Cheat Meal/Meal that Shocks your Body and Helps you Lose weight
Wtn_Gurl
Posts: 396 Member
Hi - Have you heard of eating a cheat meal that has the effect of shocking your body into losing weight in this way (dont' know how else to explain it). Lets say I am eating within my calories and macros all week. Weight stays pretty much the same or losing 2 pounds a week. Now, on the weekend I go out and eat a great meal and not worry about the calories per se, however, I try to choose a healthier choice. Like I ate steak fahitas last weekend and this weekend ate shrimp tacos and some chips and salsa. Another time went to a family dinner and ate a bunch of food. Each time I got on the scale and did not gain, in fact, lost weight.
so is this perhaps I really am still under my macros or does this "cheat" meal cause your body to know that it doesn't have to hold onto fat because I am showing it I am not eating too low calories and it kinda shocks the body to lose weight.
My question is - why is it that I eat this cheat meal which I am positive its going to hurt me macro-wise but it does not.
so is this perhaps I really am still under my macros or does this "cheat" meal cause your body to know that it doesn't have to hold onto fat because I am showing it I am not eating too low calories and it kinda shocks the body to lose weight.
My question is - why is it that I eat this cheat meal which I am positive its going to hurt me macro-wise but it does not.
0
Replies
-
I don't think it's the large meal that is doing it. Changes in weight are due to a lot of things... remember, correlation doesn't equal causation.
On the weekends do you still exercise? If you don't, the loss could be due to your body letting go of the extra water weight it was holding onto to repair muscles after exercise.0 -
Nope. It's CICO. You would have lost as much, and probably more, without that cheat meal.0
-
what is CICO? and yes, it may be the water weight that the increased exercise is doing, I walk around a lot on the weekend.0
-
CICO = calories in versus calories out
Starvation mode as frequently mentioned on this site doesn't exist.0 -
Oh, thank you for that. I'm doing well, just I noticed this co-incidence on the weekend. I think I'm going to gain, but I do not. Was not sure why that is, I think I am going to gain weight but instead, do not. so the cheat meal does not hurt me per se. Actually I do not put in as my goal a cheat meal, but it happens that when im out, there are special occasions and I want to enjoy them reasonably.0
-
Yes.. Sorta.....
Its not one meal but more like one day (or more) or even a week. At some point your body adapts to the lower calories (slows down to conserve energy) and a good way to 'trick' it is to feed it more.
I cannot find the reference for this advice at the moment. Later tonight (or tomorrow) when I'm not as busy I will see if I can dig it up (assuming no one else finds it first).0 -
Dewd - ah yes I believe that is what I remembered reading awhile ago.0
-
This content has been removed.
-
Yes.. Sorta.....
Its not one meal but more like one day (or more) or even a week. At some point your body adapts to the lower calories (slows down to conserve energy) and a good way to 'trick' it is to feed it more.
I cannot find the reference for this advice at the moment. Later tonight (or tomorrow) when I'm not as busy I will see if I can dig it up (assuming no one else finds it first).
This sounds like just another way to word "starvation mode".
OP you didn't gain perhaps because despite your one cheat meal, if you've stayed within your deficit for the whole week, you might not have have eaten enough calories at your cheat meal to truly put you over. That's all. There's no tricks.
0 -
In other words: OP keep doing what you're doing. Stay within your calorie range and enjoy your cheat meal so long as it doesn't put you over your weekly caloric intake and you're golden.
Just remember it's all CICO, no starvation mode, no resetting, no shocking the system or confusing your body.0 -
Definitely agree with the poster above. If it ain't broke don't fix it!!!! As long as your within your caloric range and haven't exceeded your targets you have nothing to worry about enjoy the meal. IMO cheat meals are beneficial in a diet especially if you have been dieting for 24+ weeks.0
-
So its just a coincidence then why I can eat a large bunch of food on the weekend and it does not have a weight gain? Sometimes I have sort of plateued, stayed the same for a few days, then I eat this large meal on the weekend, and then magically (it seems) the weight goes down again. I'm trying to see if theres a correlation. How can i test this? What if I ate like usual all week and then on the weekend, do not eat the large meal and then see what happens (the other thing is i tend to do extra housework/walking on the weekend, and that may really be what is happening - the little bit of extra exercise.
By the way, i have begun back on my diet, since June 1, i spent the month of June trying to go from food addict to just trying to find the discipline to change my eating food choices, and then i see what food works best for me, is the most satisfying, is the type of eating that I can live with, and also does not upset my stomach from eating too heavy food and/or too much fat in the food, so what is best for me is lower/moderate carbohydrate. That is the type of food that seems to work for me in every way. And I also have to watch the sugars because I am a bit pre-diabetic, (sugars were 97 in June). So I have lost 23 pounds since June 1, 2015.0 -
Nope . it always comes down to cico. But since weight loss isnt linear, we can't always predict that we will weigh in each week with an exact -2 lb loss.0
-
OP, there are plenty of people on MFP who don't do cheat meals and have lost a lot of weight. There are also lots of people here who do cheat meals and have lost a lot of weight. There are people here who do low carb, low fat, intermittent fasting, big breakfast, no breakfast, lots of exercise, no exercise and have lost the weight.
All that matters is finding a way to eat less calories than you burn and get the nutrition and fuel you need.
There is no scientific reason why eating a larger than usual meal would cause your body to lose weight. The body isn't a robot. It doesn't gain or lose weight immediately after what caused it. There are so many factors that contribute to what you weigh at any given moment, and there is no way to precisely measure them all.
So if you are having success while having a cheat meal every week, and you are happy eating the way you are, then keep doing it and don't worry about it! Good luck :drinker:0 -
I am of the opinion that it more relates to Cortisol. You are dieting (raises cortisol), exercising (raises cortisol), not enough sleep (raises cortisol), stresses of life (raises cortisol), etc... So depending on how you personally handle stress in your life, having a "cheat meal" offers many people stress relief, thus lowering cortisol levels thus many people have a whoosh effect of weight loss shortly after. Lyle McDonald has discussed this some and goes into this in this article of his.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/why-big-caloric-deficits-and-lots-of-activity-can-hurt-fat-loss.html/0 -
oh true! One of my most helpful tools in this battle is the need to keep stress down. Because i am a stress eater. If i keep my temperament at a moderate level, dont get stressed out, dont turn to food for self-medication, then this will eliminate the need for me to stress-eat. One day last week i was severely stressed out, and my reaction was "i need a pastry to handle this" then i caught myself and said no i dont want to screw this up, so i chose not to eat that, and the stress i was feeling went down by itself. That was a huge battle won that day.!
And you are right, i choose to eat that large meal so i will enjoy life and not feel deprived. Then, just carry on as usual the next day. 0 -
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html/
I've had it with an increased carb day (unintentional) and alcohol.0 -
Here is one article on the subject (not the actual research I am looking for but good info anyways).
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/metabolism-and-calorie-adaptation.htm
And it is not as simple as CICO as many want to to believe. Your body does adapt (it slows down and becomes more efficient).
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/weight-loss/why-do-diets-stop-working
http://www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/biggest-weight-loss-myth-revealed0 -
This content has been removed.
-
Which changes CO, right?Here is one article on the subject (not the actual research I am looking for but good info anyways).
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/metabolism-and-calorie-adaptation.htm
And it is not as simple as CICO as many want to to believe. Your body does adapt (it slows down and becomes more efficient).
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/weight-loss/why-do-diets-stop-working
http://www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/biggest-weight-loss-myth-revealed
0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »
Which changes CO, right?
Right. I guess the question is how little to you want to eat to continue losing the weight (and when does it become unsustainable and even dangerous)? Why not hit the "reset button" once in a while???0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »
Which changes CO, right?
Right. I guess the question is how little to you want to eat to continue losing the weight (and when does it become unsustainable and even dangerous)? Why not hit the "reset button" once in a while???
It just slows down as you lose weight. That's why the last couple pounds are always the hardest. The only way to get it to speed up again in that way is to gain weight. But then that's goofy.0 -
Here is one article on the subject (not the actual research I am looking for but good info anyways).
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/metabolism-and-calorie-adaptation.htm
And it is not as simple as CICO as many want to to believe. Your body does adapt (it slows down and becomes more efficient).
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/weight-loss/why-do-diets-stop-working
http://www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/biggest-weight-loss-myth-revealed
Well technically it is. Even the articles you reference infer it, in my opinion, from what I glossed over. You just have to realize that just because you adjust one side of the equation, does not mean that adjustment didn't affect the other side of the equation. So regardless of the variables (i.e.. weight lost means less of you so less calories needed, less food so less NEAT and also less thermic effect of food, etc...), balancing the equation still is simple as CICO. Its just most people don't realize the other side of the equation is also part of that.0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »
Which changes CO, right?
Right. I guess the question is how little to you want to eat to continue losing the weight (and when does it become unsustainable and even dangerous)? Why not hit the "reset button" once in a while???
*sigh*0 -
Here is one article on the subject (not the actual research I am looking for but good info anyways).
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/metabolism-and-calorie-adaptation.htm
And it is not as simple as CICO as many want to to believe. Your body does adapt (it slows down and becomes more efficient).
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/weight-loss/why-do-diets-stop-working
http://www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/biggest-weight-loss-myth-revealed
Plenty of folks here will suggest taking a diet "break" after 6 months or so of eating at a deficit to avoid adaptation. Eating at maintenance for a short while, then returning to a deficit so your body doesn't adjust to eating a lot less.
But our bodies don't change how they do things on a dime. Metabolic adaptation happens over the long term, at least that's how I understand it. I don't think the articles you linked to prove that a cheat meal every week or so does anything other than make your weekly calorie total higher than it would have been otherwise. If you lose weight the day after a large meal, it's because you ate at a calorie deficit over the last couple of weeks and that happens to be the day the weight loss was noticeable.
Your body doesn't "decide" to hold onto weight just in case you are starving week to week, and then suddenly drop it because you ate one big meal and tricked it into thinking you'd be eating more from now on.
0 -
shrinkingletters wrote: »DeguelloTex wrote: »
Which changes CO, right?
Right. I guess the question is how little to you want to eat to continue losing the weight (and when does it become unsustainable and even dangerous)? Why not hit the "reset button" once in a while???
*sigh*
he's not out and out wrong.
If you are pretty close to your goal weight- and your constantly pushing your body to be in a deficit- you can get in to trouble- you increase your risk of injury and you can tank your metabolism after an extended period of time.
I know after 3-4 months of heavy deficit- I need to eat at maintenance for a while. I do a pretty good job of including an unofficial refeed day- but sometimes- you just need to take a break.0 -
shrinkingletters wrote: »DeguelloTex wrote: »
Which changes CO, right?
Right. I guess the question is how little to you want to eat to continue losing the weight (and when does it become unsustainable and even dangerous)? Why not hit the "reset button" once in a while???
*sigh*
he's not out and out wrong.
If you are pretty close to your goal weight- and your constantly pushing your body to be in a deficit- you can get in to trouble- you increase your risk of injury and you can tank your metabolism after an extended period of time.
I know after 3-4 months of heavy deficit- I need to eat at maintenance for a while. I do a pretty good job of including an unofficial refeed day- but sometimes- you just need to take a break.
Does one meal have any effect though? Honest question! I have always assumed that cheat days are just a personal preference thing, and different from taking a break after a few months...0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »
Which changes CO, right?
Right. I guess the question is how little to you want to eat to continue losing the weight (and when does it become unsustainable and even dangerous)? Why not hit the "reset button" once in a while???
The issue isn't metabolic adaptation (which is what you are talking about), but (1) would having a weekly cheat meal "trick" your body so that it does not happen? and (2) would you see that the next day on the scale?
(2) is obviously false, you wouldn't see a slight increase in metabolism the next day on the scale in any measurable way. The more likely explanation is just your body's pattern (for some reason I'm always down on Fridays and up a bit on Mondays, likely due to my exercise habits as I exercise a lot on Sundays) or maybe sleeping better and having a non-stressful, fun evening helping with the whoosh.
(1) is likely also false UNLESS you would have been at a significantly lower weekly deficit without the meal so you are in effect returning to a more reasonable deficit. But your body isn't going to be tricked so easily.
I personally find it helpful to be able to relax and eat a bit more on the weekends (although I tend to also work out more on the weekends), but this is about the mental effect, not the physical effect (which I doubt exists).0 -
You're conflating issues here. A cheat meal isn't what's going to stop metabolic adaptation.DeguelloTex wrote: »
Which changes CO, right?
Right. I guess the question is how little to you want to eat to continue losing the weight (and when does it become unsustainable and even dangerous)? Why not hit the "reset button" once in a while???0 -
1 meal won't pull you from a heavy long standing deficit- no. But it mentally and physically might help you more than you think. I go out to eat every week or two- and I usually will splurge big time once or twice a month- and it's the only way I keep my sanity- I am super busy- but unfortunately my calories are low for how busy I am- and it's torture. Just last week I got home and I really needed a break- I needed to not cook- I need to not eat eggs and bacon- even though we agreed we would stay in- I just had enough and practically begged the man to go to dinner with me.
Sometimes your brain needs a break as much as your body.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.7K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions