Fasting after a "cheat" day?

SolidGoaled

This guy may get away with it cause he is "healthy" but it would not be for everyone. I don't think that a "cheat" is bad but gorging one day and starving the next can create an unhealthy psyche and develop into an ED in folks with such a predisposition.

Point taken. I do see that I made a big error in choosing my wording when I used the word "cheat day." I have painted a picture of someone who is "gorging" then "purging" by "starving" himself the following day, and honestly - this is not how the idea of this monthly ritual was presented to me. So, my bad.

But, calorie management IS such a large part of this weight loss journey, and I just saw this as a creative way to find balance, enjoy one's self, and still manage the calories.

Naomi91

The answers here are sooooooo divided..... yet they all make sense to me!!! Uh oh!!!:laugh: :laugh:

Haha completely agree!

Fasting can be healthy.. if done for the right reasons. I have fasted after a carb refeed day but still ate very healthy that way. Other friends fast for 16 hours then eat all their cals in 8. All have a different approach

a "cheat day" Being full of pizza and other junk followed by a fast will make you feel terrible though. Lack of nutritious foods

rileysowner

The "smartest" thing to do is after a cheat / overeat / just didn't care day is to get back to your normal routine the next day. Everyone has heard that anything under 1200 and your body goes into survival mode.

Despite so many here who think that happens immediately, it doesn't. It is if you eat that way consistantly over time. Check out the leangains link above. Fasting for a day will not in anyway put your body into survival mode. In fact it does the opposite.

As to those who think it is weird, people around this world have been fasting for as long a we have recorded history, and probably longer. Short term fasting is health and even good for you.

SolidGoaled

At the risk of annoying people, it's all bollocks. Oooh I ate some sugar so I must flagellate until I've purged my guilt. Exercise restraint on most days, go wild with the sugar on others. Make sure the good days are more numerous than the bad. There is no magic formula, a calculator wontmake you a size whatever.

Hmm... I am really shocked at some of the harsh reactions here. I see someone who exercises after having some sugar as a person trying to manage their eating and calorie intake - not as a person with a psychotic tendancy to "flagellate" the guilt away...

Is it better to have the sugar, then just lay on the couch like a whale and not care or even try to achieve that weight loss goal in spite of it?

rileysowner

The answers here are sooooooo divided..... yet they all make sense to me!!! Uh oh!!!:laugh: :laugh:

That is more a reflection of the amount of mis-information about fasting in the developed world. While if this behavior was a regular thing it might be an ED, but simply doing things this way are fine. I don't do that after a spike day because I don't want to turn fasting into a punishment. Instead intermittent fasting is a tool I choose to use.

realme56

The answers here are sooooooo divided..... yet they all make sense to me!!! Uh oh!!!:laugh: :laugh:

That is more a reflection of the amount of mis-information about fasting in the developed world. While if this behavior was a regular thing it might be an ED, but simply doing things this way are fine. I don't do that after a spike day because I don't want to turn fasting into a punishment. Instead intermittent fasting is a tool I choose to use.

Exactly. It is the connection between the two opposite ends of the spectrum that can cause problems.

ZachyABaby

Your friend is "special".

Wtf fast after a cheat day? Lulz.

Naomi91

The "smartest" thing to do is after a cheat / overeat / just didn't care day is to get back to your normal routine the next day. Everyone has heard that anything under 1200 and your body goes into survival mode.

Despite so many here who think that happens immediately, it doesn't. It is if you eat that way consistantly over time. Check out the leangains link above. Fasting for a day will not in anyway put your body into survival mode. In fact it does the opposite.

As to those who think it is weird, people around this world have been fasting for as long a we have recorded history, and probably longer. Short term fasting is health and even good for you.

yes check out lean gains :]

just a lot of mis information all over the boards. Gotta do some research just like my favorite myth:

"eating breakfast is important because it boost your metabolism" or something along those lines xD

not true xD

lisa35120

I dispise the word cheat with regards to food. I think that he is being a little ignorant in changing his eating habits so drastically from day to day. You can't spread your calories over 2 days.

That is like saying I am going to take a 5 hour shower today because I don't have time to shower tommorrow and I can spread the shower over 2 days. Every day starts new. Just my opinion.

I agree.

NeonNikki

I've never punished myself with fasting-if I need to punish myself it's almost always money related-and I have no choice but to go on a money fast:) if I eat a whole lot one day-I usually don't think too into it-if anything i allow myself to feel satisfied and content. And full. A fast may not follow but if it happens it's just to make my system feel better-I like the way a 24 hr fast feels-it's kind of cleansing in a tiny way and it's usually not weight related. doesn't have to b for everyone-don't some Mormons fast every Sunday?

SolidGoaled

If I ever fasted, it certainly would not be as punishment either. I've only fasted a few times in my life (for religious reasons, primarily) and it felt so good to not have to think about food/calories for one day! A relief... and a nice exercise in discipline.

Coyla

That is more a reflection of the amount of mis-information about fasting in the developed world. While if this behavior was a regular thing it might be an ED, but simply doing things this way are fine. I don't do that after a spike day because I don't want to turn fasting into a punishment. Instead intermittent fasting is a tool I choose to use.

I agree with you here. I also agree with those who warn about fasting. For some people, it can really throw things out of whack. Anyone with blood sugar issues, anemia, etc, should avoid it.

People fast for religious reasons as well, and I've done this several times without a negative impact. I think most people get uncomfortable with fasting because of how quickly those who are obsessed with weight loss will sometimes take an idea, such as fasting once a month, and run it into the extreme, such as fasting four times a week.

dave4d

I can understand the idea, but it seems like that mentality could easily turn into an eating disorder. I have fasted before, and hated it. I would much rather go back to a normal schedule after a cheat day.

Anidorie

if i ave a really bad day of food, i skip the next day of food or the next two days and maybe the next three.

elsll

I didn't read all the posts, but I did this a few weeks ago (no one had suggested it, I was just trying to "make up" for falling off the wagon). I got very lightheaded and even felt close to nausea by the next morning. It was severe enough I didn't feel safe to drive, and had to call into work. It took a pretty good sized breakfast and lunch to get me close to feeling normal again.

I didn't have anything checked out, but it had to be something of a blood sugar swing or something similar. I will NOT do it again, as obviously I cannot tolerate it. Many cultures fast regularly and religiously (double meaning there, lol) and they seem to tolerate it, but it's definitely not for everyone. My advice is to proceed with caution. I now know that if I "cheat" then I have to live with it...

chevy88grl

I don't think bingeing (which is what a cheat day CAN be) and then starving yourself the next day is a very healthy way of losing weight. If you want to have a cheat day - fine. Go ahead and do it. But, don't neglect to feed your body the next day. Go back to the way you normally eat and move on.

I wouldn't binge and then fast, binge and then fast. It isn't healthy. Plus, with my blood sugar fasting would make me incredibly sick. Heck, I have a hard time fasting when I have to have surgery or whatever. It's really hard on me. My body much prefers a constant stream of food coming in.

amymrls

I don't think bingeing (which is what a cheat day CAN be) and then starving yourself the next day is a very healthy way of losing weight. If you want to have a cheat day - fine. Go ahead and do it. But, don't neglect to feed your body the next day. Go back to the way you normally eat and move on.

I wouldn't binge and then fast, binge and then fast. It isn't healthy. Plus, with my blood sugar fasting would make me incredibly sick. Heck, I have a hard time fasting when I have to have surgery or whatever. It's really hard on me. My body much prefers a constant stream of food coming in.

I totally agree with you. If you are going to "cheat" one day then just cheat, then move on. One day in the scheme of things isn't that bad anyway.

lodro

When you fast, the idea is to eat your preceding meal to prepare for your fast. If you binge, this is not happening, you eat unhealthily and you'll notice it when you fast. Fasting should be as easy as possible and that is only going to happen if you prepare well. So, last meal, a light one, protein, good vegetables, leafy greens, some vegetable juice perhaps, and that's it. Certainly not a binge that needs to be off-set by fasting.

I see people here describe fasting as "weird" or "unnatural". It isn't, but bingeing one day and fasting the next is not the way.

lodro

The "smartest" thing to do is after a cheat / overeat / just didn't care day is to get back to your normal routine the next day. Everyone has heard that anything under 1200 and your body goes into survival mode.

No it doesn't.

kimbirdy

Just exercise a little bit more than you usually do for the next few days (but of course don't eat more to compensate for the calories burned on those days). Extremes of any kind are generally a bad call, in my experience.

Also, the whole idea of having a binge day kind of goes against the whole healthy lifestyle change idea. Why continue binging? Why feed that dragon? Just forgive yourself, exercise a little more, and move on. Try not to do it again and remember that you are still a good person. We all eat too much from time to time. That's what happens in the western culture.

jordanlell

I don't care if it's healthy or unhealthy--or if it involves getting to eat everything in the world in one day-- nothing but veggie juice and water for a whole day sounds like torture to me. I tried eating nothing but raw fruits and veggies on this crazy body cleanse that I thought I'd try, and it was awful. I lasted a day, and I was sooooo hungry.

lodro

I don't care if it's healthy or unhealthy--or if it involves getting to eat everything in the world in one day-- nothing but veggie juice and water for a whole day sounds like torture to me. I tried eating nothing but raw fruits and veggies on this crazy body cleanse that I thought I'd try, and it was awful. I lasted a day, and I was sooooo hungry.

yes, because you were spiking your insulin all the time. fasting means: no food intake, only water.

jordanlell

I was supposed to do that "cleanse" thing for a week, and I don't need any scientific evidence to tell me it was a bad idea. That was pre-MFP, and this has been a much, much better experience! And much more effective.

maurilax

Fasting for a day does not have to be unhealthy.

Barneystinson

We are naturally designed to be able to handle "famine" for some periods of time. 15-24 hours without food is not unhealthy, and if anything, will actually improve your blood sugar levels and cholesterol. Side note: applies to normal, healthy adults.

Fasting is easier, however, when you start a 24 hour fast with a filling, healthful meal complete with a good protein and fat source. Satiety is key. Don't expect to shovel a big bowl of pasta and dessert down your gullet and last for 24 hours drinking nothing but water. If you do, well then, kudos to your outstanding willpower.

Johnnyswife

I've heard of water and lemon fasts, but wouldn't try it. I just don't have the will power for it. :laugh: :flowerforyou:

l3ugjuice

I actually do that to a degree, but I dont fast. My wife and I go out and eat a good bit. Most of the time I'm able to get something reasonable and keep it in the calorie range. About once a month I just get whatever I want, then for the next day or two just make sure to eat only 1200 calories. The way I figure I'm still making up for the 'cheat' a bit, but I'm also getting the minimum requirement.

Who knows what's best or not, I certainly dont. I'm basically just winging this thing. So long as the lbs keep coming off I figure it's working.

Barneystinson

Might also want to distinguish here between "fad" fasts extending beyond 24 hours and utilizing liquid calorie (sugar) sources in the form of juice and intermittent fasts ranging from 16-36 hours with no calorie consumption.

littlemissanguissette

I don't fast after a "cheat" day [which I don't like to call them cheat days, either] but I watch what I eat. I was HORRIBLE yesterday [in fact, I was pretty bad all last week to be truthful] and today I'm drinking lots of chai [sans milk], had a bit of granola for breakfast, will be having salad for lunch and dinner. I'm also trying to get in at least 80oz of water.

I don't like thinking I have to punish myself for a day where I get off track. I'm human, I make mistakes. Sometimes I just want to enjoy fatty food, and it was Mother's day, I was celebrating with family!

People are always going to be pro or anti something, you have to do your research and decide what you want to do for yourself to be healthy, or as healthy as you can be.

chrisdavey

read this
http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

I have been doing LG 16/8 for 6 weeks with good strength gains, same body weight and decreased skinfold measurements (aka BF%). Working well for me. Previously, I was a 5-6 meals a day guy.