One day of freedom.

punkmark2001

I have always been told that when you are dieting that you are supposed to take one day off a week. Does anyone no of this correct and if this site acknowledges that?

Tonnina

I don't do it... I just try to always come in under 1500 calories(my goal), even if I'm going to a party or a dinner. It can sabotage your diet, you can have days where you eat 100-300 more calories than the rest of your days, but still keep under 1,600 calories so you can lose even when having fun.

kchfg2

It depends on what kinda of dieting you are doing. I don't believe that there is any medical reason to take a day off of 'dieting'. The great thing about this website is that you can eat right easily so it almost seems that you aren't dieting. I think its important to not deprive yourself of things you love. There is nothing wrong with indulging every once in a while (within moderation). But a good rule to follow in order to be successful is to not make that a habit. Don't tell your self all the time that "its okay, I deserve it," it can really put a damper on your progress. My suggestion for you is to never just go crazy for a day. Eat what you want within moderation, and be honest with yourself about it. I hope this helps you. Good luck.

robinaddison

1. No the site does not acknowledge that.
2. "cheat days" are controversial. Some people swear by them, some swear they do more harm than good. My personal philosophy is that I am not on a "diet", therefore I do not need to cheat. Instead, if I feel I really need to have something, I work it into my day as much as possible. For example, today I'm hitting the pub after work. I know I'm going to want a beer and something to go with it...so, I'll eat a little less throughout the day, and maybe see about getting a little extra exercise in if I can.
Make sense?

rockylucas

Cheat days come into play when you are doing an intensive diet, exercise training regimen... and to be blunt, few of us on myfitnesspal are exercising to that level of intensity, therefore our body does not need that cheat day.

InTenn

I think you do whatever helps you stay on plan, and if that means taking a day off, then take a day off. Still, I'd look at total calories for the week to help decide how "off" I could be. A day off with 6000 calories will undo the other six days of staying below your goal. You should still record what you eat and see how it stacks up against the rest of the week. Calories count, regardless of any plan or recommendation.

I'm much more prone to take a "meal" off, or a "snack" off, then kick in some extra exercise to help deal with the excess.

pinkandstars09

I think sometimes that one day of freedom can hurt you more than help you. I know for me if i totally have a freedom day it makes me feel crappy because why work so hard. I would rather have one day of freedom from exercising . I can exercise on the weekends i have my little girl so those are my free days but i watch my calories. I have a goal not to eat more than 1200 calories. I think instead of one whole free day treat yourself to something every one in a while. i know i treated myself to frozen coffee the other day and that made my day . Where hey you can have something you want just got to watch the rest of your day.

Tori_356

I go over my calories with going out to eat, maybe drinking some wine but try not to go over 2000 for the day usually on a Saturday, I still lose, just not as fast as others. You gotta be able to get right back to it the next day. I always track everything even if I go over. Not every day is perfect, but I'm committed to logging it.

surfrgrl1

,Each Friday my boyfriend and I go out for dinner. I used to refer to it as my splurge 'day', because I would have more calories than the norm, but now I try to look at it more as my splurge 'meal'. This way I don't give myself license to eat anything I want all day that day, because I already know I'll be over my calories due to one meal. I still try to be cautious, don't get me wrong, but it's the one meal a week that I know I'll be sharing dessert, and I don't feel guilty about doing it.

surfrgrl1

I go over my calories with going out to eat, maybe drinking some wine but try not to go over 2000 for the day usually on a Saturday, I still lose, just not as fast as others. You gotta be able to get right back to it the next day. I always track everything even if I go over. Not every day is perfect, but I'm committed to logging it.

Great point, be true to yourself, and log it!

Getting2KnowMe

,Each Friday my boyfriend and I go out for dinner. I used to refer to it as my splurge 'day', because I would have more calories than the norm, but now I try to look at it more as my splurge 'meal'. This way I don't give myself license to eat anything I want all day that day, because I already know I'll be over my calories due to one meal. I still try to be cautious, don't get me wrong, but it's the one meal a week that I know I'll be sharing dessert, and I don't feel guilty about doing it.

I really like this approach, thanks for the suggestion!

MayMaydoesntrun

I am currently doing this on Saturday...all in the name of college football! I go to all the Alabama home games, I'm going to have a stadium hotdog if I wanna, I'm going to drink a beer or three if I wanna. I kill it 6 out of 7 days and Saturday is all MINE. And I lost 5 pounds over the last 2 weeks...so no, it doesn't hurt anything at all! In fact, it makes the 6 days easier because I know I'm going to get a treat at the end of the week.

I don't log on Saturday either, by the way.

kitinboots

I do it occasionally, but I binge to the point where I feel absolutely stuffed and feel extremely lethargic. I think because my body is no longer used to that crap, it really suffers when I indulge. But I do it as a warning to myself. If I eat a massive bar of chocolate and feel like crap, I'm not going to want to do that again for a long time. Last Sunday i ate a massive bag of crisps dipped in cream cheese, followed by a big chocolate bar. I have no desire to eat any of the same again.