Cheat days?? Seriously people???

JohnnyNull

There are reasons for a cheat day. It helps mentally, and can do a little reset on your metabolism. A cheat day is not an excuse, nor should there be guilt involved with it. There's enough people that go through emotional eating. If you feel good without a cheat day, and you've not hit a plateau, then it's working for you. But , I'd say you're in the minority.

sarahlauren18

I dont agree either... this is a life style change so to completely deny yourself something for me doesnt work. I think moderation is key .

backinthenines

There are reasons for a cheat day. It helps mentally, and can do a little reset on your metabolism. A cheat day is not an excuse, nor should there be guilt involved with it. There's enough people that go through emotional eating. If you feel good without a cheat day, and you've not hit a plateau, then it's working for you. But , I'd say you're in the minority.

Likewise one could argue that if you still need to see your "cheat day" as the light at the end of the tunnel, and need to utilise junk food as a "feel good factor" than you may still be losing weight that way, but you have clearly not addressed your disordered eating... and sooner or later it'll catch up with you, because what you haven't done is addressed the root cause of your problem, you merely try to control the symptoms.

backinthenines

I dont agree either... this is a life style change so to completely deny yourself something for me doesnt work. I think moderation is key .

You're missing the point. It's not about denying yourself, it's about not wanting it in the first place?

busub

I think people are getting hung up about what a cheat meal entails. For me, it means going out to eat without having to think about the calories, not necessarily gorging on pizza, burgers and fries. If the seared duck breast and polentqa with sauteed veggies sounds good, by all means have it.

Some people put a higher priority on good food and I'm one of them. I appreciate fine wine, cheeses and the such. The only difference is now I'm choosing to have them sparingly.

I'm already planning next month with lamb, lentils and chocolate dipped strawberries for v-day.

Dtho5159

I'm referring to people who think they can just pig out for a day. I just feel that is self-defeating. We can eat whatever we want if we allot for it and don't overdo it. That's what I mean. Everyone does things their own way. I just find it interesting that people are looking for approval to do it. I am absolutely not depriving myself of ever having goodies, it's just that you can plan for them that's all I'm saying. But I think it's self-defeating if you work your butt off all week just to go overboard !!!

I have not seen one person "just pigging out for a day" when they say they were having a cheat day. Usually, they mean one meal, not the whole day.

I do it. Once a week. I have a meal out with my family. I work around my other meals that day so I can afford the calories. Besides, having one "unhealthy" meal is NOT gonna make a difference. Like a pp said, it keeps your body guessing and you can actually lose more weight having a cheat meal once in a while.

jennifer3998

I'm kind of confused as to why this keeps coming up over and over again. If it works for you, GREAT. If it doesn't, then don't do it. But it seems really self-righteous to tell me not to do something that is clearly working for me.

I like the person who described it as a "free" day instead. I don't log on Saturdays usually, don't pig out, but usually have some drinks and eat more freely. It seems to shake up my metabolism every time, in a good way.

Just like exercise plans, there are many many eating plans that work for people! Do what works for your body!!!

kelsully

You are either a person who can do a "cheat day...or treat day" or you are not. Often times a person discovers that the things they once desired are no longer that desireable...so a cheat day can be good for learning more about the new you. A cheat day can help you feel human.....sometimes I need to be just like everyone else....but I am really good about being able to eat one cookie...I have always been very good about being able to get back on the wagon so to say...if I were a person who ate one cookie then the rest of the cookies and was the kind of person who ate something fried one day and thus again for the rest of time then an occassional "treat day" would be very detrimental...as it is...I happen to be a person who can splurge a tiny bit on occassion and it not affect my resolve and fortitude toward the end goal.
Whatever...it is my journey...yours is yours...enjoy it and let others figure their own way through it...
I do however agree that if you have a "cheat day" you don't get to bellyache when the results are slowed a bit or if you have a binge week or two that you don't deserve some tough love that says...stop cheating and get back to good choices...but once in a while...I say savor every moment

melaka

I save my 'cheat day" for special occasions. I was invited to three parties yesterday - all three which had a potluck, and one party in particular where the whole purpose was to eat food! (Chinese New year). I just enjoyed myself, ate until I felt full, and stopped there. I had a good time, and it was a nice day off from tracking my calories. I am now back on MFP today and going back to my normal routine this week.

I don't think there's anything wrong with those days as long as they're sporadic, and for me, with a specific reason. I'm going to be in mexico for three days in a about a month. I don't plan to track calories, but I do plan to eat healthy as possible.

FearAnLoathing

I have cheat days and Ive lost 40 pounds.

emchamberlain

I'm surprised so many people assume "cheating" means processed/junk food! When I think of meals that I want to have, I think of homemade cookies or nice restaurant meals.

It's really down to what your definition of cheating is. I don't think any of us are never planning on going to another restaurant or wedding or vacation again. If I go out to a nice dinner with my husband, I'm not going to be wracking my brains to count every calorie. But I don't consider that a "cheat." It's just life.

Nailrep

I TOTALLY disagree. I have one cheat meal a week - meal, not day. When I have been keeping a very strict diet, I find that a cheat meal will actually rev my metobolism. I will do extra cardio the day I plan to cheat. But I lost 40 pounds doing this the last time.

cassidystreasures

I don't consider anything "cheating" ... I allow myself treats, just in moderation. By denying yourself EVERYTHING it makes you want it more. This isn't supposed to be a DIET ... but for lack of better phrase ... a lifestyle change. You're making changes that will make you healthier, and in the process lose weight. Don't cut everything out and try to do anything major drastic ... because it's not realistic, and in the long run not maintainable... My goal is to get to where when I crave a snack, my first choice is something healthy ... instead of wanting that twinkie and choosing carrots instead. It's a small step opting for the healthy snack when what you really wanted was the "junk".

well said!

juli7373

I agree with no such a good idea to cheat.......unfortunately i do well until i have a cookie or cake...i binge eat.....i dont just have 1, it usually ends up eating 5 cookies or 3 pieces of cake....and then i beat myself up over the rest of the day...this has ben an issue with me for sometime...im ok with where i am with weight..its just the muffin top when i sit down.......what to do to get rid of it...??

kammy92

I think it is a matter of how you see your cheat day..for example my cheat day is Sunday! I wouldn't dare gobble down a piece of Chocolate cake or a bowl of ice cream. But I do allow myself to eat a few things that I normally wouldn't. Just this morning I had an egg with fat free cheese and a slice of turkey bacon..that is a Cheat to me. And it helps me lose More weight...It keeps my body guessing...adds fuel to the fire.

I agree! It doesn't have to be something chocolate and very fattening!!!

ValleyDiva

I agree with Jen. Cheat days are not an option for me, one day turns into two and then the weekends and before I know it I off on a binge that is sooo hard to get back on track. I will stick with maybe something on a smaller scale. Smooches-Diva

p_cakes

I personally think all this CHEAT stuff has gone out of hand.

Not everyone is the same way, one diet will not work for everyone, a change in YOUR lifestyle won't work for someone else's lifestyle. Maybe YOU can't have a 'free' day, but someone else can and it won't hurt what they have done. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean you have to say that they are NEVER good. Everyone is intitled to their opinion about it, and it is their lifestyle they are changing.

Maybe someone has more control to have a free day, maybe others don't. To me having a free day can work for some, but not all. For ME, it helps me to tell myself I'm not torturing myself. The way I see it, this IS a lifestyle change. You're choosing healthier items, making better choices, actually eating the recommended portion. So what's it matter if one day you have a piece of cake, or you eat something you wouldn't normally eat? That helps me to fit it into my lifestyle. At some point in my life (since I'm only 21) I will come across a birthday party with nothing healthy, a family dinner with nothing healthy, a restaurant with nothing healthy, BUT if YOU control your portions then YOU can control how many calories, fat, carbs, etc. go into your body!

To me 'free' days aren't to gorge and eat anything in sight. It's just another day in your new lifestyle, just a less strict one. You're strict allll week, but this one day you can do something extra. Once you actually learn what portion sizes look like it will be easier. The biggest problem with people overweight (and myself) is that we don't KNOW the actual portion size. If you actually eat the correct portion size you will save yourself a LOT of calories
As I said, for some this works, for others it doesn't. Some that are more disciplined may find it easier to have one 'free' meal, others who aren't able to control it as much may not.
It's not right to say it's bad for everyone. What's bad, or doesn't work, for one person, may work for the other. There is no need to go about saying no one needs to do it.
Before I end this terribly long post, I have one thing that I remember when it comes to days like this, If you deprive yourself of something you enjoy (candy bar, pizza, ice cream) then you will just end up hunting it down and eating the entire thing.

Okay, I think that is all I needed to say. I'm sorry it was so long.

305muscle

There seems to be some wide disagreement on this board about what the cheat day means. Personally I think "cheat day" is a bad name with a bad connotation; it should be called "free day". Here's why - the free day is not a day that you screw up, feel guilty, and then use the concept of "cheat day" to stop feeling sorry for yourself. That's just called a screw up. On the other hand, a free day, is a day that you've PLANNED IN ADVANCE, where you eat whatever you want. It's factored into your program; it's not an accident. Some people take it once a week, some take it once a month, others do it as just as a splurge meal here or there. Some people reject the concept and eat clean 100% of the time. To each their own.

I don't go around telling everyone they *should* take a free day, but I do recommend it. Please don't go around telling people they *shouldn't*. It's a valid strategy and it works.

Here's an example of what someone who takes a free day may look like:


Edit: the above is a picture of Bill Phillips, author of Body For Life. That book is where I first learned of the concept of the free day, and he explains it in there a lot better than I can.

C'mon now. It seems as though people are looking for approval to cheat. Don't do it. You don't have to cheat if you allow yourself the calories. But is it really worth it?? I think not. If I'm tempted, I always think to myself: "how will I feel about myself 5 min after I eat this?" SO not worth the guilt. It's not that we can never have goodies ever again....just plan for it. It's really not that hard if you're serious. I was a snackoholic, but I'm determined NOT to be....good luck everyone and don't sell yourself short....YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!!!

BILL PHILLIPS?!! come on this guy its the biggest steroid user and supplier to athletes like jose canseco and actor silvester stallone

Nightdust

I feel it's best to allow yourself treats in moderation. I give myself free days on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas, etc. I don't feel like I am "selling myself short" but maybe a little bad and that I need to work harder the next day or get back on routine.

taso42_DELETED

BILL PHILLIPS?!! come on this guy its the biggest steroid user and supplier to athletes like jose canseco and actor silvester stallone

Yep, same guy! He was indeed a big advocate of anabolic steroids back in the day. He has supposedly since stopped using and advocating steroids.

You want to discredit him because of his past, fine, here are several pages worth of other people who have gone through the program:
http://bodyforlife.com/challenge/champions/2009#pg-1
http://bodyforlife.com/challenge/champions/2008#pg-1
http://bodyforlife.com/challenge/champions/2007#pg-1

Edit: heck, on that note, here's me after the first 12 weeks. I'm not anywhere near these champions, but the program works, period.

mamagooskie

I have my cheat meals/days when I need to. I"m worth it and I deserve to have these days, I plan for them.....by knowing I'm going to have the chance to eat what I want and that way my meal or day is guilt free. It's those last minute cheat cravings that I have on occasion given into that make me feel bad.

When the meal is going to be 2000-3000 calories even having just the smallest portion/taste of everything. Those special bday, anniversary dinners or whatnot, with dessert and drink or 2 or more, there is no way to make those fit into an average 1400 calorie day. I am not going to workout for 3-4 hours and starve all day to "earn" these meals......so they will be a cheat day that I go over in everything and treated as such and the next day onwards for as long as needed I'll be on track till the next cheat day comes along.

Funny enough when I've had a cheat day in a week sometimes (not always) its those weigh ins when I've lost the most lbs. I think a good cheat now and again is necessary!

dniapas

For me, it's not worth it to "allow" myself a cheat day. I made a commitment to losing weight, not to anyone in particular, but to myself. If I start to get the urge to eat something I shouldn't, I take my shirt off and stand in front of the mirror. That usually kills the temptation to cheat.

IreneAdler

I don't have cheat days, I have cheat moments--if I am going to have a meal that is over in calories (BLT with grilled bleu cheese bread this Saturday for lunch, and a glass of wine), I make sure I balance it out the rest of the day. And I don't do it more than once a week. I may be over calories a little on that particular day.

I can't have entire cheat days because I'm afraid of losing all the progress I might have made that week by binging on one day. But I also refuse to completely stop eating what I enjoy--when I've lost my 30 pounds, I want to be able to maintain that weight, not gain it back by returning to bad habits.

safetypins

I feel like each person is completely different. If they want to "cheat" but can get up the next day and continue a healthy lifestyle, does it really matter that they wanted in n out? Not in my opinion.

For me, I've been really strict with myself because I know MY body, MY personality, an MY relationship with food... but in a month when I've developed good habits and I decide I want a soda... I'll probably have one and thoroughly enjoy it.

"You shouldn't have cheat days" doesn't work for everyone.

LilynEdensmom

Well I do have cheat days in moderation ... b/c I have dieted and gained and lost weight all my life, b/c the longer I deprive my self of something I really want, say chocolate, if instead of eating a small Hershey kiss or 3 when I start craving them I keep putting it off, eventually and this is just me, my will power breaks and I will devour an entire chocolate cake or gallon of ice cream...now this is just me.
So far it has worked for me...but it might not work for others...what I find funny is so many people are so worried about what other people are doing when in reality they should only be worried about them selves...jmho.

chrisdavey

I haven't really done any cheat days in the past, well not planned ones anyway. After reading 4HB book, I am going to give it a go on the slow carb diet. I'm not going to go crazy or anything but there are somethings disallowed in the diet like rice that I love to eath with Japanese dishes so just things like that. I would normally only have this once a week anyway but this way it is just planned to do it on a designated day. See how it goes

loriefolk

Great post! Very motivational

jmwolffyy

So my take on it is similar yet different yet. Last year I was gung ho about changing my lifestyle and exercising and eating better. I applied for a local weight loss competition, but was not chosen. I made my husband join a gym with me but he was not very enthusiastic and I soon lost my incentive and motivation. This year I said to myself, oh heck, I'll put in for the contest but I already know I won't be chosen. I really didn't plan on making any changes to my eating/activity habits. Then I got the call that I was selected for the contest. Hello! Fast change of mindset. How could I possibly compete with these other folks who were serious about it if I wasn't?
The trainers we are working with set us up with MFP, and got us started on some great workouts, and we can go work out during certain times as a group or however we choose on our own. I was still iffy about it until I got going on this website. The motivation and support here are what I was lacking last year. So I sat myself down and figured out 1)what I needed to do to compete and 2)what i needed to do to continue my lifestyle change AFTER the contest is over.
Step 1: Gave up soda. (Had been trying to come off it for a while, had stopped drinking regular and switched to diet, and cut most of the caffeine by drinking 7up, so this was just the motivation I needed to pull off going cold turkey).
Step 2: Got off my behind and started working out. BIG progress for me because since I was laid off I have been doing less and less.
Step 3: No alcohol during the contest. That's a LOT of calories and I can handle 8 weeks without drinking. But I am not giving up my date nights with my husband, nor am I giving up going to our favorite bar. Just taking a break. However, when I go back I am going to consider my options and I may have a Captain and (Diet) Coke instead, although I haven't decided where that fits in with not drinking soda... I have about 6 weeks to think about it tho!
Step 4: I decided I am not giving up any particular KIND of food at all. I may skip the fast food for the 8 weeks, but realistically there are days when my kids have so much going on after school that we will depend on fast food. I will take the menu choices into consideration and probably not get the biggest, greasiest thing anymore. Or if I do, I might share it with one of my kids.
Therefore, in my way of thinking, there are no "cheat days." If I am out and we have to stop for fast food, I am going to get something. If I am at my daughter's game, and the hot dog looks delicious, then I will get one for myself. I did that just the other night and I do not feel like it was cheating. It was one of the things I ate that day.
I guess when most people say they are counting calories, they mean they consider their entire day ahead of time to ensure they won't go over. I don't. I MIGHT have an idea what lunch or dinner will be when I wake up in the morning, but more likely I haven't decided yet. I still eat a bagel and cream cheese for breakfast if that is what I want. I just have plenty of options available and most of them are relatively healthy choices. I bought snacks that are low calorie so that even if I crave chocolate (100 calorie Hostess cupcakes) or chips (Special K crisps) I can have it. When my husband had noodles drowned in butter last week (how dare he? that is my favorite!) I ate one bite and was satisfied that I had gotten a taste. I even considered going ahead and having them for my meal. The only reason I did not was the contest. Otherwise I could have had that and skipped a snack instead.
I may have to revisit this idea when the contest is history... It may cause me to change how I think. I don't know. But for now, for me, there is no such thing as "cheating."

cutmd

I haven't really done any cheat days in the past, well not planned ones anyway. After reading 4HB book, I am going to give it a go on the slow carb diet. I'm not going to go crazy or anything but there are somethings disallowed in the diet like rice that I love to eath with Japanese dishes so just things like that. I would normally only have this once a week anyway but this way it is just planned to do it on a designated day. See how it goes

Agreed. I eat rice, popcorn, and oats on the weekend. Because of my lifestyle commitment, the only food I have with sugar is kettle corn. I don't go on binges or seek out heavy things to eat, though I may eat at or a little over maintenance for the sake of my metabolism. But, the again, I also don't call it cheating. More like carb-up days :happy: I can defintely see how some people can be derailed by the cheat day...

carolyng66

The only thing I'm craving is a Red Robin cheeseburger and fries but that's over 1000 calories in a sitting which are the majority of my daily in caloric intake. I'd have to do excessive workouts during the week just to afford that.