Cheat meals?

fritaly2013
fritaly2013 Posts: 15
in Food and Nutrition
Hi guys just wondering what everyone thought of cheat meals like once a month. By meals i don't mean endless plates i just mean for example 1/4 nandos chicken breast with a side of salad

Replies

  • Kr1ptonite
    Kr1ptonite Posts: 789 Member
    I don't class chicken breast and a side salad as a cheat meal thats a meal id have everyday on a diet. I rarely have cheat meals. But on the rare times i do i enjoy it as its a nice change from my normal meals. I don't bother counting it i just enjoy the one meal.
  • crystalrp
    crystalrp Posts: 113 Member
    I have one every few weeks. I wouldn't say chicken and salad would be a cheat meal, it sounds like a regular meal. If I do have a cheat meal, I definitely still log it in, but I enjoy it and then move on.
  • Artemiris
    Artemiris Posts: 189 Member
    I would suggest you to log your meal/s anyway. Personally, when I don't, I lose control.

    (Chicken and salad cannot be considered a cheat meal!)
  • MayaSPapaya
    MayaSPapaya Posts: 735 Member
    I eat chicken and salad most weeknights, as my diet food. That's not a cheat meal haha. With that being said, I do allow myself a cheat meal on Friday nights, sometimes Saturdays. I don't go crazy, but I order what I want at a restaurant. I eat pretty lightly the rest of the day so I don't feel guilty about it. Enjoy!
  • Pearsquared
    Pearsquared Posts: 1,656 Member
    If that's your cheat meal, I'd hate to see what your regular meals look like.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    I agree with the others, chicken and salad is in no way a cheat meal. That's the kind of thing most of us eat on regular days.

    That said, when I was losing successfully ( I've had two pregnancies since I started MFP and haven't been focusing on losing weight) I would take one day a week where I wouldn't log calories. Sometimes I ate whatever I wanted all day long, other days I just had one meal at a local restaurant and didn't worry about hang to find something equivalent in the database. Either way, I still lost 25 pounds in about 6 months, which was a normal, consistent, and healthy rate of loss.
  • jennaworksout
    jennaworksout Posts: 1,739 Member
    everyones definition of cheat meal is different .....
  • Cardinalsfan145
    Cardinalsfan145 Posts: 32
    Once a week or every two weeks but I keep it very strict. Like this week I had a small slice of pizza and a breadstick did it kill me no did I burn it off yes? You have to live every once In a while.
  • GoCarolMom
    GoCarolMom Posts: 1
    Agreed! FritAly, what is a normal meal for you? My son encouraged me to have a cheat DAY every week. Any time I think I want something bad for me (which doesn't happen often, interestingly enough) I just tell myself I only have to wait a few more days and then I can go ahead and have it. I can eat whatever I want and however much I want. It's is a great mind trick because by the time cheat day comes, I usually end up eating the same way I always do. The traditional "cheat" foods don't taste as good as I remember and leave me feeling unsatisfied to the point where I say "was that worth it?" and it is easy to return to the regular diet the next day...which is not really even a diet anymore. Make sense?
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    Agreed! FritAly, what is a normal meal for you? My son encouraged me to have a cheat DAY every week. Any time I think I want something bad for me (which doesn't happen often, interestingly enough) I just tell myself I only have to wait a few more days and then I can go ahead and have it. I can eat whatever I want and however much I want. It's is a great mind trick because by the time cheat day comes, I usually end up eating the same way I always do. The traditional "cheat" foods don't taste as good as I remember and leave me feeling unsatisfied to the point where I say "was that worth it?" and it is easy to return to the regular diet the next day...which is not really even a diet anymore. Make sense?

    I did that with pregnancy cravings. Instead of running out to the store every time I wanted something I told myself that if I still craved it the next time I was out, I would get it. Almost every time I forgot about the craving and didn't have to buy whatever food, generally junk food, that I had wanted. It's a great way to eat healthier on a daily basis. And, like you, I find that most of the "cheat foods" I would want while late trying to lose did not taste as good, or actually made me sick after I had changed my daily diet. And now that I know how many calories are in treats I won't indulge if it isn't worth it. I'll pass on grocery store birthday cake because I know it's a lot of calories and doesn't compare to my homemade cupcakes. Waiting for something that is truly incredible is so much better.

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