Cheat days, yay or nay?

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Replies

  • mtlprs
    mtlprs Posts: 40 Member
    I think it really depends on what you do. If a cheat day for you is to have a special meal and desert, go for it. If a cheat day means you eat a pound of bacon, half a pepperoni pizza, a bottle of wine and a bag of chips, well, maybe you should skip it! It all comes down to logic, you must remember that those extra calories ARE extra calories, you will have to loose them at one point. Myself, I do enjoy the occasional special meal/desert, however I don't over do it. I used to gain 10lbs during the holidays, this year I gained 4....
    I had all those "special meals" and now I'm mad as hell....
  • hotrodhoodlum28
    hotrodhoodlum28 Posts: 9 Member
    No!! if your overweight your addicted to food .Would you give a drink to a X alcoholic ? Trust me Im 59 years old and been over weight my whole life I have tried every way possible to loose the weight . The only way to do it is make a life change not a diet , Diets are just another reason to fail again if you include the food that got you here
  • wmurru
    wmurru Posts: 1
    I do once a week. But still journal my food that day. According to some diet and fitness literature, the cheat day stops your body form going into starvation mode and shutting down your metabolism which happens in 5 to 7 days. Also it does help withheld cravings if you knowxa is coming when you can have whatever you are craving.
  • Charlottie88
    Charlottie88 Posts: 10
    Even people who have no weight issues pig out occasionally - I don't necessarily think having a cheat day means you're encouraging bad behaviours around food, but I guess everyone is different. I definitely understand how that might not help some people. Does anyone else wake up and for the entire day, you are just starving, whatever you eat? A few days ago I ate within my goal up until after dinner, trying to keep the hunger in check even though I was ravenous. I ended up just eating - my body obviously wanted some extra food for whatever reason and Id rather just give into it than spend the rest of the night/next few days miserable and craving food. If it doesnt happen often, then I dont see the problem.
  • anthony438
    anthony438 Posts: 578 Member
    If it helps you stick with it long term, go for it!
  • jennegan1
    jennegan1 Posts: 677 Member
    I do once a week. But still journal my food that day. According to some diet and fitness literature, the cheat day stops your body form going into starvation mode and shutting down your metabolism which happens in 5 to 7 days. Also it does help withheld cravings if you knowxa is coming when you can have whatever you are craving.

    Wait what? if you stop cheat days your body goes into starvation mode? Thats a new one I havent heard of....Where did you hear this from??

    Any way I dont do cheat days. I also dont eat at 1200 I eat between 1400-1500 and eat everything I want just smaller portions
  • jennegan1
    jennegan1 Posts: 677 Member
    Even people who have no weight issues pig out occasionally - I don't necessarily think having a cheat day means you're encouraging bad behaviours around food, but I guess everyone is different. I definitely understand how that might not help some people. Does anyone else wake up and for the entire day, you are just starving, whatever you eat? A few days ago I ate within my goal up until after dinner, trying to keep the hunger in check even though I was ravenous. I ended up just eating - my body obviously wanted some extra food for whatever reason and Id rather just give into it than spend the rest of the night/next few days miserable and craving food. If it doesnt happen often, then I dont see the problem.

    Where you ovulating/pmsing?
  • callyart
    callyart Posts: 209
    It all depends.

    For me, I think I wouldn't be able to handle the fact I have eaten something AMAZING and then have to go back. I think I will only 'cheat' if I have birthday meals, anniversaries, things like that.
  • hfbs616
    hfbs616 Posts: 14 Member
    I don't like cheat days. They throw me off from the habit I'm trying to build. If I really want something I try to work it in to my day. I think everyone does a little cheating here and there, such as when a craving hits or when I can't avoid eating unhealthy things. So, putting a whole day to "cheating" seems weird to me.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I'm aiming to do a cheat meal once a week. I've done it before then I stopped for a bit, but I'm trying it again. I usually just have a nice dessert, and I log it, and I usually exercise that day.

    I'm pregnant, so having a cheat meal is stopping me eating junk in the week.
  • molonlabe762
    molonlabe762 Posts: 411 Member
    Absolutely YAY! Id lose it if I never had a day to relax. That doesnt mean you have to go crazy and way over eat though. Just eat what u want in decent moderation and dont worry about counting. I usualy have a cheat day every other week.
  • Oscarinmiami
    Oscarinmiami Posts: 326 Member
    yes i wouldn't be able to stick to the diet without a cheat day
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I'm torn about it, honestly. I try to fit what I want within my calories, but I've had cheat days... mostly unplanned. And sometimes the gain from it doesn't seem to be worth it, when it takes you two weeks to get rid of the water weight. I guess it depends how much over you go though.
  • Mayra_121
    Mayra_121 Posts: 128 Member
    In the past when I would try to "diet" I would not have any cheat days, which made things just frustrating because I would constantly think about all the foods I craved. Up until the point where I would give up and binge on all sorts of unhealthy foods. But ever since I have given up dieting and changed my mentality that this is a lifestyle change I have incorporated 1 cheat day a week. The important thing like most people have said is moderation! I try my best not to overdo it while having some of the things I want.
  • KimJohnsonsmile
    KimJohnsonsmile Posts: 222 Member
    If I want ice cream, I'll have a small bowl of ice cream. Brownies? Yum! Chips? Bring 'em on. I don't have "cheat" days. I eat what I want, and I don't think of myself as dieting. Eating healthy is really a way of life for me now (thank you MFP). I tend eat very healthy, and if I want something unhealthy I'll exercise hard enough to compensate for the extra cals so I can stay within my goals
  • sburns12066
    sburns12066 Posts: 8 Member
    For me cheat days do not work, I learned that recently. A cheat day becomes a cheat week. When I first started this diet I would allow myself a cheat meal once every two weeks. That worked a lot better for me because I would eat right the rest of the day, then really enjoy the cheat meal. When I had the whole day I would end up going overboard. Everybody is different, but I know cheat days do not work for me!
  • Nicole_gets_a_grip
    Nicole_gets_a_grip Posts: 50
    Nay! I have no 'off button'! I can easily consume a whole days calories in 1 meal and in a day I could consume 3-4 days of calories. Cheat days are a BIG no for me!!!

    I got fat by cheating!!! If it fits in my daily calories and I want some chocolate or chips then I'll have them, but only if I can fit it in my daily count. Similarly though if I go over my calories by up to 100 calories once or twice a week I won't flog myself over it!!!
  • mmm_drop
    mmm_drop Posts: 1,126 Member
    If I want ice cream, I'll have a small bowl of ice cream. Brownies? Yum! Chips? Bring 'em on. I don't have "cheat" days. I eat what I want, and I don't think of myself as dieting. Eating healthy is really a way of life for me now (thank you MFP). I tend eat very healthy, and if I want something unhealthy I'll exercise hard enough to compensate for the extra cals so I can stay within my goals

    Pretty much this.

    I don't feel like I have anything to cheat. As long as I hit my macros I indulge in all the yums!
  • Dawn810511
    Dawn810511 Posts: 98 Member
    No, I personally don't think it's a good idea. For some people, it works, for me, no.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    sure, i cheat all weekend and stay strong all week.
  • erinbuberinxo
    erinbuberinxo Posts: 64
    Yay! I don't have specific cheat days or meals, I just have a cheat whenever I fancy! Sometimes that's once every 2 weeks, sometimes it's twice a week :) But a lot of people don't and if that works for them I have huge respect because I couldn't go without a few cheats :p
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    - it's much easier to fit your 'cheat meals' in your calories when you have a higher goal
    - as you get to the last 10-15 lbs and your deficit is smaller, a cheat meal sucks. I undid a week's worth by going over the other day. So you really have to decide if going over is worth it.
    - bottom line, learn moderation, so you can have what you want in small quantities within your calories (I think this one will be a constant battle for me though)
    - whatever you do, log it. When you see you're 1000 in the red and 'you will gain 5 more lbs' when you click the 'done for the day' button, it will put things in perspective
    - in the end, it's a lifestyle change, and you will have cheat days in your life. Just try to limit them and move on.
  • overhaul12
    overhaul12 Posts: 20
    Personally, I eat everything in moderation and don't have planned "cheat" days or meals. If I am going out to a restaurant or a party, I try to work it into my day as best as possible.

    I do, however, let life happen and go over my calorie goal or don't worry about my macros on occasion (birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.).

    ^^This!

    I don't plan out "cheat days" because then I feel like I can eat anything and everything. I try to stay consistent with my diet and if I want a bit of chocolate cake, I'm gonna have a bite of that damn chocolate cake. Honestly, though, I don't really crave the foods that used to be cheats for me (gave up sugar and wheat)...but when I do I try to find the healthiest version available so I'm still getting some nutritional benefit. That being said, do what works best for you! If you can fit a cheat day in once every couple of weeks and still stay on track, go for it! I probably wouldn't go for a once a week cheat day because sometimes it can get out of hand and throw off your progress.
  • LadyPacis
    LadyPacis Posts: 12 Member
    I feel that having a cheat day on Friday helps keep me motivated during the week!

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