CHEAT! Cheat! Cheatitie! Cheat!?

stephanielynn76

0-1000 over, once a week. I plan it in; It's not a "cheat".

It won't "ruin your diet". That's like saying back when I was a fatso, if I ate at a deficit once a week it would ruin my fatness and I'd get all thin from my once a week "good day".

dude you're a genius.

suzycreamcheese

i think its never going to be maintainable long term if you cant even allow yourself a treat now and again.

Cytherea

I think the concept of "cheat" days or meals is just the wrong mindset.

If you want to succeed, what you are doing here is making a lifestyle change, not going on a diet.

You CAN eat whatever you want, and as long as you stay within your calorie goals, you will still lose weight. However, I've found that for me, a lot of things aren't worth it. That hershey's kiss sitting on my desk at work has 9 grams of fat. That's almost a quarter of my day's worth of fat, and that's just not worth it for me. But if there is something that I really want, and I value it as "worth it," I will eat it, but I make sure to plan it into my day and work around it. Get a workout in so that you can eat more.

And there will be days where you go over, and that's ok, too. What I like to do is see how many calories I can eat to just maintain for the day, and I don't go over that. If you eat less than that amount, you'll still be losing, and if you eat that amount, you won't be gaining, just staying the same. So I think that might be a good solution- if you have a day where you want to eat more, that's fine, just don't go over that amount. And sometimes those days where you eat more actually helps; it keeps your body guessing, and you will continue to lose weight just fine, if not even better!

teakaz

Not cheats they are treats!! We all need those once in a while.

LOVINLIFEGUY

Call me crazy but I have a "reload" day where I will eat 5000-8000 calories. It has not hindered my results, as long as I'm working out!

dad106

When I first started. I tried to plan in a cheat day but then I was so crabby because all I thought about was the food I wanted and how I couldn't eat it because it was so awful for you. Now though, I eat what I want but I plan it in on MFP. So if I want a burger and fries then thats what I going to get but I'll only eat half the fries and all of the burger. Then I'll go to the gym and work out, so that those calories fit into my goal. It's all about moderation and fueling your body.

Parcelline

I will probably once a week have a bad day where I go over my calories, but I combat it by working off those calories the next day without counting them.
I don't know how effective it is for weight loss, but I always feel better.

OLP76

You have a Cheat day - even a clean one...! Michi's ladder can show you how to do that...Cheat meal or day doesn't always mean go eat JUNKfood, Processed foods or Fast foods....

PoleBoy

I never have a cheat day. If I did, I'd probably be 50 % under.

Janworkingitout

I think the concept of "cheat" days or meals is just the wrong mindset.

If you want to succeed, what you are doing here is making a lifestyle change, not going on a diet.

You CAN eat whatever you want, and as long as you stay within your calorie goals, you will still lose weight. However, I've found that for me, a lot of things aren't worth it. That hershey's kiss sitting on my desk at work has 9 grams of fat. That's almost a quarter of my day's worth of fat, and that's just not worth it for me. But if there is something that I really want, and I value it as "worth it," I will eat it, but I make sure to plan it into my day and work around it. Get a workout in so that you can eat more.

And there will be days where you go over, and that's ok, too. What I like to do is see how many calories I can eat to just maintain for the day, and I don't go over that. If you eat less than that amount, you'll still be losing, and if you eat that amount, you won't be gaining, just staying the same. So I think that might be a good solution- if you have a day where you want to eat more, that's fine, just don't go over that amount. And sometimes those days where you eat more actually helps; it keeps your body guessing, and you will continue to lose weight just fine, if not even better!

Now this is clever!

DaddyMantz

I believe that it's important to have cheat meals as long as you keep under your total daily calorie goal.

dave4d

I usually use them for special occasions. Tomorrow I will be going to a birthday party, and a wedding. I would feather just enjoy myself at those kinds of things, than worry about my calories. If it sets me back a week, no big deal, as long as I eat clean the majority of my days, I will continue to get closer to reaching my goals.