Does anyone take a day off?

SFH58

I've been on MFP pretty regular as of late, and the success is showing. Yesterday though, I was busy, and just blew off my regular schedule of eating and logging. I didn't eat terrible, but I didn't eat great either. I was frustrated and ended up not logging anything at all.
So, just wondering, do any of you all out there ever just take a day off? Would appreciate any feedback on the matter before I continue beating myself up about it.

krystonite

Of course. Life happens.

kslindner

YES!!! Everyone deserves a cheat day / day off. If you don't allow yourself this, you will go crazy. Any diet will tell u that taking a cheat day every now and again is ok. :-)

muitobem

Yes I do....Like this weekend...I've been eating some yummy foods that aren't so good for me..and not sure how I want to log everything...so, I'll log what I can and can the rest...
No worries, cuz there will be a new day or week ahead!

2blueeyedbabies

I definitely wouldn't beat myself up over it - you are human after all! I've done it on occasion for the same reasons you mentioned. Bottom line, ONE day won't hurt you. It's the focus you put on that one "slip" that leads to giving up and going back to old habits.

My suggestion: Let it go!

DakotaKeogh

I can't bring myself too. I don't trust myself to get back on the horse the next day. I'm too impulsive.

stevwil41

Yes, and my day was today. Dinner and dessert at Chili's with friends put me further over than I've been in months but I had fun and I'll be back on track tomorrow.

Hoppymom

:noway: only when I am way up in Northern MN where the cell coverage is missing where we visit. But I am very careful and my sister-in-law has a treadmill that she shares. I do take time off with gym. I go 5 days a week. I am in this for the long haul so I know that I can't give in to my desire to binge, even for a day. I will eat differently there to some degree but I bring my oatmeal and veggies and lean meat. I no longer bring: pop, chips, high fat cheese/cheese spreads/cheese or chip dips, candy, bars, etc. Hmmmm. they're not going to be so happy to see me if this continues.:ohwell: I think you get out of this exactly what you put in. Good luck.

lawtechie

I feel like I've took the past week off, and it's showing (and not good either). I find it's definately easier to slack off when not logging regularly, and even diligently. Have a long way to go! Not beating myself up TOO much though -- the pounds are doing that for me.

Tonnina

I've not had a "cheat" day, and I'd rather not have one. If I want something, I work it into my calorie totals.

kimmysue

I have done it! When I went on my scrapbooking retreat--it was just to much of a hassle to try to do everything on my phone and guess at the calories in the food we were served. I think the key is to not let it derail you. I have let that happen to me. I would have one day that was just a total loss--and let that totally derail me. This time around, I have told myself that there will be days when I will be over my calorie goal and/or not log things in. I just have to get back on track. Besides, I think a cheat day is not a bad thing. It can help us stay on track and not get discouraged. You are doing great!!

acbeenblossom

If I take the day off with food, I don't take the day off with exercise. I alternate to try and stay on track! If you give up one, you should push harder with the other. However, I agree that everyone deserves a cheat day every now and again. While some people do it once a week, I can't handle that. It would kick me off the band-wagon if I ate like that once a week.

Don't kick yourself when life happens. Just make sure that you make tomorrow better. Always trying to better yourself and becoming the best version of yourself should be your goal!

TrekkerCynthia

I've only been on MFP for a little over 30 days and I've logged everything I've eaten. That does not mean I haven't been over my calorie goal, I have a few times and I will again (like Wednesday for my monthly book club get together, and then the Saturday after that when we celebrate a friend's 40th b-day at a nice restaurant). I will exercise those days to earn as many calories as I can, but nothing overboard. As others have posted, this is for the long haul and I plan to enjoy life while losing weight. But I do want to track if I have internet access to "keep it real" so to speak.

yummummum

I actually do not. I take days off from my routine and exercising. But I have changed my diet for good. I have also been afraid that I might derail myself and not be able to get back on. I also feel so much better that I actually do not want to feel tired and yucky which is how I know I would feel if I were to "cheat".

jbeauchamp1

Yes I take every Sunday off. No exercise and no logging. I do not go crazy with food I just don't stress about it. Works for me and it also allows my body a day to rest from working out.

jbeauchamp1

*double post...sorry computer screwed up*

Ottie35

Definentely, just pick up where you left off and get back on the boat! Nothing wrong with eating some stuff you want to every once in a while!

icewyche

Every so often, usually about once a month, I declare a "F**k My Diet" day, in which I refuse to feel guilty about going over my calorie allotment. That doesn't mean I go hog-wild and stuff my face, but I let myself have things like a cheeseburger for dinner, a couple of donuts at an early meeting, or a piece (or two) of chocolate cake at an office celebration. It's just good to give yourself a break now and then and let yourself refocus.

LisaMariaCallow

I've taken a handful of days off in 7 months...I log what I eat for the most part to hold myself accountable, and I get right back on track the next day.

Don't beat yourself up...life happens!

:happy:

dkvote

I log everything...even the bad days...but today I knew would be bad, went on a long bike ride an ended w over 400 calories left. Logging the BAD days shows your commitment to this site but also to yourself! It's okay to go over now an then...boosts your metabolism!

Nancy_hc

I def do! But I also STILL log it. I dont intentionally take off days they just happen sometime (like yours). I find that when I DONT log it its tough for me to motivate myself to get back into things, esp if I've been seeing results. When I do log though the horror of my day stares me in the face and that motivates me to get back on track the next day. Making sure I keep it to an off DAY and not an off WEEK :P

faithfulrose

I think logging everything even if it's a bad day will help to keep you in check. Don't kick yourself from going over, but the motivation of seeing the red numbers might help you try harder to stay on track the next day. It works that way for me! I went over today, but I logged it. I don't feel bad about it, but I will try to be within my calories tomorrow. Weekends are ALWAYS hard for me!

xOpti

I think logging everything even if it's a bad day will help to keep you in check.

I think this is key. Taking a day off is important sometimes. Nothing worse than being miserable during the holidays watching everyone enjoy the good food and having to exclude yourself. It's just important to remain accountable for your days off.

TamLind83

I totally take a day or meal off once in a while. I just make sure to not make it a something that happens too often because it's really easy to undo an entire weeks work of exercising with a few too many cheats here and there.

cronus404

This past week had my only day where i said F it, and even then it only lasted for one meal. I had an unexpected opportunity to go out with someone from work and I just wanted to have some fun without worrying about it, and it was worth it. But the past 3 days since then I have compensated by just eating the bare minimum. I am weak and i know how easy it would be for me to go back to just eating whatever I want. I dont have it in me to take time off now though. I'm highly compulsive and have managed to break the bad habits of food consumption (no snacking, watching calories, no starving, no overeating, portion control) but I know that if I start to slack i can drift in that direction very fast. I am literally terrified right now of stopping this forward momentum and not being able to start back up. Does this mean that everyone is this way, HECK NO. I just wont let myself take any steps backwards for about another 120 lbs.

Laces_0ut

ive only been at this for 4 months so i dont take too many off days( the last 10 years have been off days) im probably averaging 1 serious off day per month. plus i know the holidays are coming up so i probably wont have another off day until Thanksgiving, then Christmas.

stevwil41

I have done it! When I went on my scrapbooking retreat--it was just to much of a hassle to try to do everything on my phone and guess at the calories in the food we were served. I think the key is to not let it derail you. I have let that happen to me. I would have one day that was just a total loss--and let that totally derail me. This time around, I have told myself that there will be days when I will be over my calorie goal and/or not log things in. I just have to get back on track. Besides, I think a cheat day is not a bad thing. It can help us stay on track and not get discouraged. You are doing great!!

Other than the scrapbooking retreat part this totally describes me! The one thing I've finally learned is that a bad day doesn't have to ruin my eating habits for months (or years). I'm finally able to relax and enjoy myself while still making positive changes to my diet and lifestyle.

Black_Swan

Of course, but I try to log something crazy like 2000-3000 cals (normally I eat 1400) to keep track of statistics so I know how many times this happens!

yeahthatpaula

I took the night off last night. I did well in the day, had a nice low-cal breakfast (egg/broccoli mini-frittatas), burned 777 calories cleaning and walking (errands). Then I hosted D&D at my apartment and provided all the snacks. I tried to provide healthier snacks: bruschetta, baguette, hummus, pitas, sweet potato chips, nuts, etc. But I ate a lot, and it all added up. All in all, it could have been a heck of a lot worse and I only went over by a few calories (because I had burned so much earlier).

I tracked it all. So at least I was accountable.

lupa01

I haven't had a cheat day as of yet, because I just started October 1 and I am doing a 28 day detox/cleanse. But as soon as this is over, I will definitely have a cheat day once a week. But what I consider cheating is not going overboard the entire day. I think as long as you eat at least one nutritious meal and snack, and exercise then you will be fine. Also, I always have a calorie deficit that I have just recently starting eating into, only because I think I should eat some of them, but I always still have lots left over. So if that is the case with you, I know you will be fine if you have one cheat day. I hope it goes well for you and much continued success to you!:-)

Yakisoba

No cheat days here. I know how I can go overboard with something, so I stay on target with everything. I even exercise everyday. My "rest" day just involves some house chores or walking.