Do you log "cheat days"?

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.

callsitlikeiseeit

AliceDark wrote: »

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.

ditto that. sometimes i log it. sometimes i dont. regardless, it makes no difference lol

wireman12

I log everything. It keeps me focused and aware

PetiteHabanero

Acem24 wrote: »

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!

Thanks! That being said I had an awful cheat day yesterday, but it was my sister's birthday so we went out. Literally like 1/3 over my daily goal for maintenance and I skipped my work out to get some errands done before the party.

Just gotta remind myself that it is OK once in a while, but can't be an everyday lifestyle sort of thing.

zyxst

I log them.

cmriverside

I log the calories I eat. I often go over my recommended daily calories by 1000+ and still log them.

Otherwise the once-a-week tends to turn into -every-dang-day. At least when I log it I have to own it.


I don't believe all these people who say they, "Never go over." How does that even not happen, ever?

Girlikecupcake

Absolutely, I log everything. It's the best way for me to properly see the patterns and habits I have, and be able to look back and evaluate progress or lack of.

69HealthyMe

I log it. It may not be pretty but if I ate it I log it.

ktilton70130

yes, I log everything. The moment i come to a hault I need to review everything I put into my mouth that perhaps could have caused me to slow or stall my weight loss.

wetheskinny

Don't really have cheat days, but I do a cheat meal every now and then. I always log it though. The calories still count regardless of whether I log it or not - why not have it written down so I at least have the data for next time?

MelanieCN77

Absolutely. There is a vast world of difference between eating what you want and knowing what you ate, and not knowing and pretending it wasn't so bad. A week later when you haven't resumed any losses, no need to be confused when you know you actually blew through two weeks worth of your deficit with the extra pizza and cheesecake that one day.