What do you consider cheating? (food wise that is )

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Over your daily goal calories that MFP has set for you to lose the amount of weight a week you want (with or without the extra calories from exercising). Or the daily amount of calories it states you need to eat to be at the weight you are at.

I have been curious since I seen this topic come up on the forum. I always thought being a few calories over your goal is okay once and awhile but being over the daily amount is considered to be cheating, however a friend mine was like if I am just one calorie over my goal I cheated.. I was like really wow that's kind of harsh on yourself. :frown:

Just curious what's everyone's opinion on this :flowerforyou:
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Replies

  • TribeHokie
    TribeHokie Posts: 711 Member
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    I would have to be several hundred calories past TDEE to feel like I have affected my plan.

    Btw I sat here for at least five minutes trying to think of how to phrase that. I wouldn't say "ruined my day" or "messed up" or "gone overboard" or "feel bad" because I really don't see it that way. I see it as a day that I went over TDEE but which can be balanced out by all the other days that I stay at my daily goal. I just get back on the horse the next day and try not to do it too often or let it get me down to the point where I give up.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
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    When I sit on the couch with a box of____________(whatever, usually crackers), and just eat and not count it and then look down and the box is empty. That's what makes me upset, and then I have to go workout extra the next day.
  • fleetzz
    fleetzz Posts: 962 Member
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    Over my calorie goal or over my carb goal.
  • shirleygirl910
    shirleygirl910 Posts: 503 Member
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    When I sit on the couch with a box of____________(whatever, usually crackers), and just eat and not count it and then look down and the box is empty. That's what makes me upset, and then I have to go workout extra the next day.

    Good example of cheating. Not paying attention to what you are eating, lying to yourself about what you ate or how much. If you are trying to stay around your daily calorie number, trying to eat as clean as possible, doing at least 30 min of exercise a day, then you are not cheating.
  • peeaanuut
    peeaanuut Posts: 359 Member
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    I dont concider anything cheating. I am not doing a test here. I am just living mylife and trying to do it better. So if I make a high calorie choice I just know that I need to alter the rest of the day, or even sometimes I plan for a higher calorie meal. Bad meals or bad foods happen. Dont let it kill your day. 1 every now and then is good for the sanity. The real trick is to learn to not even want to eat poorly. Making eating good and healthy is the ultimate goal but it doesnt happen overnight.

    Even on the higher calorie days when I just eat poorly, I log it. Its good tohelp me visualize what I am eating and make better choices. Smaller stakes, only 1 side, no bread or rolls, 1 soda or no soda, etc. a bad meal here and ther is better than the way i used to eat all the time so its always an improvement.
  • CookNLift
    CookNLift Posts: 3,660 Member
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    A day i am out having fun an living life without letting my food intake and calorie counting bother my good time, I try and keep a record of what I eat or drink, but when I want to have fun, one day every once in a blue moon won't hurt my weight loss.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
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    I don't consider it "cheating." I think that sets a bad tone to apply to eating and could lead to an unhealthy mindset.

    Unless you're over your calories by enough to make you over your maintenance calories, it's not detrimental. Being over or under by a few calories every so often isn't going to ruin your progress.

    Don't stress about it! :flowerforyou:
  • adlace
    adlace Posts: 375 Member
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    Hawaiian bread got me today. Was 133 over my calorie goal. But after logging out it said "If every day were like today....you would weigh such and such in five weeks" I still would weigh less in five weeks than do now. So no, a little over will make weight loss slower but not totally blow you out of the water. I just don't want to make it habit. But the bread was tasty and I do not have to go over my calories again tomorrow.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
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    Topic: What do you consider cheating? (food wise that is )

    Once I ordered a martini and it was served with vodka instead of gin.

    I felt very very cheated :(
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
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    Nothing that I can think of, actually.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
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    If you eat food with a person you are committing adultery with, then it's considered cheating. Anything else is fair game.
  • glutesandabs
    glutesandabs Posts: 68 Member
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    Substituting cauliflower for anything is cheating, I am sure people get divorced over this.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
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    Substituting cauliflower for anything is cheating, I am sure people get divorced over this.

    That Helen of Troy.. that was a myth. It was actually Pizza of Troy, being cheated and switched with cauliflower.
  • TribeHokie
    TribeHokie Posts: 711 Member
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    Substituting cauliflower for anything is cheating, I am sure people get divorced over this.

    Truthfact
  • anemoneprose
    anemoneprose Posts: 1,805 Member
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    No particular food; 'cheating' for me is just, getting off track one day, and having it run into another, and another.

    One day or meal 'over' is fine as long as the next few are on track.
  • Janice2Shakira
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    Topic: What do you consider cheating? (food wise that is )

    Once I ordered a martini and it was served with vodka instead of gin.

    I felt very very cheated :(

    *gasp* I would cut a bartender...
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
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    Substituting cauliflower for anything is cheating, I am sure people get divorced over this.

    The other day I was in the store buying pepperoni. I tried make some smalltalk with the guy at the deli counter.. "Yeah, so I'm making pizza tonight". He says, "Oh yeah, what kind?". "Um, pepperoni". Then he started going on about how a few weeks ago he and his wife made cauliflower pizza and it was really good and I should try it. I just turned and left.
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,711 Member
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    I have been trying to figure out how it is possible to cheat on myself.....and I can't find an answer.
    I think cheating is always done on another person.....like giving her a diamond engagement ring and in reality it's cubic circonia, or serving someone " gras foie " and in reality it's chopped liver . But cheating on myself.......no, I don't think it can be done. And that also includes food....
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
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    Substituting cauliflower for anything is cheating, I am sure people get divorced over this.

    The other day I was in the store buying pepperoni. I tried make some smalltalk with the guy at the deli counter.. "Yeah, so I'm making pizza tonight". He says, "Oh yeah, what kind?". "Um, pepperoni". Then he started going on about how a few weeks ago he and his wife made cauliflower pizza and it was really good and I should try it. I just turned and left.

    Break into his house and leave a note in his kitchen cabinet saying "I have picked one item in your entire kitchen and rubbed it all over my naked body" and walk out.

    Seems like an appropriate punishment I think
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,639 Member
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    Cheating to me is not logging some food or drink in the diary - any food or drink.