curious for those with cheat day..

Red13

Just wondering, if you have a cheat day, is it...

A) a day with no exercise and eat a treat and/or go over calories
a day WITH exercise and eat a treat or and/go over calories
C) a day without exercise is cheating enough

lovinyoutwo

I have a cheat day but it's not that bad....I take a break from all workouts and I relax. I don't go over my Calories, on that day I might have a can of pop or a piece of cake but thats it.

absie107

hah it depends... today it was DEFINITELY (a). I did tai chi and walked a lot like always, but yeah... definitely ate a ton of chocolate tonight :P

CroakerNorge

None of the above so much.
I don't really deprive myself on a daily basis so I don't really have a
reason to "cheat".

If I'm going out for a good meal, I guess that could be considered a cheat day.
BUT, unless it's a small plate kind of place, it's rare I eat an entire plate of food. Though I'll admit,
I get offended if I go to a restaurant that serves me a trough of food, huge
piles of food on a plate pizz me off (I know, I'm completely irrational). That said,
if I workout beforehad to "offset" the meal, great, if not, no big whoop.

In sum, the less heady I make this whole thing to rationalize my choices,
the better off I am. I try to make food a non-priority in my life, I don't want to have a "relationship"
with it, beyond, food is good, I like it, I eat it, that's about as far as it goes.
But, it's a totally personal thing.

christina1109

As long as you eat things in moderation why need a cheat day? I LOVE my ice cream and if I have the calories, I have no problem enjoying 1 serving.

KarenWantsABikini

Hi Red,

I like to have one day a week where i don't count calories, I wont go crazy and eat loads of fast food. I might have a dinner that i would not normally have, ie a lamb souvlaki (kebab) for dinner. I might eat a couple of choc biscuits for afternoon tea, things like that. My theory (and its just a theory - probably far from the truth) is that you count calories all week, your body gets used to it, and your metabolism gets lazy. Throw one day of different food in there that you wouldn't normally eat and it kick starts your metabolism again.

However, exercising, i like to do each day, if i miss out, so be it, not a big deal for me, and not worried if i hit or miss.

These are my thoughts :-)

Karen

sallyLunn

It's however you define it.

For me Cheat day is more like "cheat meal". I usually do exercise, but I have a meal that I usually don't eat during the week, like a cheeseburger or Indian food. I usually either go over on calories but I don't get hyper about it. Actually, you will find that when you develop good habits, they make your cheat days not as bad as one would think.

Other thing, I start my calories at an "active" level for that day because I am more active on the weekends + I exercise so I go into cheat day with more calories available to me.

havfaith

I'm during weight watchers so I don't cheat with my points. A day without exercise is cheating enough for me and it's usually Sundays

precioustypeoflove

my cheat days are no workouts and maybe a glass or 2 of wine but i stay in my cals!

ebert5150

I take one evening a week where I go out and eat a meal without counting calories. I definitely exercise on that day and it hasn't effected my weight loss.

Stewie316

I have a cheat day every Saturday, but I work out for at least an hour, sometimes two, and I use the exercise calories to indulge in whatever. I don't eat my exercise calories on other days.

amstein18

i have a cheat meal, not cheat day, once a week. i usually exercise that day but if not i don't sweat it! i still maintain portion control though & i either stay within my calories because i ate so clean the rest of the day or i only go over by 100 or 200 calories. i've read several different places that having a cheat meal helps keep your metabolism guessing.

mhcook

Good Post! My "cheat" days usually involve food and a night off excercise. sort of recharging the batteries if you will. I will take my children out to eat and order like I used to, say a Chili Cheese burger.

I also go out to lunch once a week with a group of men, we have done this once a week for a few years, each of us take turns paying so it's like getting Free lunches for several weeks. There I order less, but still sinful food.

kimberk67

I'm working on a cheat day... I havent really cheated, I just incorporate what I eat into my calorie count. Sometimes I go over, sometimes not. I have decided though that every so often I need a fatty day where I just eat whatever.
I havent really lost much weight but my weight has shifted so I guess I'm doing okay.

NoAdditives

First off, I don't consider it cheating. I don't have a problem staying within my calories while still eating the foods I like, especially if I've exercised that day. I don't eat many sweets or junk food and I don't normally drink soda. I work out 5 days a week, and relax on the other two. I try to stay within my calories on one of my off days and I don't worry on the other. I eat what I want (without letting go of all self-control!) and if I go over my calories, it's no big deal. Getting an extra 100-200 calories one day a week isn't going to do that much damage.

ChubbieTubbie

A cheat day for me is a day where I eat over my cals and don't exercise enough to compensate. Usually it's only 100 calories or so.

mangorabbit

I have to agree with CroakerNorge in this - I don't really have a 'Cheat Day' or anything as such. I am trying to come up with a lifestyle that works for me, and I have already learned that if I make something into a big deal in my mind, it is only going to mess with me.

I do occasionally take rest days in regards to working out, but I usually try to do some extra walking or something to help keep me within my caloric goals. There are meals that I enjoy, but I either work out before them, knowing I want to make them fit into my day, or work out later in the day to 'pay' for those calories. It is not a punishment, simply a sort of agreement I have made with myself to be fair. Sometimes my stomach can have the tasty things, but the muscles are going to have to help even out the treats.

Really, find what works for you. As MFP continues to show, we are all different in what works!

^_^

mamagooskie

my cheats do tend to be extreme......eat/drink whatever. I usually exercise though......It is very rare that I don't get in some physical acticvity every day and if I am really prepared I'll do a major workout (like 2hours) the day of the cheat just to help compensate for what I'm going to do!! LOL

I do have small cheats though too here and there and I don't worry about those so much.

howardrw

I have a "cheat day" and that is on Sundays.
I usually don't count my calories that day and just eat what I want, including going out to a fast food place.
I only do this 1 time a week (Sundays), but the rest of the days I watch my food intake and exercise about 45 minutes to an 1 hour or more.
Also I am daily under my calorie count by at least 500 to 800 calories per day except on my cheat day and I exercise 6 days a week, taking Sundays off. But I usually take a walk for about a 1 mile or more.
I just make sure that I reset myself on Mondays so that my "cheat day" don't continue into the next day and next day until you are off the diet plan.
That's the only problem with a "cheat day", if you are not strong enough it can take you off of your diet plan.

So everybody be strong if you do have a "cheat day".

kelika71

My cheat day is Saturday. The only thing that remains the same is breakfast and that's because I never did breakfast before. After that, I eat when I'm hungry and eat until I'm satisfied...not stuffed. I've found that I can't eat as much as I used to do. I don't log anything for Saturdays, either.

Exercise, I take off Saturdays, as well. I've noticed that it really helps my Sunday workouts. I have so much more strength to put into versus at the end of the week.

It's just one day and it's worked for me. Do I advocate it for others? No, because you have to use trial and error to find what works for you. Those that are doing nothing but clean eating, great!! It's not for me, though. I am human; therefore, I'm allowed to make mistakes. I will enjoy certain foods because there's no guarantee I won't have a heart attack or stroke. There are healthy people that die of heart attacks. So, my goal is to get healthier, but not to be 100% clean. I want to live a little on the edge.

Good luck!!

fit2sit

Ohh yeah! Sunday, don't restrict, don't count and don't work out. I think I put in enough of a deficit over the week that my body doesn't know what to do with all the calories and other goodies it doesn't get during the week. Does it jump start my metabolism for the week? I don't know. But its nice to have it and I don't have to drive the wife crazy with saying "I can't eat that."

MiekeJ

Hi there,

A cheat day is whatever you want it to be or whatever is a treat for you. As you can see above, a cheat day for everyone is different.

I usually base my cheat days around food. Mmmmmm FOOOOD! :-D So, I'll usually eat something thats usually off limits :-)

I have also heard that some people believe that having a cheat/free day helps them stay on track and prevents the sudden binge. Which sometimes, depending on the extent you go to during the binge, can cause more damage than the ocassional cheat day.

AngelaCourtneyjones

I have a cheat day one time a month. On this day I eat whatever I want to for one meal and I still do my workout!!! It's been working well for me because if I say I can never eat chocolate or fried chicken again...I would not ever stick to eating healthy for the rest of the month.

Lyadeia

For me, cheating is more about the food than the exercise even though it is really about both. See, I can't really get a good workout in when I don't eat right...but I allow myself at least one meal a week where I don't bother with staying in my calorie limits. I also only exercise 6 days a week because our bodies need some time to recover. So, my "cheat" is normally a nigh calorie meal that I have on the day that I wasn't even scheduled to exercise anyway.

I feel like it has kept me on track when I schedule cheat meals because then I don't have binges and feel totally lost and depressed on other days. It gives me something to look forward to and work hard throughout the rest of the week for.

gentlebreeze2

wow... I can't believe so many people cheat. I wouldn't trust myself. Here's what I do. Tuesday is chocolate day. Chocolate cheerios for breakfast, a hershey's w/almonds sometime during the day and one chocolate vodka drink. I still exercise that day. And I still try to keep my calories around the 1400 mark. Having a chocolate day keeps me focused and not out of control.

Mamoonie

Hi,

I don't have a "planned cheat day". I eat whatever I like, and try to stay withing my calories, which I almost never manage. I guess most people would say I'm not dedicated enough, but I prefer to just cut portions of everything, so that I don't crave anything at anytime.
I still loose weight with my system, and that's what counts for me.

I started with MFP in August, and so far only had one day which I would call cheat day. That day I went out, had big dinner (instead of small one), and desert too and I was over for almost 1000 calories. I don't regret the day/evening nor the meal and desert. Best thing of all: I had a quite bad week and with that day I thought I messed it up totally, but next weigh-in I still had lost over 1 lb.

So that's my "cheat day"... once in a while, not planned at all, and if it happens, I don't regret, I enjoy and take a new start the following day.

MM

Red13

Thanks for posting everyone. Just to clarify I wasn't deciding if I should have a cheat day, or what it should contain, I was just curious. It's interesting to see the differences in people and that people can have a time to relax and not have to think about food and exercise. I kind of have an obsession where I'm always thinking about what I'm eating, going to eat, how long I'm going to work out, what kind of work out I will do and sometimes (usually Saturday) I say screw it, and don't log my food. Good luck to all.

FitnessTim

My wife and I have what we call "rest" days. It is not cheating when you take a break from dieting and exercise. In fact it is important to maintain a healthy weight in the long run. If you exercise, diet and have a calorie deficit for many days in a row you could end up lowering your metabolism and go into what some call "starvation mode".

I plan on eating more than my recommended calories for at least 1 day out of 7 and sometimes 1 out of 3 days. This gives my muscles a chance to grow and for my body to heal. I'm not advocating going overboard, but if you are down 2000 to 3000 calories for the week, you would have a difficult time gaining that back in 1 day.

On the days we eat heavy it feels like we are stuffing ourselves but if you stick to healthy foods, it is usually less than 200 calories over.

REST don't CHEAT :happy:

MassiveDelta

Cheat day means food. Because there is no cheat day for exercise that's a rest day in between hard workouts.

onebadrg

I don't like the word "CHEAT" I rather just enjoy a treat once in a while. Dark Chocolate is my treat but in moderation. A single Chocolate Bar can last me one to two weeks.

What I have done is cut out all of the fatty foods, and replaced them with healthy but enjoyable foods like Salmon, Mahi Mahi, and Halibut...

The word CHEAT means you are doing something bad, where treating yourself is something good as long as you have the will power to do it in moderation.

I monitor my food, exercise and weight daily; this allows me to understand what I can and cannot treat myself.

As long as I am staying within my food categories, fat, carbs, protein......

I eat those treats depending on my daily goals.

Cheers

wh0a_is_me

Interesting topic!

I only started this week, but here's my plan: Thursdays I'm in school for nearly 12 hours, so I don't have time to workout, but I eat within my calorie allowance. Saturdays I usually spend with my BF's sister's family, and we ALWAYS end up going out to eat, so that's what I'll consider my cheat day, though I do plan on working out.. I'm sure I'll still be over over calories, lol

I'm thinking after a while I won't even need the cheat meal/day/whatever anymore - but right now, I was so used to going out to eat maybe once a week (but not eating very good the rest of the week), so it's kind of hard for me to cut it out completely.. so as long as I'm good all week, I'll use it as a reward.. but maybe at some point, I won't even find it necessary.