Cheat days broke my plateau!

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  • bigbugboo
    bigbugboo Posts: 161
    To explain why it happens: There is a hormone called Leptin, which is responsible for fat burning (besides other things). Eating on a calorie deficit for a longer period of time decreses Leptin levels. Increasing your calories for a day or so brings leptin levels back to normal. Simples :D

    This is true. In addition it is essential to eat a diet free from sugary foods and drinks because this stimulates the over production of insulin which in turn creates Leptin resistance in the body. For more details on Leptin read this http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-facts-on-leptin-faq
  • AnarchyCupcakes
    AnarchyCupcakes Posts: 18
    This explains so much!
  • leomom72
    leomom72 Posts: 1,797 Member
    :laugh: a few weeks ago, we went out of town for my husbands birthday weekend, and even tho i logged all my food, i went over everything sooo badly..the next day i weighed in, and i only gained point 2 lbs
  • deenaspell
    deenaspell Posts: 227 Member
    YES! Me, too! It's a little weird that whenever I go over a few days in a row, I lose a pound. I haven't figured that one out yet.
  • LaBelle89
    LaBelle89 Posts: 71
    i like!
  • christinehetz80
    christinehetz80 Posts: 490 Member
    This is completely fascinating to me. I didn't read all of the comments, but does someone know what the science behind it is? Is it basically just breaking the routine of eating the same calorie range? So it kickstarts your body back into working on getting rid of the extra calories consumed on those gorge/cheat days?
  • anna_b1
    anna_b1 Posts: 588 Member
    I've no idea why or how it works, but it does. Magically.

    Perhaps it has something to do with shocking your body out of what it's expecting in terms of consumption. Who knows?

    I only hope my metabolism is as forgiving when it comes to my trip down South in Christmas! :)
  • healthybones
    healthybones Posts: 29 Member
    Haha! I love when that happens. I was plateauing in February, went on a 4 day cruise in early March & ended up LOSING weight than rather gaining weight like most.
  • missmamselle
    missmamselle Posts: 25 Member
    Trainers at my gym encourage me to do this. I've even heard them plan their cheat meals!! From what they've said it should only be once a week.

    My opinion - make it count. If I know I'm heading out for dinner with the girls on weekend it makes it much easier to say no to the biscuits in the staffroom. I try to plan my cheat meals.

    I also prefer to call them Treat Meals - cos psychologically a cheat is a negative thing, which for me would lead to guilt. A treat is a positive thing - I've worked hard so I deserve it - no guilt.


    I really like that: "treat meals". Makes me feel so good inside : )
  • Lokisul
    Lokisul Posts: 50
    It depends, when this first started happening to me it would go up, stay like that for few days, then drop right below, once it didnt drop as much, but over the course of a few days it did.
    But just recently the drop has ALWAYS been further than the gain.

    Today I lost 0.8lb compared to yesterday, so I am very happy with how being persistant through these things really pans out.
    Weight loss really does seem to be about shocking your body, not letting it get comfortable with itself. If you eat less, eat more, then less. If you exercise constantly, give yourself a few days break and start again. Change from cardio to weights etc

    It just keeps reminding me that this is a game of patience and self control :)
  • alejandralopezflores
    alejandralopezflores Posts: 1 Member
    I will defitnetely try this and will let you guys know !!!! I hope I don't end up keeping the weight :(
  • JeriBee33
    JeriBee33 Posts: 7 Member
    Well if this is true.. this will bode very well for me. My husband works away for 4 weeks.. and then is home for a 1 week. My fear.. is being so good for the 4 weeks he is home and then completely undoing all my work on the week he is home. He has just left... I'm feeling bloated and fat... I am due on.. but tomorrow is my weigh in..

    I hope I haven't gone overboard.. or that the extra weight comes off.

    So happy if this is true. xx
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,324 Member
    This does work..it is how i've broken mine in the past as well. I feel so sorry for people on here who work out like crazy and eat right at their calories for months on end without any change. i don't know how they don't get burned out.
  • puddlesiam
    puddlesiam Posts: 75 Member
    bump
  • yuckidah
    yuckidah Posts: 290 Member
    I think I need to test this theory but I just can't seem to 'let' myself do it.
    I've been stuck for 4 (yes, FOUR) months now & am almost at the point where I'll try ANYthing to get the scale moving again....... so long as it's downwards, lol!
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Trainers at my gym encourage me to do this. I've even heard them plan their cheat meals!! From what they've said it should only be once a week.

    My opinion - make it count. If I know I'm heading out for dinner with the girls on weekend it makes it much easier to say no to the biscuits in the staffroom. I try to plan my cheat meals.

    I also prefer to call them Treat Meals - cos psychologically a cheat is a negative thing, which for me would lead to guilt. A treat is a positive thing - I've worked hard so I deserve it - no guilt.

    My personal trainer suggested a cheat meal to me, and he does it too. I find that it keeps me on track all week knowing I can have a treat at the weekend.
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