Should I do a cheat week?

Marilyn0924

Just eat your heart's desires, it's PARIS!!! Walk everywhere!! It balances out. My last 3 trips, I gained 2 pounds in Paris, 1 pound in Rome and my last trip to Rome, I actually lost a pound! I didn't deny myself anything. No cheat mentality required. Just enjoy everything the city has to offer, culture, architecture, food, wine!!

MegaMooseEsq

I’m a total foodie and would definitely not worry about sticking to my deficit while in Paris. My mouth is watering just thinking about the pastries and bread. I would still track, though, at least roughly. As others have said, you’ll be doing a lot of walking, and French portion sizes aren’t anywhere near as big as American (assuming you’re from the US). Be prepared to see a bump as large as 5-10 pounds when you get back. Travel (especially by air) can lead to a lot of water retention, plus you’ll have more food in your system and maybe sore leg muscles. It’s nothing to worry about and most or all of it will drop off in a few weeks at most. Remember as someone said above, you only gain a pound of fat by eating 3500 calories over your maintenance. One week can’t do much damage at all unless you mistake water gains for fat and panic. Enjoy your trip!

MelanieCN77

Why not eat what you want but promise yourself you will log it all. Unless you've come the point where you can freestyle without going off the rails you could sabotage a lot of your work. There's always two components to the "cheat" or "break" mindset - one is accessing and enjoying foods that have been omitted from your diet that you want to partake of again, and the other is the logging break. Pick one, but not both. Either take a logging break but eat well, or eat what you want but log it. The latter strikes a balance for me that really makes sure little breaks don't become big ones.

1houndgal

Blooperss wrote: »

Hi everyone, I've been giving my diet/change in lifestyle another go. It's been about 2 months and I've lost 16 pounds in total - went from 161 to 145. I'm going on a trip to Paris for a week soon and I'm REALLY debating on a cheat week but don't know if it will be worth it. It's my first time going there and I will probably not be able to go again for a long time. My question is - should I go all out and eat everything my heart desires while on this trip or should I set restrictions? My goal weight is 125 lbs so I'm not too far off - only another 20 lbs to go. I'm just scared I'll gain back the 15 lbs if I go crazy during that week LOL.

I've done cheat weekends where I was able to bounce back fairly quickly after resuming my regular diet. But this is 7 days not 2 days and I'm scared the pounds will be harder to shed!

Any insight/advice is highly appreciated! I just want to lose the weight for good!

I would go for a cheat week if I went on vacation to a Paris. I would log my food intake during my cheat week as best I can. Have fun!

Tmountainmom

Cheat days have not worked for me whether it's one day (ends up turning into a week off course) or a vacation week to some fun place where I was then off my plan for several weeks afterward. But I wouldn't want you to miss out on a fun and delicious vacation! Maybe you can eat moderately most of the time and try to keep track of your calories (if you are able to) but still work in some great and indulgence food :-)

StevefromMichigan

I once went on a cheat week on a cruise. It did not end well, and it did not end after the cruise Hopefully, you'll have more willpower than I had

lois1231

Last time I went to europe. I ate everything I wanted and lost 12 pounds from all the walking. I am also going to europe this year and plan to do the same because I know it is going to be hectic but fun. I expect there to be tons of walking and am working on getting in shape for it.

ITUSGirl51

I wouldn’t call it a cheat week, but enjoy yourself. Don’t log, but try to eat at maintenance or a smidge higher by paying attention to serving sizes and keep active. Dont feel guilty about enjoying your trip! Just be sure to go back to logging as soon as you return (that day) and don’t wait until Monday.

I’ve done three 10-day long vacation diet breaks over the past year, including a cruise. I didnt gain weight and it actually helped kick start losing again. I’m close to my goal and have another vacation break planned next month. I’m excited!

genpopadopolous

We usually have a vacation or two a year and I don't worry about my calories at all. I exercise, i have a small notebook with my fav bodyweight exercises that I take with me- and walk when I can.

But as far as food- nope. I eat what I want, have the obnoxious frozen drinks and eat all the food.
For me, it's easy to get back to logging when I get home, and I don't feel bad about it. Same as I won't feel bad about the wings and spinach and artichoke dip with lots o' beer I will have tomorrow with the Superbowl. I figure I will lose it as I will live it afterwards and that includes an occasional big *kitten* pile of wings and a margarita the size of my face.

PAV8888

Like many have said:

Your current deficit is too aggressive.

Don't cheat, have a maintenance break and take extra walking into account. If you go over occasionally, so be it.

Do keep logging. There is a difference between not restricting and pulling a me at an all you can eat buffet! Do as I say not as I sometimes do!

Both from maintenance eating and air travel you WILL have a scale increase. Do not panic. Set yourself a reasonable deficit when you get home.

In spite of the woo-ing, someone who suggested up thread that you taper to maintenance before the trip was correct in that it would help you separate the weight increase from having more food transiting your system when you start eating at maintenance from your travel weight changes. Whether that is necessary or not is more of a mental game.

Trending weigh applications are very useful things when you're not set to losing a million pounds a day...

Fitnessmom82

I would probably try a little of everything and not a lot of anything! Watch your portions, limit the really indulgent foods to once a day or maybe every other day. Make sure you're walking or doing some type of exercise every day to balance things out. And I know for me this would add up the fastest- watch your alcohol intake. I LOVE wine and could definitely drink it all day if I were on vacation. That can kill your diet really fast!! When I am travelling I try to eat foods that I can't get at home. Make it special and don't waste calories on something you can have another time.So, no to a cheat week but don't be super strict all the time! And have fun!!

pamfin

I love Paris and the bakeries are amazing. There's so much to see though that you'll be walking all day. You can go from the Louvre to the Arc De Triomphe without running out of things to see. It's just beautiful. I wouldn't eat for eatings sake but don't deny yourself.

Oh, and go to Mont Matre and see Sacre Coure.