CHEAT DAYS!

Breadoholic

Do you feel your weekly cheat day/meal is setting your weight loss back? I feel guilty about the food choices I made this evening at a party and I'm wondering if others feel the same. How out of control are your cheat days? How many more calories do you consume usually on your cheat day? I'd love to hear from you all, thanks

Christina

Biancalee76

I don't have a cheat day/meal.

clares06

cheat days!! i didnt know you were having these, how often do you do it? if it was once every few weeks, im sure it wouldnt hinder you too much, but maybe more often may do??? although you have lost a lot of weight!!! your obviously doing very well

henney16

I like to think of them as "Treats" instead of cheats. On a mental standpoint - it may help with things. Hasn't really affected my weight loss in the big bigger. Maybe if I took too many liberties one week, it showed on the scale, but it just made me work harder the next week. Good luck!

sharonsjones

I allow myself a cheat meal and dessert on Fridays every week. I will usually eat a burger and fries or chicken strips and ice cream or cake for a dessert. I'm usually over about 1,000 calories on my Fridays (sometimes a little more). But I do good the rest of the week so I don't worry about it. I mantain my weight and I have been doing this for years.

ninerbuff

I "cheat" everyday! IMO, there's no reason to cut anything you like out of your diet as long as you stay within your calorie allowance.

maura5880

I call mine "spike" days, because I'm not on a diet, so I have nothing to "cheat" on.

I usually do it once a week or so, and maybe go 500 over my goal. I'm finding that the more I'm eating healthy and working out, the less I crave crap.

kassied09

Last weekend I had TWO cheat days where I went over probably more than 4000 calories total (EEK!) Luckily, I workout enough so it helped rather than hindered. 5 days after my cheat day I had lost all of the weight I had put on (8 lbs!) and an additional pound. I was so happy! I think that shock to my system did me good. (probably too much of a shock, but nonetheless). Cheat meals at least are good for you....less wanting to binge and a reward is always nice

Sidesteal

Do you feel your weekly cheat day/meal is setting your weight loss back?

No, but I don't have any all out binges. I have one day per week where I don't track intake because I want to give myself a psychological break from being anal.

I feel guilty about the food choices I made this evening at a party and I'm wondering if others feel the same. How out of control are your cheat days? How many more calories do you consume usually on your cheat day? I'd love to hear from you all, thanks

Christina

I am going to give you purley opinion here:

I think having at least one day per week where you AT LEAST eat at maintenance is a healthy thing. As far as "how big" of a cheat you can or should do, it really depends on your deficit. If you are somehow pulling a cheat that's putting you 4500 over maintenance, then you're going to have problems. If you're over by 400-500 I wouldn't sweat it honestly.

The whole point of a cheat from a psychological standpoint (I'm ignoring hormonal effects in this discussion) is to reward yourself, and it's important to do this without guilt. You're doing this because you've earned it and I would argue that for SOME people, it's helpful because it keeps you on path the rest of the week.

Breadoholic

I don't have a cheat day/meal.

You don't let yourself eat something naughty?

debswebby

Yes my cheat day was/is/always sets me back. Me and hubby always like to have a treat meal every Friday. One day we decided to count up how many calories were in the meal I was just about to eat. We stopped counting when we reached 2,500 (yes! seriously!) It then dawned on me that all my hard work at the gym for the week was fuelling ONE MEAL! ONE MEAL!! And then it dawned on me that my plateau wasn't my body being mean it was me.
I still have a treat meal on a Friday but it is a lot more controlled.

JamesonsMommy

Cheat Days don't exist here. "cheat days" are the reason i have 50+ pounds to lose.

Sidesteal

I "cheat" everyday! IMO, there's no reason to cut anything you like out of your diet as long as you stay within your calorie allowance.

^ And in addition to the lengthy reply I gave, I fully agree with this and apply this myself (IIFYM).

That being said, in the context of the OP's post I'm referring to a cheat day as one where you don't hit your macros.

stef_3

I get 1,490 calories on a regular day to lose a pound a week so on Sundays when I have my free day I try to consume no more than 2,000. I think 500 more cals is good, if we go out I look to see if nutrition facts ar online first to try to plan my meal. 2,000 is the amount of cals to maintain so it's not really a bad deal cuz I shouldn't gain and I get to splurge/indulge a little bit.

Breadoholic

cheat days!! i didnt know you were having these, how often do you do it? if it was once every few weeks, im sure it wouldnt hinder you too much, but maybe more often may do??? although you have lost a lot of weight!!! your obviously doing very well

No I don't really have them but I've heard the term 'cheat days' used on this site by some members. Tonight I ate cheesecake and a few other naughty things and I just wonder how much it sets me back?

JohnFurie

Well I don't believe in cheat days, for me my quest to become healthy is 24/7. I just try to be aware what I am eating or drinking. And if you have a off day so what you just get back to it the next day. My mindset is this is a marathon, not a race.

bariachic

I don't cheat. If it works for you, then that's great, I'm not about to tell someone what to do if something works for them, everyone is different.

My eating plan is so strict that if the weight loss I have isn't enough of a reward for me, then I will fail.

The last time I tried this I had ":cheat" meals and they just kept creeping in and pretty oon I was gaining and not watching what I ate at all. I have an addiction to food... so I don't plan on cheating. Not on thanksgiving, not on Christmas, not on my birthday! The rewards on those days is how much healthier I am because of my change in lifestyle, not a sugary cake or greasy chicken!

maryd523

I don't have "cheat days" because this is a lifestyle change and pigging out for the sake of pigging out just isn't going to be a part of that.

However, along with a healthy lifestyle is the reality that some days you are going to go over. Sometimes way over, perhaps at a holiday meal or other special occasion. I simply don't worry about those days, they are a part of life and I don't want to be nibbling on carrot sticks while everyone else enjoys scrumptious food. I eat (as moderately as possible, but that doesn't always happen), enjoy it, and move on. I know that it's not going to derail my long-term progress.

brucedelaney

I eat nearly 4500 calories in a day 1 time a week and nearly every week. I lose between 1.5 to 2.5 every week. Bearing that in mind, I do eat at a deficit the other 6 days and for the overall week which is part of what helps me lose weight the other part being that on the day that I do eat 4500ish calories I'm boosting my metabolism and avoiding the dreaded starvation plateau.

KiyaK

Every lifestyle requires some flexibility. I have personally decided that being nutritionally perfect everyday is not realistic for me. Therefore, I don't feel bad when I go over every once in a while (usually 1 or 2 days each week). It may be slowing my weight loss down a little, but I have decided that I am in this for the long haul, not simly to see how much I can lose as fast as possible.

Breadoholic

Do you feel your weekly cheat day/meal is setting your weight loss back?

No, but I don't have any all out binges. I have one day per week where I don't track intake because I want to give myself a psychological break from being anal.

I feel guilty about the food choices I made this evening at a party and I'm wondering if others feel the same. How out of control are your cheat days? How many more calories do you consume usually on your cheat day? I'd love to hear from you all, thanks

Christina

I am going to give you purley opinion here:

I think having at least one day per week where you AT LEAST eat at maintenance is a healthy thing. As far as "how big" of a cheat you can or should do, it really depends on your deficit. If you are somehow pulling a cheat that's putting you 4500 over maintenance, then you're going to have problems. If you're over by 400-500 I wouldn't sweat it honestly.

The whole point of a cheat from a psychological standpoint (I'm ignoring hormonal effects in this discussion) is to reward yourself, and it's important to do this without guilt. You're doing this because you've earned it and I would argue that for SOME people, it's helpful because it keeps you on path the rest of the week.

Thanks for this. It makes sense. I don't want to binge. It's not healthy and makes you feel so gross. When i first starting dieting i use to binge after 5 days of being on a diet, but now that I'm living a healthy lifestyle (not dieting per se) I guess it's easier having a little piece of cake or two once a week without having a full blown binge.

tiggerbounce411

I don't do the cheat day/meal. If I want it..I eat it and adjust my calories for the rest of the day to fit in what I SHOULD be eating. It hasn't harmed my progress. I of course don't make a habit of it, but if I feel I want something, I just eat it within reason and add it on the diary. As long as my numbers stay green, I am good to go. Makes this NOT a diet and simple to do.

Breadoholic

I allow myself a cheat meal and dessert on Fridays every week. I will usually eat a burger and fries or chicken strips and ice cream or cake for a dessert. I'm usually over about 1,000 calories on my Fridays (sometimes a little more). But I do good the rest of the week so I don't worry about it. I mantain my weight and I have been doing this for years.

I LOVE this! I use to do this all the time when I was at my goal weight (52 kgs). I maintaining this weight easily for years and years. Although in the last year and a bit I've indulged so I'm paranoid to continue having a cheat meal once a week.

Biancalee76

I don't have a cheat day/meal.

You don't let yourself eat something naughty?

I have little treats on a semi-regular basis, but they are within my calorie counts, so I don't consider them cheats. Like 2 days ago I had a starbucks frappucino, but it was 100 cals. I usually don't waste my cals drinking stuff like that, but I stayed in my count that day.

nikaface

I agree with many other posts...It's not throwing off my loss altogether, it may slow down my loss but that is ok with me as long as the scale continues to go down even if it's not rapidly. I enjoy eating out with my friends on most weekends and what I do is eat lightly for the beginning of the day so that once dinner time rolls around I'm not so far over and I also try not to drink my calories (personal choice). For instance, I had some delicious home made baklava last night at a function at my daughter's school. I haven't beat myself up about it, because I mentally knew I was having it before hand.

I try not to consider days when I eat something "not terribly healthy" as a reward, but instead as just me not being so controlling. But I try to do it all in moderation. Whereas last year I had a good THREE pieces of baklava, this year I had only ONE. I tend not to track on the weekends due to lack of time. So instead I make sure I eat easily calculated things during the day, so I can count it in my head and guesstimate a little better when I'm out eating in the evening.

hatravers

havent had a cheat day yet, too scared to undo all the work ive put into loseing pounds

GymRatRaceRunner

I never have cheat days...but I do treat myself as long as I have the calories to spend.

krystonite

I only have a cheat day once a month, otherwise I fear for my willpower if I were to allow myself to indulge more often. Plus, being able to go an entire month makes me feel like Superwoman.

HMonsterX

I don't have a cheat day/meal.

You don't let yourself eat something naughty?

I dont have cheat days/meals, as i have nothing to cheat on! I'm not on some sort of diet y'know!

I eat things you would call "naughty" every single day, probably 2-3 times a day too. But, i hit my macros, maintain a calorie deficit, exercise 6 times a week, and i feel great, and i could go on like this forever!

Salpica

TraceyDonna

I admire anyone who doest have cheat days, I really do! I have them every week, usually saturday coz its the only night of the week I go out and have a drink. That said, I dont "pig out" as such, I just relax a bit and dont stress about tracking calls too closely. I do still keep it in my mind, but Im just not as strict with myself as I am during the week.

I honestly know that if I dont "relax" with it now and again I wont stick to it. Like everyone says, this is a change for life so it has to be do-able. Everyone has nights out, meals out, celebrations, holidays, etc. I have to be realistic about it or I'll cave.