When you say "cheat day", what *exactly* do you mean?

MissGeorgiaPeachy

I have a question. I know that there are a large number of MFPers who consistently take "cheat days" to say on their diets. I'm wondering though, when you say "cheat day"... do you mean only allowing yourself one thing that you've been craving or do you just eat whatever the heck you want one day a week and not log it?

laydeedancer

Thanks for posting this...I've been wondering myself!

mfiggs

I don't take one once a week but, when I do have one it is usually to go out for dinner and eat what I want for that one meal.

sociable15

I usually mean one day where I don't worry so much about what I am eating. I log it but if i go over, i go over. It keeps me from restricting too much, stressing too much, and feeling like i'm giving up so much that I'm not enjoying it anymore.

crystaldougherty

I do think that they mean, they get a few things they have been craving, track it and savor it.

xcountrymom2

Good question. I think most people allow themselves whatever they want but one thing would be better...lol... I myself have a 30 year class reunion to go to in June so alas, there will be no cheat days in the future for me!

Elizabeth_C34

My "cheat" is only going over 100-300 calories. I try not to overdo it in any one sitting. This whole journey is about teaching myself to live moderately with food and that's something I have to work on daily without exception.

leahmolidor

I allow myself one day a week where I let myself go over my goal calories. I try to still log it though so that I can see how much I went over and so that next time I can evaluate what was worth the extra and what wasn't. I think that doing this makes me more aware of my bad habits and finding ways to change them.

funkyspunky871

Just eat whatever the heck I want for a day. I still log it all though. That way I know how many calories I need to burn off through exercise during the week.

anubis609

I consider it a day of "increased calorie intake," regardless of the food that I put into my body, whether it's an increase of healthy alternatives or unadulterated indulgence, I still log it [as best I can].

sarah307

glad you posted this ! cause lots of people mean different things when they say "cheat day"

FOR ME PERSONALLY - a cheat day is a day that i do not log onto MFP, do not obsess about calories, and do not do hard exercise.

what i DO : is try to eat fruits/vegetables and some protein - but i try my hardest not to count calories (or do estimates in my head but not freak out! LOL)... and for exercise, i might do some light stretching for 20 mins at night before bed or something.

then i continue with logging in and/or counting calories here on MFP!

that's what i mean when i say i'm taking a "cheat day!"

I like to do this every once in a while - so i can practice mindful eating and being healthy without being obsessive. and yes, i do usually go over calories but usually not enough to gain.. just a maintenance day.

jlemerande

Agreed. Log it, always! You can't succeed if you're not honest with yourself about what exactly you're eating. I don't want to look at the numbers sometimes (embarrasing!) but it helps to see where I'm going wrong...

Baker0821

This probably won't be popular but I have one day every week or two where I eat whatever the heck I please. I try to log it but usually I don't bother. I still drink all my water though.

threechins

I've no idea what others mean, but for me it's basically no limits.

I 'cheat' every Saturday - kick off with weigh-in and run, then don't worry about what I eat/drink for the rest of the day. I still log calories, but if I want a junk food pizza and it'll take me 1,000 over my net target, I have it.

It's probably not what I should be doing, but so far it's not done me any harm! The way it works for me is that I don't feel I'm constantly depriving myself and learning that the balance can be achieved over a week rather than having to constantly be on edge about my food.

atabt

I usually have one meal a week (typically Saturday night dinner) where I know I'm going to go over. I still try to make good choices and keep my portions under control, and I always log it, but I don't sweat it when it puts me over for the day. It's often because I'm at a restaurant, having some wine, etc. I will never deny myself the pleasure of good food and good company - otherwise what's it all about? But I try to be reasonably sensible because I'm trying to make a lifestyle change. )

I read on someone else's blog that Weight Watchers gives you a certain amount of "extra" calories per week. Does anyone know what that's about?

taso42_DELETED

I call it "free day" because it's part of the plan (whereas "cheat day" implies going off plan). Normally it's the day to eat anything without worrying about counting calories. Depending on progress or mood I might take 1 or 2 free meals instead of a whole day. And due to OCD, I still try to log as accurately as possible.

barefootbeauty

My cheat day is just a cheat MEAL. I pick one meal once or twice a month where I let myself have a major splurge meal that I don't log and is full of stuff I don't eat on a regular basis: homemade mac-and-cheese, pizza from the local pizza shop, hotdish, and a luscious dessert.

jsteras

I personally don't believe in saying that. This is a change of life for me , we need to figure out how to incorporate partries, holidays, nights out etc into our lives with out giving ourselves a pass to gorge ourselves. This is just my personal opinion.

monkeybuttsmommy

I don't call it" cheat" I call it "free" has a less negative connotation. I'm not going to feel guilty about food. I just need balance and even healthy eater splurge once in a while. Plus I don't do a whole day, I do a meal. Helps to teach myself moderation instead of falling into the catagory of binging.

kaitlynsmom

For me my cheat day is our date nights. I will eat my normal food for breakfast and lunch, but then dinner I will eat what I want and then might have dessert or a drink or 2. I do try to post what I eat as I do wonder how much more I went over my calories.

But I have noticed now that really my cheat days don't effect my weight that much anymore

HerBravado

My cheat day means that I raise my caloric amount...usually by about 500. That way, I can either have an extra helping of a meal I've prepared or have my favorite treat (usually a slice of pizza) !!

LorinaLynn

I eat whatever I want and log it on a normal day.

But on a day off, I don't care about calories. I usually log everything unless I'm going to a party or something where I don't want to keep track of everything that goes into my mouth. Then I just to a "worst case scenario" guess and add it as "quick add calories."

jewelzz

For me its a free meal on thursday nights wich is date night for me and my fiance.Now I always work out hard that day and its always chicken but its the desert I have to have after the meal.then thats it till the next thursday.I never feel guilty and I dont track the meal.

oddyogi

I haven't taken one in awhile, but when I do, I will consider it a "maintenance" day, and eat around the amount of calories that I would if I were trying to maintain my weight. If it's an exercise day, I will still do the planned work out. It's important to allow yourself small treats every now and then, though. My favorite thing to do is indulge in a piece or two of dark chocolate.

kms1981

I don't call them cheat days but my husband and I eat what we want on the weekend. The thing is once you are in this, what you "want" isn't want you wanted before you lost weight. I don't want fast food, candy and junk...but I might want to go out to a meal and not wonder how many calories I am eating. I work very hard all week and focus on calorie counting Monday - Friday. Saturday and Sunday are my mind off from number. I still exercise though days though.

robin52077

I call it "free day" because it's part of the plan (whereas "cheat day" implies going off plan). Normally it's the day to eat anything without worrying about counting calories. Depending on progress or mood I might take 1 or 2 free meals instead of a whole day. And due to OCD, I still try to log as accurately as possible.

exactly this for me too,
and sometimes its once a week, sometimes twice, sometimes not at all. depends on what I have going on in my life. A birthday party or a catered meeting will be a free day. Nothing "happening" this week? All normal good days, then!
I am in maintenance so I can be more relaxed though. If you feel you can't handle eating like this at your current stage of your journey, then don't! Do whatever works for you. Sometimes "one" day turns into 3 and I have to eat extra clean and low for a couple of days to get back on track.

anubis609

Just eat whatever the heck I want for a day. I still log it all though. That way I know how many calories I need to burn off through exercise during the week.

Nice sig... It's gaining viral status. Bwahahahaha!

MissGeorgiaPeachy

Thanks for all the replies! At this stage, I feel like I NEED a cheat/free/woohoo day just to stick with it for the other 6. I don't have the strongest willpower, but I feel if I allow myself one day or one meal (mine actually varies) I don't get cravings as badly. I just wondered how others measured theirs.

I have seen the results of such days though and I did not like it one little BIT! I'm hoping to work down to none of those type days, but I guess I'm still a work in progress.

craft338

i stay around my maintenance calories and still eat healthy, but i don't log. sometimes i get half way though the day and i'm just like, "u know what? i'm hungry, and i don't feel like exercising, and i need a freakin DRINK!". i usually feel the need for one of these days every 3 weeks or so, and i get right back on track the next day

Laurathabomb

I don't have any specified cheat days. I think that if you have a specific goal in mind, you gotta do what it takes to get there. I am far from perfect, but I don't have any scheduled cheat days because to me, that's just one more day I could have lost instead of maintained or gained. I try to find a healthy alternative to the cravings I am having. It's like retraining your brain from all of the abuse it taken. If I really have to have something, I try to just take a few bites of it and that normally satisfies my craving for the most part.

I think, once I have gotten to my goal weight, I will be able to have cheat days( whatever you want to classify them as) Good luck!

abcwhite10

I love food and I can't have a full "cheat day" or I'd slip too far backwards but my "can't say no" item is cheesecake lol. So when I am faced with wanting to "cheat" or whatever you want to call it I ask myself if it's really worth it? I think "Well what if I eat this chocolate bar/cake/whatever it may be and then a peice of cheesecake comes up? Well then it's way too much bad food" so I hold out for the cheescake lol. I found it did get easier and when I let myself actually have a chocolate bar (loved coffee crisps) it was sickly sweet and I felt terrible after eating it - I thought I was going to get sick to my stomach and it's much easier to avoid now
So I guess the short winded answer is I don't set aside a cheat day and hold out for the really good stuff once in a while, have it and fully enjoy every last bite.