Do Any Of You Have a Cheat Day?

chyloet

I don't have a cheat day. However, I do have a day where I still eat a healthy diet but do not keep track of it and on that day I may have ice cream or a couple of beers, something that I wouldn't normally have. But, I don't consider it cheating. I just resolve not to log that day so that I don't feel bad about it, it's better if I don't know exactly how many empty calories were in that 16oz Tecate ... that I enjoyed thoroughly

MaryAnn678

Use any exercise calories from the week for your cheat day, just an idea.

MaryAnn678

If you haven't been losing the weight have you been eating enough calories during the day?

Artemis726

On the weekends I'm more lax about staying under my 500 calorie deficit, but I never go over my maintenance. Usually I wind up with a 300 calorie deficit instead of a 500, some people would think of this as zig-zagging I suppose.

This sounds like me. Over the weekend I usually have at least one day where I just don't have as great of a deficit. I'm still at a deficit of 3-400. I'm under enough during the week so I don't sweat it.

wannababyH

I have a scheduled cheat day too. On the 15th (my birthday) each month, I eat one candy bar. (Like a normal sized Hershey bar) I usually give the last two bites to my son, though.

This would all be so much harder if I didn't get that one treat a month. This girl loves her chocolate. It's the main reason I'm as heavy as I am.

HeatherR930

I consider it a cheat meal when I go out to eat (once a week) because it's not as healthy as when I eat at home, but I research the menu & calories ahead of time to make a good choice. If its hard to do that, I at least go for thin crust, hold the fries, eat small portions, & never order appetizers. I have never gone over my maintenance calories since I started 3 months ago, & I have eaten out quite a few times since then! I know when I get to goal my maintenance will be lower & I may go over now & then, but I will just try to minimize it & make up for it with exercise

StaceyKeller71

If you haven't been losing the weight have you been eating enough calories during the day?

I actually weigh in on Mondays and just started. Today is the last day of my first week so I'll know how well I did tomorrow. I'm hoping for a good number.

Jambe

Weekends. Holidays. Family get togethers. Never really go under a 1500 calorie deficit, regardless. Pretty good about counting and guestimating calories in certain foods, and I have my phone to look up stuff really quick if I'm not certain. Make it up with extra / preemptive exercise

I guess it's not really splurging if you're still under

jazzalea

I tried planning cheat days, but I found for me it just didn't work.....instead of looking forward to them in a positive way I just resented the other blah days more.....

I do have cheat days though, I just have them when I'm happy as a reward and l concentrate on the taste of the food instead of the amount This tells me that I'm not cutting myself off from food, just taking control of it

I try really really hard to never cheat when I feel depressed..... remember this is how we got this way, comforting ourselves with food so it's a double blow to cheat on bad days..... you gain calories and lose ground mentally..........

lmelangley

Cheating is an interesting concept. I try to eat as healthy as possible, but if I want something non-nutritionally sound and it's within my calories, I have it. I know I can't succeed if I try to deny myself all the time. My basic thought pattern is that if it's within my calories and worth the calories, I have it. ( Just recently discovered that fun size candy bars are no longer worth it for me, which is good news at this time of the year.) I seriously ponder everything I put in my mouth.

As to cheat days, I only have them for "occasions". I know I'll go over on Thanksgiving because the pecan pie is worth the calories for me, for example. But, I don't plan them regularly. There are months I have none, and months I have 2 - 3 because of different events.

The bottom line is, we all have to find what works for us personally and be dedicated to following that path. You'll find conflicting recommendations wherever you go.

suzannekatherine

When I was in the process of dieting to lose (currently trying to maintain), I would generally allow myself to have cheat days. Typically no more than once a week, sometimes less often. I felt like it was kind of dangerous to go for long periods of time eating 1200-1300 calories because I was eventually in danger of just snapping and losing control entirely. I found that letting myself have a day off would let me get it out of my system and maybe even realize that it wasn't all that satisfying. But also I really think the body needs a few binge days to remember that it isn't starving and I feel like it kick starts the metabolism. If you are able to think of the end of that one day as the stopping place and restart the diet eating the next day I think it works very well. In addition, certain events like a party, family gathering, or eating out, I feel like are more or less impossible to accurately count. So I would just give myself a pass on those days.
I think it's good for the psyche. Or at least for food addicts like myself who crave the freedom to indulge more than any one food.

My strategy for maintaining is probably a little screwed up but just sort of an extension of the original diet plan. I allow myself a lot more free days but I weigh almost every day. And if I see myself gaining at all or if I've been really indulgent during the week, I try to go back to the 1200 limit for as many days as is feasible. I also try to add exercise so I can eat more and not go over the deficit. Seems to work. There's probably a better way but I don't seem to be quite to that point yet where I can just eat moderately and healthfully all the time.

CindiBryce

I have a scheduled cheat day too. On the 15th (my birthday) each month, I eat one candy bar. (Like a normal sized Hershey bar) I usually give the last two bites to my son, though.

This would all be so much harder if I didn't get that one treat a month. This girl loves her chocolate. It's the main reason I'm as heavy as I am.

One candy bar is hardly a cheat day. You can easily fit a candy bar into your daily caloric intake. However, good job on healthy habits.

Almiel

I have a tip for all you chocoholics: I will buy a bar of dark chocolate (my fave) and break off one square of it and let it melt in my mouth. In the time it takes to eat half a bar (~200 calories) I've only had 40 calories and I enjoyed it just as much. Conscious eating is important (enjoying it rather than watching tv or reading while eating).

As for cheat/treat days, I usually have one every weekend because we like to eat out or order pizza. I figure if I'm losing instead of gaining like I was before, I'm still better off... I see MFP as a tool that works for me, not me slaving to it. MFP has me down to 1250 cal/day and it's hard!

rlw77

I do once a week, but I try to stay within my maintenance calories.

v_addison

Considering this is supposed to be a lifestyle change, I incorporate cheat days into my routine. If I don't than I know this will not be a way of life for me. I know in the long run there will be days I can't stick to my caloric goals and I want to do this for the rest of my life.

babersbh

My weekends are mine. Seems to be stopping me from plateauing. As crazy as it sounds I think it helps to reduce the cravings for certain foods so that I don't binge eat when I do get to have them. Cheating but in moderation you may say?