Are cheat days ok?

sammyjoyc

Hi Everyone!

I just started this lifestyle change and I wanted to ask your opinion on cheat days!

Does anyone have 1 day a week (or month) where they eat whatever they want and don't count calories?

It's hard sometimes on the weekend sitting next to my husband late at night after our toddler is in bed and he's snacking on pizza or ice cream while we watch Netflix, lol

Right now, I'm taking small steps to lose weight - set myself up for wins (not strict rules = major fails). I'm starting off by counting calories and not over eating/comfort eating, as are my normal (soon to be old ) habits

Please & thank you for any advice/experience with this!

MeiannaLee

Omg dont say that on this forum. I predict people will attack you for calling it a cheat day xD

bclarke1990

There's no magical answer based on natural law to this. Some people can handle them and some can't. I know for me, on my weight loss journey, a "400 calorie bonus re-feed" would turn into 800 calories, then turn into "today doesn't count I need to eat/enjoy every food I've been restricting while I can and then get back on track tomorrow" and end up at 4000 calories negating all my progress for the week.

I think most would advise you to work things you enjoy into your daily calories and limit yourself to a controllable cheat meal rather than a day, and don't blow it out of proportion (ie 6 donuts and 2 pizzas)

Mycophilia

I don't have cheat days. But I do have planned diet breaks where I eat maintenance calories for a couple of weeks.

sammyjoyc

Eek! A day off then? Lol
I was just curious if people thought this helped or hurt their overall progress

AmberFitzilla

Hey! I have been steadily loosing weight and have had some (unplanned) cheat days. Game night with friends, date night, it can get hard. I just try to stay reasonable and I do count calories even on my "cheat days." If I don't, then I begin to slip and one day turns into a week. At the end of a cheat day when I see how much I went over, it usually gets my butt back into it right away. I don't think it's sustainable to never have days where you go over. Live life!

juggernaut1974

In the end, it doesn't matter what you call it, how you treat it, etc. The numbers will always win out.

If you find that having a 'cheat day' helps you maintain an OVERALL calorie deficit over the long term, at worst it will just slow down your rate of weight loss compared to if you stuck to your deficit every day. (example, if you eat at a 500 calorie deficit 6 days a week, and have 1 day at a 1000 calorie surplus, that still leaves you at a net 2000 calorie deficit per week)

However...

If your cheat day is so big of a cheat that you wipe out whatever deficit you created the rest of the week, then yes, it's counter productive. (example, you eat at a 500 calorie deficit per day 6 days a week, and your 'cheat' day is a surplus of 3500 calories)

The numbers (as in calories) will always rule.

T1DCarnivoreRunner

I did cheat days at one time, early on. But I actually counted calories... just didn't restrict myself at all. I ate whatever I wanted and as much as I wanted to be happy.

What I found after doing a few of them is that I erased way too much work because a 20K-30K calorie day takes a whole lot of deficit days to overcome. So I stopped doing them a long time ago.

MissJay75

I have days where I eat what I want and don't consider the calories. But I still count them and log them as best as I can. This might be a social event where I really want to just indulge in all the good food, or sometimes a favorite restaurant. Often I balance out the extra by going under more either before and/or after the day of excess. But if I don't keep track of what I eat, it's difficult to track trends in my weight loss (and now maintenance).

My hubby and I also eat treats in the evening while we watch TV. I figure out how to fit that into my daily goals 99% of the time. Pre-logging your day can help with this, so you can save up evening calories. Finding low cal snacks that seem like treats to you is another way to do this.

You are going to have all kinds of people in this thread tell you what worked for them (myself included), ultimately you have to figure out what works for you!

EzRemake

I've had to redefine "cheat day" a few times over the last year. At first it was a day where I wouldn't count at all, but quickly noticed that my progress would plateau and I ended up just maintaining. At one time it got to the point where I put on 2-3lbs of water every time I had a cheat day, and by the next week when I had gotten it off, I would be right back on to my next cheat.

Now I define cheat day as a maintenance day. No surplus, no deficit, just maintenance.

Buckeye_Dave

You can enjoy pizza and ice cream and still remain within your calorie limit. In fact, I do it quite frequently.

cityruss

It doesn't matter what you call it, how you do it, how often or when you do it, or how many over-edited instagram photos you post of it.

All that matters is your calories. You're either in a deficit, at a maintenance level or in a surplus.

I_Will_End_You

It's fine as long as you don't cancel out your whole week's deficit in that one day. (which can be done) Try logging your "cheat days" and getting an average of how many calories you're consuming. Does that negate your weekly deficit? If not, you're good.

OhMsDiva

MeiannaLee wrote: »

Omg dont say that on this forum. I predict people will attack you for calling it a cheat day xD

That. They so enjoy it too

kjm3579

I log all of my days as accurately as possible and if something happens that I go over, then so be it. Things happen in life and while I want to be fit and loose weight I'm not going to get terribly stressed over a day of two going over on calories .... but I don't plan actual cheat days except for one of two times a year when I know I will be at a function that will involve excessive eating and drinking

maidentl

OhMsDiva wrote: »

MeiannaLee wrote: »

Omg dont say that on this forum. I predict people will attack you for calling it a cheat day xD

That. They so enjoy it too

No one has "attacked" her yet and you still post this. *insert eyeroll*

OP, I have days where I have to eat away from home or I am just extra hungry or a special occasion, whatever, days when I want to eat more. I try to log and keep it at maintenance, I don't always succeed, but it usually helps mitigate the damage even if I do go over. It's just going to slow you down, but for me it's worth it for my sanity.

I_Will_End_You

MeiannaLee wrote: »

Omg dont say that on this forum. I predict people will attack you for calling it a cheat day xD

I think most of the members who try to encourage people not to assign a moral value to foods/styles of eating have jumped ship, unfortunately.

Redbeard333

I'm coming to the realization that having "cheat days" is a way for a beginner to make the journey easier on them; instead of completely swearing off certain foods, they allow themselves that food once in a week/month. I think after you've been at this game for a while, cheat days become unnecessary because you're focused on the overall picture: better health.

For example: I eat a small bacon, egg, and cheese wrap for breakfast every day. I used to *never* eat bacon because it was considered so bad for you, but now I do because I make the calories fit. I also have a beer every now and then. No cheating; I just make the calories fit. I hit the Indian buffet yesterday for 1000 calories (approx); balanced it out with some more exercise. Point is, needing a "cheat day" may be necessary for some beginners to get over the struggle of making necessary changes, but they're not 100% necessary.

SingRunTing

Why not fit pizza and ice cream into your calorie goal? You might not be able to eat everything you want in one day, but you should be able to fit stuff in once in a while.

Heck I have ice cream every day. 1 serving is usually 150-170 calories. It's really not that hard to fit that in.

maidentl

SingRunTing wrote: »

Why not fit pizza and ice cream into your calorie goal? You might not be able to eat everything you want in one day, but you should be able to fit stuff in once in a while.

Heck I have ice cream every day. 1 serving is usually 150-170 calories. It's really not that hard to fit that in.

Yes, this too! I eat everything all the time so those days when I do eat over are from hunger or special circumstances. Never because I just really want something that i have told myself I can't have. (When I say hunger, I mean above and beyond the normal, cutting back hunger. Those ravenous days we can get on occasion!)

queenliz99

MeiannaLee wrote: »

Omg dont say that on this forum. I predict people will attack you for calling it a cheat day xD

OhMsDiva wrote: »

MeiannaLee wrote: »

Omg dont say that on this forum. I predict people will attack you for calling it a cheat day xD

That. They so enjoy it too

wow!!

WBB55

I recommend logging it and not judging yourself. Why log 6 days per week and "cheat" on the 7th if you don't know if you're still in a deficit overall? I don't know about anyone else, but I can eat 2000 calories of pizza if I wanted to (let's face it, I didn't get to be 100 lbs overweight by not knowing how to cram my maw with calories).

Eat pizza, it's cool. Just track the calories, so you'll know you're still in a deficit overall.

Merkavar

I'm of the opinion that if you need a cheat day it's a sign that your diet is to strict.

But I guess it all depends on what you define a cheat day as.

Can't you fit pizza and a little ice cream in? Maybe exercise more to increase your calories? Or is the problem you want a lot of pizza and icecream?

I haven't had icecream in a while but I regularly have pizza, I don't call it a cheat day cause it fits me calories.

Maybe look for a lower calorie pizza.

T1DCarnivoreRunner

SingRunTing wrote: »

Why not fit pizza and ice cream into your calorie goal? You might not be able to eat everything you want in one day, but you should be able to fit stuff in once in a while.

Heck I have ice cream every day. 1 serving is usually 150-170 calories. It's really not that hard to fit that in.

It depends on what you consider a "serving." Some of us struggle with hunger, so a calorie dense "serving" of 1 cup of ice cream is going to do nothing but leave us wanting more. If you are talking about pizza... I can easily scarf down a large pizza with 2,600 calories and still want to eat another.

My point: It depends on the individual. Some people can "fit" pizza and ice cream into their calories and be satisfied. Others are better off staying away from it entirely. Just figure out what works for you.

queenliz99

I eat a little less all week so I can have a lovely night out with my hubby. Try banking your calories, track them weekly not daily.

Chasity6

I try to stay on a clean eating approach, and was losing weight steadily while allowing myself a planned "cheat meal" weekly that I counted for. I was losing at a steady pace until labor day and I have gotten derailed as a weekend of splurges have snowballed into a month of poor choices to often, and over calorie goals. Back on track today and staying that way. I will still make allowances for the food I want but going to try to save a few extra calories daily to allow for a bigger splurge on weekend while staying OP. I agree harder on weekends when everyone else eating whatever sounds good. Going to see if this helps me. Congrats on taking first steps to health it is hard but there is a lot of motivation and support here.( Even on my worst splurge days this month I counted for everything no matter how ugly the truth was. That is progress for me, before I would not log, not visit site and it would snowball into longer periods of unhealthy eating and weight gain.) I have been holding steady no real gain or losses this month so time to get back on track.

Merkavar

midwesterner85 wrote: »

SingRunTing wrote: »

Why not fit pizza and ice cream into your calorie goal? You might not be able to eat everything you want in one day, but you should be able to fit stuff in once in a while.

Heck I have ice cream every day. 1 serving is usually 150-170 calories. It's really not that hard to fit that in.

It depends on what you consider a "serving." Some of us struggle with hunger, so a calorie dense "serving" of 1 cup of ice cream is going to do nothing but leave us wanting more. If you are talking about pizza... I can easily scarf down a large pizza with 2,600 calories and still want to eat another.

My point: It depends on the individual. Some people can "fit" pizza and ice cream into their calories and be satisfied. Others are better off staying away from it entirely. Just figure out what works for you.

Doesn't everyone want more pizza? That just seems like a lesson you need to learn. Learn to stop your self, self control, that feeling hungry isn't going to kill you. If you know you have had enough calories, ignore the feeling.

JillStepanik

I usually have a "treat" once a week or once every 2 weeks. I still track everything but it's nice to have something as comfort once in a while.

T1DCarnivoreRunner

Merkavar wrote: »

midwesterner85 wrote: »

SingRunTing wrote: »

Why not fit pizza and ice cream into your calorie goal? You might not be able to eat everything you want in one day, but you should be able to fit stuff in once in a while.

Heck I have ice cream every day. 1 serving is usually 150-170 calories. It's really not that hard to fit that in.

It depends on what you consider a "serving." Some of us struggle with hunger, so a calorie dense "serving" of 1 cup of ice cream is going to do nothing but leave us wanting more. If you are talking about pizza... I can easily scarf down a large pizza with 2,600 calories and still want to eat another.

My point: It depends on the individual. Some people can "fit" pizza and ice cream into their calories and be satisfied. Others are better off staying away from it entirely. Just figure out what works for you.

Doesn't everyone want more pizza? That just seems like a lesson you need to learn. Learn to stop your self, self control, that feeling hungry isn't going to kill you. If you know you have had enough calories, ignore the feeling.

You missed the point:

midwesterner85 wrote: »

a calorie dense "serving" of 1 cup of ice cream is going to do nothing but leave us wanting more.

Eating a small quantity does not satisfy the craving. My point is that some of us cannot "fit it into our calories" because the amount that fits our calories fails to accomplish the primary goal of satisfying a craving for that particular calorie-dense food.

siluridae

I don't do them. I'd just drown myself in cereal.

sunandmoons

As said before, cheating myself ...thats a game Im not willing to play.. I take great pride in that. If you feel like cheating yourself, go ahead...eat that whole pizza...have that gallon of ice cream. You will be reading success stories while chowing down and cheating yourself.

Why cheat yourself? You working so hard to get to your goal. Isn't that why your here? Its returning to your old ways that brought you here in the first place.

Im sure there will be a post....why did I do that? Or... why I cant lose? Im stuck..Im giving up... Im the victim.