Do you do a cheat meal/day?

rsenor

Curious as to whether everyone does a cheat meal or day? I learned to do this years ago when I was doing a particular diet; it involved a cheat day. I still integrate this but as the years have gone by it's become a little harder to drop extra weight, and I'm wondering if my cheat day is worth it. I typically mentally "put" foods I want into my cheat day bucket. I'm just restarting (as all of us I imagine) losing a few pounds, and trying to decide if its worth it to do a cheat day. Curious as to others experiences in this regard.

Annr

I have found "cheat days" to undermine what I am trying to do. Cheat implies that it's bad for one thing. If I wish a cookie, I just log it in along with other choices I make. Being accountable to everything I eat, is more important to me than labeling a food a good or a bad thing, or making a day when I can have set "bad" things.

It's an attitude thing. It's a mind game.

skorsk

I have tried cheat days and I lose control and my mindset. Ive learned if im going to be serious, I can't go off track.

ilovefastcarstoo

Annr wrote: »

I have found "cheat days" to undermine what I am trying to do. Cheat implies that it's bad for one thing. If I wish a cookie, I just log it in along with other choices I make. Being accountable to everything I eat, is more important to me than labeling a food a good or a bad thing, or making a day when I can have set "bad" things.

It's an attitude thing. It's a mind game.

I love this idea. I think this is how most successful people go about maintaining their weight loss. If you really want something, just have it and log it in with your other calories for the day.

tanyaltrl

Yes I have a cheat meal per day lol

endlessfall16

What's the "rule" of a cheat meal/day?

Annr

ilovefastcarstoo~ Yep that is true accountability right there. I read a book that stated that to truly satisfy what you are craving, you have to really listen to what your body is telling you. To not just settle for what you scrounge up with. To listen with your body, not your brain, or your impulses. To forage in my kitchen finding a great meal with protein, a grain, some olive oil, some veggies, is really putting the pleasure back into eating for me. Eating is suppose to ruin your appetite..hahaha!

Mycophilia

My whole dieting experience as been one big cheat. It just has to be, since it's been so easy.

Annr

Mycophilia wrote: »

My whole dieting experience as been one big cheat. It just has to be, since it's been so easy.

yep we are cheating death right? Living a long life and really annoying the snot outta death. :-)

queenliz99

Mycophilia wrote: »

My whole dieting experience as been one big cheat. It just has to be, since it's been so easy.

I'm stealing that! Awesome

Machka9

Nope ... no cheating.

I eat foods I like within my calorie limit ... and about once every 4 months or so, I take a diet break.

oksoitsjen

I don't do a cheat day... Just a cheat meal on Sunday evenings. And I still log all of it, even if it's over my calories. I still do things that people would consider to be "bad" I just make sure it fits in my calories for the day. I had two beers with dinner last night It's all about moderation!

6AMGANG

pointless

Lounmoun

No cheat days or meals. I have food I want to eat every day and fit it in my calorie goal so there is nothing to cheat from. I did not drastically change my diet to lose weight. I just eat smaller portions of higher calorie foods- usually paired with a bunch of lower calorie foods.

cityruss

Eat food, log food.

lml852014

I used to but now I just log everything and eat at maintence on Saturdays. I tend to overestimate calories & "bank" calories too for the weekends, just in case.

ParadiseLost91

I do cheat meals. I'm on 1200 daily calories and I'm STARVING, it takes all my willpower to go to bed hungry every day and pretty much always be hungry (yes I eat protein and fibers, my stomach is just used to big portions).

There is no way I can fit in the food that I crave on an everyday basis, as some people here suggest. There just aren't enough calories.
So I do a cheat meal (not a day, just a meal), where I allow myself to have whatever I want, with no thoughts on calories. I eat normally the whole day, and then "cheat" in the evening.

I don't have a specific time I do this, usually when I can't contain the craving anymore haha. My only rule is that there cannot be two cheat meals in one week, there has to be at least one week in between.

Because I'm already faily low in daily calories, I don't feel like it ruins my weight loss. And it's definitly worth it for me, because then I can have the foods that I normally don't have room for on a daily basis (pizza, spaghetti carbonara (my fave), sushi etc).

Mentali

krisonkor wrote: »

I have tried cheat days and I lose control and my mindset. Ive learned if im going to be serious, I can't go off track.

I'm the same way. When I get into the mindset that I need to eat healthier, as soon as I veer off track and spend a day munching endlessly on whatever I want, I've broken my determination and I start gaining again. It also doesn't help that when I start eating more, I need more to feel 'full' - so it's like reliving the first few days of my diet all over again whenever I allow myself to "cheat".

AskTracyAnnK28

lml852014 wrote: »

I used to but now I just log everything and eat at maintence on Saturdays. I tend to overestimate calories & "bank" calories too for the weekends, just in case.

I do this too ^^^

But every so often I get burned out with all the weighing/measuring/logging and I take a break for a few days. I don't consider them 'cheat days' though

mellyb1989

I'm struggling, at one point I had lost 20 pounds basically eating nothing, I gained it back Ina flash.

ClosetBayesian

Who are you cheating on?

I eat what I want to. I'm more mindful of portions, and I budget my calories so that what I want to eat fits into my day. I had burgers and fries last night, Domino's pizza the night before, I'll have a few beers tonight, etc. My other meals are lighter in calories (and a heck of a lot more vegetable-focused) to balance things out.

kgirlhart

I don't do cheat days. Especially planned cheat days. I may go over sometimes (like holidays or special occasions) but I always try to eat modest portions and I just log it and don't worry if I go over on those days. Most weeks I stick to my goals and just work in treats that I like every day so I don't feel deprived. I find that as I'm losing weight I am less likely to want treats that will put me over my calorie goal and since I know I can have them if I want I don't feel like I'm missing something. I still eat fast food about once a week and have a beer now and then. I eat something sweet almost every day. I have not tried to cut out anything completely. If I'm going to keep the weight off I need to learn how to eat the things I like in portions that will keep me at my goal weight.

kgirlhart

oksoitsjen wrote: »

I don't do a cheat day... Just a cheat meal on Sunday evenings. And I still log all of it, even if it's over my calories. I still do things that people would consider to be "bad" I just make sure it fits in my calories for the day. I had two beers with dinner last night It's all about moderation!

I've noticed that 2 beers go a lot further than they used to. I had 2 on Monday also and I'm planning on a couple tonight for St. Paddy's.

kgirlhart

ParadiseLost91 wrote: »

I do cheat meals. I'm on 1200 daily calories and I'm STARVING, it takes all my willpower to go to bed hungry every day and pretty much always be hungry (yes I eat protein and fibers, my stomach is just used to big portions).

There is no way I can fit in the food that I crave on an everyday basis, as some people here suggest. There just aren't enough calories.
So I do a cheat meal (not a day, just a meal), where I allow myself to have whatever I want, with no thoughts on calories. I eat normally the whole day, and then "cheat" in the evening.

I don't have a specific time I do this, usually when I can't contain the craving anymore haha. My only rule is that there cannot be two cheat meals in one week, there has to be at least one week in between.

Because I'm already faily low in daily calories, I don't feel like it ruins my weight loss. And it's definitly worth it for me, because then I can have the foods that I normally don't have room for on a daily basis (pizza, spaghetti carbonara (my fave), sushi etc).

You should consider upping your daily goal if you are that hungry all the time. Weight loss is a marathon not a sprint. There is no reason for you to be starving all week. I'm at 1300 and I'm rarely hungry. I started at 1200 but I felt that was too low so I upped it to 1300.

lml852014

my mom did weight watchers and lost 45 lbs and had cheat days once a week. Meaning she ate whatever she wanted to that day. Shes since gained maybe 10 lbs but she is still ate a great weight and she works out harder then anyone I know and manages it somehow.

streamgirl

I'm quoting an MFP friend here: "maintenance is deficit plus cheating"

At least I've found this to be true!

lml852014

ParadiseLost91 wrote: »

I do cheat meals. I'm on 1200 daily calories and I'm STARVING, it takes all my willpower to go to bed hungry every day and pretty much always be hungry (yes I eat protein and fibers, my stomach is just used to big portions).

There is no way I can fit in the food that I crave on an everyday basis, as some people here suggest. There just aren't enough calories.
So I do a cheat meal (not a day, just a meal), where I allow myself to have whatever I want, with no thoughts on calories. I eat normally the whole day, and then "cheat" in the evening.

I don't have a specific time I do this, usually when I can't contain the craving anymore haha. My only rule is that there cannot be two cheat meals in one week, there has to be at least one week in between.

Because I'm already faily low in daily calories, I don't feel like it ruins my weight loss. And it's definitly worth it for me, because then I can have the foods that I normally don't have room for on a daily basis (pizza, spaghetti carbonara (my fave), sushi etc).

Do you exercise so you can eat a bit more?

jmgj27

I'm going to buck the trend and say yes I do a cheat night on a Saturday night where I deliberately allow myself to eat a main and pudding that are far higher in cals than I usually would. For more it's psychologically very helpful as it means I can simply assign certain things to a possible Saturday night option instead of eating them more often. My husband is also dieting with me and he definitely needs this! It doesn't seem to have any effect on my weight loss overall but I am well below my cals for the rest of the week.

zyxst

endlessfall16 wrote: »

What's the "rule" of a cheat meal/day?

The "rule" for me is to eat as much as possible without bothering to stay within my goals.

For me, a cheat day is going all out. I'm not staying in my calorie goal for the day and I'm eating what I want until I'm satisfied. I tried doing it like other people suggest - a cheat meal or day once a week or month - and I learned quickly that my idea of a cheat day/meal will wipe out any deficit. A year ago, I decided to have 3 designated cheat days - wedding anniversary, birthday, and Xmas. I can easily clock in 3000 calories a day and not be bothered about it.

I incorporate treats into my every day meals so I don't get deprived or the urge to overeat.

_lyndseybrooke_

I'm far from a "clean eater," so I have plenty of foods that some may consider unhealthy on a daily basis. I eat dessert every single night. I also eat out every Saturday night, but I make it fit my macros (which are higher on weekends). But one Saturday per month, I go nuts and eat all the food. It's planned every four weeks and my husband and I have a blast eating an insane number of calories each. The scale goes up for a few days due to water and maybe a little fat, but it all evens out and goes back to normal within a week. I lost all of my weight while doing this.

I don't consider it "cheating" - it's just living. Sometimes you eat within your goals and sometimes you don't. It's okay. But calling it a cheat day is just easy and people automatically know what you mean when you say it like that. I prefer "fat kid day," because that's what I am...a fat kid at heart.

Fitting treats into your daily calorie/macro goals is great, but when you like food as much as I do and have an appetite as voracious as mine, you need a day every so often to eat things that would never in a million years fit into your goals. This Saturday we're going to Cheesecake Factory and, lemme tell ya, this girl ain't ordering from no Skinnylicious menu and skipping dessert. I plan to eat a huge plate of chicken and pasta and one of the highest calorie slices of cheesecake on the menu. I'll probably feel sick afterward. Sorry not sorry.

Everything in moderation, including moderation. The way I eat is a lifestyle and not a diet, and I'm not constantly hungry and miserable, but I'm also a human being and I'm going to do what the hell I want every now and then. And that's okay.

GYATagain

Have to admit I used to have that mind set. Restrictive diet big time and then BAM eat the whole hog, so to speak. Fall off, gain back, start again! Have totally reset my brain to not think of anything as "cheating". If I overeat (which I'm thinking is how we all thought of a "cheat" meal/day) - I log it and carry on with my life.