Cheat day

NotEveryoneIsHome

There are videos on youtube with a person having a massive cheat day of as much as 10,000 calories in one day.

If 3,500 calories = 1 pound of fat and someone's maintenance level is at 2,000 calories, does the person gain 2.2857142857 pounds of fat from the excess 8,000 calories? Or is a surplus of that magnitude too much for the body to assimilate and most of it just passes through?

SuzySunshine99

It's likely that they would not absorb all of those calories when they are eaten all at once.

Some would just "pass through" as you say. I would guess how much is absorbed depends on the type of foods. Some foods take longer to digest than others.

The majority, I assume, would be absorbed, so I wouldn't test that theory. If you're going to have a massive "cheat day" like that, I would log all the calories.

lexcoulstring

10,000 Calories? Geeze I had my cheat day yesterday with my kids (being Fathers Day) and I went from my 2000 limit to 2500. But it was the change of carb intact. I am normally live a ketosis (low carb) diet but one day every 2 weeks, I indulge on snacks as my boys eat. But while my carb intake is higher. I still come in a normal calorie maximum. I think if you have to consume 10,000 calories to enjoy a cheat day, then there is other issues. I would have to ask what 10,000 calories consist of? As we know calories are not treated equal. There is a huge difference consuming 10,000 in high protein and fat vs 10,000 in sugar and other empty carbs. But I assume its carbs since its a "cheat day"

wunderkindking

There is a Stephanie Buttermore video where she breaks down the math. Long story short, no, you're not going to absorb all the calories and gain the full amount - not even close - from one really big day. the percentages available for storage vary by macro, but if I recall out of her 10K start, for her, the amount of fat gained ends up being .6lbs. I THINK.

wunderkindking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeDvYExqhOI

Found the video.

wunderkindking

Can I also say I think there is value in this kind of thing being out there. People often freak out about one really big day - or even switching to maintaining.

Weight gain, like loss, is the reflection of a pattern of a behavior. Seeing that one day of even massive overage is not going to undo everything is important. People NEED to know this.

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SuzySunshine99

wunderkindking wrote: »

Can I also say I think there is value in this kind of thing being out there. People often freak out about one really big day - or even switching to maintaining.

Weight gain, like loss, is the reflection of a pattern of a behavior. Seeing that one day of even massive overage is not going to undo everything is important. People NEED to know this.

I agree in part...but for every person who would be comforted by this and no longer freak out about one massive day, there is another person who will think they could do this every week and still manage their weight.

I think that's the problem with the "cheat day" mentality. Too many You-Tubers and "nutritionists" say that it's important to have a "cheat day"...but what exactly is that? It means different things to different people. And if one person's definition of a "cheat day" is 10,000 calories one day a week, it's probably not going to work well.

For sure, it's a good example for people who think they have undone all their hard work because they had a heavy calorie day, but I can see it also being used as justification for overeating..."Oh, I won't absorb all these calories anyway..."

wunderkindking

SuzySunshine99 wrote: »

wunderkindking wrote: »

Can I also say I think there is value in this kind of thing being out there. People often freak out about one really big day - or even switching to maintaining.

Weight gain, like loss, is the reflection of a pattern of a behavior. Seeing that one day of even massive overage is not going to undo everything is important. People NEED to know this.

I agree in part...but for every person who would be comforted by this and no longer freak out about one massive day, there is another person who will think they could do this every week and still manage their weight.

I think that's the problem with the "cheat day" mentality. Too many You-Tubers and "nutritionists" say that it's important to have a "cheat day"...but what exactly is that? It means different things to different people. And if one person's definition of a "cheat day" is 10,000 calories one day a week, it's probably not going to work well.

For sure, it's a good example for people who think they have undone all their hard work because they had a heavy calorie day, but I can see it also being used as justification for overeating..."Oh, I won't absorb all these calories anyway..."

Oh, I think you have to have some good darn psychological awareness and also awareness that while one day won't undo all your work you need to not develop a pattern of behavior or decide it doesn't matter at all. i think that's why the MATH being shown can be useful.

Can be. Nothing is good for everyone.