To cheat or not to cheat? That is the question.

trishk82

I was wondering how you all feel about a "cheat day." Do you think it helps or hinders weight loss? I feel guilty about having a cheat day, but I heard it can actually aid in weight loss. What do you all think?

Francl27

It's a myth. If you eat more, you'll eat less. Just fit what you want in your calories instead of overeating for no reason.

loxety

How do you feel when you stay up really late on the weekend then have to get up early on the weekdays? It throws off your rhythm. Slow and steady wins the race.

trishk82

Thanks everyone!

the_nerdgasm

It will slow down your progress a bit, but if you're eating at a deficit the rest of the week, then you should still lose. I give myself one cheat day a week where I can eat up to maintenance. It helps me keep my sanity sometimes, and if I'm feeling good, I don't always use my cheat day. But if I want to go out and have a nice meal somewhere, or go to the movies and have a popcorn, or go have a few drinks, this is the day I'll do it. As long as I'm eating at my deficit the rest of the week, I still lose weight.

tkfunkyfrogg

Cheat days have been my ruin in the past. Id feel guilty then give up and give into bad foods. Eat in moderation and have a cheat MEAL a week that still fits into your calories. Don't undo everything on your path to whatever it is you seek.

rankinsect

I think the better thing is to structure your meals so that you don't actually feel the need for a cheat day.

For example, if you normally deprive yourself of X, and then one day a week let yourself eat X, you're actually just strongly reinforcing cravings for X. (It's called Intermittent Reinforcement). It's much better if you just make X something you eat from time to time, within the context of your normal diet, not a special "cheating" thing you do. Cycles of deprivation and consumption are less successful due to the strong cravings.

That said, I do take certain days "off" where I have no specific calorie goal and I accept my logs are likely inaccurate, but it's not regular, it's things like Christmas, Thanksgiving, a birthday or wedding, etc., and it's not "I eat everything in sight" as much as "I eat about average compared to the other adults in the room".

dutchandkiwi

I will have a cheat day very occasionally. It does not aid my weightloss that day as the numbers prove it. However it does aid my wellbeing and general enjoyment of life. That in turn will help me to keep the weightloss journey interesting and achievable. Some of the enjoyment is coming form scheduling it in (I try to have a low cal week beforehand) and looking forward to some glorious food.

Note for me personally a cheat day is spent in a good quality restaurant, or christmas dinners. Not going to have a cheat day on anything but quality. It has to be worth it to me.

tomatosoup3

i have a cheat day once a week and i love it. i still lose during the week.

if you really want to have a cheat day, i think the trick is to switch your thinking. these 24 hours are your break from logging, from dieting. after this day you will feel NO guilt and get right back to logging like you did before.
it took me a while to master this way of thinking (it used to be one cheat day would lead to another, and then another..) but once i got it down it was great.

also, you tend to discover that you can't eat the quantities that you used to... there just isn't room in there anymore.

FitGirl0123

I don't believe in cheat days. Eat what you want, on occasion, in moderation

lorrpb

I don't call them cheats, it's more of a 90/10 guide because 80/20 (that my trainer suggests) seems too much. The "cheat" is more nutritional variation than calorie. I have no desire to blow out my calories in because I work so hard to achieve the weight loss. It's just not worth it to me. Plus I can't eat huge amounts any more.
SW 310
CW 188
GW 150

Kalikel

Some days, I eat less than the goal number. Some days, I eat more. That's all hunger-based.

I do not have cheat days. For me, this whole thing is health-based. The weight loss is part of getting healthier, but health is #1, feeling good is #2 and vanity is a distant third.

I'm not going to cheat myself out of good health, so no scheduled days to cheat. The idea of cheating myself out of health is a wacky one, you know?

bclarke1990

I eat at a 500-600 deficit 6 days a week and then eat around 100 over maintenance every Monday. I prefer this to just eating at a smaller deficit because it feels like a refeed/replenishment and I can fit in some of the dirtier foods a bit easier.

quiltlovinlisa

I'm frequently repeating to myself, there is no cheating, only logging.

vfit10

Cheat meal maybe ... This is my if I eat .. For the whole day .. The cheat day .. I feel like *kitten* the next day .. Bloated tired weird feeling . Everyone is different try it.

ekruska802

Sunday is sort of the default cheat day at my house. My husband is a very good cook, and we often have a nice Sunday dinner. I've found, though, that even though I might go over my calories, it's not by much. All the logging and paying attention to what I eat has created better habits so even though I feel like I'm cheating, it turns out not to be so bad.

scottver2

Cheat meal, yes, cheat day, no. I would lose my sanity if I couldn't eat one tasty meal a week.

lorrpb

scottver2 wrote: »

Cheat meal, yes, cheat day, no. I would lose my sanity if I couldn't eat one tasty meal a week.

There is no reason that EVERY meal can't be tasty. Mine are tastier than before because I use more fresh food and better seasonings.