Cheat Days?

JustLena75

Do a search for 'cheat' or 'spike' days, there several old posts. It can be helpful to boost you as others have said.
I will always keep in mind a comment one poster made.
Having a cheat/spike day does NOT mean binge!!!1

mrau719

I have cheat meals once a week. but i try to keep it in moderation. I don't go and eat a gallon of ice cream just a cone from mcd's for example. And it's only if I need it. If I don't I stick to healthier options. Sometimes my cheat if I don't really need it might be a little extra healthy fat at a meal.

dolfn1972

DONT beat yourself up...and dont let anyone else beat you up over a slip either. I have 'free days' or cheat days or days off or vacation days or however you want to phrase it. I have lost weight before , Diet and working out with a trainer. twice actually. and both times I lost alot of weight. The one thing that both trainers told me was to allow myself a day off. To not worry about exercise, or what i eat, or tracking, but to just enjoy the day. This way you can enjoy yourself and your life and your food and not constantly be worried about it.

My first day off I binged...I admit it. The next week I was a bit better. Each week the cravings subsided more and more...but I always new I had one day to just be me . I still track mine...just for my own peice of mind...But I do not worry about every morsel that finds its way to my mouth.

Do what you are comfortable with. If you 'fall off the wagon' well wipe the chocolate sauce off your chin and jump right back on it. This is for no one else but you. If you keep beating yourself up you are setting yourself up to fail

fjsutton

My husband says im obsessive about logging my meals, but when we were at the chinese buffet on sunday for lunch i logged everything BEFORE i ate it and it helped me keep the meal under 800 calories. In the end i really wanted a chinesse donought and was shocked that just one was 120 calories-- so i halved it with my hubby, got my fix and kept the calories at bay.

annmfitz

I think cheat days are fine, but LOG those days and add every bit of food to your fitnesspal diary. I find that even though I "allow" myself a cheat day, I am still cognizant of what I am eating because I have to face the numbers at the end of the day. You will find that you prefer to see green numbers and not red numbers when you are ready to submit your entry. Ultimately you don't cheat as much even though you have given yourself that freedom. It is a very empowering feeling... you are choosing to continue to LOSE those pounds.

SomeoneSomeplace

I allow myself to "cheat" on holidays such as New Years Eve or on vacations. Mostly I cheat with alcohol, which spikes my daily calories WAY up. But on days where I know I'll be drinking or eating a lot I do an extra hard work out. Even so cheating DOES set you back! I gained three pounds I'd lost when I was in Florida, mostly from drinking. I feel like it's important to let yourself have the foods you really love sometimes. I LOVE french fries and chips so I have a really small portion of those sometimes for a snack and then eat a super healthy dinner or I go to the gym for an extra half an hour. It's all about balance, you know? But anyone who says they NEVER cheat or never have a day where they eat too many calories/don't burn them off is lying. We all have at least one day like that. Just try not to make it a habit because if you're really good during the week and then blow it on the weekends then you won't make much progress. But not allowing yourself to succumb to cravings sometimes only leads to binging, so you don't have to be ridiculously strict with yourself.

Kissybiz

cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

cheating is for the weak

I think that's a bit harsh. I don't think it's a weakness to have a "cheat day." I haven't felt a need to have one for the past month, but I'm going away for the weekend for a family celebration. And while I'll be aware of what I'm consuming and will do my best to make good choices, I'll allow myself things I wouldn't normally have, like birthday cake, a small piece, and I'll definitely do my best to limit the alcohol (unfortunately we are a hard partying family).

Normally I log every morsal I put in my mouth.. but that will be difficult this weekend and so I'm not necessarily going to try doing that. I will, however, still walk in the morning and not overindulge, and consider it a cheat day. But it's not because I'm weak, it's because I'm real, and I'll work my *kitten* off next week to make up for it.

Russellb97

First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

Thanks! Sadly some folks can't feel good about themselves without putting others down.

I wasnt putting YOU down. You asked a general question about doing cheat days. My full answer said that unless you plan for it and exercise for it, you are only cheating yourself. If people want to have a "cheat" day, but plan for it, then it really isnt a "cheat" day. Some call it a spike day or whatever. Taking "cheat" days , imo, sets up a negative mentality as the word cheat is negative. So....my answer did not say you were weak...my answer said those who cheat are weak. There is a difference.

Well I think you made it clear what you meant. You weren't attacking anyone. I actually agree, I hate the word "cheat", I'm kind of a perfectionist and that is why I wouldn't "cheat" on my diet. It's a simple word change going from cheat to spike, and it's basically the same thing, but making it a positive instead of a negative is a huge difference for my mentality.

lizziebeth1028

cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

cheating is for the weak

Ouch :sad:

ashquin

i give my self an "off" day on sundays. i dont track and enjoy what i usually wouldnt go near during the week. in our family sundays is family day and we have our amazing italian meals. i look forward to this every week , so i let myself enjoy it. on monday i am back to tracking and in the gym.
i get what your saying about cheating being a negative word, but calling people weak isn't nice either.

First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

Thanks! Sadly some folks can't feel good about themselves without putting others down.

I wasnt putting YOU down. You asked a general question about doing cheat days. My full answer said that unless you plan for it and exercise for it, you are only cheating yourself. If people want to have a "cheat" day, but plan for it, then it really isnt a "cheat" day. Some call it a spike day or whatever. Taking "cheat" days , imo, sets up a negative mentality as the word cheat is negative. So....my answer did not say you were weak...my answer said those who cheat are weak. There is a difference.

chadmcdaniel4

I allow myself one cheat day a week. I have found though, that as time goes on, those cheat days that you were looking forward to, don't seam so appealing. However, If you do cheat, make sure you have it planned out. If you find you have cheated on your diet and it is unplanned, like a chineese Buffet or pizza buffet etc., Just pick up where you left off and don't beat yourself up. It is a process... No one is perfect and it doesn't make you weak. Just human. As long as the cheat days don't become the norm then you are entitled to "screw up"... Keep pushing it and stay with your goals!

DKev

First off I'm on maintenance mode. What I do is at the end of my week (Sunday) I look back through each day and count up how many calories I have unused. I allow that number of calories OVER what I'm normally allowed to maintain for that day. So really, I'm just saving a bit each day and using them up on a particular day that week. If I look at the whole picture (look at the week not the day) I'm still not going over on my calories.

TinaLTaylor79

Every sat is my treat day! I dont call it cheat day, i call it treat day:) I make sure i get an extra good workout in that day and i still eat fairly well for my breakfast and lunch..But i allow myself to have something i really want that i normally would not have for my Dinner and i would also have some treats and maybe even a couple drinks that evening. I still track everything via MFP...and because of the workout i was usually not over by many calories...But even with my treat day, i still lost 83lbs and have been maintaining for over 6 months. Knowing that i was going to have that day to enjoy some of the foods i really loved on sat helped me to not make any bad food choices through the week!:) But, everyone is different, do what works for you!

ashquin

and by the way before having my newest baby i lost over 40pounds with having a "off" , "cheat" day. so it can work

i give my self an "off" day on sundays. i dont track and enjoy what i usually wouldnt go near during the week. in our family sundays is family day and we have our amazing italian meals. i look forward to this every week , so i let myself enjoy it. on monday i am back to tracking and in the gym.
i get what your saying about cheating being a negative word, but calling people weak isn't nice either.

First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

Thanks! Sadly some folks can't feel good about themselves without putting others down.

I wasnt putting YOU down. You asked a general question about doing cheat days. My full answer said that unless you plan for it and exercise for it, you are only cheating yourself. If people want to have a "cheat" day, but plan for it, then it really isnt a "cheat" day. Some call it a spike day or whatever. Taking "cheat" days , imo, sets up a negative mentality as the word cheat is negative. So....my answer did not say you were weak...my answer said those who cheat are weak. There is a difference.

lizziebeth1028

Sunday is my 'free day'.....a day when I let loose and eat whatever I want. And I enjoy every last bite. I do still log everything on Sunday (which can be an eye opening experience and I admit has helped me taper back a bit) and I also like to get a really good work out in that day too. But other than that I don't worry if I go over or not. I just enjoy and back right back to business the next day.

clairetillman

I don't understand what the big deal is. I would still eat a hamburger for dinner, without cheese to cut back, and I am still under my calorie goal for the day. I even had a very small slice of apple pie at lunch. Not something I usually do, but I fit all that into my calorie goal. This is what I love about MFP, I still get to eat what I want, I just decide to make good decisions throughout the rest of the day like eating more fruits and vegies and working out.

emrys1976

Whatever you were trying to say is not helpful at best, and terribly offensive at worst. I am appalled that you said it in the first place, but even more so now that, rather than apologize for hurt feelings this could have caused, you are defending your statement and using it as a chance to again describe people as weak. Unbelievable!

First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

Thanks! Sadly some folks can't feel good about themselves without putting others down.

I wasnt putting YOU down. You asked a general question about doing cheat days. My full answer said that unless you plan for it and exercise for it, you are only cheating yourself. If people want to have a "cheat" day, but plan for it, then it really isnt a "cheat" day. Some call it a spike day or whatever. Taking "cheat" days , imo, sets up a negative mentality as the word cheat is negative. So....my answer did not say you were weak...my answer said those who cheat are weak. There is a difference.

PercivalHackworth

Ok, of course you need to use cheat meals. this for several reasons :

- If you take your diet as a serious thing, and not a one-month extreme diet (as most people do) you need to allow yourself rest, so you make sure you can hold your diet on a long-term basis (we are talking about months, years here)

- The body is not pure numbers, it the sum of very complex reactions managed by hormons in that case (here we come)... the one i'm talking about here being the leptin. When you restrict too much yourself, the leptin level lower, thus the diet loose it's efficiency (eg starvation mode) Cheating allow you to reboost the body (biologically and psychologically)

- Cheating doesn't mean you'll need to do extra exercices at all, if the diet is clean 90% of the times, it's not a day that will ruin everything. In fact it has been proven that the nutriments consumed in high amounts (let's say once per week), are not stored at all

- If you feel the need to eat much, that could also means you are not eating enough during most of the times :-)

- We also sometimes encourage people to fast the day after the cheat, if that one has been huge. That will boost even more your body.

- Beware, a cheat day should occur max 2 times / per week, more cheat days could lower the diet quality. In the bodyduilding world, we have a rule for that : if it's a ""small" cheat (let's say 2500-2800 kcal on a day) you could afford it 2 times /week max. For huge binge (5000-6000 Kcal) it's once every two weeks.

- In fact after I read tons and tons of people diet story, the only conclusion that comes is "Listen to your body, being too restrictive is the worst thing to do".

cheers - Razique

zenJes

It gives your metabolism a nice kick if you have one day a week where you dont count, i make it my rest day lol gotta love fridays!!

mommamuscles

I prefer to call them TREAT days, not cheat days. I do plan for them, and I do enjoy one a week. Most of the time, I don't log my food, and I allow myself to have what I want in moderation. The rest of the week, I eat very clean and workout hard. When I don't take these days, I find myself struggling more. When I know a TREAT day is coming, I can put off my cravings until then.

trennarene

I allow myself one splurge meal per week. It's not a cheat meal, I call it a splurge meal. My family goes out to dinner on Friday nights (although this week it will be Thursday for my birthday) and I order whatever I want from the menu, regardless of the calories. I eat my normal calories for the other two meals of the day and stay on track for the remainder of the week, as well as work out 4 days/week. I am now below my goal and have kept the weight off. I can't speak for everyone, but for me that splurge meal has not prohibited my weight loss, but rather psychologically helps me stay on track for the rest of the week. I know that meal is coming up, so when I'm craving some fries for lunch one day, I refrain and eat them during my splurge meal if that's what I feel like. Honestly, the cravings pass but if I deprived myself all together and NEVER splurged, the cravings would not pass and I cold not continue this lifestyle.

Call me weak if you wish, but I can fit into my size six jeans, and have nice muscles on my arms so I'm going to continue what I'm doing

LOL... I love this! Way to go girl... I totally think this is the right attitude and way to go about it!

CallMeCupcakeDammit

cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

cheating is for the weak

I think you meant, cheating is to be done every week.

Sianarella

I don't cheat, but them I don't cut out things I really like - I just have really small portions and work out more.

ladybg81

I am more of the cheat meal kind of girl. Because I know if I allowed myself a whole day, I would undo all of the work I've done throughout the week. That is why this lifestyle (NOT DIET) works for me. I might not do it every week or every month, but if I want something I have it. Typically I just fit it in to my day. But I am also okay with going over sometimes.

beckipercy

Are you honestly telling me that you plan never to go out for food with friends again? All the people saying cheating doesn't work etc, I went out for food with a friend last week and had a burger, chips and a cocktail, yet still lost 3lb. I plan to change my ways for the rest of my life, and I am not willing to restrict myself to never eating anything but salad leaves. Do not beat yourself up, as long as its not too much of a regular occurence, it ain't gonna kill ya!

ShanniLee

Honestly, how can you enjoy life if you're so strict with every little thing. I'm all for "trying" to eat healthy and exercise daily. But if my friends or family want to get together I'm gonna go out and not worry about every little calorie that is going into my body. Seriously though, I'm not going to go have a "cheat" day and eat Tim's for breaky Mc****s for lunch and BK for Supper and have some snacks in between simply because it is a "cheat" day. But I am going to do my best as often as I can and not punish myself for maybe having that extra slice of pizza or a piece of pie for dessert once in a while with friends or family. Life is meant to enjoy and have fun. I used to work with someone who was so ANAL about every damn thing she ate and you know what....she was a B#$%H. Very Unhappy with her life and all that was important to her was how she looked. Looks are important don't get me wrong but they're not everything. Anyway i'll quit babbling and get to my point. Extremes don't work! Extreme dieting is a path for failure because youre deprived of everything you love. Extreme "cheating" is also failure cause its just way too much! We are human. Moderation is the key! Enjoy Life cause you only live once!!!!

thepanttherlady

:ohwell: Why is it called cheating???
MFP isn't a meal plan or "diet". It's a tool for tracking what you eat and setting goals for your calories and exercise.
I haven't eliminated any of my favorite foods, but I have changed how much of it I eat and how often I eat them. I also log every carlorie and then try to exercise more to work them off.:laugh:

There's no MFP punishment for going over your calories-- the issues is, it will take longer to reach your goals.
If you have too many days of calorie overage, then you'll either not lose weight or possibly gain weight. :sad:
I think most on this site will agree-- don't deprive yourself, but decide what means more-- the extra calories, or reaching your goal. :flowerforyou:

Amen!! I am not on a diet and therefore can eat what I want when I want. I have made a lifestyle change and have chosen to eat healthier but gosh darn it, if I want to have that combo at McDonald's (or wherever) then I will.

I don't beat myself up about it, and usually try to plan my day around that meal. Last week I zig zagged my calories and went for a weekly versus daily caloric intake goal so I could eat out with the family. I went way over in calories one day but was under in others. End result, I was under my weekly calories by 138.

PercivalHackworth

I noticed the more you restrain, the more you are thinking about food... and when that day comes, what a pain ahah.
seriously, it's not the right attitude to get Update your diet plan if you feel the need to eat much. And learn to enjoy those moments

CallMeCupcakeDammit

I have a cheat meal almost every week, and I seem to lose more those weeks, too. I don't mind calling them cheat meals, it doesn't really make me feel like I'm doing anything bad. But I always look at the upcoming week to see if there's a family get-together or something where I'm not in control of the food, then that's the day I have my cheat meal. Some weeks I end up not doing anything, and I don't feel like going out to eat just for the sake of the cheat, so I just don't. I'm at the point where I can do it without feeling like I can't stop myself. I still have all the numbers running through my head when I look at the food, so I don't go TOO crazy!

PercivalHackworth

I had those the first weeks. Everyday looked like a real fight against myself. Sometimes now, I just eat the same food but in higher quantities, without counting the kcal, and it's enough :drinker:

+1 If you know an event is about to come, use it as the cheat day :
eat less on the morning, and use low glycemic index food :devil:

Here are some stuff to try :
- Try to turn cheat days into cheat meals. For instance cheat for the dinner only, that would help to contain the max eaten kcal.
- Drink water :drinker:
- Drink coffee or tea
- Avoid what I call "extreme traps" : cheescake for instance is DA bomb to avoid ahah

Life is short enough, let's live it