Cheat days and rest days

ChuckgM3

So I've been giving myself a rest day once a week, usually on a Sunday, but sometimes I won't get to work out during the week and I'll work out on Sunday instead.

Up to this point I haven't allowed myself diet cheat days. Although, I didn't pay attention on thanksgiving, my birthday, my sisters wedding, etc. so I have still cheated, just not on a schedule.

Would you put your cheat day on the same day as your rest day? Or opposite ends of the week? Or move them both around so as not to get into a routine?

patio1313

My usual plan in to be as "well behaved" during the work week (makes routine easier) and then on the weekend I usually take Saturday off. I try not to get out of control as far as the eating habits are concerned but I am not going to worry as much about it. And I might take Saturday off as well in regards to "PLANNED" exercise. I am in the season now though where I tend to get alot of "unplanned" exercise with having to shovel snow. But I try to give myself a little breathing room as far as diet and exercise are concerned on Saturday...Then get back on track Sunday through the rest of the week. I personally have found that it helps me with not really hitting any major plateaus in weight loss or anything.

The only real drag is that the Holiday season is tough because there are alot more opportunities to "cheat"

Just gotta get back on

aunienue

I tend to watch what I eat more on rest days as I don't burn as many calories. I eat more or treat myself more on exercise days, particularly if I've have had a long run. Mentally I feel better on days I have some exercise, even if I'm over calorie goal.

Sue

tazlady

i take cheat days on saturday and sunday but am trying to limit it to one day during the weekend. I still go to the gym just for treadmill though it is a great stress buster. I also bowl but would not call that excercise as it is too much fun. good luck

amycal

I try to exercise more if I am having a big event with more food/calories than normal. If I have a resdt day I try to keep my calories low. Yesterday we had a Christmas celebration so I got up early and exercised which made it easier to enjoy the party even though I ended up NOT eating very much - after I ate the meal I didn't even have room for dessert.

Healthyby30

I always rest on Sundays and I never really go over my calories at all. If I want something I wouldn't normally have I make room for it, but that's probably just b/c I'm obsessive lol.

whittrusty

I don't designate cheat days. If I know I'm going to be eating more calories than usual, I'll work out extra hard to make sure that I don't go too far over my usual calorie allotment + exercise calories. I don't give myself entire cheat days, maybe a meal if it's a big occasion, but I like to keep things in perspective and not go overboard. You'd think I'd feel deprived, but I don't.

I definitely give myself a rest day every week to allow my body a break! But I just leave it up to how my body feels and what my schedule is like to decide which day that is.

NightOwl1

Cheat days are probably better on days where you have one of your more intense cardio workouts, because you'll raise your metabolism and burn it off easier.

The key to cheat days, no matter when you do it, is cheating in moderation. Have your favorite meal, or your favorite desert, even if it puts you a few hundred calories over. But if you spend your cheat days stuffing yourself with Wendy's Triple Baconator or all you can eat chicken wings, you're going to undo a lot of the good you do over the week.

I'm definitely a big fan of rest days though Your muscles need them to recover, and you'll be in better shape with them than if you never have them.

LastFighter

I only rest when I am injured or dont have time. I dont plan really to cheat or rest but I both frequently. I probably have one of the highest daily averages of calories consumed on this site but I burn a lot too.

Lyadeia

I don't have cheat "days" but I do have 1 meal that isn't a perfectly nutritious as the other 34 I have in a week. Say, I have a pizza while watching football...but that doesn't mean I kill my nutrition for the entire day, it's just that one meal.

And it tends to be on my rest day from exercise because with the high intensity stuff I do, one bad meal makes my workout suffer to much to even consider having a cheat meal before exercising. And cheat meals after working out just make me feel bad about the hard work I just did.