But seriously, can you? I’m happy to report, you can eat pizza and still lose weight. Read on for my top tips to balance that slice life with weight loss.
I haven’t really thought about losing weight until recently. Getting engaged does crazy things to a person. Like making you think about losing weight to fit into a Barbie-sized wedding dress … but I digress.
If you’re like me, giving up your favorite foods when it comes to weight loss isn’t something that is negotiable. Do you seriously expect me to forgo pizza when I’m trying to lower the number on the scale? Heck no!
So I started to wonder, “Can you eat pizza and still lose weight?” After much research, a chat with my friend who happens to be a registered dietitian, and some experimentation of my own, I’ve come to the conclusion that you can. It all comes down to a few things: portion control, balance and mindset. Here’s how you can still lose weight while enjoying every cheesy bite.
Portion Control
No, you can’t eat an entire pizza every day and still lose weight. I’m sorry (unless you’re Michael Phelps or something). You’ll have to focus on your portion sizes if you want to eat pizza and still lose weight.
Briana Rodriquez, Registered Dietitian, agrees. “If you want to lose weight, you need to create a calorie deficit,” she states. “You’ll want to focus on eating quality, nutritious foods the majority of the time, but if you want some pizza, you don’t have to deny yourself! Enjoy a slice and pair it with a salad or lots of green vegetables.”
OK, Briana, I like your style. Experts agree that you don’t have to deprive yourself to reach your weight loss and health goals.
How much pizza can I have when I’m trying to lose weight?
Consider this: The average slice of cheese pizza packs about 285 calories, according to the USDA. If you’re trying to lose weight and your goal is to consume around 1,500 calories a day, eating two slices is over a third of your daily caloric intake. If you have two slices, it’s not going to derail your progress, but swapping out one slice for a salad or other veggies could help stay satisfied longer — and save you extra fat and calories.
Balance
So you’re watching how much pizza you’re eating … but how often should you eat it? Probably not every day, according to experts.
Rodriquez notes, “Eating pizza can be part of a balanced diet, but focusing on consuming plenty of vegetables, some fruit, lean protein and a small amount of healthy fats will help you reach your weight loss goals in the end.”
Finnnne. So you can’t eat pizza every day and lose weight. But a couple of times a month probably won’t kill you (or tip the scale) as long as you’re watching your portions.
Mindset
Picture this: You’re at a friend’s party and there’s pizza for dinner. You have a slice … then two, then three (and maybe a couple of bites of a fourth). Before you know it, you’re totally stuffed. Well, it looks like you “blew” your diet, so you might as well chase the pizza with a few glasses of pinot grigio and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, right?
Scenarios like this aren’t uncommon when you’re trying to lose weight. But how you handle getting off track can make or break your weight loss progress! Instead of continuing to indulge, you can start making healthy decisions from that moment forward. So you had a few slices, it’s all good! I hope they tasted amazing! For your next meal, enjoy something lighter. Go for a walk to help you digest. Do something that will get you back into a healthy mindset.
If you approach weight loss this way, eating a slice or two won’t hold you back from reaching your goals.
The final verdict
The votes are in: You can eat pizza and still lose weight. It just takes some careful portion control, variety in your diet and a positive mindset! Now you go crush those goals while crushing those slices.
As for me, you know I’ll be eating pizza ON my wedding day and leading up to it.
Happy New Year, pizza lovers!
