Treat or Cheat Meal?

savannahribeiro
savannahribeiro Posts: 194 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey there,

I was wondering if anyone else has one meal a week (Like me, dinner on Saturday is usually my treat/cheat) or something that they have to help curb the craving without losing all the work they put in?

Replies

  • CharChary
    CharChary Posts: 220 Member
    Once a month I treat myself. I go out to eat wherever I want and eat as much as I want. It works for me.
  • CharChary
    CharChary Posts: 220 Member
    OH and I should say I'm in maintenance and it hasn't caused me to gain OR lose. woooot
  • MissBabyJane
    MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
    Usually I have a cheat meal on sunday.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    I used to but I would find myself getting almost obsessive thoughts through the week of what I was going to eat on my cheat day, and I would in a way (ridiculously) challenge myself to see just how much I could pack in on that cheat day - after all my trainer said I could eat "WHATEVER I WANTED" right?? Then wondered why my weight loss was so slooooowwww, practically non-existent sometimes.

    Now instead of reserving one day for "cheating" my philosophy is a bit different: Nothing is EVER "off limits" or reserved for a "cheat" day. If I want an ice cream sandwich, I have one - a mini, 110 calorie one, and I fit it in my day. If I want a cookie, or two or seven, I will make it fit. If I go over my calories a little today, I try to eat 25-50 calories less the next day or two (or work out 25-50 calories more, when I'm not sick like I am right now) to hedge my bets.

    This doesn't mean I don't ever eat out a heavy splurge meal, not at all. I just do my best to make it fit within my mean calorie deficit for the week and try not to focus so much on depriving myself or saving up for a special once a week loss of discipline.
  • padams2359
    padams2359 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I check where I am for the week, and do it on Saturday or Sunday. If I do it on Saturday, I make sure not to go into Sunday's calorie count. Last week, I still finished 3900+ under.
  • ehsan517
    ehsan517 Posts: 114
    Once a month I treat myself. I go out to eat wherever I want and eat as much as I want. It works for me.

    This.
    Same policy i stand by. sometimes twice a month. but with moderation(IIFYM or whatever) i rarely ever have cravings.
  • SweeDecadence92
    SweeDecadence92 Posts: 218 Member
    I do a few treat meals or snacks throughout the week. If possible I'll try to minimize my calorie intake for the rest of the day to support whatever high calorie treat I'm craving. Been pretty good since new years, so I may indulge for dinner!
  • colortheworld
    colortheworld Posts: 374 Member
    If I have a big family event for a holiday I will give myself a day or a few off. But for the most part I make my treats fit into my week.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    IMO once a week is too often, you can undo half your work doing it so often, depending on how nuts you go. I've had 6 in a year, and I've found it much better to do it at lunch or breakfast.

    But I prefer eating what I like within my calories anyway.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    I don't have cheat meals.. I eat what I want in moderation.
  • 2dogzrule
    2dogzrule Posts: 245 Member
    I think it depends on your outlook and how your body processes food. I did a cheat meal per week on Saturday last time I dieted and and consistently lost 2 lbs per week for 10 weeks. (was also exercising at least 4-5 days/week) I have gained some weight that I lost back, particularly with the holiday feasting and have decided not to do the cheat meal, or at least not so frequently (maybe one time per month). I honestly don't think it will make a difference with me because 2 lbs/week is the recommended that you should be losing anyway. I get obsessed with the cheat meal too which is why I have decided to decrease it....so I can obsess about health food instead : )
  • dunnodunno
    dunnodunno Posts: 2,290 Member
    I don't have cheat meals, but add in some of my favorite foods throughout the week.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I don't have cheat meals.. I eat what I want in moderation.

    ^^ This

    IMO, it's silly to consider eating food to be the equivalent of "cheating." I don't understand that attitude.
  • rjdunn87
    rjdunn87 Posts: 385 Member
    I'm still figuring out what will work best for me personally, but I think I'll use it as motivation. For example, yesterday when we were walking past this AMAZING molten chocolate cakery I told my boyfriend: if I do really well keeping up with my calories this week, let's go get Hot Cakes next Sunday. I consider things like that "treat meals," i.e. going out to eat, because you have no way of knowing the calorie content to even attempt to fit it into your day. Educated guesses are totally fine, but they're still guesses.

Categories