The cheat day question!

Dorio11

Does anyone here have an actual cheat day? Or big cheat meal? And if so, have you had negative effects from this? Or does it help sanity and not impact really at all? I'm just curious on everyone's opinion because I feel as if a cheat/reward day isn't bad at all. That's only 52 days out of 365 that you would be eating unhealthy. But before I have one Saturday, I would like to hear some of your guys opinions. Thanks!

deannc1

I eat chicken fish or turkey most days, but last Sunday I REALLY wanted a rib eye steak. So I had one. I didnt consider it cheating cause I know I gotta live, and I aint gonna make it to my grave without the occasional steak, dish of ice cream or candy bar. I listed it in my food diary. That truly helps keep me on track. I went over my allotment by 200 calories. Do I regret it? Heck NO! :laugh:

sandtisch

Cheat days don't work for me.

I either calculate something sweet in every (second) day and am fine.

shanerobinson81

Cheat days don't work well for me if I'm working a specific plan. They just seem to get me off track and make me want to go back to old habits. Hamburgers and fries are my nemesis. If I eat them on Sunday afternoon, I want them again Monday night. That's just me. So, as an alternative I can make an 6 ounce patty (90/10) and baked some sweet potato chips. I will skip the bun and condiments. I get my fix without the guilt and without further cravings. Hope this helps.

FindingAmy77

I don't cheat.. I log everything and eat what I like. but then again.. I want to lose this weight. its not cheating if you log it and its in your calories or just a bit over. if I am going over for the day I just up my exercise for the day so I can have that second margarita or that piece of pie, etc.
By doing this, I have never plateud in 34 weeks. So many restaurants have their nutrition info online. I feel that if you feel a need to "cheat": then your diet is way too restrictive. THat is my opinion of course

TheVevina

I used to have cheat days, but I realized that I would eat myself sick and get an immense food baby LOL Sometimes I would gag too and it was just too uncomfortable. Hence, if I want a treat, I now fit it into my day and I'm happy

Dorio11

I feel like Id go insane lol

Grumpellina

I don't have a "cheat day", although I should probably incorporate one into my eating and exercise regimen.

Ewalkitout

My only advice is to make your cheat day a "healthy cheat day." The days of eating crap are over, a person must embrace their new found healthy life.

snazzyjazzy21

My day off is kinda a cheat day. But I still log everything. I suppose the only way it's a cheat day is I put less pressure on my food choices and staying under my goal. If I go over by a hundred or so, eh, no biggie.

Dorio11

Strongly disagree^ I went from 210 to mainting 140 in a year ... And I have had cheat days in between @ewalkitout

chriamaria

I cycle my calories so that I allow more on the weekends and eat less throughout the week. Then, I can have a little bit more of something I like. I still try to include healthy foods through. And, I still have sweets and things during the week, just not as much.

HitTheFloor

Cheat everyday. Calories in versus calories out. Just make sure you get your vitamins in but don't go over your calorie count and splurge a little on tastier food in a lower quantity.

nikkylyn

I eat "bad" stuff everyday. LOL.

I just aim not to eat as much of the sweety goodness like I used to. I have a limit. Most days I am under my calories or close to it so I figure that is just fine. I am eating plenty of veggies and good proteins most of the time and Im losing weight.

I dont really call it a cheat tho. I give myself between 2-300 calories a day of junky stuff. I usually use it up on chocolate and it works for me.

Dorio11

Geeze so I guess I'm the only person who has a cheat day it seems ..

paperpudding

My only advice is to make your cheat day a "healthy cheat day." The days of eating crap are over, a person must embrace their new found healthy life.

I don't do cheat days as such - I go over sometimes but it's not a planned cheat day and I still log everything.

But 'the days of eating crap' do not have to be over - some 'crap' in moderation can still be part of a healthy life.

fran11mat

I say go for it. Not a cheat 'day' but definitely a naughty meal each week. I look forward to it and it is something to work towards. I can't eat as much as I used to so it isn't too bad anyway. Generally this meal will be dinner with family or friends or a few drinks.

Keepcalmanddontblink

Cheat days don't work for me.

I either calculate something sweet in every (second) day and am fine.

This. I've been on here a few times in the past, and I can link my falling off the wagon to cheat meals or cheat days. Its too hard for me to let go than go back to recording food. I allow myself a low cal ice cream sandwich or a couple pieces of dark chocolate and log them. I have a wedding I am going to in the end of May and I am saving up for 1 cheat meal, and I plan on trying to record it anyway.

Krueger92

Don't do a cheat day, just do a cheat meal. Give your self an hour to eat what you want. But after the hour is done your done. No cheating after that. Its good for your metabolism and even better for your sanity!

robabob3

I do a cheat day, whenever i want to take one, usually ends up being roughly 1 a month. I find they are an excellent reminder of how awesome i feel when im eating well and working out and how ****ty i feel after eating a load of crap, usually leads to an increased accuracy of my logging along with higher levels of motivation for the next 2 weeks, leading to an increase in my weight loss over the period immediately after having a cheat day.

If you can do 1 day without it turning into a couple days a week a month e.t.c then i don't see why you shouldnt, on the days that i don't wanna be worrying about calories like special occasions i just don't... lost a load of weight doing it this way and will continue to lose more until im happy with where im at.

freshstart180213

Im only just coming back to this however I dont think cheat days work this works for me as its counting kcals so I eat the same as I always do I just calculate treats into my everyday yesterday I hd some crisps and choc but thats on exercise days when I am going to cover it I think if you deny yourself stuff losing weight stops becoming a lifestyle change and becomes a diet and we all know how successful diets are longterm lol

Wifey7891

I agree with having a cheat meal (not a cheat day). its good especially if you have a severe caloric deficit because your metabolism will slow down if you don't eat one day at least once a week at or slightly above your maintenance. usually I try to eat as healthy as I can while working toward my goal, but you also need to live too. Sometimes theres no resisting pizza or other takeout. but its in the everyday decisions that really make a difference, eat clean the rest of the days a cheat meal once a week will not hurt.

Foodiethinking

In my opinion a cheat meal or day is only a cheat meal or day if you don't log it. Eat it, log it, own it, next day. I eat whatever I want within reason, plenty of fruit and salad (not massive on veg) and I'm ready to go

emmaroid1981

I have normally 2 cheat meals a week where I dont count and I dont count my vodka or bourbon and still lose at 1700 calories, but I do a lot of running and cycling, so works for me :-)

mikepkds

I had (have) a horrible sweet tooth. I think if you totally deprive yourself you aren't going to be happy. Happy the weight is coming off but I just kept eating. Make a pan of black bean brownies or Special K breakfast bar. Either of these has been satisfying me and I still am under my goal.

bassclef19

I have cheat weekends, Friday to Sunday. I love chocolate. Especially those new Dairymilk bars. So I have one of those once a week.
I make sure to get to the gym as much as possible especially on cheat days. I also find that when I do go to the gym on cheat days, I am less likey to make a lot of bad food decisions.

I have done cheat weekends ever since I started my healthy ways. There was a point when I was gaining or not losing as much because the amount of exercise I was doing just not enough to burn off the bad food.

My strategy is.. eat extremely well during the week and exercise as much as possible. Continue to exercise on your cheat days, don't go too overboard with your cheat meals and you're all good.

tr66

Once a month or so, I have a "Christmas day." A day when I don't worry about logging what I eat or whether or not I exercised. This day is really for special occasions or parties. At time when its better to enjoy the event and not worry about your diet and exercise.

JulsiePie

Well I've only been at this for 24 days, but I decided to have a "Yummy Meal" every week - I log it as a yummy meal and ball park the calories (last week was a pound of wings and fries and ice cream lol). I most definitely will NOT deprive myself of those super high cal delicious foods because that's not a realistic goal for me for the rest of my life. That's how I feel now, but maybe in a few months I'll not want those foods......but I doubt it lol.

Pirate_chick

I eat what I want in moderation. I found it's much better than having a Cheat day and consuming all of the calories at once.

MeanderingMammal

Does anyone here have an actual cheat day? Or big cheat meal? And if so, have you had negative effects from this? Or does it help sanity and not impact really at all? I'm just curious on everyone's opinion because I feel as if a cheat/reward day isn't bad at all.

Personally I just take responsibility for my own diet decisions, recognising that some days I'll go over goal, some days I'll be under. My fitness objectives and weight loss goals aren't going to be affected by a single day, as long as I'm on a trend of being around goal.

Cheat as a term is semantic nonsense, who is being cheated?

blovesit

I have a cheat meal on a sunday night where I eat whatever i want (and i mean whatever!!!) and i have continued to loose weight (now 5ft3 120pounds). My cheat meals actually motivate me the rest of the week! I usually wake up on a monday and my body is crying out for fresh healthy food!