Cheat Day, yay or nay?

LadyLeonis

I've been sticking to having a cheat day to A) keep me motivated and treat myself sometimes. (っ˘ω˘ς )
Now I try to keep it small still, sticking to either one dessert I've been craving throughout the week or some cookies for tea time.
Now I am really curious on your thoughts about Cheat Days! What do they look like? What's your cheat meal? When is your cheat day?∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

dani_lopera

I don't like to consider them as cheat meals or cheat days but every once in a while i'll have a few milano cookies that I love so much!! P.S. you shouldn't restrict yourself from eating your fav foods because trust me... your cravings will get stronger and stronger and you'll end up eating 3x of what you would've normally eaten.

kommodevaran

I don't believe in cheating and I don't believe in extrinsic motivation. I eat food I like for every meal, and I eat anything I want as long as I make room for it. To make eating even more a normal part of life, I have (re)introduced a Saturday treat, just like kids had when I grew up.

LadyLeonis

dani_lopera wrote: »

I don't like to consider them as cheat meals or cheat days but every once in a while i'll have a few milano cookies that I love so much!! P.S. you shouldn't restrict yourself from eating your fav foods because trust me... your cravings will get stronger and stronger and you'll end up eating 3x of what you would've normally eaten.

I am not really restricting my favorite foods, I am eating as usual, just cutting out unnecessary calories from sweets. I've been doing this for about a year and luckily never really encountered a high-class craving moment!

LadyLeonis

kommodevaran wrote: »

I don't believe in cheating and I don't believe in extrinsic motivation. I eat food I like for every meal, and I eat anything I want as long as I make room for it. To make eating even more a normal part of life, I have (re)introduced a Saturday treat, just like kids had when I grew up.

Yeah, I wouldn't quite call it a cheat meal, Saturday treat sounds more like it for me too!

Burcar86

Honestly for me its not a good idea cause once I do a cheat day or cheat meal I wind up having them more often an just go back to bad habits. Yesterday we went hiking an when we were done my wife took us all to DQ. Everyone had banana splits but I had a super small sundae. When I got home I got on my exercise bike to get back some of the calories I lost. For me its a slippery slope but if you can handle it then I guess its okay as long as you don't have them often.

amusedmonkey

I got curious about an intermittent fasting app a few days ago, and one of the features was what they called "Joker day". I thought the name was so fitting! I've always disliked the concept of cheating. It felt like people were going so hard on their diet that they needed to have a day where they would be able to breathe and have the things that they've been depriving themselves of or gorge on food after a period of too large of a deficit.

The reason I liked the name was that it treats higher calorie days as a strategic move. You play your cards strategically to manage weight, and there are times where your best strategy is to play the Joker. It's not your typical card as you get to have more calories, but the name strips it of all guilt, deprivation response, moral connotations, treat for good behavior mentality...etc. Just an atypical day within the weight loss strategy.

Personally, I don't plan higher calorie days at specific intervals, but I do have them whenever it feels like a good choice for the day. I don't have specific meals or foods I only have on certain days, they're just days I feel I need more calories, either because I'm hungrier or because what I want is too high in calories for comfort (like if I'm going out or there is a social event).

ACanadian22

I think we are all different. What works for one person may not work for another. Years ago(25yrs), I did the cheat day once a week and kept it off until I had my 1st son(8 yrs skinny). I tried doing it the way that people seem to like it on here and it did not work for me. In mid-January, I started doing my cheat meals again on Sundays and I am down 40 pounds with just 10 to go. We are all different. And my cheat day is full of junk. I bank through the week and have whatever/whenever all day on Sundays.
We are all different. Try different ways. It is your body. You decide

swimmchick87

I've done cheat days in the past. They worked in the short term, but I eventually fell off the wagon with mfp and gained the weight back. Another time, I tried having a 2,000 calorie day- still sort of a "cheat" but more counted and controlled. Even though it was counted, I purposely ate nothing but junk that day- i.e. maybe a burger and fries for lunch and an ice cream sundae for dinner. Same thing happened.

I have struggled with binge eating and looking back it, I think both of these practices allowed me to hold on to bad habits. This time around, I'm just trying to stick to my calorie goal every day, but I do eat back exercise calorie and use that to get more calories if I need them. In addition to short/easier workouts, I do a lot of walking, which doesn't feel difficult or strenuous, so feels like something I can stick to without burning myself out. This way I'm eating 1400-1500 calories every day rather than just the 1200, and I feel a lot more satisfied in the first place.

I'm also working on just working cravings and treats into my calorie day rather than going overboard with a "cheat." For example, maybe I eat a "junk" meal in normal portions, get some extra walking in, and eat lower calorie the rest of the day. Or maybe I have a dessert after having smaller meals the rest of the day, rather than having days where I have multiple junky meals followed by a dessert. I'm hoping this will lead to more long term success than I had in the past.

HeidiMightyRawr

I don't plan cheat days, if I want something in particular I'll just try and work it into my calories/macro goals for the day.

Sometimes I go out to eat and don't log food. In that case I suppose it's a "cheat day" but just not a planned one. Life happens, and it all works out in the end as long as I'm consistent the rest of the time.

fb47

I only use the cheat days for social events (xmas, thanksgiving, weddings, family gatherings, etc...). I don't need a cheat day because I am not crazy about going to restaurants or just devouring junk food for one day. My body doesn't crave junk food for whatever reason, probably because I am used to have my meals planned in advance. I guess it's just a habit.

Lillymoo01

I don't believe in cheat days. Cheating has a negative connotation to it when you have done nothing wrong. This in turn can lead to guilt for some people. I do however, have treat meals once a week, normally a Saturday night. I just budget a few calories during the week to allow a higher calorie Saturday, or, because there is time, exercise a bit more. Some simply choose to eat at maintenance one day a week. It might take a little longer to reach their goal but in doing this they find their way of eating more sustainable. Still others realise that having these treats will likely lead to binging so avoid them altogether. The trick is to figure out which way is best for you as it is very individual.

DoubleUbea

I will say what I have said every other time the 'cheat day' topic comes up. I work "cheats" into my daily calories. I have a mini chocolate bar on most days. (Krackle, Hershey's, Baby Ruth, York Peppermint patty) One mini bar is good enough for me, and it is about 50± calories. If I am going to have something major I plan the rest of the day around it. No cheats, just work it in as part of the plan.

.... I have no idea what this means: (っ˘ω˘ς ) or ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿[

sardelsa

I wouldn't consider what I do a cheat, but I eat very light during the week and bank calories to indulge more on the weekends. Sometimes it is foods I don't have during the week, sometimes it's just larger portions. But it's still very controlled and in the end I remain in a deficit.

malibu927

I don’t cheat. I have dessert every night worked into my calories.

AndyWR72

Feeling guilty today, it’s my daughters birthday so I’m full of sugar laden Birthday Cake. Today is definitely a cheat day.

tziol

Don't be too serious about it as long as you are into sport and healthy lifestyle for most of the time. Btw, I've just ordered 3 XXL pizzas

Dani9585

sardelsa wrote: »

I wouldn't consider what I do a cheat, but I eat very light during the week and bank calories to indulge more on the weekends. Sometimes it is foods I don't have during the week, sometimes it's just larger portions. But it's still very controlled and in the end I remain in a deficit.

This. I also agree with another poster about the negative view of the word "cheat," like you've done something wrong. Eat what you want, but just make sure you remain in a deficit.

amusedmonkey

AndyWR72 wrote: »

Feeling guilty today, it’s my daughters birthday so I’m full of sugar laden Birthday Cake. Today is definitely a cheat day.

Don't feel guilty for enjoying cake on your daughter's birthday

If a diet made me feel guilty for enjoying the food and rituals of such a special day I would swear off all diets until I get that fixed.

Johnd2000

I don’t have cheat days. I have days where I choose to eat over my target. It’s a conscious, informed decision and I’m an adult. Why dress it up as a sin?

shaf238

I don't have cheat days or meals but I allow myself to have treats. I just make sure I still hit my weekly calorie goal.

AnnPT77

I don't believe in cheat days, in the same sense that (as an adult) I don't believe in Santa Claus.

Sometimes I eat within my deficit goal, sometimes I eat at maintenance, sometimes I eat over maintenance (occasionally way over). I call it "a decision".

While I was losing, I always logged it, even if I had to estimate. That way, I knew the impact, and could look back and decide whether the impact had been worth it. Sometimes it was, sometimes it wasn't. In the latter case, I'd think how I wanted to better handle similar scenarios in future. Either way, it was usually only a few hours delay in reaching ultimate goal weight, a day or two at most.

Now, starting into year 3 of maintenance, I don't always log, but I have a pretty clear understanding at this point of what my decisions mean for my weight management.

All of that's happening within a context where I strive to eat nutritiously overall, but include some extra-tasty but less nutrient dense foods routinely, within my calorie goal, just for happiness.

hroderick

It isn't cheating because the CICO rule applies. You gain on any day you overeat. You lose on any day you undereat.
For myself, I'm losing a lot of weight by changing my eating behaviors. If I go back to eating cake with my breakfast cereal one day it would be like smoking just one cigarette after quitting and not end well. I do have a tablespoon of cake and tablespoon of ice cream at birthday parties, the portion size and frequency is my new behavior. What I've discovered is that I enjoy that tablespoon more than sitting down with a carton of ice cream.

Strongfitmama100412

shaf238 wrote: »

I don't have cheat days or meals but I allow myself to have treats. I just make sure I still hit my weekly calorie goal.

This exactly. I dont believe in cheat days. That can throw your whole week off. I work to damn hard all week.
Right now im in a competition so im super strict right now. But before i would have some of the kids ice cream or a cookie. But honestly i dont crave things anymore. Eating healthy is such a habit now. I usually feel sick after i eat something not good and thats not worth it to me.

elsie6hickman

I'm mixed. The other day I had a slice of pizza for lunch. So that was definitely a cheat day. I have lunch with two friends once a week and depending where we go, I might eat a little more than I would otherwise. But it worries me that it will knock me off my healthy routine now.

DoubleUbea

How is that a cheat? Count the pizza slice as 350 calories and work it into your daily goal.

perkymommy

I don't refer to them as cheat days. I do allow myself to eat a little more on weekends.

emmamcgarity

Who would I be cheating? This is my journey and my plan. If I eat over my calorie goal and don’t enter it in my log that just means inaccurate data. My body still knows what happened. If I want wine with a friend or pizza with the kids I expect to be over my calorie goal. I enter it. The world does not end. I just keep swimming along....

dewd2

AnnPT77 wrote: »

I don't believe in cheat days, in the same sense that (as an adult) I don't believe in Santa Claus.

And I used to respect you... #SantaIsReal