Opinions on cheat days

tuiccim

I have "Maintenance" Days when I allow myself to eat at maintenance, but I log and track everything.

laceyslabaugh

I have had a day that I didn't track, had a couple drinks and boy did I hate myself Monday morning for it I have decided to look 2 weeks ahead in my calendar to see if there are any important events coming up and I'll cut calories the day before or eat before I go out - I also track each drink as I order them. So I see that I'm having too many and my calories are decreasing rapidly. Also helps me stay 'sober'. Lol

maybe1pe

tuiccim wrote: »

I have "Maintenance" Days when I allow myself to eat at maintenance, but I log and track everything.

this. I don't have a cheat day or cheat meal. I want this to be a lifestyle change and not a diet. This is the way I'm going to eat forever.

I have no foods that are off limits. If I want cookies everyday that's fine as long as they fit in my calories. Once in a while I will have a day that I eat at maintenance but I find that because I'm not so tightly restricting myself I don't need those days very frequently. I'm more likely to eat at my GOAL weight maintenance calories than my current maintenance.

DEBOO7

Cheat is so negative. Turn it around... make it a treat. And treats don't have to be about food either.

jjpptt2

There are 2 aspects to cheat days that need to be considered.

1) The Math
Cheat days are fine as long as the math works out in your favor - i.e. the cals in are less than the cals out over time. How that math balances out will vary person to person depending on what their cheat day looks like. How many cals you take in on your cheat day and how often you have them will determine if they are detrimental and by how much.

1) The Psychology
For some people, a planned cheat day gives them something to look forward to and helps them stay on track. For others, it doesn't. Some see it as a bailout or as being counterproductive. So whether or not it's beneficial mentally will vary person to person.

So as with most things in this arena, there is on 1 right answer.

cwolfman13

I guess it depends on what you mean by the term...for a lot of people, they are regular go off the rails day and they can easily blunt progress which, particularly in the beginning can really bring you down and also result in a mistrust in the process.

Maintenance days here and there can actually be beneficial down the line in regards to adaptive thermogenesis and re-balancing hormones, etc.

As far as particular foods go, I eat pretty well most of the time...but we have pizza night once per week on average...desert night a couple nights per week, etc. I tend to look at my diet on the whole rather than this particular item is "bad" so having pizza night once per week really isn't particularly material to my overall diet.

beccahun1

I have a "no logging" day once a month (the first of each month).
I don't necessarily "cheat" as I still eat gluten free and smart food choices, but I don't restrict either. I don't plan out what I'm going to eat that day and it tends to results in a bit of a weight gain but it is resolved fairly quickly. I find it takes me a day or two to get completely back on track after that day though, which is why I only do it once a month.

brittyn3

I think - to each their own. My personal experience... it makes having salads and lean cuisines during the week more tolerable. I make sure I burn a significant amount of calories and still log everything I eat. If it's a cheat meal, I offset it with a lighter meal before or after. When I get closer to my goal weight... I won't be so strict. I need the structure to stay on track. And I usually have some candy without logging. Keeps me sane. haha

becky10rp

I guess this all depends on the person. I've hit maintenance about 3 years ago. I don't do 'cheat days' - scheduled or unscheduled. I will have 'treats' - but I try to fit them into my day. I don't log food when I'm on vacation - but I don't go overboard as far as my eating goes either. Do what feels comfortable to you.

snickerscharlie

I just eat what I want when I want and make it fit my calories. For me, it's about portion control (moderation) over deprivation .

And if I have a day where life happens and I go over, I just log it honestly and move on. No biggie over the long haul.

kandisn7

I am one that is trying to change the way I view eating. No dieting, no cheating, no good and bad. I do occasionally eat closer to maintenance, but try to stay just under. I'm really trying to learn self control with portions.

FoxyMars25

I tend to eat a lot less during the week and more on weekends (I usually go out to eat once during the weekend and drink wine) so I just make sure it all evens out at the end of the week and it works well for me. I don't consider it "cheating" even if I eat half a pizza and drink an entire bottle of wine, I just make sure I am still under my weekly goal.

JaiDessaT

I have treat days, I still track but I don't limit. Yesterday, (Superbowl) I ate 2400 calories. On special occasions I don't want to be fussing about calories, so just enjoy it and then get back on the horse. I don't know if there's data to back this up, but the weight seems to fall off so easily in the days following a treat. Friday I eat at maintenance and resume my diet Saturday. There are no off-limits foods, just fitting them into my calories.

Rusty740

If It Fits Your Macros!! But don't you dare not log it

We all need that psychological pick-me-up once in awhile and there's nothing wrong with eating something you want to eat so long as it fits within your long term goals. One of those goals is to have fun along the way right?!

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