Do you take cheat days?

Liftng4Lis

Nope, because I'm not doing anything wrong. If I want something, I make it fit. If I happen to go over, I log it and move on.

polkadont

My strategy for "cheating" is; don't plan it. I feel like if I plan a cheat day/meal for Saturdays, I have to cheat because when Saturday comes around, even if I don't feel like cheating I will..because I planned it. Sticking to my calorie tracking and leaving some wiggle room allows me to have cheats here and there without feeling guilty. I'm a slowly recovering binge eater so it's very important to me to NOT feel that guilt after I cheat, IT'S TOTALLY OKAY&DELICIOUS TO CHEAT.

DaveyNH

I don't cheat but I definitely have high calorie meals on occasion. When I do, I simply burn more calories to 'pay for them'. I jogged 6 miles yesterday so I could have pizza last night. 22 days in and haven't gone over my calorie allowance once, yet I had several bad meals.

999tigger

Not really, the whole notion of them is a bit bonkers. If I want extra I want it but take on board the calorie costs and do a bit extra to claw some of it back. I see people on here just starting and they award cheat meals without having made much progress. Id rather get to target faster.

kindrabbit

I do. My problem is that I always over do it. I approach Friday with the attitude that I have worked hard all week, both on my diet and my training, and that I deserve an evening off to indulge all the treats that I choose not to indulge in during the week.

The result is that I allow all my old demons out for the night! I drink too much, then I eat too much, then I eat some more. I wake up the next day feeling shaky and bloated and with no energy at all. Every Saturday morning I say I'm not going to do it again, and every Friday morning I promise myself my Friday night off and so the cycle beings again.

My natural state is a binge eater and a binge drinker and I suppress it very well during the week. On a Friday night my binge monster raises its ugly head. I know what I have to do about it. I know the solution - I should allow myself small indulgences over the course of the week so I don't have 1 big blowout at the weekend. Will I follow my own advise? I imagine I will one day, but probably not this week.....

earlnabby

I do not. The idea of planning to overeat seems very wrong to me.

Having said that, yes there have been days that I overate for no reason. I also plan as best as I can for special occasions and holidays and don't always stay strictly to the plan. Either way, I log whatever I ate and go on to the next day. They are not cheat days because overeating is not cheating, it is a time when I overeat. Period.

cmmull67

I guess I have cheat days or meals, if looked at that way. I don't get the whole guilt thing, though. Seriously. It's your weight, your journey, not anyone else's. If you backslide, so be it. Beating yourself up over it (i.e. feeling guilty) only leads to this being "work" and not a valid change. We're human, we have cravings, and we act on them. Don't consider it cheating or feel guilty. Just get back up, dust off, and go forward, even if you took two steps back one day.

I support the local VFW, and sometimes that means buying a bbq plate or steak dinner. Not the healthiest foods, but as long as my diet in general and exercise plan are in good shape, I enjoy them..not as cheats, not guiltily, just plain enjoyment. Do that on occasion, instead of everyday, and you can do so smartly without gaining back weight.

Just my 2 cents, though.

Lisa_0527

I try not to think of it as cheating, but more as a treat because this is now my lifestyle so I don't need to feel like I am breaking some cardinal rule. Also I don't make a whole day of it but pick one thing for the day that I will allow my self to have that isn't a part of my normal plan.

BL3SS3DFITN3SS

I don't call it cheating... But I don't log my weekends and I'm more lenient on my food choices those days as well. I'm still aware of what I'm eating and Im not binging but I just like the break from calorie counting. Sometimes that means I'll be up on the scale on Monday and Tuesday but it evens itself out and I still manage to lose. It's all about balance, it's not a all or nothing thing and it's not meant to feel like a punishment but a lifestyle. I love wine, I love chocolates and ordering in... so on the weekdays I buckle down and on the weekends I enjoy myself a little bit. Making sure things aren't "off limits" keeps me from crazy cravings. But that's just me... Everyone just have to do what works best for them.

VicTitch

@rbiss, congrats on loosing weight, however please consider bumping up your calorie intake to 1200 at a very minimum. Anything less is actually putting your body into starvation mode, you can break down muscle & end up gaining fat because your body is trying not to starve. Good luck!

arditarose

Life happens. If it's Saturday and I've been good and someone says "hey, do you want to get a burrito/pizza and beer", my answer is "yes". I don't plan cheat meals.

judiness101

When I feel like having a big pig out meal I fast before it. This way I don't go over my calories.

I also eat cheese a lot everyday and I save my calories for it.

CherryChan81

yes.... everyday.... it's BAD!

votkuhr

I have cheat days! Fridays and Saturdays are reserved specially for party calories. That means shots, jägerbombs, more sugary cocktails, pizza and fried chicken.