Binge Days: Why they can be beneficial for your weight loss

Sabine_Stroehm

I did not expect this topic to cause so much negativity! I just wanted to share something that has really helped my loss!

I don't question that your intentions were good. Binging is just universally bad. I know you also didn't really mean binge, you meant more of having a free day, but even that can be detrimental to many people's success.

this. You have several threads about "binging". It's never a good thing. Indulging in the foods you love and crave may work for you. And time will tell. LOSING is only part of the battle. MAINTAINING is also a huge challenge
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Stilllosing26

I did not expect this topic to cause so much negativity! I just wanted to share something that has really helped my loss!

I don't question that your intentions were good. Binging is just universally bad. I know you also didn't really mean binge, you meant more of having a free day, but even that can be detrimental to many people's success.

this. You have several threads about "binging". It's never a good thing. Indulging in the foods you love and crave may work for you. And time will tell. LOSING is only part of the battle. MAINTAINING is also a huge challenge
.

I can assure you the reason I am, and have been at a healthy weight is due to these free days. I am not "binging" (sorry for the confusion in the title), but simply eating foods that I love and enjoy. I am pretty much at my goal weight, and am happy with the way I look and feel. This is definitely working for me. Sorry that you disagree

meganjcallaghan

I don't call it a ''cheat'' day. I'm not cheating anything. I'm simply choosing to eat more/differently than I normally would. I don't do it once a week, but any time a potluck comes up you can pretty well forget logging, and I don't feel the least bit guilty about it.

alisondavidson9

I found this website and pamphlet really helpful for people suffering from Binge Eating Disorder, or B.E.D, which is a clinical eating disorder and one with a lot more stigma and shame attached to it than bulimia or anorexia.

http://www.bodywhys.ie/aboutED/binge-eating-disorder/

I don't normally jump into these forums because I find people post stuff just for attention or to start a flamewar, but I did a double-take when I saw the subject line.

chrisdavey

You know it is pretty easy to blow out your whole week of deficit dieting with your one cheat day right?

Having said that, I'm currently doing some cyclical dieting so I reefed for 1.5 days. It is not about just eating whatever though. I have specific targets to reach still. (and no, this isn't required for the majority of people but I know it works very well for me at around my current BF%)

Sallyrose5994

Good job on finding something that works for you! I think we are all different and need different things. For some never going over and logging every day work great and they couldn't control themselves or just plain don't want to risk having a "free" day. I think your system is working great for you and you should stick with it! I myself am taking a break from logging food and just going to log exercise for awhile because the logging was becoming tedious and I feel that I can stay on track without focusing on every calorie.I know though that most people on here would call me crazy. So, just don't take all of the negativity personally, people always seem to think that we should all do the same things, but in reality we all have different goals and ways to get there. What your doing seems perfectly logical to me. Congrats on your success!

mamadon

I wouldn't call it a binge either, but I do agree with occasionally letting loose. I did it once a month for over a year. It helped me with anything I happened to be craving, and never hurt over all. I can be a binge eater, but that is different. That for me, is an unplanned eating frenzy, where I am overeating for emotional reasons and eat till I am sick.

AliceDark

This is such a terrible idea and it is horrible advice for you to be giving people.

QFT

As a person that suffers from an actual binge eating disorder, I would never encourage a binge. A big treat every now and then, absolutely. A daily treat, I have one every day. Binging, NO WAY. I struggle to stay binge free.

Just because it has "worked for you" doesn't mean it is for everyone.

+1

OP, I really hope you don't know what an actual binge is, but it's not something you wish on anyone. It's also not something you should encourage, since you don't know who reads these forums and whether or not your topics could be triggering for them.

sarainiowa

I don't even consider them "cheat' meals or days. They are just more calorie days for me. I do them about every two weeks. If a more calorie day comes along, it's ok. I tend to have a drop in weight the day after a more calorie day.

Sometimes we have to wake the body up.

Exercise is the same thing. Mix it up because the body will get use to things and you won't see results either.

Mix it up, log it and have fun!! Life is to short!!

albayin

Yeah, many people have cheat days. I usually go with a cheat meal instead so I dont run the risk of getting blasted.

I am trying to understand "cheat meals" vs. "cheat days". So if I eat a big meal, wouldnt that still put overall calories over the chart? or do you mean only eating one big chea meal for the entire day so your calorie is stil within limit?

albayin

I realize that for some, this may work. However, I know myself well enough to know that I'm an all or nothing person. If I had a cheat day, it would turn into a week, then into a year, and then 34 years! For instance, that may happen to you as well. You mentioned Friday's were your cheat day, and then you said "Sunday" you get right back on track...is it possible you've begun 2 days of cheating in a row?

As far as rewarding myself? I do that with seeing what I can do physically, and the weight I've lost. That will always be my reward.

I was like you when I first started, then it all came naturally. Now if I over eat one day, next day will be more restricted...I am not saying it's a good or bad thing. I am just saying you can change your eating habit by giving it more time and practice...:)

Unknown

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albayin

I am sorry for the confusion! By binge days, I mean a free day. Not stuffing yourself full of food at one time! But rather a day of eating foods you love to eat!

Why not eat foods you love on a regular basis and simply track them towards your calorie total?

Because for some it's impossible to eat within calorie budget but still eating the food they(we) love? I don't know you but I can't give up after just one bite of brownie and how am I gonna stay within 1500 calories?...but again I don't have a good eating habit to begin with.

psych101

You talk a lot about rewarding yourself with food. I don't think that's entirely healthy. If you're having cheat days and cheat meals then you need to be careful that you don't eat away your weekly calorie deficit.

For me, it took a lot of work to get myself away from seeing food as a reward - these days I'd rather reward myself with something else, new shoes, clothes, a massage. I fit whatever I want to eat daily into my calories and my macros - works for me!

Calliope610

Agree with Mr.M Binge eating is simply not healthy. It represents a poor relationship with food. Rather then binge on brownies till you want to puke then swear them off for months and months why not simply try having 1 brownie and counting it towards you calorie goal? Seems much more reasonable. Also, if you have a weekly cheat meal or cheat day, you could potentially erase an entire week of dieting. This becomes more of an issue the closer you get to being lean. Just do that math. It takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose a lb. If you are 500 calories below maintenance for 6 days then you are on track to lose the lb if you keep up with that deficit on day 7. If instead you binge and go over your maintenance by 2000 calories you have cut away 2/3 of the weeks progress. If you go over by 3000, you ruined the whole week. Rather then restricting then binging, try moderation. It's a more long term sustainable plan.

QTF. That is why I occasionally indulge myself with a favorite treat, not because I earned it because I was "good" all week, but because I want to enjoy the treat. And if I go over my calorie allotment by more than 500cals, I balance it out with more exercise or less calories the rest of the week. I don't want to continue to take 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

But mostly, I just fit my treats into my daily eating.

LessIsMoreCB

I have to avoid the stuff I used to love altogether. It was like a drug to me! I had serious physical withdrawal. Even a taste here and there gives me a headache. I just found new favorites that love me back! So much fun trying healthy dishes from different parts of the world! Take a world tour of flavor.

JTick

I don't have cheat meals. I don't have cheat days. I never cheat. Because cheating implies I'm doing something wrong and should be ashamed. Instead, I eat what I want, feel good about my decisions, accept that sometimes I could've made a better decision, and lose weight. *looks at ticker* yeah, I think it works.

lorigrocks

For me I had one bad day where I pigged out on chocolate and felt horrible afterwards...I felt guilty plus had horrible stomach pains. I have never done that again...I still eat chocolate once in a while but it fits into my daily calories. The odd time we have pizza and I just have 2 slices and I am good. As tempting as it is sometimes having some potato chips within my calories knowing fairly well I could eat the entire bag but don't...I honestly couldn't have a cheat day because I would feel that all of my hard work just went down the drain. So in order for me to do it I don't cut anything out that I love...because I know I can still have it especially on my workout days. That is great that it works for you and you don't feel guilty. I guess everyone has their way of doing things and some things work better for others. Congratulations on your weight loss by the way :-) And thanks for sharing what works well for you!

melissa_tn

I let myself have a treat when I have a craving, but just count everything into my daily total. If I felt like I was "dieting" I couldn't maintain, but since I'm changing a lifestyle, I'm trying to make it realistic and don't deprive myself. Then I'll be less likely to fall off the wagon and "binge". It can feel a bit like a chemistry project, but at the same time is really simple as far as you have to take in less than you use up in a day... best of luck to you!

SeahorseDolphin

I get what you're going for but using food as a reward is not good for your relationship with food. It's reinforcing that when you do something good you should eat a "cheat". Saying things like "I've earned it" or "I'll get back on tomorrow" is setting you up for failure once you stop logging. I'm all for a treat now and then, but I don't justify it with my progress. You need to make sure that when you are done dieting your lifestyle is sustainable.

And maybe if you didn't want everyone to interpret your post as eating too much you shouldn't have titled it Binge Days. A true binge day would put you between 10,000 to 20,000 calories in a single day.

juggie49

Kudos to you for realizing that you don't have to avoid eating the foods you like forever. Meh The very thought of never having a slice of cheesecake or bread or a big fattening latte is just depressing.

And for those who suggest that we should eat and love only healthy foods and therefore never have to have a "cheat day": you are disingenuous. You seriously have NOTHING you like that's just a tad unhealthy or causes you to go over your calorie limit? Why do you hang out here? You're the first ones who claim that this forum is "for everyone" but you just CAN'T WAIT to prove your supposed superiority because you never have an off day. Haven't you heard that the desire for perfectionism is one of the unrealistic expectations that yo yo dieters and those with low self esteem deal with every day?

Yes, I respect those who stick to their guns. That's GREAT! But it's not great when you put others down for doing what works for them.

NO diet is sustainable long term if you NEVER treat yourself. You need to have reasonable expectations and those expectations vary from person to person.

Oh, and this DOES work. I've lost 20 pounds. I eat healthy, most of the time, and exercise regularly. But I also find a way to fit in treats. Remember, everything in moderation.

Have a good evening everyone.

kelCshea

There's actually some scientific data to back up why "cheat meals" or "refeed meals" are beneficial to fat-loss....it's all about planning, and knowing what *type* of "cheat" is the best for you goals...

http://averagefitnessfreak.com/refeed-to-lose-body-fat/

austepants

Thank you for sharing!! Can't stand all the negativity seriously people grow the hell up! I agree with cheat meals or days once in a while if you can handle it. If you don't like it don't do it!! Very simple :bigsmile:

albayin

I honestly don't understand this rage either...but of course I didn't read every single post and don't know anything about OP's background or other posts...

I felt recently this forum was full of angry people....why is that? a little bit more calories maybe?

chrisdavey

There's actually some scientific data to back up why "cheat meals" or "refeed meals" are beneficial to fat-loss....it's all about planning, and knowing what *type* of "cheat" is the best for you goals...

http://averagefitnessfreak.com/refeed-to-lose-body-fat/

This is the start of what I was getting at. It is not required for the majority of people. Very lean people are the exception.

Also, from memory it only boosts leptin for a short period of time.

All about leptin here. http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-hormones-of-bodyweight-regulation-leptin-part-1.html

albayin

There's actually some scientific data to back up why "cheat meals" or "refeed meals" are beneficial to fat-loss....it's all about planning, and knowing what *type* of "cheat" is the best for you goals...

http://averagefitnessfreak.com/refeed-to-lose-body-fat/

This is the start of what I was getting at. It is not required for the majority of people. Very lean people are the exception.

Also, from memory it only boosts leptin for a short period of time.

All about leptin here. http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-hormones-of-bodyweight-regulation-leptin-part-1.html

umm...you might be under attack pretty soon since many on this forum think that Lyle McDonalds was bro...scientist. Just sayin~

Ely82010

I am sorry for the confusion! By binge days, I mean a free day. Not stuffing yourself full of food at one time! But rather a day of eating foods you love to eat!

I eat everyday the food that I like to eat, and I don't eat things that I don't like or care for. So everyday is a free day for me or a binge day, based in your definition.

The difference is that what I like to eat and what I don't like to eat, it may be different (in fact, I know it is!), to what you or everybody else like.

You also mention "love to eat," but I prefer "like to eat," because I like food but I don't love food. Food for me is fuel so I eat to live and not the other way around. But that is just me, so let's leave it like that.

Stilllosing26

Kudos to you for realizing that you don't have to avoid eating the foods you like forever. Meh The very thought of never having a slice of cheesecake or bread or a big fattening latte is just depressing.

And for those who suggest that we should eat and love only healthy foods and therefore never have to have a "cheat day": you are disingenuous. You seriously have NOTHING you like that's just a tad unhealthy or causes you to go over your calorie limit? Why do you hang out here? You're the first ones who claim that this forum is "for everyone" but you just CAN'T WAIT to prove your supposed superiority because you never have an off day. Haven't you heard that the desire for perfectionism is one of the unrealistic expectations that yo yo dieters and those with low self esteem deal with every day?

Yes, I respect those who stick to their guns. That's GREAT! But it's not great when you put others down for doing what works for them.

NO diet is sustainable long term if you NEVER treat yourself. You need to have reasonable expectations and those expectations vary from person to person.

Oh, and this DOES work. I've lost 20 pounds. I eat healthy, most of the time, and exercise regularly. But I also find a way to fit in treats. Remember, everything in moderation.

Have a good evening everyone.

We should be BEST friends! Two great minds think alike!

Stilllosing26

Thank you for sharing!! Can't stand all the negativity seriously people grow the hell up! I agree with cheat meals or days once in a while if you can handle it. If you don't like it don't do it!! Very simple :bigsmile:

You're welcome! I LOVE my cheat meals! Couldn't live without em!

Stilllosing26

There's actually some scientific data to back up why "cheat meals" or "refeed meals" are beneficial to fat-loss....it's all about planning, and knowing what *type* of "cheat" is the best for you goals...

http://averagefitnessfreak.com/refeed-to-lose-body-fat/

Rock on!!