Cheat Days!?

KTaurusW0516

Is it true that it's good to have a "cheat day" where people can eat whatever they want once a week? Why is this a good or bad idea?

LovelySavannah

I think it's a great idea. I allow myself a cheat day once a week. Sometimes I skip that cheat day and sometimes I don't, but I like to have that option because it makes me feel like I'm not on a strict diet, plus the cheat day gives me motivation for doing good all week.

angelsja

It's so easy to undo your deficit for the week in one day so it's better to have a bit of what you fancy in moderation rather than go on a all out "cheat" day

Panini911

you can undo an entire week's deficit in a day if you let loose. so bad idea.

i work in food i like daily, sometimes save up calories for a bigger splurge.

once in awhile (monthly at most) i'll eat over (say at maintenance) for a special meal.

it can also be good to log the cheap meal/day appropriately so you know how/if it affected you.

TavistockToad

KTaurusW0516 wrote: »

Is it true that it's good to have a "cheat day" where people can eat whatever they want once a week? Why is this a good or bad idea?

No, just fit food you like into your weekly calories.

Phirrgus

I just try to make sure that what I'm eating fits into my daily goal. Yesterday was a good example. My mother treated the entire family to Chinese food and dessert. I had to guess portions, but chose the higher calorie options when searching the data base to be safe. Other days I'll have a candy bar or cookies...if I'm maintaining my deficit I'm good. If I bust my deficit now and then I just get back on track the next day and press on.

AprilMLowe

I usually bank up calories and splurge on an occassion like tonite. I will be attending a SuperBowl party tonite so i will treat myself . i usually have extra exercise calories left over everyday! I try to fit in treats to my diary everyday so i dont binge eat. I hope that helps!

AnnPT77

Your body counts every calorie, whether you log it or not.

I don't believe in "cheat days": It's one of the many ways of treating food as if eating were more religion than sustenance: Who or what would I be cheating? It's just food.

I do think it's OK to have days where I choose to eat above my calorie goal, and occasionally way above my calorie goal.

What I suggest is that people using MFP log all the days - over, under, good, bad, whatever. Otherwise, they risk being one of those people posting "Eating 1200 not losing!!! Why??" in a couple of months . . . if it even takes that long.

Best wishes!

try2again

Everything everybody else said

Also, I suspect that those who most feel the need for a "cheat" day likely have a weekly weight loss goal that is too aggressive. What's the point of setting it for 2 lbs a week, starving all week, and then having a binge when a person could just set it for 1 lb/week and eat comfortably all week?

mom2kpr

I make it part of my weekly goals. My calorie goal for Sun - Thur is 1400. Fri & Sat is 1800.

Back_4_more

I also lowered my week calorie intake and have a cheat meal on Sunday. I lost my 1st 50lbs do it that way. It also gives me something to work towards.

Bry_Fitness70

KTaurusW0516 wrote: »

Is it true that it's good to have a "cheat day" where people can eat whatever they want once a week? Why is this a good or bad idea?

I prefer to have a few "cheat" meals/snacks at different times throughout the week rather than go totally off the rails for an entire day. Besides, I generally have a lot to look forward to on a Saturday or Sunday, having a cheat meal on a workday can make otherwise drab days more tolerable.

witchaywoman81

If we were to vote on the most commonly asked questions in the forums, this one would surely be in the top 3.

That being said, I've been tracking diligently since December 31st, and I haven't felt the need for a "cheat day" yet. For me, they are counterproductive. But then again, I don't restrict myself in terms of what I can eat, only how much, so a cheat day doesn't appeal. I also don't restrict my calories so that I'm ravenous.

My advice:

- Pick a deficit you can live with and re-evaluate that decision regularly. Check the graphic below for more on this.
- When you choose your way of eating for weight loss, make sure it's something you plan to stick with for the long haul. In other words, don't pick a special diet for losing weight and then go back to your old ways once you've lost weight. That's a recipe for trouble.
- Think of your calories in terms of the week, rather than the day. By this I mean, you might have a base calorie goal of 1600 calories/day. You may choose to eat 2000 calories one day and go below 1600 on other days, which is perfectly ok to do.