Cheat Days

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Replies

  • WhiteRabbit1313
    WhiteRabbit1313 Posts: 1,091 Member
    Is it good to have one day a week where you "cheat". You still log your daily intake- but you may go over it a little... (or a lot!!).

    Does that work for anyone?

    Please let me know :ohwell:

    Simple answer from me is "no."

    The terms "cheating" and "cheat days" imply that you're usually good, but you're going to be bad, which, with food, I think is an unhealthy mindset. It enforces that you should attach guilt to eating and food. I.e.: I'm good if I eat "x" number of calories, and I'm bad if I eat more than that. Food is fuel and even us overweight people are entitled to eat for fuel. Food is also social; we eat with friends and family, which nurtures relationships. Eating is enjoyable; we're allowed to enjoy EVERY meal, even on a diet...actually, ESPECIALLY while dieting. Treat yourself well, so you don't feel deprived, or like you're being punished! I eat everything I want these days, but in smaller portions. So, for example, if I want cake, I eat cake and make it fit into my budget. Now, I used to have a hunk of cake and I now eat 3-4 bites or less than half of a piece and don't use it to replace a meal.

    Additionally, I found that my weight loss was directly tied (go figure) to my actual caloric intake average. I could stay under 1300 calories 6 straight days, then eat 2600 calories on days seven, well, that means I averaged 1486 calories per day. That blows my deficit and slows/halts my weight loss.

    So, for me, the answer is "no" to cheat days/meals.
  • WhiteRabbit1313
    WhiteRabbit1313 Posts: 1,091 Member
    The way to avoid cheat days and stay in your calorie limit is to eat what you want all the time.
    I do. As long as it doesn't go over, you'll lose weight and your cravings will be nonexistent.

    ^^Yes^^
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    It's not a cheat, it's a choice
  • lavaughan69
    lavaughan69 Posts: 459 Member
    I don't really ever plan a cheat moment, but I always save calories during the week so I there's room for rum or wine. If I want pizza and wings, then I'll eat it in moderation. Quite honestly, because my stomach has shrunk from eating moderately for so long I can't really eat and drink much before I'm full. I'm such a light weight when it comes to drinking now! two drinks and I'm flying high!
  • WhiteRabbit1313
    WhiteRabbit1313 Posts: 1,091 Member
    I'm such a light weight when it comes to drinking now! two drinks and I'm flying high!

    ^^Me, too! Love it!...Haha!
  • JDHINAZ
    JDHINAZ Posts: 641 Member
    No. I do not have cheat days. I eat what I want, I work out, I've lost 44 lbs so far. If I go over, it's cool. If I'm under by a little, it's cool too. It's about moderation not deprivation. There is no bad food only bad eating habits/patterns. Today for lunch, I had...THE GRILLED CHEESE...4-cheese blend, Lucky Leaf baby arugula & secret sauce Served on Toasted House-made Focaccia Bread. Do I know how many calories? No. Can I bet it's probably around 750-1000, yes. Do I care? No. It's food. It's good.

    ^^^ Yep.

    Now I want a THE GRILLED CHEESE...
  • sassabella
    sassabella Posts: 98
    I don't really tend to have a "cheat day". Sometimes I'll have a kind of treat lunch on Fridays or something like that but its not like its ever something overly greasy, high in fat or anything because I have no desire to have any of that and don't really see the point of putting in that in my body. I just think treating yourself to something every now and then is okay. Just don't go overboard with it.
  • NJames4000
    NJames4000 Posts: 4 Member
    I have one once a week and yes they work for me. They are planned -- every Saturday and they are very high calorie days -- around 8,000 (I log them). Before I eat anything on Saturday, I go to the gym and do nothing but strength training for 70 minutes. I then eat whatever I want but usually high fat, high protein foods to help the recovery of my muscles. On Friday and Sunday I eat just under my calorie goal and drink nothing but water. I also do intense cardio. For me personally, fasting post cheat day does not work as it slowed down my metabolism too much and my weight loss stalled. Doing this seems to have kick started my metabolism and I have managed a 9 lb. loss in just under two months which is my best weight loss in over a year.

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