how often do you have a "cheat" day/meal?

missikay1970

i had a night out with my husband for a business dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings and i managed to stay within calories, even had 2 beers and "naked" chicken wings with sauce. to me, that was just normal living. i have also adjusted some of our favorite meals to be healthy, low-calorie - so we can still enjoy our fav foods w/o feeling deprived.

the kind of treating i am talking about involves something completely out of the norm for a healthy eating plan. donuts. cheeseburger. honestly i don't think i can go the rest of my life without eating something like that, not because it has a hold over me or anything like that, but i am just realistic. sometimes i really do just want a Coke or french fries. (i was drinking about 2-3 Cokes per day, and i've had ONE since August 1 !!!!!)

the reason i plan the day is because i want to be in control. i read menus online before i head to any restaurant so i can make healthy choices, even if it doesn't seem like i can with what they have to offer, i have always found a solution and great alternative to be able to eat right and stay socially active. planning my treat day is just a way for me to be able to not think about calories and food and exercise for one single day. because this is new to me, trying to imagine the rest of my life going to the gym X-times per week and eating healthy etc. is overwhelming. even logging-in food/calories/exercise on MFP gets daunting to me. that one treat day allows me to not have to worry about any of it. so far, i've only had one of those days, and it was actually just one meal, not the whole day.

i'm really enjoying everyone's replies and different ways of doing things!

Peanut1026

My cheat days are Saturdays, I know every weekend that we will be out and about and will most likely end up going out to eat, I just try and not eat too much during the day. I have so many left over calories from the whole week, one meal on a weekend is not going to throw me off. Or when we go to my father-in-laws and he cooks dinner he plants a big plate of food in front of us...I just eat it. I use Saturdays as sort of my "reward" days, and thus far I have not gained weight back I have lost during the week.

BeeElMarvin

I don't track intake or output on the weekends. I stay "aware" of what I'm eating, and what I've done without logging it. I'm not a binge eater, so, it works for me - so far (every body is different though).

SarabellPlus3

I never think of it as "cheating" because I want to have a lifestyle that is forever sustainable. If "cheating" means I have some cookies or some alcohol, I really don't think it's a positive way to think about food and living! I just try to stay within my calories (and subsequent fat/carbs/protein goals). Today was the first time I went over my calories in a few weeks ("cheating," I guess?), and it was because of some good beers with friends--- definitely a worth-while tradeoff, I think!

I feel similarly.

I'd say I have a day a week that I feel ok to go over calories, and I don't fret. I'm still losing, feeling good, and doing great I think. I would never do this (live healthier) if it meant I could never enjoy whatever entree I wanted, have a few drinks, and maybe even nibble some dessert, literally never again, that's not living to me. I don't need it everyday, but I need it sometimes, and I think that's fine, and it's working great for me.

If you think about it, that's how I used to eat EVERY day. And that's why I now am working on losing 20 lbs. But, doing it once a week or every other? Maybe I'll never get "perfect" that way, but it's much better than I had been doing, and I don't want to be perfect, just better.

sharonsjones

I have a cheat meal once a week, including dessert because dessert would be my favorite part!

missikay1970

I never think of it as "cheating" because I want to have a lifestyle that is forever sustainable. If "cheating" means I have some cookies or some alcohol, I really don't think it's a positive way to think about food and living! I just try to stay within my calories (and subsequent fat/carbs/protein goals). Today was the first time I went over my calories in a few weeks ("cheating," I guess?), and it was because of some good beers with friends--- definitely a worth-while tradeoff, I think!

I feel similarly.

I'd say I have a day a week that I feel ok to go over calories, and I don't fret. I'm still losing, feeling good, and doing great I think. I would never do this (live healthier) if it meant I could never enjoy whatever entree I wanted, have a few drinks, and maybe even nibble some dessert, literally never again, that's not living to me. I don't need it everyday, but I need it sometimes, and I think that's fine, and it's working great for me.

If you think about it, that's how I used to eat EVERY day. And that's why I now am working on losing 20 lbs. But, doing it once a week or every other? Maybe I'll never get "perfect" that way, but it's much better than I had been doing, and I don't want to be perfect, just better.

i absolutely agree! doing it once a week/month is WAY better than what i was doing, so i can't reach perfection, but can be better! well said!

repertoire

I don't have a cheat day...but I do have one craving once a week. And I plan for it and get excited for it For instance...every Friday is my night usually...and I can have one thing I've been craving...greasy pizza for dinner, or a bowl of chips, or a chocolate bar etc. Its fun! Gives me something to look forward to and it usually fits into my calories anyways or only goes slightly over. It's my way of controlling my cravings. I don't want to deprive myself completely or I'll get resentful and go completely off track. But if I know I'm allowed to have my craving in a controlled way...I'm good to go!

ginique

Fridays are my "log nothing and enjoy" days, but honestly, I don't fret too much about it. I can have a burger and fries any day of the week, so long as I'm willing to "budget" for it. That could be eating lower-calorie foods for the rest of the day or exercising a little bit more to try and offset the higher-calorie meal.

I truly admire people who can give up any and all unhealthy food for good, but I am not one of those people. I tried to be one of those people in the past and made it two months before I binged harder than a rock and gained back all my weight + 16 additional pounds. This needs to be a lifestyle change, and I cannot live with the stress that comes from fighting my cravings or not being able to enjoy a summer cookout with my friends and family.

Now that I know how BMR/"calories in vs calories out" actually works, this process has been a whole lot easier. I've denied myself nothing and have still lost inches. What's funny though is the healthier I eat, the less I crave the non-healthy options - but not to the point of giving up my burgers and Mexican food.

mscoco10

I don't think of it as cheating; it actually helps the body and gives you a little extra treat. I do it maybe 1 once week. If i'm out of town on vacation maybe a little more. Depending on your weight you can do once a week to once every 2 weeks or once a month.

sunshineshica

Once a week... and I cheat heavily without feeling guilty. I still lose the pounds I want to lose, I just avoid the scale the day after. ;o)

I do the same thing. The scale and everything. LOL!

canuckgurrl

I cheat usually once a week. Saturday. I go to the gym on Sunday morning. I still make healthy choice we eat out
once a week.

Trishintraining

I use Saturday as my cheat day. It's really easy to stay on track Monday through Friday, because I'm the one making my meals, and they're just for me. On the weekends, my husband is home, and he's not too happy with my smaller portions and healthier meals. So every Saturday we have a date night, and go out to eat, and I just don't stress about it. I usually end up eating a couple hundred extra calories on Sundays, because we'll have a family meal with my parents or his, but then I'm back on track the rest of the week. It's been working out pretty great so far, I'll usually do an extra workout on Monday to ease my conscience about any extra calories on Sunday :P

tladame

I don't look at it like cheating! Look at the big picture... you eat well and exercise most of the time: is one high calorie meal going to undo all that? NO! I don't plan for those days, I just roll with it when it comes. If I happen to be out all day and can't prepare my food, a family function, holiday, a craving, whatever! Enjoy the meal and get right back on track!

^^
This. Just last night, I tried Smashburger for the first time. I hadn't had fries or a burger in a few weeks. I totally enjoyed it without guilt. I guess I must have been in a decent calorie range earlier in the day, since I weighed the same today as I did yesterday.

I will occasionally indulge on the weekends too. If the scale moves up a pound or two, I just get back on track Monday & the pounds come off within a few days. I don't eat like that all the time, but I like that I can eat those goodies and not totally deprive myself.

CraigG75

I do it maybe once per week or every other week.. On the week I cheated I lost 2.2 lbs go figure

lmarshel

Honestly, I used to allow myself a cheat day or meal but now if I see something that I want I eat it. i don't deprive myself and I eat in moderation. Its not an everyday thing, or once a week, or once a month but I dont deprive myself or force myself to wait til that special day either. Do what works for you

^^This is what I do, also. I log my calories and make sure I get my fruits and veggies every day. Other than that, I eat what I want to. We have burgers every week and eat out several times a week. I also have popcorn at the movies and ice cream just about every day. I don't really feel a need to "cheat".

theginnyray

I was having a "free" day every week, which would sometimes become one or two days. My husband and I had a come-to-Jesus meeting about it. It just wasn't working for us, we didn't feel that those days were worth the calories. It doesn't mean we'll never eat greasy pizza again, it just means we don't need it every single weekend. We make KILLER homemade pizzas anyways :-)
On the days when I do eat crap, I log it. There is nothing like a side of guilt to get me back on track. I have had "free" weekends where I miraculously dropped weight - but I've also had free weekends where I gained.
So for the time being, there is no crazy "cheating" (I really don't feel deprived), but save those days for actual special occasions (birthdays/holidays), not just because it's Saturday.

sallywilson06

This is a funny topic... I cheat at least once a week but if I do cheat then I do try to work out or just cut the calories earlier in the day so I don't go over waayyyy tooo much.. I usually know when I am going to cheat but I still try to make healthier choices than I would if I were eating badly again.

naturallynikki

This is a funny topic... I cheat at least once a week but if I do cheat then I do try to work out or just cut the calories earlier in the day so I don't go over waayyyy tooo much.. I usually know when I am going to cheat but I still try to make healthier choices than I would if I were eating badly again.

^ ^ ^ What she said!

ottawagirl613

About once a week. Sometimes it's small enough that I manage to stay under calories, and sometimes I indulge a little more and get right back to it the next day. I'd say I have my more indulgent days every couple of weeks, and my smaller treats in between so that I never feel deprived. And like others have mentioned I find it helps to keep the cravings at bay, keep me in it for the long haul, and break plateau's when they come.

Genem30

If by "cheat" you mean go over my allotted calories for the day, I think once in 2 months. If you mean eat crap but stay within my calories, then probably once a week I'll have a few slices of pizza and/or a Diet Coke.

I've had a few times that I've eaten a crap dinner that went over my calories for the day, and I jumped on the elliptical or went for a long walk until I burned off enough to cover it, lol.

FearAnLoathing

daily

keengkong

I never plan to cheat. On a Thanksgiving, I probably would plan on cheating. Other than that, no. My suggestion is that even if you do decide that on certain days you'll eat more than allowed, that you enter everything you eat into MFP. Then at least you'll know how much you're eating. You may decide you don't want to have cheat days if you learn, for example, that each cheat day undoes a week of tough weight loss. I believe we need to get around the idea that pigging out is an enjoyable experience. Eating should be fun; eating to excess should not be enjoyable. We should continue to eat an occasional unhealthy dessert if doing so makes us happy and we're able to stay within our daily calories.

MsMuniz

We usually go out to dinner once a week so that is my cheat meal...we are foodies so have to enjoy those dinners! But I don't go crazy, I just try to eat smaller portions.

maura5880

I think it's easier for me personally to eat something "crappy" but stay within my allotted calories. That way, I don't feel guilty and still get to enjoy a lil treat here and there. EX--I had a cupcake on Saturday, but I counted it into my daily calories. Or, if you know you're going out to dinner, have a light breakfast/lunch and save up your calories so you can splurge more at dinner...

katherines2230

Not really sure how to answer. I "try" to have one once a week, as it said in some written information from my trainer. But I usually end up finding a way to fit it in to my daily calories, either by eating less throughout the day or exercising more. I frequently have days where I go over my daily go but never over maintenance calories. And only one day recently where I went completely over both by 1000 calories (I really enjoyed that day and didn't feel guilty one bit!)

wells0707

I cheat almost every Sunday. Football and Nachos..lol.

wells0707

I try to eat light all day up to the point or after the point of the "cheat" because I don't want to undo the week of hard work I did.

Purecity

I don't look at it like cheating! Look at the big picture... you eat well and exercise most of the time: is one high calorie meal going to undo all that? NO! I don't plan for those days, I just roll with it when it comes. If I happen to be out all day and can't prepare my food, a family function, holiday, a craving, whatever! Enjoy the meal and get right back on track!

This!

I am not on a 'diet' ...i'm changing my lifestyle. And just like anything else, life happens. You can enjoy any of the foods you like, in moderation.

Hirundo

Every 2weeks on my week end off work i take a day off from logging. That day i eat what i want but i focus on my hunger and really try to not over eat... I plan to have more day off like that as i get closer to my goal so i really learn to listen to my body! Im looking for a life change but i dont think i want to log my food all my life... Better start learning now!

Grokette

my husband has encouraged me to have a "cheat" day or cheat meal about once per month, and so far since Aug 1 when i started my new fitness plan, i have had one cheat meal. (James Coney Island, chili cheese dog + fries + double cheeseburger + coke) i am planning another meal for the beginning of Oct. does anyone have cheat days/meals, and if so, how often do you allow yourself to have an indulgent meal? thanks for sharing

I no longer have any cheat meals at all. The meal turns into a day and the day turns into a week...........you see the snow ball effect.

The way I eat many will find decadent, rich and indulgent so there is no need to eat anything less.