Cheat Meal/Day

Nomomush

So I am ALWAYS feeling guilty for having a cheat meal. Even when my cheat meal is under 400 calories. Today I had one (1) multi-grain pancake with 2 turkey sausage and sugar free syrup totaling to 350 calories. What do you guys think? Do you have a cheat meal or day? If so, how bad do you cheat? Is it bad to feel so guilty. I almost can't enjoy my cheat meal because I'm swimming in guilt.

mynameiscarrie

First of all, that's not a cheat meal...
Second of all, don't feel guilty when you do have a cheat meal. As long as they're spaced out (I have one about once a month) its really not going to make a difference.
But yeah, evaluate your meals. 350 calories isn't a cheat meal. Especially when everything was low fat/no sugar etc.

luv2ash

yea, if thats a cheat meal, then I wonder what the rest of your diary looks like--sort of concerned for you.

ShellyMacchi

if you planned for it.. if it fits in your daily plan.. i don't understand why you are saying it was a 'cheat' meal?

i eat whatever i want, i simply plan for it.
But then, i am not on a diet... i have accepted i will eat this way for the rest of my life cause my body deserves it.

For example, i just had a lovely baked sausage pasta supper.. complete with cheese on top... as good as any restuarant i promise you *S* and better for me cause of some of the choices i made in making it.

No cheating for me at all.. it's all about smart planning *S*

hope that helps

jmlitton33

yeah, this is not a cheat meal at all. sounds like you're being to hard on yourself, and that can lead to many problems, especially eating disorders. watch what you do and always think highly of yourself, because it sounds like you're way too hard on yourself. disorders are nothing to mess with, at all.

Nomomush

yea, if thats a cheat meal, then I wonder what the rest of your diary looks like--sort of concerned for you.

Thank you for the concern. Normally, I eat really clean food. My meal is 3 ounces of lean protein (chicken breast, fish, or boiled egg whites) with 1 cup of steamed/grilled/ or roasted veggies, and 1/2 c of complex carb (sweet potato, beans, squash, etc). Clean to me is something that isn't breaded, fried, or cooked in oil. It is usually steamed, broiled, or grilled.

I eat 6 meals a day with no complex carbs for my last 3 meals of the day.

I think I feel guilty because it had syrup and I added a pat of butter on my pancake.

JAG1224

i don't think that's bad. as long as you don't have it everyday and continue to workout. i have one whole wheat pancake, 1 turkey sausage with a tiny bit of light syrup for breakfast once in a while.. about 250 calories. don't feel guilty. enjoy it. it's ok to have every so often!

Nomomush

yeah, this is not a cheat meal at all. sounds like you're being to hard on yourself, and that can lead to many problems, especially eating disorders. watch what you do and always think highly of yourself, because it sounds like you're way too hard on yourself. disorders are nothing to mess with, at all.

I think I am always thinking about how hard I worked to take the weight off and don;t want to fall off the wagon. Thanks for the concern and will keep your post as a reminder to be careful.

Nomomush

i don't think that's bad. as long as you don't have it everyday and continue to workout. i have one whole wheat pancake, 1 turkey sausage with a tiny bit of light syrup for breakfast once in a while.. about 250 calories. don't feel guilty. enjoy it. it's ok to have every so often!

Thanks Jag. I appreciate it.

jmlitton33

yeah, i only say that for concern, and am in no way trying to tell you what to do. i've just been down that road before, and it's not healthy! i'd hate to see anyone else go down that way, you know? it's great to have such a supportive community like this one, that's for sure.

funkyspunky871

Jeez. I'm with the others. That's nowhere near a "cheat." Now, I feel guilty for my cheat days!! 4,000 calories worth of burgers, french fries, candy, blueberry scones, carmel fraps from Starbucks, peanut butter, pizza, etc. Haha.

Don't be too hard on yourself though! Enjoy it! Where's the good in cheating if you're going to hate yourself for it?

downtome

First of all, you need to get out of that mind set of feeling quilty over eating something thats not as healthy as you'd like, all my years of dieting, especially when I was much younger and being so strict with an all or nothing attitude got me to where I am today.....overweight and miserable. You have to look at it as changing the way you eat and live, there are going to be days when you are going to eat more than normal or you have something not exactly on your diet. You have to stop feeling quilty and enjoy it, thats what a cheat meal is all about! Good luck.

ShellyMacchi

yea, if thats a cheat meal, then I wonder what the rest of your diary looks like--sort of concerned for you.

Thank you for the concern. Normally, I eat really clean food. My meal is 3 ounces of lean protein (chicken breast, fish, or boiled egg whites) with 1 cup of steamed/grilled/ or roasted veggies, and 1/2 c of complex carb (sweet potato, beans, squash, etc). Clean to me is something that isn't breaded, fried, or cooked in oil. It is usually steamed, broiled, or grilled.

I eat 6 meals a day with no complex carbs for my last 3 meals of the day.

I think I feel guilty because it had syrup and I added a pat of butter on my pancake.

nothing wrong with maple syrup... it's not processed much at all but if it concerns you have a touch of honey instead next time (my sweetener of choice now is honey only, though i don't use it very often so once in awhile is a lovely 'treat')... i try to eat clean..but.. i am not giving up breads (if i was having french toast it would be made with a sprouted whole grain bread i adore that has NO flour at all..made from a mash of the sprouted grains and SO delish!).. and butter... well.. again..nothing wrong with that ..*S* not like you are slathering it on everything in sight every day *S*
Now if you had used margarine then you could feel a tiny bit guilty *s*

Nomomush

Thanks everyone. Not having anyone else around to "talk" to about it made my mind just reel in guilt. After all this-- I don't feel guilty about it now.

I am so VERY thankful for your reaponses. It really made me put things in perspective.
:flowerforyou:

jrusso28

Went to a hockey game today, cheating would be an understatement.
I went over my calories by nearly 1600 !!
Yikes!

No worries, back on track tomorrow.

ladybg81

I don't consider it a cheat meal if I stay under my calories for the day. I only consider it a cheat meal if I go over.

Nomomush

Went to a hockey game today, cheating would be an understatement.
I went over my calories by nearly 1600 !!
Yikes!

No worries, back on track tomorrow.

@jrusso-- Oh how I miss going to sporting events. We have box seats and I actually have been giving it away just so i don't get tempted. sigh...

Nomomush

I think the term "cheat meal" or "cheat day" is subjective because it really depends on the person's normal food intake. So for me, yes maple syrup, pancakes, and bacon, and sausage are my cheat meals because I would not normally eat those on a daily basis.

I really appreciate everyone's input and concern. It still amazes me how total strangers are truly caring on MFP.

Thanks everyone!!

bbush18

that's awesome if your cheat meal is under 400 cals!! when i have my cheat meals (usually a craving every 14-18 days) i feel guilty too!! you're def NOT alone. but it happens every once in a blue moon so it's ok, don't beat yourself up! ultimately, you're still eating very healthy.