Cheat days during maintnance ?

Tanie98

I haven't reached my goal weight yet but when I do. I'd like one days were I'm going to eat whatever I want without logging in and watch portion sizes and eat what I want . Then go back on track. would once a month add up overtime?

RunsWithBees

Once a month should not be a problem, especially if you are exercising regularly. I’ve been in maintenance for over 5 years and actually only sporadically count my calories anymore. However I do weigh myself once a week and if my weight starts to creep up to the higher side of my weight range then I make sure I pay extra attention to portions and cut down on snacking or simply go back to counting calories for a few weeks. But realize I’ve been at this for awhile, it could take quite some time for you to learn to eyeball portions and figure out how much you need to exercise to balance out what you eat, could take years of trial and error and at least in my case I know sometimes I have to reel myself in because in my mind it’s easy to make excuses for eating more when I know I shouldn’t... one day here and there can easily become every day if I don’t keep myself accountable

kimny72

Tanie98 wrote: »

I haven't reached my goal weight yet but when I do. I'd like one days were I'm going to eat whatever I want without logging in and watch portion sizes and eat what I want . Then go back on track. would once a month add up overtime?

It depends. If you aren't great at eyeballing serving sizes, and "eat whatever I want" adds up to a decent amount of calories, sure it could add up. Luckily, this will happen slowly, and if you notice your weight drift up over several months, you know you are eating more calories on this day than you can handle. You might find in maintenance you naturally eat in a little bit of a deficit on some days and a little overage on others, so if you're lucky it will all even out

nxd10

I have essentially maintained for six years. I hit my calorie goal 50/52 WEEKS every year. But I'm usually over on Fridays. I listen to my body and I'm typically less hungry the day after I eat more than usual.

I also try to eat only what I'm hungry for and stop when I'm not. I was reminded last night after I had a second piece of cake that the first tasted great. The second was good, but I felt physically lousy afterwards. Some is good. More is not always better.

apullum

In maintenance, you need to hit your calorie goal on average. This can mean being over it sometimes and under it sometimes, as long as on average you are taking in as many calories as your body burns.

If you go so far overboard that your calorie intake is no longer balancing out, then yes, over time your weight will slowly creep up.

staticsplit

I just took a week off from logging for a mental break. Most of the week I ate whatever. Even on Friday--I ate out for two meals and had drinks, but realistically it was still probably no more than 2500 calories all told, just bunched up into two portions and some alcohol calories, so I shouldn't gain from it. My body is more used to listening to cues now. I ordered a burger and fries on that Friday but couldn't finish the fries. I had a small portion of haggis for dinner (Scotland, hey), and didn't need dessert, though I nicked a bite of my friend's sticky toffee pudding.

425Recess

I have been at my maintenance weight for over 8 years now. I am very stable. Rarely go over or under my goal by more than 2 lbs. I find I have to take a break now and then. It helps all the rest of the days when I know that I can take a day off. I usually reserve them for special occasions such as birthdays and holidays. Also, at this point, I can't go crazy or I will feel sick. The funny part is that if I weigh myself the next day, my weight is usually down a tad. Doesn't mean anything, just strange.

rainbow198

My weight has been very stable during my 6 years of maintenance and I have stayed in my 10 pound range.

I go over every Friday and Saturday for the most part. I don't have cheat days, more like a meal or a high calorie dessert.

Between banking calories Sunday - Thursday and my exercise/activity levels my calories balances out and I'm able to maintain nicely.

I would definitely track/log however. From what I see from others, it seems like it's so easy to go over. And that adds up overtime.

BattyKnitter

I'm not in maintenance yet but when I am I plan on planning for those days, they probably won't happen as often as once a month though. My plan will be to set myself to a slight deficit for a week before and after a blowout day like my birthday or Christmas.

QuinntessentiallyMe

I'm in maintenance. I can't have full-on cheat days without regretting it hard. Cheat meals, sure, but not whole days. That much cheating makes going back to healthy habits the next day even harder. Easter Day turned out to be more than a cheat meal, and that next day, I felt like six kinds of garbage from eating poorly. I felt hungover and sick. Sluggish for that day and the day after. My brain was craving carbs and sweets like crazy. IMO, it's not worth it.

xMrBunglex

I started at 240 lbs in 2007, hit goal (170) around 2010 & have been in maintenance ever since.
I haven't been perfect, I've bounced between 165 - 185 for the better part of a decade, but when I'm most successful (over 175 is what I call "the jiggle zone" - if I get over that, it's time to tighten **** up) is I have a cheat MEAL. Not a cheat DAY. Cheat days can take 2 weeks to recover from....and often lead to cheat WEEKS.
However, a cheat meal is very satisfying and doesn't derail things.

jrwms714

Everyone does maintenance in a way that works for them. For me, almost 5 years into maintenance,"cheat days" don't work. First of all, the concept of "cheat" is negative. I think "treat" is more like it, i.e., building into your maintenance plan things or meals that you want to have and being responsible about having them and then moving on. I think this is pretty much what others are saying. Secondly, a whole day of treats is a slippery slope for me ... it could continue into other days, other weeks, other pounds. I work in a treat for me every day ... if I know I'm going to have a treat meal, then I plan ahead or I adjust the next few days after that meal. But the term "cheat" signals to me (and just to me, I'm sure) deprivation, and I think maintenance is about living your life with food in such a way that you don't feel deprived and you do feel in control.

JennJ323

I've been in maintenance for about 2.5 months, and I do have "cheat days/meals" usually once a week.. I don't go crazy, but I do eat things I normally wouldn't while logging and I don't log them. It hasn't affected me at all. I go back to it the next day and so far my weekly weigh-in's have all been in my maintenance range. So it can be done.

clayelliott847

Like every one else is saying cheat meal. When I let my cheat meal go into more than 2 days, I get off track and I am eating at McDonalds twice a week.

FITnFIRM4LIFE

Have whatever I want or crave , every Sunday and Saturdays a higher calorie day as well. My weight is always up a few pounds Monday and Tuesday-But right back to normal after. Been in maintenance many years.80/20 works for me. M-F I bank cals for weekend. Keeps me sane and do not consider it cheat, Its just what works for me and keeps me on track.