"Cheat days"

sarahlovesfood25

Hey all was wondering if anyone ever has "off/cheat" days, where u eat wot u want really but not go OTT with loads of sugary/fatty foods?

PinkPixiexox

I used to have 'Cheat Days'.

I would eat very, very little during the week and then pretty much binge on everything I could get my hands on at the weekend. Not only was I having miserable hunger-pang filled weekdays but I spent every weekend feeling sick with over-indulgence. Needless to say, my weight stalled. I wasn't losing a single pound.

My advice would be - approach 'cheats' sensibly. In fact, drop the title. You are not cheating by having a meal that isn't counted or that is higher in calories than what you are used to. You are just being human and enjoying a meal. Instead of 'cheat days', why not have a balanced diet plan every day which includes 'treats' here and there? I've found that I don't feel the need to HAVE 'cheat days' anymore because I don't disallow anything from my every day diet therefore I'm not craving all the 'bad food'. You want a small bowl of Ice cream after your dinner tonight? Have it. You want to have some popcorn at the cinema tomorrow? Have it. Balance is key.

Be aware of your intake, keep track and listen to your body.

WinoGelato

Have you tried using the search feature? There are questions and comments just about every day about this topic in similar threads...

For what it's worth, as I say in all of these, I don't believe in cheating because I feel it puts too much pressure on having a perfect diet most days and then labeling other days as "cheating". For many people, labeling food or putting too much pressure on eating a certain way can create a negative outlook.

I work the foods that I love in on a regular basis: wine and chocolate pretty much every day. Pizza about once a week. If I want something more calorie dense I save up calories during the week so I can fit it in, but I don't consider that "cheating".

kgirlhart

I eat what I want every day without going OTT. I just work things into my calorie goals. I eat smaller portions of things that I used to eat a lot of, but I basically eat all the things I always ate. In my opinion if your way of eating is something you have to "cheat" on it isn't going to be sustainable in the long run.

sarahlovesfood25

Oh thank u so much guys, i work and hav 3kids and aim to do at least 30mins exercise 5days a week but if i have something "naughty" like chocolate, takeaway, crisps etc i feel guilty but like u say just dont over do it and dont cut out foods u love just think of portion size or calories in it

kgirlhart

sarahjohnson25852014 wrote: »

Oh thank u so much guys, i work and hav 3kids and aim to do at least 30mins exercise 5days a week but if i have something "naughty" like chocolate, takeaway, crisps etc i feel guilty but like u say just dont over do it and dont cut out foods u love just think of portion size or calories in it

You really need to stop thinking that chocolate is "naughty". Chocolate is awesome. You just have to log it and make sure it doesn't put you over your calories for the day. You should never feel guilty about things you chose to eat. Just look at the calories and decide if it is worth it or not. You might be able to eat more food for the same calories if you cook all your meals from scratch at home, but you can still eat out (even fast food) and stay within your goal. Sometimes life gets busy. You shouldn't feel guilty about that.

sarahlovesfood25

Thnk u i appreciate ur advice

suzysues

I am usually under my goal during the week, mainly from exercise, I do eat normally during the day at the weekend, but tend to eat a more calorific dinner, then I have a few drinks on a Saturday evening, which also leads to a few crisps. I still log it, but it does go over, but when I look at my calories over the whole week, I am still under. So I don't worry too much.

Emily3907

I plan my weeks around my weekends because I know weekends are when I tend to eat more. So, during the week, I eat around 1300-1500 calories. Then on the weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) I usually eat between 1600-1900 calories. This way, I can plan for my indulgences. I basically took the MFP calorie suggestion, multiplied by 7 for my weekly calorie goal and then set up my days to adhere to the weekly goal without going nuts.

That being said, I do have one day a month that I don't count. I guess that would be considered "cheating". The way family birthdays and holidays fall, we get together with family about once a month. Those are the days where I just enjoy myself and don't count.

P.S. I am also a daily dessert eater. Every day I have something for dessert as my evening "snack". I have learned that restriction does not work for me, so I make the choice to fit in sweets and treats regularly.

sarahlovesfood25

At least u log in in and work around it tho, u still get to have treats and stuff which is good cus sometimes u need it thanks for the advice

Sarahb29

I have dark chocolate almost every week, as long as it fits in your calories it isn't a "cheat" Can you find foods that fit into your diet that won't break your calorie bank but still give you something sweet? How about sugar free jello, almonds, parsnip chips etc?

Higher carb meals are my "cheat" meals that I save for the weekend. They are all still healthy and have plenty of veggies, but I allow myself something I don't usually eat, ie some potatoes or rice.

sarahlovesfood25

I did post a blog about carbs (mainly bread, rice, pasta) but sounds like a good idea wot u do
Ive heard dark choc is better so yea i can have a piece every day or every few days as a treat/snack but count calories thank u so much