Just Curious

jodiea007

I know most people have a "cheat day".... I was just wondering, is it okay to have two cheat days, like saturday and sunday? I know there are no "rules" really, but I'm just scared ill over eat throughout the week if I can't eat what I want at least a day or two. What works best for yall? Also, I love me some diet coke! I have gone from drinking 5 plus a day to drinking one. My goal is to start drinking one a week. Anyone have any suggestions to help with this?
Thanks!
Jodie

ajbeans

I think a cheat meal is better than a whole cheat day. Because think about it: if you spend a whole day eating whatever you want, overindulging and not paying attention, you've just undone much of your work for the week. If you do that for the whole weekend, then you've just literally cheated yourself out of all that hard work and progress. I think it's a good idea to indulge once in a while, but not all weekend every weekend.

Don't "cheat" yourself right out of seeing the results you're working so hard for. What I like to do is keep in mind what my maintenance goal would be (it's on your goals page) and know that if I am going to indulge, I still want to stay under that number. Anything under that number will keep me from gaining weight and throwing away my efforts.

As far as the Diet Coke thing, I think you've made great progress with that! The next step I would recommend would be drinking half of one each day, then one every other day, then half every other day, then stepping down to one per week. Babysteps!

mariapuhl

Personally, I couldn't have a set "cheat day" as the same day every week. Then I'd just be good all week, know that day was coming, and binge eat thus ruining my whole week. Instead, I have a cheat MEAL every once in a while. It keeps me sane. If I feel like going out with my best friend for dinner, I will. I won't deny myself that.

It's also fair to note though, that I never ate out much in the first place.... maybe once a week or so.... but even still. I don't "set" a day, and know it's coming (unless it's like a special occasion)..... I just wait for my cheats to happen naturally - like today! SNOW DAY! So I ate junk being stuck in the house and going sledding, haha.

jmcniel

I don't think that having two cheat days would kill you. I would make sure you got your work in during the week; just have to remember it has to be what works for you. Some people can get by on two, some feel only day is good for them, and then you have some that feel they do not deserve a cheat day. For me, I have essentially two cheat days, one for food and another for exercising. I tend to either let Friday or Saturday be my cheat day, depending on what day my wife wants it to be. Secondly, I have Sunday as my cheat day where I do no exercise. This has been working for me, and you will have days during the week where you will slip up, but as long as you can recognize that and get back on track you will be fine.

As far as the soda, I know the boat you are in. I had drank Coke Classic since I was 6, so about 21 years. I found many times trying to get off them, but would always make it about a month and I couldn't take the headaches anymore. As of the last month, I have been off soft drinks for about a month. I was able to find some flavor packs that did not have any calories that I can add to my water that actually gets me to drink water since I do not like the taste of our city water. It is a struggle, but just keep trying to find substitutes and you can ween yourself off them.

mfergie889

Hi!

I always know I am going to eat poorly at night Saturday and/or Sunday because I go to my bf's. Sooo I workout both mornings and I eat healthy for breakfast and lunch. Eating poorly for 48hrs is not going to help reach a weight loss goal!

As far as soda, I dont touch the stuff but I know it is really addictive. Another member on MFP said she lost 5lbs in 10 days just cutting it out of her diet. Im sure others will have good advice as to how to kick the habit.

mommyskis

You'll just have to see how 2 cheat days works for you and adjust. Kinda depends on what you do to cheat. The only thing that worked for me to give up Diet Coke was to do it with some friends at work. We went cold turkey for a month. It helped to know I'd have to tell them if I cheated. I felt a month was enough for me to end cravings. Now I am going to just have one when I go out to eat, maybe 1-2 per week, just depends, but no more in my house or at work. I also drank a lot of Crystal Light just to have something no calorie with a sweet taste.

Mrs_McFadden

If I had a cheat day, I'd go insane! I mean my brain would go into instant justification mode. I've just started in this whole calorie counting world and for me I'm going to have to allow myself very very small treats occasionally. I could never do a cheat day or weekend b/c then I'd just eat 3000-5000 calories easily just going mmMMMMMMMM, croissant! ice creams!
So if you're as much of a gluttonous foodie like me nope!

wolfchild59

I'm like one of the above posters, I have occasional cheat meals, but nothing regularly scheduled. But they are typically known and scheduled in advance. Like in January I had the 15th for a family meal and the 21st for my wedding anniversary. Then this month it's the 12th for our Valentine's day dinner. But the rest of those days I eat just as healthy as if it was any other day and usually try to workout enough to get as close to what the meal calories would be so I'm mostly eating back exercise calories rather than doing a full cheat.

The only time I have cheat "days" are when I'm on vacation, cuz that's total free time. Though, even then it's often one meal out of the day and I try to be better the rest of the time. (except a recent trip to Disneyland, that was four days of total free for all. lol)

As far as the diet soda goes, I've never been able to stand the taste of diet soda beyond a sip and I actually have really, really bad reactions to aspartame, so I avoid it like the plague. Even ones that are sweetened with Splenda or Zevia are off my list cuz I just don't trust any artificial sweeteners. I gave up regular soda about two years ago and have one can of soda two or three times a year. The rest of the time I just drink water, plain water, nothing added. And occasionally during the Summer I'll have some fresh brewed black iced tea.

mjd0109

You can have whatever you want, whenever you want. You just have to learn to make delicious substitutions and control your intake. For example, I LOVE Mexican food - especially quesadillas - and I was craving one so bad today. Instead of going b@lls to wall and ruining my day, I used one wheat tortilla, low fat cheese, and black beans instead of refried beans. Just like I turned a fat trap into a delicious 250ish calorie meal. Eat what you want but in moderation! This isn't a diet here, its a lifestyle change. It's all about forming good habits! Craving fried chicken? Get a kids meal instead of regular sized. Want a chocolate muffin? Cut it into portions, put them in baggies and eat them over the next day or 2.

It's difficult, I know. I grew up eating whatever I wanted whenever I craved it but no matter who you are or what metabolism you have, that's not how it should be. Don't gorge yourself, just satisfy yourself. I never feel like I'm missing out on anything, because I know that if I have a big lunch I need a lighter dinner or no midnight snack, etc. Good luck!

loupammac

Give yourself a cheat meal when you feel you need it like at a friend's birthday dinner or when you've had a terrible week and just want to eat really, really fatty food. (Note: I don't condone that coping mechanism but that's how I operate). If I'm going out to eat at lunch or dinner say to a restaurant or cafe with friends, I let myself order whatever I please for drink and main. Then I'll be good for the rest of the day and if I go over? Well, off to the gym for me! You can't work all the time, you need to have fun too

LP4me

I figure it is better to go slightly over one day (because you ate a meal you really wanted but in a smaller portion than usual), than to give yourself free reign and go for gold for an entire day. Then on the next day try to keep calories where they should be and maybe throw in a little extra exercise!! :bigsmile: Build good habits! Otherwise you may just give up entirely. I went over on my calories today because I had a tall starbucks white mocha and for dinner I had a smaller portion of spaghetti and a large salad.. Usually I would have a Venti starbucks and a large plate of spaghetti with little or no salad. Changing Habits! that's my goal!

oceanrose78

You know, I just got an e-mail from The Biggest Loser talking about how 80/20 should be the goal. Eat healthy 80% of the time, and loosen up a little 20%. The last time I was seriously working out and eating right, I was going off on the weekends and would gain 2# every Monday. I can't just eat a little. So now what I'm doing is working long term. While I won't have an entire slice of Red Velvet cake, or a 1400 calorie slice of cheesecake, I can eat a few bites - once in awhile.

Which is what is great about this site, it helps me make better choices. What do I want to spend the calories on. And keeping calories still in mind around those treats.