Do you make up for "cheat" meals?

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  • jane837
    jane837 Posts: 68 Member
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    I never consider anything a "cheat meal" -- I agree with all the folks who are saying that "cheating" may not be a healthy way to think about food.

    I always have days where I eat more, and days where I eat less. I've never been able to stick to a fixed amount every day, so it's been helpful for me to track my calories on a weekly basis. That way, I can plan around high calorie meals by ALSO planning some lighter-than-usual meals or additional excercise to keep things relatively even over the course of the week.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
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    I don't have cheat meals. Some of my meals are larger than others. I just log them and make sure I hit my week's goal.
  • dnamouse
    dnamouse Posts: 612 Member
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    Similar to others, I don't have 'cheat' meals and there are no 'bad' foods (unless they make me sick due to intolerances, but that doesn't make them bad, it's just food).

    I don't log food any more and I know I don't eat the exact same amount every day. My appetite is not static. I know that there will be high days and low days, and they even themselves out. That said, if I know I am going out for dinner (particularly if it's a favourite restaurant), then I will eat lightly throughout the day. But that's so I can eat all the yummy food and fit it in my stomach - not to balance out any calorie intake :smile:
  • jukyu
    jukyu Posts: 80 Member
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    ndj1979 wrote: »
    cheat implies bad and I don't believe in bad foods....just eat what you want and fit it into your day ....

    This. There's no need to categorize foods as "good" or "bad". Unless that's how you want approach eating ad infinitum and if so I don't envy you.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
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    my cheat days are inside out from other people's versions of cheat days.

    On my cheat days Im allowed to forego eating, as opposed to eating things that people would refer to as unhealthy, junk food or just an abnormally larger amount of normal stuff.

    I do make up for it by following those days with strong healthy eating days where protein is my priority.
  • Revonue
    Revonue Posts: 135 Member
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    There's a difference between enjoying a day or even a few days of indulgence versus consistently over-eating.

    A day of eating over maintenance is no big deal. I do nothing to "make up" for it.

    However, if you're consistently "cheating" or eating over maintenance, you will eventually gain weight. If you wish to keep yourself at a healthy weight, you may have to evaluate your eating habits or your relationship with food.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
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    I usually focus more on weekly averages than day to day totals. I also usually know in advance if there is something coming up - a special occasion meal out, a party, etc. If I know that, I may bank a few calories during the week to give myself a buffer.

    I agree with the others though about not using the concept of a "cheat meal" because you are in maintenance now. This is supposed to be your life. What are you "cheating on"? Life is filled with days where you may go over your maintenance calories - whether by design or just spontaneously. Maintenance is also going to be a range - usually a 3-5 lb fluctuation based on normal changes. So I wouldn't feel the need to compensate after the fact or punish myself for the "cheat".
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
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    JoRocka wrote: »
    how is it a cheat if you make it up??

    I'm so confused by this concept.

    This exactly.

    My plan is to eat at a deficit on workdays, and eat without logging on weekends - I'd venture those are always at a surplus.

    Since it's my plan, weekend indulgences are not a cheat. They are just...eating.

    This is how I've been maintaining for two years.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
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    The only time I pay some attention to my calories if I'm bulking, otherwise don't stress having enjoyment. Just don't eat til your busting a gut and usually most people would be fine...
  • Jesssamesssa
    Jesssamesssa Posts: 116 Member
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    Nope. I cheat thats it and i enjoy it!!! :D
  • JayRuby84
    JayRuby84 Posts: 557 Member
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    I think it depends on how many excess calories you ate. If you ate a couple thousand extra I'd ramp up on your workouts for a couple days. Just burn it off, especially if it'll ease your mind. If you go bonkers on cheat days (consistently) , you could sabotage your whole goal of maintaining and actually begin to gain. Best of luck!
  • disasterman
    disasterman Posts: 746 Member
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    I make up for it by strictly adhering to my plan the rest of the time.
  • Linnaea27
    Linnaea27 Posts: 639 Member
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    Well, I do usually make up for going significantly (200+ cals) over my maintenance amount one day, by eating less or exercising more the next, when losing weight or when I'm near the top of my maintenance range. I can and have maintained without logging and without thinking too hard about how much I'm eating, which leads me to believe that I do this naturally. If I eat a whole lot one day, I will not be very hungry the next day, even when losing weight.

    Like others, if I know an overindulgence kind of day is coming, I'll try to be under my calorie goal (whether losing or maintaining) for several days beforehand, but I don't stress about it when I'm in maintenance. I do worry significantly more about this when I'm trying to lose weight, but I try not to since I don't want to end up with an eating disorder.
  • dunnodunno
    dunnodunno Posts: 2,290 Member
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    I do if I ate over a thousand calories or more than I normally do barring holidays.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    disasterman wrote: »
    I make up for it by strictly adhering to my plan the rest of the time.

    get out of here with that logic!!!
  • janicelo1971
    janicelo1971 Posts: 823 Member
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    Kruggeri wrote: »
    I usually focus more on weekly averages than day to day totals. I also usually know in advance if there is something coming up - a special occasion meal out, a party, etc. If I know that, I may bank a few calories during the week to give myself a buffer.

    I agree with the others though about not using the concept of a "cheat meal" because you are in maintenance now. This is supposed to be your life. What are you "cheating on"? Life is filled with days where you may go over your maintenance calories - whether by design or just spontaneously. Maintenance is also going to be a range - usually a 3-5 lb fluctuation based on normal changes. So I wouldn't feel the need to compensate after the fact or punish myself for the "cheat".

    This!!

  • chloeelizabethm
    chloeelizabethm Posts: 184 Member
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    I try to make my overall number for the week about balance, but don't worry too much if it's under or over by a few hundred - it doesn't seem to affect my weekly weigh in too much at all.
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    edited December 2014
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    littleburgy wrote: »
    I have a deficit during the week because the weekends usually are PAR-TAY

    Me too! I almost always go over my maintananace calories on the weekends, so I tend to eat lower during the week and just look at my weekly stats instead of daily.

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