How do you feel about cheat days?

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Replies

  • dispatcher939
    dispatcher939 Posts: 75 Member
    I will have a cheat meal one day a week but I still try to stay within my calories for that day. I don't want to ruin what I have worked so hard for and I don't want to go back to where I was in my eating habits. I will go over calories at times usually during holidays but I work out a little more so I don't feel bad about my over all day. Food is an addiction just like a drug you will always have cravings you just have to learn how to control them or they will control you.
  • larrodarro
    larrodarro Posts: 2,512 Member
    I also stick to my rule, no fried food and no candy. That may be impossible for some, but its a good thing to stick by. Those 2 foods are just empty calories.

    Now that is not always true. At least for fried food, anyway. The fried catfish and okra at Parramore's Too the other night were full of flavor. {I gave the hushpuppies to my wife} And I did enough exercise that by bedtime the numbers were not red.

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  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    I also stick to my rule, no fried food and no candy. That may be impossible for some, but its a good thing to stick by. Those 2 foods are just empty calories.

    Now that is not always true. At least for fried food, anyway. The fried catfish and okra at Parramore's Too the other night were full of flavor. {I gave the hushpuppies to my wife} And I did enough exercise that by bedtime the numbers were not red.

    10169250_756271137751345_3102163342719261329_n.jpg

    Oh, my!!!! I may be a Yankee, but I'm a Southerner at heart! Mmmm, fried catfish and okra RULE! I don't do "cheat" meals or days, but believe in a maintenance day or so once in a while. I could totally make that fit my macros, lol!
  • Hell_Flower
    Hell_Flower Posts: 348 Member
    Yea, I like having a cheat day. But I never go over 1800 calories and I make sure that I get a monster sesh in the gym first thing in the morning. But I tend to just do it once a month, to fit in with the hormonys that make mac'n' cheese on a hotdog with a bag of chocolate chaser such a hard thing to resist.

    Then otherwise I'll have a cheat meal once a week, usually a Saturday, but I will fit the rest of my day around it so that I will only go over my deficit by a tiny amount. For example, if we're eating out, I'll plan ahead what I want and log it then keep the rest of my daily intake to an absolute minimum. Plus a work-out.
  • Veil5577
    Veil5577 Posts: 868 Member
    If I don't occasionally indulge, I'll never stick to this lifestyle change. So I will allow myself a day when I go over my set limit of 1200 calories, but I make sure not to go above 2000 for that day, and the next day I'm right back on the plan.
  • kdbnmd
    kdbnmd Posts: 16 Member
    Whenever I've tried to loose weight in the past and allowed myself 'cheat' days I failed. If you're addicted to unhealthy eating then
    I wouldn't allow any cheat days until you've gotten into the habit of eating healthy. I've been on this journey so far for a few months. And have two days where I did go out of my calorie limits, Easter Sunday and the day after. I was able to get right back into eating healthy but wouldn't encourage going off the wagon until you're comfortable where you're at.
  • kk_140
    kk_140 Posts: 518 Member
    When I was first dieting and eating VERY low calories (1,100-1,200 calories a day) I had a cheat day of 2000 calories or so every week religiously. I would actually lose less weight if I didn't have a cheat day. I think it is pretty necessary for those eating at a high deficit.

    But now that I am eating at a more sustainable rate (about 1,400-1,600 calories a day) I have not thought it necessary. I mean, I 'cheat' on occasion, like for birthdays or family gatherings, etc. But I don't have a day or meal to cheat anymore. I just eat the same everyday.
  • endermako
    endermako Posts: 785 Member
    I dont recommend an entire cheat day that could undue all of your hard work for the week. a cheat meal wouldnt be so bad. And I would still only eat to Maintenance which for me is about 1850 or so
  • fryfat
    fryfat Posts: 36 Member
    Once a week I let myself cheat on my diet, family board game, and wife. It's worked well so far.
  • _KitKat_
    _KitKat_ Posts: 1,066 Member
    I don't really do cheat days in the sense of setting aside a day when I purposefully eat whatever. There have been a few days in my 160 odd days of tracking that I have gone over but no premeditated cheat days. I think they just have too much potential to undo the work already done. If I were to take one I would only do it one every month or two. A weekly cheat is a recipe for disaster in my opinion. I have seen friends take cheat days during the very first week of counting, not a good way to start.

    ^^^^^This is the same as my opinion.
  • SemperAnticus1643
    SemperAnticus1643 Posts: 703 Member
    Do I have to tell my significant other I'm cheating?? :huh:

    My cheat days are actually those times when I am with both my dad and kids. We usually end up going out to eat somewhere. Yes, I try and log all of what I eat. Some restaurants are not on MFP so I shoot for the closest one.
  • CindyMarcuzAdams
    CindyMarcuzAdams Posts: 4,007 Member
    I dont have cheat days. I barely have treat days and my treats are 100 calorie frozen greek yogurts. Its the daily cheat days that got me into this mess in the first place. So as it stands right now...no cheat days...
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I consider Sunday to be my treat day but not my cheat day. I try to limit my sweets and other refined carbs but always have dessert and usually some sort of bread/pasta that day. Everything still gets measured and logged--I go a bit over goal for the day but for the week I'm still at/under goal.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    My body logs them so I log them. I log everything but don't sweat going over every once in awhile. Logging keeps that "once in awhile" commitment honest.

    Some people need the time off from logging to stay accountable. Other people need to log every last bite. What works for you?
  • zcb94
    zcb94 Posts: 3,678 Member
    Don't like 'em one bit! If anything, cheat days help you gain pounds and lose ground! I tried weekly cheats at lunch, where I would reach for a fairly reasonable dessert, during part 1 of my Battle of the Bulge. I think...nay, I KNOW that that's what blew me up to 210 lbs. I agree that if my body records calories, I should do so, no matter what. However, it is frustrating to find that, as another member said, not all items are known to MyFitnessPal, so I have to run the risk of not being fully honest about consumption.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    Not gonna lie though, when I hit my goal I am eating an entire box of mac n cheese like the old days. Or a bag of Doritos.

    Hahahaa... this made me laugh. The truth is, once you get there, you will probably be perfectly content with a fraction of the box/bag and ask yourself, "How did I ever choke down this whole thing?"
  • SamiDee12
    SamiDee12 Posts: 16 Member
    I am okay with cheat days, as long as you don't overdo it. Otherwise, you can easily soar above your calorie intake and stall your weight loss progress. I try not to do a whole cheat day, but just a cheat meal. I eat like I usually do all day, and then at dinner I may eat at my favorite restaurant and have some dessert. Instead of once a week, you may want to try once a month or once every other week. I think the point of a cheat meal is really more of a mental break from dieting, but after getting used to logging and portion control, I hardly need one as often.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I don't do cheat days, and don't like them. Either you're serious about wanting to lose---or you're not. When there are holidays or special occasions I eat alot more, but always log it and exercise to even out. Best of luck. :smile:
  • CitizenXVIII
    CitizenXVIII Posts: 117 Member
    I guess I don't understand the rationale for "cheat days." To me, the ultimate goal of weightloss should be to assume a lifestyle where you are comfortable in the diet, exercise pattern, and, well, lifestyle that you choose, and don't have this dichotomy in your brain of "cheat day" and "other days." Which, to me, would set me up for thinking "cheat days are GREAT!" and non-cheat days are the hell you must endure until you can have your cheat day.

    I decided I'd rather set myself up for long-term success by establishing a lifestyle where every day is a day you're happy to be in because you have a system you can live with and enjoy all the time--and be proud of, and confident in. Rather than this day where I give myself the latitude to overeat, and then feel like I'm restricting myself the other days. I don't consider any of my days restrictive--or indulgent (which makes me feel guilty and self-loathing knocks on my door)--they are just how I've set up my life. If I stick to it 90% of the time, barring vacations and special occasions, I'm ok with that.

    So if you must do a cheat day, have at it, but I hope that the other days in your week you're just as happy!

    Perfectly put. Cheat days may not wreck your progress for the week, but they can wreck the mentality that leads to sustained loss.
  • Lindzpnc
    Lindzpnc Posts: 98 Member
    I still don't know how I feel about this.. do you know how exhausting it is to constantly think about food and portions and continue to measure everything?!!? I want to say im trying NOT to believe in cheat days and have the stuff I want worked into my calorie budget but at the same time I know the day I hit Goal and transition into maintenance (or for my birthday) I don't want to give a single thought to calories and portions!

    sorry I wasn't much help. Right now my goal is to stay out of the RED always but Im also trying to understand this whole weightloss science as a whole so I have bigger issues! :)
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I still don't know how I feel about this.. do you know how exhausting it is to constantly think about food and portions and continue to measure everything?!!? I want to say im trying NOT to believe in cheat days and have the stuff I want worked into my calorie budget but at the same time I know the day I hit Goal and transition into maintenance (or for my birthday) I don't want to give a single thought to calories and portions!

    sorry I wasn't much help. Right now my goal is to stay out of the RED always but Im also trying to understand this whole weightloss science as a whole so I have bigger issues! :)

    I just don't understand this. What is "exhausting" about clicking in your calories? It takes me 10 mins tops 3 times a day. And usually less. If you can't wait to stop counting, it doesn't bod well for your maintenance phase. Alot of people slide back once they quit. I'm hoping you won't, and will come to grips with counting. Best of luck. :smile:
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    I usually feel like Mexican on a "cheat day."

    If you want a cheat day, you are going to have to exercise.
  • ladybg81
    ladybg81 Posts: 1,553 Member
    Cheat MEAL and not cheat DAY will make a big difference.
  • Lindzpnc
    Lindzpnc Posts: 98 Member
    I still don't know how I feel about this.. do you know how exhausting it is to constantly think about food and portions and continue to measure everything?!!? I want to say im trying NOT to believe in cheat days and have the stuff I want worked into my calorie budget but at the same time I know the day I hit Goal and transition into maintenance (or for my birthday) I don't want to give a single thought to calories and portions!

    sorry I wasn't much help. Right now my goal is to stay out of the RED always but Im also trying to understand this whole weightloss science as a whole so I have bigger issues! :)

    I just don't understand this. What is "exhausting" about clicking in your calories? It takes me 10 mins tops 3 times a day. And usually less. If you can't wait to stop counting, it doesn't bod well for your maintenance phase. Alot of people slide back once they quit. I'm hoping you won't, and will come to grips with counting. Best of luck. :smile:

    lol ive been at this 5 years!!!! started at 358 lbs and still not at goal-(got married, had a baby in between) when I have friends that can eat a whole meal and here I am portioning out a half cup of this or that and measuring 4 oz of protein... and then the moment I even look at a cupcake ive gained 3 lbs yes it is exhausting! you may not understand it but it doesn't make it invalid!

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