"cheat" meals and "free" days.

trying4real

Date night is when I dont worry about it, I log it but not as concerned as the rest of the time.

seltzermint555

Most Saturdays are sorta like that for my husband and I, and like you I still log but over-log most times.

Favorite options? Mexican brunch (huevos whatever style) or a ridiculous cream cheese filled fresh donut and coffee in the AM. Later in the day, Thai, Vietnamese, or maybe a juicy burger and some ice cream after. I'm typically a 3-meals-per-day eater but a lot of the time Saturday = just two bigger meals day for me, which is easy since I wake later.

We usually get in more exercise on Saturday than other days, so it works out.

SweetPegasai

Weekends in general tend to be my slacker says. I tend to not plan them as much as I do during the week. This is mostly because I'm usually not in environments that I can control as much (game days that are more potluck than anything else, eating out wherever sounds good when we get hungry, etc.). However, on weekends I'm also able to enjoy longer workouts since I'm not fighting sundown. I do still track food though so I know where I am.

HeySwoleSister

I don't overly restrict myself at all on any day, so I have nothing to cheat on.

I also don't really worry about days where I go over my goal...there are usually a few days a week that I'm under, so no big deal, it all evens out.

I kind of feel like the Cheat Day/Cheat Meal mentality leads to a mindset that could make long term maintenance harder.

kaseyr1505

No, I eat in moderation and don't feel the need to cheat, or not log. Worst case scenario is I gain a few pounds in bloat.

megalita21

I don't like to plan them. I usually only have them when I really need them, like today a friend called and asked me to go out to lunch so I will probably go over my allotted calories today. If I plan them every week I tend to give up because I get too overwhelmed with waiting til Sunday. I want my eating habits to be more of an everyday lifestyle then a diet to earn a cheat day.

BeTheChange352

I cheat on the weekends but I try not to go crazy, log everything the best as I can and try to stay around TDEE calories.

KellyeBel5

hollyrayburn wrote: »

I hate to even call them that; it's kinda implying you are doing something immoral and bad. Perhaps I should refer to this as "The days when I am going to eat things or portions I normally do not now."

Do any of you do them? Do you do a meal, or a whole day? How often? Once a week, month, etc.

Personally, I do enjoy having a day where I just don't worry about weighing food, measuring out portions, etc. etc. Granted, I still log, but I actually attempt to over-guess, so that it does reflect on my weight loss.

Anyway, if you participate, whats your favorite thing to "go off the grid" with? I love a huge-*kitten* Mexican dinner with the cheese dip, guacamole, chips, something covered in sauce, and a huge margarita.

Now yours.....andddddd GO!

funsteps

I found that in the past, those "cheat days" are what have derailed me... One day turned into two, turned into a week, turned into months. They work for some people, just not me, so I've decided to nix them. I searched high and low for low calorie treats that feel worth while, and I work those into my daily plans. I never feel deprived. Sometimes I'm forced into eating poorly when I travel for work- I end up dependent on other people to get to food, stuck with what has been ordered to feed us on the job site, etc- that's the closest I get to "cheat meals."

shreddedtrooper

Leptin levels, monitoring: calculated refeeds
Macros
Calorie Dense vs Nutrional Dense

Make wise choices.

Gone is the day of the bro-science and clean eating or healthy eating, such limited terms in a vast trolling environment. Long live science


So do i cheat or have free days and how often. I do it everytime i want to jeapordize my goals, otherwise, live and be happy and fit it in when you can and hit micros along w/Macros and fiber.
Happy Friday #teamdebauchery

KellyeBel5

I love fried chicken wings with Texas Pete hot sauce and fries with a 6 or 9 oz glass of Chardonnay

KellyeBel5

KellyeBel5 wrote: »

I love fried chicken wings with Texas Pete hot sauce and fries with a 6 or 9 oz glass of Chardonnay

shreddedtrooper

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

spoonyspork wrote: »

Have not 'cheated' since I never deprive myself - if I want something, I fit it in. I still rarely go over 1300 -- usually ~1250 (yes, I weigh *everything* that goes in my mouth if made at home, including lettuce! I'm below my goal enough most times that I don't sweat dinners out. Still count the calories but understand it's probably not completely accurate)... until last night. Husband met a big goal so we went to a Brazilian Steakhouse to celebrate. Ate less than 200 calories before dinner and told myself I'd sample everything and even have dessert!

Made it through ~8oz meat and some cheese rolls before I was so full I was *ill*. STILL feel nasty today. I can't even look at food, and feel like my stomach is full of rocks. I'm all puffy from the likely insane amount of sodium. I've had nothing but my 90 calorie morning coffee and even that was enough to send me back to 'urrrgh' territory.

Never again XD

This sounds awful. How can that be sustainable?

*arrow pointing up. "this!"

agreed, how can that be sustainable.. yikes and yikes

Lourdesong

davidrod001 wrote: »

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

spoonyspork wrote: »

Have not 'cheated' since I never deprive myself - if I want something, I fit it in. I still rarely go over 1300 -- usually ~1250 (yes, I weigh *everything* that goes in my mouth if made at home, including lettuce! I'm below my goal enough most times that I don't sweat dinners out. Still count the calories but understand it's probably not completely accurate)... until last night. Husband met a big goal so we went to a Brazilian Steakhouse to celebrate. Ate less than 200 calories before dinner and told myself I'd sample everything and even have dessert!

Made it through ~8oz meat and some cheese rolls before I was so full I was *ill*. STILL feel nasty today. I can't even look at food, and feel like my stomach is full of rocks. I'm all puffy from the likely insane amount of sodium. I've had nothing but my 90 calorie morning coffee and even that was enough to send me back to 'urrrgh' territory.

Never again XD

This sounds awful. How can that be sustainable?

*arrow pointing up. "this!"

agreed, how can that be sustainable.. yikes and yikes

Could one of you two stop being vague with your "this" and "that" and take the time to point out what is so "yikes" About this post? K thanks

bigd66218

Since I joined, no cheat meals or days.....Before I ate everything in sight

GaleHawkins

hollyrayburn wrote: »

I hate to even call them that; it's kinda implying you are doing something immoral and bad. Perhaps I should refer to this as "The days when I am going to eat things or portions I normally do not now."

Do any of you do them? Do you do a meal, or a whole day? How often? Once a week, month, etc.

Personally, I do enjoy having a day where I just don't worry about weighing food, measuring out portions, etc. etc. Granted, I still log, but I actually attempt to over-guess, so that it does reflect on my weight loss.

Anyway, if you participate, whats your favorite thing to "go off the grid" with? I love a huge-*kitten* Mexican dinner with the cheese dip, guacamole, chips, something covered in sauce, and a huge margarita.

Now yours.....andddddd GO!

holly I did it many ways when I was dieting to lose weight. After nothing working over my life time I finally decided to develop an eating lifestyle that automatically controls my weight. Now I find no reason to cheat on my health in my case any longer after the sugar addiction left. Those who have never had 40 years of sugar addiction may not even grasp the concept/fact of sugar addition just like I do grasp the concept/fact of many other types of addictions.

allenpriest

SnuggleSmacks wrote: »

I don't use those terms. I'm a grownup, making a grownup decision to eat something I want.

THIS!!!

ava5764

I had my cheat day yesterday, had 2 portions of tandoori chicken, deep fried fish with rice, beef kebab, naan, a bag of chips, some breads with condensed milk. I was still craving for pizza after that but realized my stomach was really messy haha.

lostinwebspace

I have a cheat day once a week but stay in my calorie allotment. Every so often--every three months or so--I don't worry. That's coming up next weekend. Wife wants to do a buffet.

CynthiasChoice

funsteps wrote: »

I found that in the past, those "cheat days" are what have derailed me... One day turned into two, turned into a week, turned into months. They work for some people, just not me, so I've decided to nix them.



Ditto!

hollyrayburn

I have Aunt Flo visiting me unexpectedly this weekend, and my freaking cravings have been off the chain! My Friday started out crazy, guys. Forgot to take my bag to work, and had no breakfast or lunch with me. At noon, I slowed down and was planning on getting a salad while our staff room had lunch out...then the doctors decided to come in, and I was back at it. Finally managed to wolf down some peanuts from the vending machine at like 1400hrs. Lol, during my hour drive home, I could think of at least three things I wanted "so bad" from every restaurant I wanted!"

I tell ya it's hard during this week to determine what is actual hunger/cravings, and what your uterus is trying to make you believe you want/need! Lol

And also, no, I did not submit to it. As I did say in my original post the term "cheat" was used loosely, as I do eat whatever I want to. Some people seem to have not read that part.

deniztuzu2

I believe for someone on a weight loss plan, "cheat days" or "cheat meals" are a path for failure and disaster. If you are someone looking forward to your cheat day, as you approach your goal weight I think you will have cheat periods instead of meals because you are more comfortable with your weight and feel you can get away with just a little bit more. Gradually that little bit more will become some more and eventually you will end up having those cheat meals most of the time thus falling into the weight gain pitfall once again.

Jbarnes1210

I do, I call them free days. It's usually a Saturday. I stay below my suggested calorie intake all week, except for that day. I don't over do it on the portion, but I get to taste something I normally wouldn't eat.

hollyrayburn

Jbarnes1210 wrote: »

I do, I call them free days. It's usually a Saturday. I stay below my suggested calorie intake all week, except for that day. I don't over do it on the portion, but I get to taste something I normally wouldn't eat.

See, this is what I mean! Say a coworker has a birthday, and a store bought cake is brought in, you'll turn it down, because let's face it, store bought, mass made, once frozen cakes aren't that great. But if you know you're going to grandmas, and she's making that amazing Italian cream, you're gonna have a slice, and not worry as much!

UnicornAmanda

I don't do cheat meals or cheat days but if I feel like having something that is going to make me over my calorie goal, I eat/drink it without worrying, as long as its not an everyday occurrence. Labelling it a cheat meal set me up for failure for the rest of the day. And having a cheat day made me eat sooo out of control because it was the one day where I could eat whateverrrrr I wanted and then it took me a good few days to get back on track. Doing it this way, works better for me. I eat what I want, in moderation, stay within my calories most days, and on some days if I go a little over, whatever, I will just make sure I don't go over the following day.

avskk

I don't do cheat meals or days. I maintain a larger-than-usual deficit several days per week so I can afford to splurge on weekends (I like my Friday boozing, okay), but I maintain my weekly deficit by doing so. The only times I really don't count at all are my birthday and Thanksgiving. Otherwise, if I go over my calories I log it and try to adjust for it in the following days, but also try not to sweat it too much. If my loss slows, it slows, but I'll still get there in the end.

snowflake930

I don't have them. I had too many cheat "years", and that is how I got morbidly obese. It is counter productive to my goals and once on the "slippery slope" it is too hard to stop for me. Now that I am a normal weight, it just ain't happening for this old lady.

As in all things related to diet, weight and exercise, do what is right for you and will help you reach your goals and maintain when you get there.

It is a new way of life for some of us.

FitPhillygirl

I haven't had what I would call a cheat day since I went into maintenance mode a few years ago. I exercise 6 days a week so I don't worry about having extra food during the day anyway.

chiilipepper

I do cheat meals once a week only. I replace one of my meal plan for a meal that has more calories and definitely not in plan such as a Steak, burger or even fries. Once I do then, I can see how fast I drop weight and my body resets again. I wont recommend doing a whole day of cheat meals

soccerkon26

I can eat my favorite chocolate or a donut or something and fit it into my calories/macros, but when it comes to meals I can't. So I do consider it a cheat meal (even though many hate this phrase). I am aiming at one cheat MEAL (not a cheat day!) every 5 days. But I'm hoping I can make that once a week instead