What does "cheating" mean to you?

fattymcgoo

In my food plan, I allow myself one "cheat day" where I am not so strict with my diet. One of my co-workers is doing the same thing...but I noticed a clear difference between the two of us as far as what our "cheat day" entails.

On my cheat day, I have a really nice meal, usually out at a restaurant. It's typically not an overly unhealthy meal, and not something I feel guilty eating, but rather something special and tasty that I wouldn't eat just any day. If anything, my cheat meal allows me to go over the amount of carbs I eat on regular days. For example, I had an amazing beef curry with rice last weekend.
On her cheat day, she basically has a 24 hour eating frenzy: no concern for the amount or quality of food being consumed. Candy, fried food, butter like it's going out of style.

So out of curiosity, do you guys allow yourself a cheat day? And what food is worth the cheat to you?

mmmichelle8486

Well, I eat dessert and chips regularly lol. But one day a weekend, my brother comes over and has dinner. We take turns cooking and making dessert. While I try to keep mine pretty light, he makes amazing food like homemade macaroni and cheese... I still count my calories, but I usually end up a little over on those days.:)

choley222

I don't allow myself a cheat day but I do allow myself to have one nice meal out a week. I plan for it in my calories for that day so I don't go over. If you allow a whole cheat day and eat crap the only thing you are cheating is yourself. I understand we all want that piece of candy or cake every once in awhile but do it in moderation and not every week.

Pandorian

I can't do a cheat day, free for all. My lifestyle was that every day was a free for all that's what got me to come here in the first place.

I will have a single meal out if I've been particularly good every couple weeks, I don't mind the calorie spike from the one meal out as I'm under for most of the week anyway and it just changes things up. Speaking of changing up I need to do something different int he gym other than just another hour on the treadmill....

That said I DO allow myself a treat, like last night I had a chocolate bar, I was still within my calories, and I actually didn't enjoy it as much as I used to so there's changes happening.

taraleola05

I usually allow myself one cheat day a week, I'd go crazy if I couldn't! I too go out to a nice place to eat and not eat necessarily "bad" foods, just eat more carbs (they are my vice!) I love a good pasta dish, so that's what I usually have, or I'll have a serving more of wheat thins and spinach dip (another one of my vices), but don't get too crazy. It helps that I have food allergies and can't indulge in a lot of the foods that I once would, and I also don't have a lot of nasty junk food in my cupboards and fridge. A cheat day shouldn't be an all day binge, just a little treat, self control is key!

LongMom

I'm a free-for-all cheater I don't log anything on my "cheat days". I'm probably drinking my calories in alcohol sometimes!

It's definately made this process slower for me but I'm really ok with that I have nothing but time and am happy with myself along the way. I'm getting in a LOT of maintenance practice

kcoem9106

On my cheat day ( i usually use my weekend) I try to stick to the usual stuff, but will tend to go over on the booze. I just use it to remind myself that its not the end of the world to go over my 1800 calorie limit. I also use it to spur myself into being better at the gym the next time.

ajbeans

To me, "cheating" means hiding an ace in your sleeve, or having sex with a person who's not your spouse. I don't see food as "cheating." The only person it affects is the person doing the eating.

That said, I don't have free days planned into my schedule. I occasionally go over my cals, and I'm ok with that. I don't plan them because I like having the freedom of knowing that if my husband is bringing home donuts for breakfast, I can have a couple even if it's not my "scheduled" free day. But if I were to plan a day to go over, I'd get pizza. Piled high with meat. :-P And eat half of it. In fact, sometimes I do it even though I don't plan it ahead of time. :laugh:

fattymcgoo

I usually allow myself one cheat day a week, I'd go crazy if I couldn't! I too go out to a nice place to eat and not eat necessarily "bad" foods, just eat more carbs (they are my vice!) I love a good pasta dish, so that's what I usually have, or I'll have a serving more of wheat thins and spinach dip (another one of my vices), but don't get too crazy. It helps that I have food allergies and can't indulge in a lot of the foods that I once would, and I also don't have a lot of nasty junk food in my cupboards and fridge. A cheat day shouldn't be an all day binge, just a little treat, self control is key!

I know what you mean! I think a little treat once a week keeps you more honest than trying to say "NO TREATS EVER"!

Liatush

It sounds like you are cheating in a very healthy way... way to go

nicole00lynn

my boyfriend and I go see his parents every weekend and his mom CAN COOK. she cooks 3 meals a day, usually belgian waffles or homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and lunch and dinner both have dessert. (somehow shes not fat either!) I cheat on WHAT i eat, obviously, but I eat small portions to make sure I'm staying under my calorie goal. I also know that I cant snack between meals like this without ruining my whole week.

cskalaj

The REAL question is whether or not she is still able to lose weight that way and at what rate. The reason for "cheat" days is so that your "diet" is more sustainable and therefore a lifestyle change. I think it's a "to each his own" thing as far as this goes. My boyfriend and I are both trying to lose 30 pounds and we've basically been able to do it at about the same rate (we're 10 pounds in), but he's more strict with himself than I am. I sometimes feel like he judges me for not being as strict with myself (which is probably totally a self-conscious thing because he's never ONCE verbalized anything of the sort) but in the end, if the scale is going down, what does it matter?

formytwins

I don't allow myself a cheat day but I do allow myself to have one nice meal out a week. I plan for it in my calories for that day so I don't go over. If you allow a whole cheat day and eat crap the only thing you are cheating is yourself. I understand we all want that piece of candy or cake every once in awhile but do it in moderation and not every week.

I feel the same way!!! Once I got going and noticed results I did not want a cheat meal anymore. I still have some but not like I did before. Good Luck!!

nancymmorris

Funny that you posted this because my husband and I were just talking about this. I usally have a extra treat and a yummy dinner. Not a calorie or fat overload, but my husband packs so many crappy foods into his day that he usually gains 5-6 lbs in that 1 day and then feels aweful. He then spens the next week trying to lose those pounds again. I feel realy yucky if I eat like that. So I will stick to adding a special treat and a yummy dinner.

bluegene052

Yes, I allow one cheat day. But its not an excuse to consume 2000 extra calories. Like you I eat something that I normally wouldn't eat during the week. For example, maybe a good quality steak. I might even treat myself to a pizza, but limit myself to just a couple of slices. It worked for me because I lost weight doing this, a total of 30 pounds.

tallen3687

I always try to have one day that I say I can eat what I want. So all week when I think I want a piece of chocolate or a cookie, I say I can eat it Saturday. This way it is easier to be good all week. When Saturday gets here I don't even remember all of the "treats" I wanted throughout the week. So I might have a cookie or a piece of chocolate, but it is better than having it every day.

EHuntRN

I dont plan for cheat days...but if there is a day that I go over I guess you could say I consider it a "cheat"day and make sure that any other days in the week are right on point..but I try my best just to stick within my cals...my cheat vice is a dark chocolate Dove candy bar...which I havent had in over a month...I bouth one Sunday and only ate 2 of the squares...so this has become an accountability of a lifestlye that I am learning to deal with...Sometimes at work when we have in-services and the reps bring chocolate I also have a few pieces...and I log them and they usually make me go over by cal and fat grams..but its only once in a while...so I deal with it but dont necessarily look at it as cheating...so I guess I can say I dont plan for cheat days but I do have days when I go over...Thats life!!!

Mo120

I would be far more comfortable with your kind of "cheat day". I wouldn't want to eat so many extra calories that whatever effort I put in during the week would be erased with one day! It's like taking 2 steps forward and one step back. Maybe you still lose weight, but if you're looking for a lifestyle change, it's gonna be hard having one day where you can eat uncontrollably and not affecting the rest of your week. And that's probably how you fall off the wagon too.

With your way, even if you go over your calories for one day, you still have some sort of control, it's not a binge, and that is a lifestyle change that you can easily maintain my friend! :-)

Blondie1984

I believe a cheat day is fine as long as you can get back into the routine. I use to allow myself a cheat day - on the body for life program they allow you one cheat day per week and I was like your friend I would eat mcdonalds for breakfast haha and I dont think it gets any worse then that, then uin the same day I would have cchips. This time around I am not doing that. But I will say that I lolst 15 pounds even with my one cheat day per week. I am this time trying a different approach and I will have a cheat meal once per week and thats about it.

Its actually good for your body to have a cheat day but not a binge day.

tryinghard2012

I try not to label it 'cheat' days. I'm trying to create a lifestyle and some days that may mean chocolate and other days it may not. I think labeling it can give it a negative connotation. As long as you are honest with yourself then you aren't 'cheating'.

I'm trying to create a habit I can live with for a lifetime. I hope your friend understands she's causing more detriment than not by overeating.

wildsun

I do have a cheat day, once a month. I have no intention on limiting myself on these days, but I have no urge to go savage or anything. Last time what really added to my calories was the Kahlua, but I did have a nice lunch out with a friend that was over the calories that I would have normally eaten as well. Originally, the idea is to just let myself go wild like the old days, but (luckily) I'm smart enough not to.

fattymcgoo

I try not to label it 'cheat' days. I'm trying to create a lifestyle and some days that may mean chocolate and other days it may not. I think labeling it can give it a negative connotation. As long as you are honest with yourself then you aren't 'cheating'.

I'm trying to create a habit I can live with for a lifetime. I hope your friend understands she's causing more detriment than not by overeating.

How about calling it TREAT DAY! nothing negative about treats :laugh:

joaniegray

I allow cheat days but they aren't scheduled - I thing one day a week is probably ok tfor most people. I tend to go by social occasions and find I am not so hungry anyhow these days with all this healthy eating. This weekend I am off to a sugar shack for a maple leaf breakfast - now that will be a cheat day but probably not that bad - it will be pancakes, maple syrup and bacon. Hopefully it will be followed by lots of walking - I always walk after I cheat!! I think it helps.

Last week I did go to a restaurant. My friend and I each had a soup and split a main dish at a thai restaurant - yummy!! But just drank water and no dessert so probably not too bad. Anyhow, since then lost 2 pounds so maybe it was good for me.

Everyone has different "cheat" patterns. I think if I craved chocolate cake, yes, I'd have it once a week. I am a big chocolate fan but I find my daily 1 square of LIndt Chocate 85% cocoa (50 calories) fills my craving.

Great to hear everyone's cheat ideas - I like the one of not exceeding 2000 calories on a cheat day.

stacywalton

Hello ~ I've always allowed myself one cheat day on the day that I weigh in. My weight loss tends to vary my degree of cheating or I feel horribly guilty. Normally I'll eat a lighter lunch and even skip breakfast sometimes but almost always I've pre-figured out where we are going to eat and how many calories I'm looking at for what I want. I've noticed that while I may want those cheese stick apps I'll stick to eating just one or two not "half" the order and I'll always order what I want and even dessert if it's something I'm really craving but I'll stop short of finishing everything because its "super" yummy and" I won't get it again for a while." I've even stopped poking my husband's hand with my fork if he comes in for an unexpected bite It's worked well for me and I've lost 18 pounds in 2.5 months and still have about 15 to go to be firming in the middle of the average range for my height. Going hog heaven may work for some people but I'm 39 and losing weight for me is much harder then in my younger years.

nerdyandilikeit

my best friend and roommate and i have what we call Fun Food Fridays. we started it in college because we worked at the same place on campus, and it was a movie rental place, so we basically were stuck in the building from 5pm to midnight on friday nights because no one else wanted to work that night and we'd make it less boring by ordering in from somewhere fun while we worked. (we rewarded ourselves with food a LOT in college, but we're getting better and better every day about not doing that!)

anyways, now we just have our friday dinner meal set aside to have something not so good that we've been craving (chinese, pizza, mexican, etc), and we try to watch our portions (so we don't make ourselves sick overeating like we used to) but don't sweat it if we are over a little bit that night. we also have slightly less healthy options of certain foods or healthier versions of less healthy foods on the weekends (if we are craving them) just to keep our sanity, but we still try to watch our calories/portions and workout on saturday and sunday to balance it out (friday is our day off from working out).

its made all of these lifestyle changes a lot easier, especially because we don't mind taking it slow. especially for me, because i have a bit of a binge eating problem (but my roomie doesn't so much).

We do allow ourselves a dessert each night, also IF WE PLAN ACCORDINGLY and have the calories. we've both had bad days both during the week and on the weekends, and we still will every now and then because we're human, but this is our plan and our goal each day. it gives us that wiggle room to be human and not feel guilty about it

fattymcgoo

Hello ~ I've always allowed myself one cheat day on the day that I weigh in. My weight loss tends to vary my degree of cheating or I feel horribly guilty. Normally I'll eat a lighter lunch and even skip breakfast sometimes but almost always I've pre-figured out where we are going to eat and how many calories I'm looking at for what I want. I've noticed that while I may want those cheese stick apps I'll stick to eating just one or two not "half" the order and I'll always order what I want and even dessert if it's something I'm really craving but I'll stop short of finishing everything because its "super" yummy and" I won't get it again for a while." I've even stopped poking my husband's hand with my fork if he comes in for an unexpected bite It's worked well for me and I've lost 18 pounds in 2.5 months and still have about 15 to go to be firming in the middle of the average range for my height. Going hog heaven may work for some people but I'm 39 and losing weight for me is much harder then in my younger years.

Wow, that is a fantastic idea that I've never thought of. Cheat day after weigh-in.

kao708

I don't really consider anything "cheating" because that means you are doing some wrong and I don't consider eating extra calories on occasion "wrong". It's not realistic to think that I will always eat within my calories after I get to goal so I don't know why I should expect myself to do so now.

I don't plan or schedule a high calorie day or meal but they happen sometimes and I don't consider that a failure, cheat or mistake! Log it all and move on. It's life and there will be speedbumps. You just have to keep moving forward! :bigsmile:

nerdyandilikeit

I try not to label it 'cheat' days. I'm trying to create a lifestyle and some days that may mean chocolate and other days it may not. I think labeling it can give it a negative connotation. As long as you are honest with yourself then you aren't 'cheating'.

I'm trying to create a habit I can live with for a lifetime. I hope your friend understands she's causing more detriment than not by overeating.

How about calling it TREAT DAY! nothing negative about treats :laugh:

exactly! i don't like the negative term because we're only human and this is our life. do you really want to feel guilty everytime you have something you like, even in moderation, forever? my answer is no! lol

innerfashionista

My husband and I have an off day each week (I hate the word "cheat"!) We do ours opposite - he has an eating frenzy, I watch what I'm eat but not as careful for a meal or two. I tried mine his way and I threw up at the end of the day. My body won't let me binge like that anymore. For me, it's more realistic to have a nice meal or two one day a week. If I ate everything I wanted I'd spend all my time trying to lose the same 2 pounds. I'm trying to change my lifestyle, and my lifestyle won't involve being able to eat whatever I want, but it also doesn't include me only eating salads for the rest of my life. Once in awhile works best for me, but I think it's a personal decision.

BrittanyGQ

It's hard since I'm 23, so my "cheat day(s)" consist of Friday or Saturday (sometimes both, lol) if I have friends that want to go out to eat and/or go out drinking... sometimes I'll TRY to make better choices, but I mean, it's not like I eat crap food every day of the week, so I'm not too hard on myself. lol. And I only stick with light beer. ;-) I'm also usually pretty good about going to the gym on the weekends, and I am a DANCE MACHINE when I drink, so that combined with dehydration, I'm usually down a pound or 2 the morning after! :-P but my biggest problem (which contributed to my recent weight gain) was the drunk munchies and generally just having too many empty calories, so I've learned that I really need to cut back on this cheating!

tmaksparkie

I allow myself a cheat item, my shopping day is Saturday and it is also a gym day for me so if I am good all week I will allow myself a dark chocolate mocha at caribou coffee. It is like sweet heaven after a long week.