"Cheat" days....

countrydarling1

WHat does a cheat day consist of for you? Do you cheat but dont go over your calories? Do some of you not watch your calories that day? Just curious how some of you do your cheat days.

I usually try to stay at mu calories for the day. Have a shake or something ive been craving, or eat it for my workout calories.

ahavoc

I haven't done one yet because I'm afraid

barleespringers

I never have 'cheat days', those calories are not worth it to me.

brittanyjeanxo

It depends. Yesterday I had fried chicken wings for dinner, and recorded it. I was over in sodium and protein but not calories. Actually, I was WAY over in sodium haha. But I just have the one cheat meal when I feel like it, and then I'm okay for a while. If something is ghastly on cals or something, chances are I won't even want it again, like McD's!

8rules

Is it really a cheat if you plan to go over your calories or break your diet on a certain day for a certain reason?

I have used a weekly cheat meal for 3 years specifically because I would not stick to any diet if I could not indulge now and then.

This week was my birthday and I used my cheat day for that. If i get invited to a wedding, I set aside my cheat day for that.

It is not the weekly cheat that ends the weight loss, but what we regularly do.

I should also note that I usually like to follow cheat days, with dead lift day. Reps with 400 pounds tend to mitigate the effect of a cheat meal quite nicely I am sure pairing a cheat meal, with a long walk the next day could do likewise.

beatlemom

I do a cheat meal about once every 2 weeks. I will count my calories for everything else, but not that one meal. I do find however, that the cheat days a fewer and farther between. And even when I do "cheat" I dont go overboard!

Kelly_Wilson1990

I do not do cheat days.

deadstarsunburn

Well I suppose if i crave something I allow myself to have one meal with it and I don't worry about the calories. One meal a week where you don't count is perfectly fine and will keep you sane =] I'd say go for it, but only one meal one day.

8rules

It depends. Yesterday I had fried chicken wings for dinner, and recorded it. I was over in sodium and protein but not calories. Actually, I was WAY over in sodium haha. But I just have the one cheat meal when I feel like it, and then I'm okay for a while. If something is ghastly on cals or something, chances are I won't even want it again, like McD's!

I am sorry, I must ask.

Is being over in protein bad?

messyinthekitchen

I have one cheat day a week. And I enjoy one meal I love. I do not count the calories I don't want to know or else I feel guilty. The rest of the day I eat healthy. However if I am having a dinner I will almost always get a desert with it. The only thing I pass up on cheat days when dieting is incredibly fattening/ high calorie foods. Like spare ribs 1200 cals my whole days worth lol. But how I love my spare ribs mmmm I miss them lol.

sdmcbride10

I go way overboard!!. For example, yesterday was a cheat day for me and I ate 5 doughnuts and had a chocolate milkshake from Krystals. Ieven had a glass of Bailey's. However, today I am proud to say I am back on track.

Scoobies87

I have one once a week but only if the occasion calls for it. For example, a birthday meal, a night in (or out) with the girls or a baking session with my mum. I think it's great to have something to look forward to! I still count the cals which are always over, but I exercise more that day to bring them down some so I end up being 200-400 over.

I never gain weight from one cheat day a week, however anymore then 1 and I do gain a pound.

fromaquasar

I have a "cheat meal" maybe once every 2 weeks. I don't plan them. It will just be if I am going out with friends somewhere that I really love the food I will let myself eat what I want for one meal. Eating healthy is a lifestyle so these meals are all part of having a life Normally I log it but I don't worry if I am over calories that meal. But I do watch me calorie summary for the week and try and keep under on that

Dtho5159

I have 1 day a week where I don't log. We usually eat out for 1 meal and I try to stick to my norm the rest of the day.

barleespringers

I am sorry, I must ask.

Is being over in protein bad?

Lean protein - yes, you can go over.

gmom81158

I used to eat whatever I was craving on weigh in day and not count it. Now if I eat something I crave I count it-funny when you see the numbers those things start to not look so good. Now I find healthy alternatives for the same foods. That is fun and rewarding. Hungry girl is one of my favorite websites and now tv show. I eat great food and still lose . God luck in your journey!

dez_yaoichan

i dont do cheat days simply b/c i'm not cheating. this is about finding what works for you for life. i will eat things i enjoy. i still stay under, and if i'm not i work out extra. but it's not a cheat b/c if it's something i have to cheat to get, then it's something i'll be cheating on a lot. i find if i keep it a part of my diet but limit it, i dont need cheat days.

and i log EVERYTHING. even if i go over.

Fat_2_Fit_Mommy

I had a cheat day yeserday diffently lol. But I didn't plan it at all I had a little ice cream, pizza, and a snow cone but I was out with my family. Soo after I found out the cals I was guilty especially the pizza since it is worse then the snow cone was. But oh well it's life. I mean I don't think it will kill any one just to have one cheat day of one meal or some thing. It is not like yours doing this all day or every day. You got to loosen up some times.

anewattitude

I had a cheat day today and now I feel like a hippo! I usually look forward to them and thats my day to enjoy the crap, without the guilt however today I ate some spinach dip with the baked pita and 4 chicken wings and I feel like I went too far. I had two days prior where I didn't have much of an appetite ( and I must admit I liked not being hungry) and today I nearly licked the plate the chicken wings were on! In my opinion, ( and yes I need to take my own advice..) if you are going to " cheat" then eat what you have been truly craving, enjoy every morsel of it, then move on and get back on track. I don't log my cheat days because to me, that defeats the purpose of cheating. ( For me it does). I realized today that since I have been so diligent about logging my food and watching my cals that I didn't end up enjoying my free day like I have in the past!

Do what works for you and enjoy the cheat. We all need that now and then:)

Fit4sure

I don't have "cheat days" either...but I do have somewhat of a "cheat meal" about once a week or two (or three or four). I'll on purpose PLAN to not track calories for that one (and only one...not an all day affair) meal but WILL write down what I ate. Usually, I end up eating like I always do and just "splurging" on a slice of cheesecake for that one meal rather than have a full blown blow out meal. I don't like the way I feel when I overindulge...really...it makes me feel bad physically now.

Being that I "plan" on splurging...it's not really a "cheat meal"...it's part of the plan. This week, I ate something I normally wouldn't eat for lunch (had dessert of frozen yogurt and berries) as my splurge.

If I had a whole day of splurge...I'd probably undo all the good things I did for my body that week. I can do a ton of damage in a day!

)

Jessicaruby

i allow myself 2 cheat meals a month. sometimes i use them sometimes i dont. i usually save them for special occasions, like when i go out with my fiance or for birthdays or something like that. i eat healthy the rest of the day and usually use my cheat meal for dinner and dessert. i also try to exerise a bit more that day if i know i am going to be using a cheat meal. i always still log what i eat. and i usually feel guilty lol. but i think to maintain this as a lifestyle you need to allow urself to eat meals you enjoy even if they are full of calories every once in a while