them inside the skin to sit overnight. In the morning, I made stovetop oats with vanilla extract and cinnamon, and then put them inside the baked acorn squash to eat together. The squash + oats combo was so delicious!
I topped my oats with pumpkin and sesame seeds and sipped a cup of hot coffee on the side with vanilla soy milk and agave nectar.
Breakfast was SO good! Very autumn-y! 
Feel Great Weight
New post on Health.com: How to Splurge Without Damaging Your Diet
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Question of the Day
Many people will tell you to have a snack before a big meal out, but that doesn’t mean that’s right for everyone. What do you do when hunger strikes before a planned splurge? And what other diet tips just don’t work for you?
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
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I grab a string cheese if I am hungry and I know we’ll be waiting for a while to eat. Sometimes it’s a banana with almond butter, and sometimes it’s just cheese and crackers – I dont’ want to be so hungry when we get to the big meal that I dont’ taste my food!
what a creative way to eat your oats! looks so gourmet, too!
You are so creative with food. I just keep preparing the same ol’ stuff.
I don’t have planned splurges. They are always unplanned.
That looks like a very satisfying breakfast, and the prep work was spread out so it wasn’t too much for a quick morning!
I just eat a piece of fruit or a yogurt and drink lots of water. That satisfies me at least till it’s time for the splurge. I think a small snack is more than enough.
I usually drink 2 cups of water before making a decision about whether to snack or not. That way there’s something in my tummy to keep me from being completely impulsive. I know this doesn’t work for others, but it seems to help me.
great idea with breakfast! that looks awesome! i would certainly have squash for breakfast with oats! i always seem to have unplanned splurges and then always think back on how i could have prevented them to not be as wild and crazy. I’m gonna certainly check out your new article!
What a fantastic looking breakfast!!
I always plan my splurges!! I never deprive myself, so when i “splurge”, I don’t over do it
Fantastic looking breakfast!! Love it.
I never really splurge because I never let myself go hungry.. I eat like every 3 hours so Im never totally famished. If I am then thats when I overeat. I try to snack alot (raw veggies, apples, crackers with some nut butter)
omg. your breakfast. is. genius.
if i’m planning on a big meal at night, i usually just eat a smaller lunch and snack on fruit in the afternoon. if i’m legitimately really hungry though, i’ll eat more. i can always eat lighter the next day. (it took me a long, long, long time to reach this point!).
Very creative breakfast! I love it!
Gorgeous breakfast!
If I feel hungry before a planned splurge, I’ll snack on low-cal foods like fresh fruit or veggies… and I’ll also chug water or sip tea.
Your breakfast looks so yummy! I have also found that squash topped with sweetened ricotta cheese and a pear or apple sauteed with cinnamon and spices is quite delicious!
As for your question, I struggle with that one. I often try to ignore it, or eat some veggies.
If I feel hungry before what I know is going to be a big meal I either try to ignore it or have a cup of green tea. And a little hunger isn’t going to do you in one can always last a little while longer.
if I am going to splurge later, I usually bulk up on veggies. I never ever feel bad about eating too many veggies.
What a creative idea! It looks like a very comforting breakfast.
I don’t eat before I go out. It never worked for me. I just try to pay attention to my body’s fullness signals and try not to overeat when I’m splurging.
Of course you deserve a night sans computer/blogging. Your readers will understand!! Breakfast looked DElish by the way, i’m jealous.
What a creative breakfast–I love your idea!
I don’t typically eat before I go out, but if I’m truly hungry (especially one days where I’ve taken a long run or ride, or have been very active), I will have a small, protein-rich snack to hold me over. I find that a piece of reduced fat string cheese usually does the trick.
That breakfast is so fun!! Now acorn squash can be consumed around the clock
I have an acorn squash sitting on my counter right now – and now I know exactly what I’m doing with it. Yum!
I usually just eat anyway. I try not to be TOO planny because your body knows what it needs best. If you plan a splurge and you find you’re hungry before, eat a snack and maybe eat half of what you were planning – but most importantly, listen to your body and your hunger!
PS – that breakfast IS fun! I’m so jealous!
YUM! The acorn squash sounds absolutely delicious. I might have to give that a try
If I know I’m going to splurge at night I generally have smaller, but balanced mini-meals throughout the day! I think it is key, though, not to dwell on the splurge all day– we deserve one every once and a while!
Have a fabulous day, prettyyy!
Rebecca
What a creative combo! Talk about great staying power potential, too!
I tend to not have a snack. I so rarely go out to eat, that when I do, I want to enjoy everything and not worry about calories. Plus, even if I do eat a snack, I tend to eat the same amount since I want to try everything, lol.
Breakfast = Amazing!
If I know I am going out to a nice dinner and am going to indulge myself but I become hungry before I usually will have an apple or some carrots sticks something that will give me a little umph until I go out to eat
I find the more I plan, the more likely I am to get overwhelmed and sabotage that plan. If I’m hungry before I’ll have a snack, and I drink plenty of water. I try to keep my meals lighter if I plan to splurge, but I find usually the next day I go back to eating normal, or a little less to compensate naturally.
Oh my gosh, I love the idea of squash and oats, yum! I try to do the snack thing too but that really only works if I am really hungry before a planned splurge. If I do it out of habit, I just end up eating more than if I had waited. I think you just have to listen to yourself, your hunger cues and trust your instincts on how to handle these type of things.
Before heading out, I will eat just a spoonful or two of cottage cheese – I find it helps ward off that “I’m starving & will eat anything in sight” and helps me make better choices on what to eat.
That breakfast is super original and it looks delicious.
mmm what a fun and new bfast! i loveeee acorn squash, i had some for din last night
What a creative breakfast! I love acorn squash:)
hmmmm….squash for breakfast. Not sure I could do it. Ever since my mom forced me to eat mushy, yellow squash as a kid I’ve had an aversion. I’ve only recently started eating onions and zucchini.
That’s such an awesome “bowl” for your oats!! I want to try making it in one of those little sugar pumpkins.
That breakfast looks super yummy!! Anyway, I try to drink tons of water, chew gum, and find other alternatives to the thing or things I am seriously craving
what a fun bowl for your oats! I’ve done that with melon, but not squash.
I would have never thought to have squash filled with oatmeal for breakfast! this looks awesome tina!
I think the old me would have had a snack and lost it at the restaurant, but now I would just rather wait and maybe have some tea or something (because I’m certainly diving for the bread bowl). But I know that there are ways to trick myself into filling up quickly without the calories. I usually order tea to sip on before the meal starts (or chug water), and then I’ll order soup or a salad as an appetizer. So by the time my meal comes I’m full and physically can’t eat the entire portion of my meal.
I’m taking my family out to dinner this Friday to one of my favorite restaurants – they are big eaters and it’s going to be hard to not over do it. Luckily the food itself is pretty healthy and in small portions intended for sharing (tapas), which should make life a little easier. Wish me luck!
great idea for the breaky!!
jenna
If I know I’m going out to a big dinner or will be eating more than usual I never “save up” my calories because that just cause me to be more hungry and eat more than I would have otherwise. I will have a small snack like a piece of fruit or yogurt to tide me over.
Even if I have a healthy snack before a big night out, I still eat just as much!!
When hunger strikes before a planned “splurge,” I do make a healthy snack. Sometimes, I try drinking some water first. With my schedule, I don’t hydrate nearly enough, and I often mistake hunger for thirst! If having a glass of water doesn’t work, I munch on some fruit or veggies. Favorites are pineapple or broccoli.
I don’t like to snack before I go out for a splurge just for the sole purpose of not over-indulging…. I don’t want to “use” part of my hunger for a basic snack that I eat on a regular basis when I could instead enjoy a new and interesting/favorite meal. I never really liked that whole tip that you should eat a snack before going to a party or fancy dinner. Not my style! haha
I will usually drink lots of water or have a piece of fruit or something that way I am not starving and don’t eat everything in site!
You are so creative with food…I would never have thougt to put my oats in a squash bowl.
Most of my splurges aren’t planned, but if I’m hungry and not going to dinner for an hour or two, then I’ll have a small bowl of cereal or something like that. I never get it when articles say to eat an apple or whatever before a party- I think it’s much easier to just eat (in moderation) when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full!
I used to always try to build up my hunger all day before a big meal out. Problem with that is, then I’d end up soooo hungry I’d be crabby by the time I arrived and I’d eat way more than I needed because my stomach was so so empty! I think eating a snack before a big meal out is a really great tip.
I always have a snack if I’m hungry, even if I know I’m going to splurge later. Otherwise, I get in a bad mood.
Usually, the best thing is something like fruit or a piece of toast with hummus. Just a little bit tides me over.
it seems like some things i just cant eat in moderation, like ice cream. a half cup? yeah right. so i just don’t keep those things in my house. if i want ice cream, i go out for froyo. thats my only diet tip.
I hate “planning” splurges because then I feel like I just can’t eat when I want to eat. I try to just go with the flow
I usually just grab a piece of fruit or a banana… I try to just let everything balance itself out naturally.
Before a big meal, I usually try to drink two huge glasses of water. I really makes a huge difference. Or, I’ll drink some chocolate milk before or during the meal. Chocolate milk is my absolute favorite, so it still feels like I’m indulging a little bit – and it fills me up. (I just have to watch how much I drink!) I also make sure to eat the low-calorie portion of the meal first. That way I still get my veggies in if I get full.
I’m always hesitant to eat before a splurge because I still want to splurge – usually I just try to get in extra exercise – and get right back to healthy eating the next day.
The diet tip that doesn’t work for me: Eat lots of small meals. I just never feel satisfied, I’d rather skip snacking and eat a filling meal.
If I’m hungry before a splurge, I’ll eat an apple or toast with peanut butter or light soup. If I go starving, I will eat EVERYTHING. I’ve learned my lesson many times. I agree with Emily above….I cannot eat several small meals. I like 3 main meals with one or two snacks.
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