Are cheat meals necessary?
Replies
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I do allow myself a cheat day. It is on my weekly weigh day. But if i feel I don't lose what I should the previous week, then I won't have one. To me, it breaks the monotony. This is mainly at the beginning of my journey. Maybe eventually I'll just do it every other week.1
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There are just some times that I get a real strong taste for something, and have to have it. I can either “eat the house down” and end up eating it anyway, or just go ahead and have it before digging the hole eating the house down.
Yep...
Don't "cheat" - just have a smaller portion of whatever it is you're craving. Or, if you lose control around said food and can't cope with a smaller portion just yet, you may need to cut out that food completely until you can manage it. But learning to just eat less of the things you love is a good way to set yourself up for success in maintaining your new weight. 2 -
ptcampgymokc wrote: »They are not necessary but it is good mentally from time to time to indulge in something you enjoy eating just don't over do it. If you like ice-cream have a one scoop of your favorite flavor. Things like that. Beyond cheat meals I would recommend raising your calorie intake one day of the week. For example if you are strictly consuming about 2,500 calories a day on your cheat meal day allow your self to eat an entire additional meal or about 600 calories. You can make it a delicious but sensible option like spaghetti but replace the spaghetti with squash. Yum!!!
Seriously though portion control and moderation will allow you to eat something you enjoy once every 7 to 10 days.
One thing to note, if you have a serious problem with nutrition adherence then I would not recommend cheating until you get a handle on that. Mainly because it is too easy to quit your meal plan completely over a cheat meal that turns into a cheat day then a cheat week with no end in sight.
Best of luck.
Seriously you should be paid for this post!
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Seriously you should be paid for this post!
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LOL What can I say, I like ice-cream.
... and squash too.0 -
JasonOnceAgain wrote: »Cheat meals are for the weak.... it's one thing to go over, it's another to plan to fail.
It's one thing to eat what you plan to, even if what you plan to eat is more than your goal on a "normal" day. It's another not be able to stick to a plan, agonize in guilt over, label yourself "weak," and decide there's no point in trying.1 -
lynn_glenmont wrote: »JasonOnceAgain wrote: »Cheat meals are for the weak.... it's one thing to go over, it's another to plan to fail.
It's one thing to eat what you plan to, even if what you plan to eat is more than your goal on a "normal" day. It's another not be able to stick to a plan, agonize in guilt over, label yourself "weak," and decide there's no point in trying.
Well, which is it? If it's not a weakness, is it a reward? Are we like dogs rewarding ourselves with food?
Keep in mind, we're talking about planned cheats, not slip ups.1 -
JasonOnceAgain wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »JasonOnceAgain wrote: »Cheat meals are for the weak.... it's one thing to go over, it's another to plan to fail.
It's one thing to eat what you plan to, even if what you plan to eat is more than your goal on a "normal" day. It's another not be able to stick to a plan, agonize in guilt over, label yourself "weak," and decide there's no point in trying.
Well, which is it? If it's not a weakness, is it a reward? Are we like dogs rewarding ourselves with food?
Keep in mind, we're talking about planned cheats, not slip ups.
To me it's much simpler than that:
This is food.
I enjoy it.
Can I have it and still lose weight? (The answer is always yes)
Is it worth the calories? (The answer is sometimes yes)
I do this for cheesecake and I do this for tahini cauliflower, no difference. Food is food and dieting is a balancing act. If weight loss can be made more pleasant, why would I choose to make it harder? There are no special trophies for self flagellation if the result is the same.8 -
JasonOnceAgain wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »JasonOnceAgain wrote: »Cheat meals are for the weak.... it's one thing to go over, it's another to plan to fail.
It's one thing to eat what you plan to, even if what you plan to eat is more than your goal on a "normal" day. It's another not be able to stick to a plan, agonize in guilt over, label yourself "weak," and decide there's no point in trying.
Well, which is it? If it's not a weakness, is it a reward? Are we like dogs rewarding ourselves with food?
Keep in mind, we're talking about planned cheats, not slip ups.
It's a decision. Plans are decisions.
Are we dogs, that we our lives according to a set routine that we don't have the autonomy to alter, because the doors and leashes and cans and closed bags are made for hands and not paws?1 -
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Are cheat meals necessary in your opinion?
Do you have a weekly cheat meal?
Nope and Nope.
When I decided to lose weight, I stuck with it like glue for 16 weeks. I never went over my calories in that time. Not even once. Not even by a tiny little bit.
I lost 15 kg in those 16 weeks.
Then I took a 1-month diet break while deciding what I wanted to do next. I decided to stick with it for another 16 weeks but to up my calories slightly, and I lost 10 more kg in that time.
That said, I exercise lots, and one of the benefits of that is that I can eat more. I was still having things like ice cream occasionally, and pizza once a month. I just put in the work for it.
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I never cheat. How would I cheat? By overeating mindlessly and not logging them and pretend that this did not happen? Well that ostrich attitude got me fat in the first place so no way.
I have over days - usually carefully planned ahead. Often they are celebration days. They are not cheat meals, but I do consider those days special and can look forward to them for weeks.
Also as I was losing (In maintenance now) I am always eating at maintenance (more or less) on holidays Not taking a full beak Not going back to the eating as before (as that got me fat) but mindful and balanced with a few more calories.
For me I found having a short maintenance period and the occasional day over helped me to keep focus and to learn to really enjoy good food instead of eating because it is there1 -
When "good" food can taste so great why would I want to cheat?0
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JasonOnceAgain wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »JasonOnceAgain wrote: »Cheat meals are for the weak.... it's one thing to go over, it's another to plan to fail.
It's one thing to eat what you plan to, even if what you plan to eat is more than your goal on a "normal" day. It's another not be able to stick to a plan, agonize in guilt over, label yourself "weak," and decide there's no point in trying.
Well, which is it? If it's not a weakness, is it a reward? Are we like dogs rewarding ourselves with food?
Keep in mind, we're talking about planned cheats, not slip ups.
lol seriously?
give me one good reason we can't eat whatever we want when we want stay in goal...lose weight and it not be compared to being a dog or being weak?1 -
JasonOnceAgain wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »JasonOnceAgain wrote: »Cheat meals are for the weak.... it's one thing to go over, it's another to plan to fail.
It's one thing to eat what you plan to, even if what you plan to eat is more than your goal on a "normal" day. It's another not be able to stick to a plan, agonize in guilt over, label yourself "weak," and decide there's no point in trying.
Well, which is it? If it's not a weakness, is it a reward? Are we like dogs rewarding ourselves with food?
Keep in mind, we're talking about planned cheats, not slip ups.
lol seriously?
give me one good reason we can't eat whatever we want when we want stay in goal...lose weight and it not be compared to being a dog or being weak?
If you're eating within goal you're not "cheating" on your diet, are you? ::eyeroll::0 -
JasonOnceAgain wrote: »JasonOnceAgain wrote: »lynn_glenmont wrote: »JasonOnceAgain wrote: »Cheat meals are for the weak.... it's one thing to go over, it's another to plan to fail.
It's one thing to eat what you plan to, even if what you plan to eat is more than your goal on a "normal" day. It's another not be able to stick to a plan, agonize in guilt over, label yourself "weak," and decide there's no point in trying.
Well, which is it? If it's not a weakness, is it a reward? Are we like dogs rewarding ourselves with food?
Keep in mind, we're talking about planned cheats, not slip ups.
lol seriously?
give me one good reason we can't eat whatever we want when we want stay in goal...lose weight and it not be compared to being a dog or being weak?
If you're eating within goal you're not "cheating" on your diet, are you? ::eyeroll::
and you aren't a dog for rewarding yourself with food either...
cheat meals are not necessary if you get that you can have treats whenever you want them....you fit them in.
Often times people associate cheat meals with eating food that "is off limits" not going over your target...
*rolls eyes back*
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Note to self... stop feeding the trolls. No matter how well it fits into their macros.0
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I fit my "cheat meals" into my calories. Mine are usually really salty and carb load. So I stay away from the scale a few days after to let the water retention come off.0
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hydechildcare wrote: »I fit my "cheat meals" into my calories. Mine are usually really salty and carb load. So I stay away from the scale a few days after to let the water retention come off.
I rest my case.0 -
No cheat days here!! Only cheating I do is I may get wheat bread instead of lettuce wrap then I feel so guilty and tell myself well I cheated today so I can't do that again tomorrow)0
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billyeann90 wrote: »No cheat days here!! Only cheating I do is I may get wheat bread instead of lettuce wrap then I feel so guilty and tell myself well I cheated today so I can't do that again tomorrow)
I hope this is a joke...really I do.3 -
In the evening I enjoy a nice meal of 2,000 calories and I don't consider this cheating. I deliberately eat this many calories so I don't feel the need to 'cheat'0
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Are cheat meals necessary, technically no. But I do have one cheat/treat meal per week.
It's usually a meal out, but occasionally one I'll cook.
If I go out to eat for that 1 meal I don't think about calories or macros, but what i want to eat. Having done this for a couple of months now, tend to lean towards healthier options especially if I'm going to have dessert.
But I do also make sure I exercise before and have this as my reward, the rest of the week don't tend to eat exercise calories back.
I've lost a stone (14lbs) in 8weeks so has been working for me, and don't struggle with cravings much anymore, I think the key for me is knowing nothing is completely off limits, knowing I could have it makes me want it less.0 -
Cheat, no. Treat, yes. Treats that fit into my calories, absolutely yes.0
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Well if i want to cheat i plan ahead and train for it.. burning an extra 800 calories at the gym and lowering my carb intake for the day so i can have a couple of drinks for a party as an example0
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As far as 'cheat days' go - I've not had a true cheat day as in going over my calories by a large amount. This is my 11th day. I have had some not so nutritious foods over the past 11 days - but all in all I'm satisfied. Yesterday, however - I ate particularly unhealthy (but stayed at my calorie goal) - and I was sick to my stomach for the majority of the night. I will not be doing that again. In all honesty I don't know if I ate something bad and that's what caused my issue - but it was enough for me to say I'm not going to eat a hot dog or piece of chocolate cake again for a long time. I am freaking out a bit on how to learn to eat out and stay healthy - pretty hard to do nowadays.0
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