To Cheat or Not to Cheat?

eme31386

Does anyone allow themselves cheat meals??? How often? Also, do you eat foods with lower calories at the meals surrounding your cheat meal??? I don't believe in whole days of cheating because it is too easy for me to go crazy and then it sets me on a negative path for the days to come.

Kr1ptonite

When I was trying to lose weight I didn't allow myself cheat meals. Now days I might have one or two a month. Foe me even if I lower my calories to fit it in I still put on weight. Iv just learnt to accept it. I can't get away with them so I rarely have one, if you can do it then add one if if need be .

amusedmonkey

For me, the answer to your question is neither. My answer would be "to eat".

I just eat whatever I want, whenever I want, in whatever quantities I want, as long as the total calories for the day are less than my maintenance.

It does need careful planning when I decide to eat something especially rich in calories, like strategically preparing low calorie but filling food for that day or taking a slightly longer walk. I would never consider it cheating, I just call it mindful eating where I get to eat like a normal person but be aware of the calories I put in my mouth.

Whatever the scale says the next day I know is not true and I don't pay much attention to it because within a couple of days my weight is back to lower than it was (blame sodium, extra carbs..etc).

elbaldwin0525

I started having cheat MEALS after about a month of dieting to prove I can stick to my plan. So yes, I cheat to reset my psyche. Again like you said, I eat basically salads w/ chicken all day until the cheat to keep my calories as low as possible until my cheat meal

Francl27

You can do a search, there are seriously gazillions of threads on the subject.

Personally, I'd save them for really special occasions, and not just to cheat just because. I didn't have one until I was 6 months in my 'diet' or something. Now I have them and my weight loss has slowed down a lot. Typically I'd rather try and make room for what I like within my calories though.

eme31386

You can do a search, there are seriously gazillions of threads on the subject.

Personally, I'd save them for really special occasions, and not just to cheat just because. I didn't have one until I was 6 months in my 'diet' or something. Now I have them and my weight loss has slowed down a lot. Typically I'd rather try and make room for what I like within my calories though.

I think it's best that I don't actually plan cheat days for right now. Once I'm closer to my goal weight, maybe I will think about it. I compare myself to an addict because at some point food became an addiction. A recovering addict doesn't put themselves in situations that could cause them to relapse. I think it's all about me not necessarily denying myself, but finding healthier alternatives that don't cause me to want to "cheat". Thanks for the advice!

MegE_N

I don't really plan my cheat meals. But It happens when I'm out to dinner. So much good stuff and I just cave. But (I posted about this yesterday) because I keep a net of 400-500 calories at the end of every day (eat around 1500 per day and a bit of walking or yoga for exercise), when I fall off the wagon a cheat day doesn't actually put me in the red.

Example: Yesterday I had wings, fries, and beer. I moderated my portions and I didn't go over my daily intake, even though it was a cheat day.

I hear a lot of people around here do it once a week or so. Just depends on you and how often you feel the need, I guess!

Flutterloo

I'm trying to lose weight and keep my sanity. I don't want to "cheat". I used to eat a lot of sweets, and drink a lot of soda. Now if I want something sweet I will eat something like a meal replacement bar, or I will eat one serving of a sweet that I enjoy.

If I am planning on eating at a restaurant, I try my best to figure out ahead of time how much I will be eating there calorie-wise. Then I log that at the beginning of the day. And I only eat small stuff before then to make sure I stay in my goal.

This is what works for me. I do not want to binge on anything as I have had issues with emotional eating in the past. Good luck to you!

Fat2FitMyDrive

See this is a topic that sees much debate. I myself allow myself 2 cheat meals per week. Usually try to do them post workout and my philosophy so to speak with this is simple... When you put yourself in deprevation mode you are making it far more difficult to overcome the mind and this can and/or will lead to binging and overindulgence. When you allow yourself a Cheat meal at a given time it's like a treat that gives you something to work for as well as providing a bargaining chip with your mind to not have that small cheat right now or snack you shouldn't. For some people they have this thinking that you absolutely can't cheat or you will fail... Well everytime I had tried in the past to change my diet to deprevation I have failed. Doing it with a focus on moderation vs. deprevation it has taken longer to lose the weight and I'm still losing, but I'm not constantly bing eating and finding myself frustrated and down because of it. I really think especially for people who have a real food addiction moderation is a much better thinking. I may eat a serving of Pringles (yes my favorite fatty chip snack) vs. a whole container of them as I would have a year ago. This is correct thinking and leads to results and a better knowledge and respect for food in general. Even when I have a cheat meal I don't eat a container of pringles or 5 slices of pie... I have a single serving. I have also learned ways to make food that fools me into thinking it's a cheat meal when it's really not. Things like protein pancakes, Quest Bar Almond Joy Bites, Protein Cookie Balls, and the list goes on and on. I love food and I refuse to live life deprived from the things I enjoy, but I will continue to educate myself on alternatives and proper serving sizes so I can lead a fit lifestyle and still enjoy the things I "shouldn't" once in a while!

cwolfman13

Define "cheat"....

IMO, a cheat is going over a maintenance level of calories for the day...outside of bulking, that is my only definition of "cheating" as I don't do the whole food demonization bit.

Personally, I found that a reasonable calorie deficit never left me feeling deprived and thus I never had any reason to really "cheat" during my weight loss save for holiday feasting.

lockedcj7

I don't cheat on purpose. I don't worry about it if I go a few calories over on any particular day though. I try to be under every other day so a slip-up once in a while isn't going to ruin my progress, only slow it down a little.

On May 1st, I redoubled my efforts to log every morsel and be more active. Even so, there have been a few meals that I just couldn't document. I tried instead to control my portions and then get back on track as quickly as possible. So far, so good.

Fat2FitMyDrive

You can't think about food like it's a narcotic. That's the mistake so many people make. We need food to live and the idea and best practice is to not only enjoy it, but to do so in a healthy manner. Changing your focus from food as being the enemy to food as being an ally is the best thing you could ever do.

socialdchic

I am an all or nothing type person and this keeps me from cheating but I would like to hope when I am down to my goal weight I could have a day to eat something I used to but I am not sure mentally I could allow myself lol

amusedmonkey

You can't think about food like it's a narcotic. That's the mistake so many people make. We need food to live and the idea and best practice is to not only enjoy it, but to do so in a healthy manner. Changing your focus from food as being the enemy to food as being an ally is the best thing you could ever do.

Well said. I held a YoYo pattern for years and was unsuccessful at holding up for more than a month. When I had finally given up and stopped cheating/not cheating (i.e feeling guilty or good about food choices) and started to simply live like I would if I wasn't overweight only more careful with my intake, I was able to slowly lose the weight and I'm a year and a few months in and I still don't feel differently.

In the past I would binge if I allowed myself to cheat. When I eliminated the whole concept of cheating from my diet and started to simply eat like a normal person, I feel my binges have become a rare occasion. Example: today I had ice cream, chocolate and beer and I do not feel the least bit guilty about it. I've been harboring an overwhelming sweet tooth lately so I've been having sweets every single day for the past week.

ChrysalisCove

I have one "maintenance day" a month, which is pretty much just enough extra calories to allow a cheat meal or a special treat on top of an otherwise normal day. I typically reserve it for a holiday or special occasion. I have learned from experience that I do not handle total cheat days - I go too crazy & have a really hard time getting back on track for several days afterwards!

FitMe758

I did for the first time on Saturday and, to be honest, I regret it. I went into the restaurant all prepared: "No alcohol, no apps, no dessert just my steak, substitute side for a garden salad and plain steamed broccoli"

Sounds like a plan, huh?

But we got there a little early so had to wait for our table. Why not wait at the bar?

Had a pint of Guinness.

The waitress told us the specials. So I ended up with halibut (one of my favorite) with crab cake (another favorite), creamed spinach (another weakness) and asparagus (but with hollandaise sauce) AND added Oscar topping to the halibut.
Then had another Guinness, why not?

After that I had dessert. I really don't know why. I don't really eat sweets. But I ate the whole thing.

I had absolutely zero self control

Boooo.

My biggest weakness food wise are steak and Guinness. I don't deprive myself. I have them at least once a week and I stay on track.

But why did I have zero self-control at the restaurant?

I guess I am not "there" yet.

I don't plan on becoming a hermit, so social eating will continue to be present. I just have to make better decisions next time.

I guess the difference will have to be for me not to think, "Oh, I'm going to have a CHEAT meal" (what started as a cheat meal ended up being a food orgy, gah!)
So, I'll just have to think about it from a different perspective and try to stick to the original plan of exercising *some* self-control.

wellthenwhat

I did for the first time on Saturday and, to be honest, I regret it. I went into the restaurant all prepared: "No alcohol, no apps, no dessert just my steak, substitute side for a garden salad and plain steamed broccoli"

Sounds like a plan, huh?

But we got there a little early so had to wait for our table. Why not wait at the bar?

Had a pint of Guinness.

The waitress told us the specials. So I ended up with halibut (one of my favorite) with crab cake (another favorite), creamed spinach (another weakness) and asparagus (but with hollandaise sauce) AND added Oscar topping to the halibut.
Then had another Guinness, why not?

After that I had dessert. I really don't know why. I don't really eat sweets. But I ate the whole thing.

I had absolutely zero self control

Boooo.

My biggest weakness food wise are steak and Guinness. I don't deprive myself. I have them at least once a week and I stay on track.

But why did I have zero self-control at the restaurant?

I guess I am not "there" yet.

I don't plan on becoming a hermit, so social eating will continue to be present. I just have to make better decisions next time.

I guess the difference will have to be for me not to think, "Oh, I'm going to have a CHEAT meal" (what started as a cheat meal ended up being a food orgy, gah!)
So, I'll just have to think about it from a different perspective and try to stick to the original plan of exercising *some* self-control.

I find eating away from home is SO much harder to stay under control! At home, there are just a few choices of food, and I can eat a little of everything. Away, there is no scale or measuring cups, and there are so many choices. I just get overwhelmed!