The idea of Cheat Days doesn't make sense...

funchords

OK, we're not just here to lose weight, we want to keep it off, right? This is a lifestyle change, right?

Then how does the idea of a "Cheat Day" fit in?

Don't all my days eventually show up on or off my thighs?

ghosthackexe

cheat day (for me) is typically a day where at the end of the day I get a treat for myself that i normally wouldn't get. I think people get the wrong idea because they here cheat DAY and thing the whole day your at McD's stuffing your face when its really a day thats still in your calories limits but your might get something that on an otherwise normal day you wouldnt get because it would mess up your macros

tracitheaggie

I think the idea of a cheat day is just there so you don't feel as bad if you fall off the wagon one day. I always tell myself, "one day of crappy eating will hurt me as much as one day of healthy eating will help me."

I try to focus on my overall caloric intake and end every week with a deficit. When I was first starting out (January of this year) I needed that cheat day to keep going, but as I am losing and feeling better every day I don't think about it as much. I also realize how bad I feel the day after a cheat day and it makes me not need it as much.

Weight loss is such a mind game!

AmrOnTop

A cheat meal or refeeds make more sense.

DavPul

i would like some of my days to show up in my Happiness Quotient

maidentl

OK, we're not just here to lose weight, we want to keep it off, right? This is a lifestyle change, right?

Then how does the idea of a "Cheat Day" fit in?

Don't all my days eventually show up on or off my thighs?

So are you saying you're going to eat perfectly for the rest of your life? Pretty much everyone has special occasions that come up where we would like to eat more calories than usual. It's good to learn how to handle those occasions without going crazy. And no, one day off will not show up on your thighs. It's what you do the majority of the time that matters.

Kalikel

Most people are not making lifestyle changes. They're counting calories and adjusting portions. If you would eat 1200 a day and you decide to do six of 1000 and one of 2400, the calories work out the same.

I routinely eat more one day and less another. It's a hunger-based thing.

Everyone has to find the way that works for them.

There is no cheating, though. It's overeating.

fcmonkey50

Some good comments on this one. A cheat meal is much more desirable to a entire cheat day, and life happens.

For me, I'll have a cheat meal, typically an event, and plan ahead with some extra exercise and/or greater deficit. Then I enjoy, largely guilt free. That said achieving and then maintaining your goal is a lifestyle change, which trips up a lot of folks.

Chief_Rocka

This is a lifestyle change, right?

No, I just want women to get moist when I take my shirt off

skullshank

i hear ya OP!
if i dont restrict anything, then cheat days are totally unnecessary.

#IIFYM4LYFE

kaseyr1505

I don't have cheat days. I try to make my diet 80% "healthy" food, and 20% foods that I just enjoy. I have days where I go over my calories, but I balance it out with days I go under.

If I know I'm going to go to Buffalo Wild Wings one day, I will try and make up for it on other days.

Balance is key, however you find it.

JenD1066

Think of it as the valve on a pressure cooker- if you don't let some of the steam out, the thing will blow sky high.
Human beings do not deal well with the idea of giving up something they enjoy "forever." If they allow themselves a day to have fried chicken and waffles, and it keeps them from a three month binge, more power to 'em.

LaReinaDeCorazones

This is a lifestyle change, right?

No, I just want women to get moist when I take my shirt off

Lmfao

LaReinaDeCorazones

i hear ya OP!
if i dont restrict anything, then cheat days are totally unnecessary.

#IIFYM4LYFE

+1

zericaaaaa

I usually have one day a week that I don't log everything. I don't go overboard by any means, but I think its been crucial to my success so far. for me, the whole 'eating whatever I want every day, just smaller portions' will not work for me, because If I ate whatever I wanted on some days it would just be one greasy meal and that's it. i wouldn't have enough calories in my day to eat foods like that without being hungry. I can't eat like how I used to (and trust me, my body thanks me) so for me personally its not realistic to just eat 'all the same things, just less.' that's why I devote one day weekly to having that greasy meal plus a few extras without getting too worked up about it. it hasn't stalled my weight loss but as another poster said, its just about finding your balance.

threnjen

I don't really cheat. There usually just HAPPENS to be a day or two in the week where I can't weigh my entire meal (because it's made by someone else) and I have to estimate, but I always do my best to fit it into my calories. For me at best a "cheat" day is me eating at maintenance instead of a deficit, so I am 300-500 calories over my plan for the day which is a lot for me.
Like you said I am trying to learn a lifestyle change so I try not to go crazy and I really never feel the urge to go crazy. I just fit the treats that I want into my diet and by diet I mean "way of eating" not "weight loss plan". Once I hit my protein macro for the day I pretty much use my remaining calories on whatever I feel like having. Last week our friends brought over donuts and that really hit the spot, and I still didn't go over (and as a short person my calories are really restricted)

I love data and it helps me to stick to it. I think if I had deliberate cheat days that I would begin to sabotage myself. There will surely be times where I decide it's ok to EAT ALL THE THINGS but I have yet to come across a time yet that feels worth it, know what I mean? I'm really surprised at how much self control I have when I ask myself "would I rather be healthy, or eat that cake?"

violasmith85

I don't consider it cheat day, it's treat day! lol and what I do is i go under my calorie goals for a few days (not by much, maybe 100 cals?) then on treat day I have what I want and go over by that amount of calories. It evens out and it keeps me eating healthy all week because I know I can have whatever my heart desires on treat day (within reason) im not sure about the whole it boosts your metabolism argument, no clue. But I'm still eating at a deficit and it's something I could do the rest of my life happily.

Bearbo27

Cheat meals every once in a while for me are helpful in sustaining this lifestyle. I lost 30 lbs last year all while having a cheat days here and there. If I didn't let myself have a slice of cake every so often I would go nuts.

mrsmammahunter

OK, we're not just here to lose weight, we want to keep it off, right? This is a lifestyle change, right?

Then how does the idea of a "Cheat Day" fit in?

Don't all my days eventually show up on or off my thighs?

I don't have cheat days because i don't limit myself to not eat the foods i enjoy if i have a whole day of cheating i am going off the wagon but if i eat out randomly, or have a pudding, or a chocolate, or a cheese burger. If i want it i HAVE it log the calories and work my butt off to burn the extra calories. That tends to make me not want to eat the foods i used to like cuz i dont want to run for 1.5 hours vs my normal 30-45 mins. Also it doesn't make me feel tied down or emotionally distressed that i can never eat the foods i want. It works for me.

northbanu

Meh. I don't call them cheat days. I usually call them birthdays, football night, guys night out, etc.

While I am determined to lose the weight, I also have a social life. This life is often planned around food and drink with folks I enjoy being around. I'm not going to worry about my calories in those times. And you're right if you guessed I might have a few drinks, and maybe two too many. We'll prolly hit the 24hr diner for some late night bar's closed food. And honestly, I'm not going to worry too much about it.

But it is also important to remember that that's me. I have enough self control and willpower that these days don't become habits. I got fat over the course of 15 years, not because I didn't have self control, but because I just didn't care.

If having a "cheat" day would completely throw you off the wagon, then don't cheat.

thefirstdayofmylife

I don't really understand having days set aside to eat whatever you want and however much you want. It just seems strange to me. But I understand having a cheat meal or allowing yourself to enjoy yourself during a barbecue or special event without worrying about counting each calorie. I don't think you should deny yourself a piece of cake if you really want it but I don't really get eating the whole cake...

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itsbasschick

it doesn't make sense to me, either.

i try to eat foods i love every day, including sees chocolate and potato chips. that way i never feel deprived. that being said, yesterday i had a "treat" meal. afterward i skipped a meal, which was easy since i didn't get hungry for much longer than usual due to the extra calories, ate light one more meal and voila! stayed within my daily calorie goal even though i had the muffin and 1/2 cup of sugar free chocolate mousse.

OK, we're not just here to lose weight, we want to keep it off, right? This is a lifestyle change, right?

Then how does the idea of a "Cheat Day" fit in?

Don't all my days eventually show up on or off my thighs?

NoMoreBlameGame

I had a pop tart yesterday. I had a Snickers bar on 9/9. Are they the healthiest of choices? Hell NO...but I didn't overindulge. I don't call them "cheats"...I call them food. Could I have chosen carrot sticks instead? Yup, I could have...but I didn't want carrot sticks so that's not what I ate. I usually have something "snacky" like that twice a month...but I factor it into my log.

Bottom line: if it doesn't fit within my calorie allotment, it doesn't get eaten.

Rlavigne93

Some people find it easier to make healthy choices day to day if they know they aren't depriving themselves of junk food forever. I can see how it'd help people mentally. Most people here are on a deficit. If they eat just 100 calories under maintenance every day, then one day a month they could eat a whopping 3000 calories OVER maintenance and still not gain any weight overall that month. The next day they'd probably feel terrible, but it wouldn't do any harm in the long run.

Personally, I've yet to have any days near that since logging. I've had a few bad days, but I think of them as cheat days and allow myself about one a month without feeling to guilty. Also, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my birthday I've decided to eat whatever the hell I want. I'll still keep track and log it later though.

TL;DR It's a mental thing that some people find helpful, or rationalization of rare bad eating behavior.

DawnieB1977

I have a 'treat' day once a week where I usually have a slice of homemade cake and remain within calories for that day. Sure, I could do that every day, I sure exercise enough, but to me eating cake/biscuits/crisps etc every day isn't healthy or necessary.

On occasions like my birthday and xmas day I might go over calories and not log at all, but I don't think 3 or 4 days like that a year would do me any harm.

1stplace4health

I think the idea of a cheat day is just there so you don't feel as bad if you fall off the wagon one day. I always tell myself, "one day of crappy eating will hurt me as much as one day of healthy eating will help me."

I try to focus on my overall caloric intake and end every week with a deficit. When I was first starting out (January of this year) I needed that cheat day to keep going, but as I am losing and feeling better every day I don't think about it as much. I also realize how bad I feel the day after a cheat day and it makes me not need it as much.

Weight loss is such a mind game!

Amen. It took me 37 yrs to realize what you just said.

SandyBVTN

I don't consider it cheating at all, but for special and social events, twice a month or so, I have been relaxing my calorie goals and feeling completely okay with going over. I think of it like this - I'm eating like my thin friends. They are careful on a day to day basis, make good choices as far as calories and activities go, and then worry less when they are at a special or social event - while still making decent choices and not gorging on every last possible bite of brie. I try to get more activity in during those events (or weekends) as well.

Interestingly, my biggest losses have come the week following my indulgent "flexi" weekends.

hearthwood

I am not the most clean eater, but I make certain that if I am going to eat that cookie or other that it fits into my MFP calorie goal, and I have been successful with that. Some days I go over a little on my goal but most days I stay under. As far as cheat days, I don't need them, because I typically cheat every day.

I just do portion control, and don't eliminate foods I am accustomed to eating and ones I like.

Calories in versus calories out.

shai74

I don't understand the whole "depriving yourself" mindset. I mean ... at all. What exactly are you depriving yourself of? You are rewarding yourself by NOT eating it.

I think the key for me has been to stop seeing rubbish food as a "reward". It's like rewarding yourself for giving up smoking by having a hit of meth.

Every day I don't eat poorly is a day I'm thankful for, a day where I feel good, and know I've done well for my health.

Once you realise that food is a fuel, not a hobby, once you've broken that emotional connection to food (I've been good I'm going to have some oreos as a reward), you will no longer feel the need to "cheat".

I can honestly say I look at a big mac, or a piece of cake, or a can of Coke and go "yuck" when I think about what's in it, how it will make me feel etc. I don't even see these things as food anymore.