Cheat Days/Items

jhough08

I have been tracking my diet and excersize on MFP for almost 3 weeks now and I am down 13lbs. I had several tips and motivators to help me along but this is one question that I have had that seems to be pretty even on both sides on the answers I have been getting.

Cheat Days and Items.

Every once an a while I give into my urges to have something that I have not normally been eating in my diet, Today for example on my lunch break I had the overwhelming drive to get a whopper from burger king. The employee went on to tell me that they were running a promotion of 2 for $5. I got both of the whoppers and ate them with out fries or soda. On the other side of the coin, this is the 1st fast food I have eaten since Ive started this lifestyle change. I was hoping that I may get some un-biased opnions over this that may better assist me and my efforts.

Thanks!

Mokey41

There's nothing wrong with eating what you like or having fast food IF it fits your budget. The problem is having too many treats that throw you off course. If your burgers fit your budget then all is well.

MouseFood

Agreed. Having what you like when you h ave that craving will stop you eating a 'substitute' and then the craved food on top of it ... It really can be part of a healthy diet in moderation.

jhough08

By budget, do you mean the daily allotment plus what ever exersize you log?

Fitnin6280

I usually limit myself to one cheat meal a month. That way I can plan for it and eat what I want. I almost always go over my calorie budget for that day. But I always figure one day didn't make me fat, so I am not going to reverse the progress I have made in one day either.

wilsoje74

Well you used about 1000 cals on that lunch I would guess. I would log it and try to stay under calories. I personally would have stopped at one whopper, who really needs 2???

Francl27

If it fits your calories, it's fine. If it doesn't, once in a while is fine, just try not to do that too often...

Capt_Apollo

jwdieter

Diary looks fine. I'm not a fan of the default protein allocation, but whatever. Ate two whoppers and now you have 400 calories left. Grab some veg and limit dinner within your parameters, and you can meet all your targets today, if you want to.

Francl27

Diary looks fine. I'm not a fan of the default protein allocation, but whatever. Ate two whoppers and now you have 400 calories left. Grab some veg and limit dinner within your parameters, and you can meet all your targets today, if you want to.

This. 400 for dinner is totally doable, some grilled chicken breast and lots of veggies is 250 tops.

waltcote

two for $5 REALLY!! Hmm. Now I want two of them......Two Whoppers please but make it a diet coke.....:drinker: ..:huh: :huh: ..:yawn: of course big meals make me sleepy:yawn: :bigsmile:




Just teasing!! Peace

jhough08

Today is also a gym day for me I will be doing an hour of cardio plus isolated muscle group excersizes. So, I should be fine as long as 1 its not a common thing, and 2 I stay below my "budget"?

Wenchiness

I usually go for the budget option too. But.......there is generally a fridge at work, and the second one goes in there to eat on another day, or come home with me at the end of the day. This has been truly a life saver lately, with my hubby in and out of the hospital so much. I've been getting the croissant breakfast sammies, and one goes from the fridge into the purse for lunch while I'm stuck in the hospital. It's already wrapped and purse stuffable where something I made at home wouldn't be as portable, or have the no cleanup option. Give into cravings now and then, but I'll bet 1 sandwich would have been just as satisfying, or more so if you added an apple with it. A little something different on the tongue.

waltcote

You had me at HOT PIZZA!!!! :sad:

prat27

A cheat day is good even as a part of this program. When you run a caloric deficit to lose weight your metabolism does in fact slow down. Doesn't mean the caloric deficit stops working but your body does recognize what you are doing and a caloric spike actually speeds your metabolism back up. Now granted you body has to work the extra calories off but it is offset by a definite increase in the speed of your metabolism.

I cheat every Saturday or Sunday but not both and continue to make progress. I didn't say gluttony, I said cheat lol.

jwdieter

Today is also a gym day for me I will be doing an hour of cardio plus isolated muscle group excersizes. So, I should be fine as long as 1 its not a common thing, and 2 I stay below my "budget"?

You're totally fine, and shouldn't even consider this a "cheat" anything. The real risks to your diet imo come from the "meals" (boom carb city). Cheeseburgers have solid macros, and as you can see from your diary, you're still right on track for the day. Especially with the workout. Can work in a small dessert too, most likely.

lavaughan69

I try not to deny myself things that I really want. I'll only want it more and leads to a binge of some sort. Now I try to plan for it. I've been craving Chinese food now for two weeks, the craving isn't going away so I've decided that this weekend I will be setting aside calories to have some. All this week I'm keeping my daily calories cut below my daily allowance and I'm "banking" them for the weekend. All summer I did this so I could enjoy drinks on the weekend or a night out here or there. Once you figure out how to balance it all out you realize you can lose weight while still enjoying life. This way of life is way easier than some of the fad diets that I've done in the past!

FitFabStar

for me it's once every other week i can have a cheat meal where i can have anything i want fr that meal but sometimes it's hard to get back on track, that's why it's only twice per month I can do it.

TheEffort

There's nothing wrong with eating what you like or having fast food IF it fits your budget. The problem is having too many treats that throw you off course. If your burgers fit your budget then all is well.

Agreed!

Hildy_J

It's fine. Cheating is fine, eating junk, going over your calories, anything. It doesn't matter in the long term as long as you get up the next day (or week!) and get your eye back on the ball. x

JCM1969

I agree with the poster that said stop at one burger....
There is nothing wrong with having what you crave as long as it is in moderation.
I have reached my goal weight so I have a cheat day about once every 10 days... I dont log that day.
Although I look forward to them, I usually feel rather sick and mentally out of control. It is almost a relief to get back on track the next day...

lattarulol

Looked at your diary and went back a couple days. The whoppers aren't really any different than what you've been eating other days. I'm guessing McCallisters is some sort of fast food place? Sandwiches with mac and cheese? You shouldn't label this or any food as "bad." Think about your relationship with food a little bit to make sure this is something sustainable.

shesapear

I allow my self cheat meals weekly normally on Friday and Saturday. But if something I really want I will rearrange my day to fit. Like a light breakfast, heavy lunch and even lighter dinner. If my cheat meals don't fit in my calorie budget I don't make a big deal out of it but I log it anyway. The more data you have the more you can analyze your food/weight loss patterns in the future.

jhough08

Its a deli type place, ive never considered it fast food in comparison to like Burger King. Ect...

nytrifisoul

Well you used about 1000 cals on that lunch I would guess. I would log it and try to stay under calories. I personally would have stopped at one whopper, who really needs 2???

At one point I could eat 2 whoppers. Now If i get a craving for a whopper i get a double whopper, which i almost never can finish, but its better then eating even 2 whopper jr's.

jhough08

With my dieting will my appitite decrease over time? I could eat two whoppers because Im hungry enough to. Most days I still find my self pretty hungry, I log everything and I generally stay under 1700 calories.

Capt_Apollo

With my dieting will my appitite decrease over time? I could eat two whoppers because Im hungry enough to. Most days I still find my self pretty hungry, I log everything and I generally stay under 1700 calories.

why wouldn't you just eat one good burger???

i was never really that into mcdonalds or burger king burgers. my parents always made amazing burgers, and then i've made some good ones myself.

90/10 ground sirloin, a beated egg, some pressed garlic, a sauteed onion, some bread crumbs, a little Worcestershire sauce, salt.... dear lord i need one now.

yoovie

wipes drool

howardheilweil

With my dieting will my appitite decrease over time? I could eat two whoppers because Im hungry enough to. Most days I still find my self pretty hungry, I log everything and I generally stay under 1700 calories.

I have found that my appetite has gotten less over the past few months. The few times that I've gone out to a restaurant and been craving a burger or whatever, I find myself only able to eat 1/2... Maybe it's just me... Good luck!

silken555

Mmm...burger recipe sounds yummmmmy.

I do still like BK.

I do whopper with cheese so each one for me woulda been 760x2...1530cals...without cheese is listed at 670x2...1340. That's for Canada...I think our BK cals are a little higher.

Just make sure you log the right info!

Forgot to add the appetite bit...oops!
I found my appetite certainly diminished after eating smaller portions over a long time. I just can't eat like I used to and whenever I try, I get heartburn or tummy troubles...it really isn't worth it.