Do you log "cheat days"?

Mrs_413

For those of you out there who allow yourself a cheat day every now and then, do you log everything you eat or do you just skip out on logging for the day?

malibu927

I don’t do cheat days, but I would still log them regardless. If you ever reach a point where you haven’t lost in several weeks, going trough your diary to see what you can change is the first place to start. A lot of times cheat days can erase an entire week’s deficit.

Marilyn0924

I log everything, regardless of the outcome at the end of the day. Being accountable to yourself is important. It's ok to have those days of indulgence, no reason not to own it.

wisemagick1

I would log them just to keep yourself accountable.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

You can use "quick add" to put in a *kitten*-load of calories for a meal just to remind you later.

Momepro

Sometimes I use the entry "shovelful of cr@p" because.... well honestly because it exists lol. But it comes in handy when I know I'm eating something high calorie, but can't really log it correctly.

Wendyanneroberts

I don't have cheat days, as I'm not cheating. But I do have days where I eat over my usual target, sometimes planned a higher calorie allowance, ie, over Christmas. At other times unplanned, where I go over my allowance. But I always log everything I eat and drink, as accurately as possible, everyday.
For 3 reasons:
1)As planned, allowing a higher calorie allowance but still sticking within a certain calorie range. Logging it makes me aware of how much I have eaten. Allowing me to eat more but not clueless to how much I've had.

2)Unplanned good or bad days. Logging know matter what, especially at the time or shortly after, helps curb any excesses. No more days, where I used to say, "I've already blown it today, so I might as well eat what I want and I'll start again tomorrow" Prelogging at times has also stopped me having certain foods when I can visually see how far over my target said food takes me.

3) Accurate records, of my data, for future reference. To check my actual calories in, compared to my rate of loss or even at maintenance. This has helped me learn (on average) how many calories I need to either loss or maintain current weight.

cs2thecox

I try and log them all, but often after the fact rather than as I go.

That said, I've failed at logging Christmas day and New Year's Eve! At this point I'll probably write them off...

mazdauk

I always log everything, if I'm out and not sure I'll log what looks nearest.

callsitlikeiseeit

if im in an active loss phase, usually yes. though it kind of depends whats going on. I only get 3 'idgaf' days out of the year, so its not a big deal

raspuller

I don’t do cheat days, but I do sometimes go off the rails. These are days that I know are going to happen in advance - a birthday or Christmas for example. I try to bank a little the day or two leading up to it and then just relax and try to make decent choices without putting too much pressure on myself. I rarely log those because that, to me, feels like unneeded pressure. This is life. Sometimes I’m going to eat unhealthy stuff or go over my calorie target (note that I said target, not limit). I don’t want to ruin a nice time by having buyer’s remorse about it after the fact.

jessylynn76

It sounds like you might have these cheat days planned, and if so you don't really have to cheat. You can earn them. Let's say you weigh in Monday morning. Reserve 100-200 calories for Monday-Saturday for a more relaxed Sunday. You'll have plenty of extra calories to enjoy. Plus, as long as you only weigh in again on Monday, you won't see a weight loss through the week with a slight gain on Monday. If your average daily calories is still within your allowance, you will still see a weight loss. Keeping in mind that if your day off is super salty, it might take longer to shed the excess water weight. I agree with the other ladies here. It is good to have accurate data for later.

dutchandkiwi

I don't do cheat days, Personally feel that if I cheat on myself why bother with logging in the first place? Hoever there are two ways that I deal with days that I know will be either over or are eating out
Either I log as best as I can what I had to eat. Put in my dairy (not MFP) where I had dinner and know that it is a guesstimate
Alternatively like I did yesterday for my wedding anniversary fancy dinner I log the whole day as per usual and add enough quick calories to be slightly over for the day in my dinner box.
Not logging at all is simply not an option for me

Iamnotasenior

Yep. I always log everything. When I do go drastically over my target calories for the day, it helps to see that message when I complete the day and it shows me how many pounds I would gain if I ate like that every day for the next five weeks. It's kind of a reset button for me to say "That was fun, but I can't do that every day".

wizzybeth

Log everything. It is helpful to see all those calories add up.

extra_medium

Log it so you can at least make sure you're still under calories for the week. It's depressingly easy to wipe out a week's worth of effort in a day lol

Gisel2015

Mrs_413 wrote: »

For those of you out there who allow yourself a cheat day every now and then, do you log everything you eat or do you just skip out on logging for the day?

And what is a cheat day? I really and honestly don't understand what people really means by that because, in my opinion and according with the definition of "cheat," it doesn't apply to a diet.

1) to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud

2) to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice

chelliz88

Gisel2015 wrote: »

Mrs_413 wrote: »

For those of you out there who allow yourself a cheat day every now and then, do you log everything you eat or do you just skip out on logging for the day?

And what is a cheat day? I really and honestly don't understand what people really means by that because, in my opinion and according with the definition of "cheat," it doesn't apply to a diet.

1) to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud

2) to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice

It basically means that you're cheating on your diet. Usually, there is a specific day or meal that you don't really care about the calories.

peaceout_aly

Mrs_413 wrote: »

For those of you out there who allow yourself a cheat day every now and then, do you log everything you eat or do you just skip out on logging for the day?

I don't plan cheat days, but if I know I'm going out with friends I'll usually check the menu ahead of time and pre-log, pre-log a few drinks & then if I have a little extra while I'm out and remember to log the next day, then that's fine. If not, that's also fine. But overall, yes I try to always log.

AliceDark

I do the best I can, but the only real "cheat" days I have are my birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas. For three days out of 365, I don't think it matters one way or another.

watts6151

The term ‘cheat meal’ is a bodybuilding term
And has been for many decades.
When your in prep and are carb depleted, struggling with weights and recovery, then a
Cheat meal is required.

If your not deep into prep then it’s not a cheat
Meal, please stop taking competitive bodybuilding terminology and applying it to your
Average person trying to loose a few pounds.

Please don’t bastardise a underground term
And use it out of its original context.

For reference
Current open champion Phill heath, 7 Time Mr Olympia has cheat meals
Current 212lb champion Flex Lewis, 6 Time Mr olompia has cheat meals

Alatariel75

I don't, but I should. Because not logging them, I don't know how much of my deficit for the week I've just knocked out.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Remember, you are in it for the long haul. Having a relaxed meal with friends is one of life's great pleasures. Having to log complex (and delicious) restaurant meals accurately is extremely difficult. You can make a good choices (chicken or fish, not fettuccine Alfredo, and share that dessert). Rather than trying to look up all the individual ingredients (which you may not know) why not just "quick add" a ballpark figure and them move on?

So, I wouldn't do this lightly if I were cutting, but I certainly would for, say, a special dinner once a month while on maintenance.

jtaylor5546

Cheat meals are important in bodybuilding/fitness. Sometimes they’re needed to kick start your metabolism after a period of caloric deficit etc. All that being said I personally tend to blow off logging my cheat meals/days. They are planned days and you have to chalk them up as such and jump right back into your routine right afterwards.

BBum69

I log everything, but I count by the week, so what happens on any one day doesn't matter very much. Extra calories eaten on Tuesday can be walked off on Thursday, or the other way around. It's so much easier than trying to hit daily targets.

Zulu87

I make sure I log everything even if I decide to have an indulgent meal, it keeps me accountable and I can see my average over the week. It's just what works for me, I need to see it all otherwise I go overboard too much.

alteredsteve175

I log everything. As accurately as possible. Even the treat days.

Like some other posters here, I evaluate on a weekly scale. I don't get concerned about being over or under the calorie target for individual days.

Acem24

*kitten* yeah!

PetiteHabanero

I try to log everything as best I can, but most DEFINITELY I log 'cheat' days. It's all about accountability.

Acem24

PetiteHabanero wrote: »

I try to log everything as best I can, but most DEFINITELY I log 'cheat' days. It's all about accountability.

Mad respect!

MarkusDarwath

For me "cheat day" specifically means I'm not logging, or tracking calories or macros. This is pretty much related specifically to social engagements, because I have no inclination to tote my food scale everywhere with me, nor to hound my hosts about ingredients. And I'm terrible at estimating. This is not necessarily a guarantee that I'm going to go horribly over on anything, just an acknowledgement that it's not really worth the effort to enter a log that I know is going to be grossly inaccurate anyway.