Thoughts on Cheat Days?

ninalondon

Hello!

Just curious as to what everyone’s thoughts are on cheat days. Do you have them? Are they helpful? Why do you disagree?

I currently do not have cheat days but I am just wondering if anyone does.

Thanks!

ladyhusker39

I have never cheated on my husband. Not even 1 day :-)

malibu927

Nope. If I want something, I work it into my weekly calorie goal.

goldthistime

I have "accidental refeeds".

ETA: I let my body tell me when I need to take a break, or the situation, rather than scheduling cheat days.

LuckyAndi

goldthistime wrote: »

I have "accidental refeeds".

ETA: I let my body tell me when I need to take a break, or the situation, rather than scheduling cheat days.

^Same. I'm having one of those today, actually. It keeps me sane.

GOT_Obsessed

No I don't like the idea of cheat days. It would give me an excuse to be a pig for a day. But sometimes accidents happen. Lol

By accidents I mean unexpected coffee or lunch dates. S - - T happens, enjoy those, and do better the next day.

Seffell

I never tried eating at a deficit every single day. I fail to see the reason for it. But I've always logged. I've been doing this successfully for 2+ years.

lorrpb

I don't like to cheat myself out of my goals.

Packerjohn

From the National Weight Loss Registery, behaviors of those who have lost weight and maintained the loss:

Maintaining a consistent eating pattern is key. It’s amazing how many calories can be consumed in just a couple of days of relaxed eating. Avoid the weekend binge, and indulge in one cheat meal a week, not an entire cheat day (or days!).

https://blog.fitbit.com/6-habits-of-highly-successful-weight-losers/

MelanieCN77

A full day of just doing whatever is probably Thanksgiving or Christmas. In a day I could do some serious damage and I find that kinda pointless and regrettable. I do build in cheat items (as in, this item will put me over today but I'm going to do it and enjoy it), rather than days or meals, but mostly I build in the things I like to my calorie allowance - you just can't have them all at once!

jwcannon70

I just had a cheat day and I believe it helped me. It was my reward for finishing the insanity workout and I set this as a goal while I was in the middle of the program. It helped me complete the program and I then it satisfied my craving for that steak bomb sub and fries that I wanted so bad. Next day, right back to counting calories and started another round of insanity. Same goal as before. Finish it and get a cheat day.

spiriteagle99

When I was doing Atkins (low carb) I had cheat days because I simply couldn't stay on that restricted a diet indefinitely. Every couple of weeks I would allow myself pizza and beer or ice cream. As long as I occasionally had the treats that I couldn't have the rest of the time, I was able to stick to the diet over several months and I lost weight.

On a low calorie diet there are no forbidden foods, so cheat days aren't a necessity for me. There are just days I meet my goal and days I go over. As long as my weekly calories are as expected, I'm good. If I go over too often, I gain weight, and I know why.

PowerliftingMom

I never do. If I want to indulge in something, I fit it into my macros. Around the holidays I discovered the best ice cream ever lol. It was Haagen Dazs Peppermint Bark. Thank God it's a seasonal flavor! Anyway, I bought a pint and ate just 2 spoonfuls whenever I was craving it. It literally took me 3 weeks to finish it.

1houndgal

I don't have "cheat days". I just eat and log what I eat. After my longer workouts, I need more food usually (which comes from my excercise calories usually).

I don't like putting a negative label on myself because I felt hungry from working out.

Negative attitudes towards oneself can trigger eating disordered thoughts and behaviors.

And that ends up being a vicious cycle that works against your efforts to reach your goals of weight loss and better health/fitness.

JeromeBarry1

I don't enjoy cheating as much as I thought I would, and I don't enjoy waking up the next day. I do enjoy sleeping, though.

ninalondon

Thank you all for your thoughts and opinions!

It’s great to have such a knowledgeable community!

batorkin

Absolutely not. All they do is make me have regret which hurts my motivation. Having a pizza sounds amazing, until I eat it, and then realize it wasn't enjoyable enough to justify the calories.

If you eat healthy long enough, those "bad foods" will actually start tasting bad. 2 slices of pizza and I get a headache from the grease, when I use to be able to down an entire pizza with ease.

cwolfman13

ninalondon wrote: »

Hello!

Just curious as to what everyone’s thoughts are on cheat days. Do you have them? Are they helpful? Why do you disagree?

I currently do not have cheat days but I am just wondering if anyone does.

Thanks!

What is a cheat day?

I eat pretty well for the most part...and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I over eat, but that's not the norm...it's just life and BBQs and pool parties and holidays are fun. I don't consider any of that "cheating"

tyrindor wrote: »

Absolutely not. All they do is make me have regret which hurts my motivation. Having a pizza sounds amazing, until I eat it, and then realize it wasn't enjoyable enough to justify the calories.

If you eat healthy long enough, those "bad foods" will actually start tasting bad. 2 slices of pizza and I get a headache from the grease, when I use to be able to down an entire pizza with ease.

Oh please...

Sam29a

I can't. At least, not that often. I know one day doesn't make that much difference long-term, but after a cheat day my willpower just vanishes and I almost always want another, then another. I aim to have one every 4 months or so. That I can deal with.

DomesticKat

A cheat day for me consists of eating in a way that won't make me gain weight, but won't necessarily make me lose weight either. In others words, maintenance. I still count, but if I have days where I eat more, I just make sure it's not enough to matter in the long run. I just don't eat with wild abandon and without counting.

MegaMooseEsq

cwolfman13 wrote: »

ninalondon wrote: »

Hello!

Just curious as to what everyone’s thoughts are on cheat days. Do you have them? Are they helpful? Why do you disagree?

I currently do not have cheat days but I am just wondering if anyone does.

Thanks!

What is a cheat day?

I eat pretty well for the most part...and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I over eat, but that's not the norm...it's just life and BBQs and pool parties and holidays are fun. I don't consider any of that "cheating"

tyrindor wrote: »

Absolutely not. All they do is make me have regret which hurts my motivation. Having a pizza sounds amazing, until I eat it, and then realize it wasn't enjoyable enough to justify the calories.

If you eat healthy long enough, those "bad foods" will actually start tasting bad. 2 slices of pizza and I get a headache from the grease, when I use to be able to down an entire pizza with ease.

Oh please...

Sounds like somebody needs to stay getting better pizza.