i need Cheat Day advice and ideas

teenasbody

I am planning a cheat day once a week. I am looking for advice and ideas I don't want to go over board and wonder if the cheat day is even worth it?

thanks for any help advices and recipes

kathykroeger1

cheat days are sometimes worth it to keep you sane.. I suggest just eating 3 or 4 hundred calories more than a typical weightloss day and sticking with low calorie versions of usual cheat foods.

If you love ice cream like me, try the blue bunny frozen yogurt. The strawberry banana flavor is 100 calories for a half cup and it's better than normal ice cream.

thinnerisstronger

I would go with a "cheat" meal or a treat instead of a whole day. And I wouldn't use the word "cheat" because "cheating" implies you're on a diet that you are breaking. In a lifestyle change, nothing is off-limits. Moderation is the key.

I say, whatever your treat is, make it homemade as opposed to fast food or grocery store cake etc. Then you know what's going into it!

gp79

I'm starting Spike tomorrow and kicking it off with my spike (cheat) day. Feel free to look at tomorrows diary if you want.

mandycasey

Hi everyone is different, for some cheat days work some they don't. I have a 'treat' day every saturday and it gives me something to look forward to every week, Good Luck xx

JennieAL

Structure like that just didn't work for me. I don't like being told what to do... even by myself Seriously, I tried a "cheat day" and it turned into a fast food pig out spree all weekend.

But really it just depends on what you eat like all the time... do you let yourself have treats here and there? If so, maybe you don't need a whole cheat day or meal.

Skeemer118

I agree with whoever said eat about 300 calories more than what you're used to. I wouldn't think of it as cheating so much as treating. When I lost my 10 lbs, we went to my favorite Asian Cusine place & I ordered what I normally order but I stopped when I got happily full. I took home half my plate. I indulged without feeling I had overdone it. Go to Coldstone & get a scoop of "forbidden" ice cream one day or something else you really enjoy. But like others said, I wouldn't do a whole day. Good luck!

chooseyou

I often found that cheat days threw me off track. For me it was harder to get back to regular eating the next day. To avoid this, when I have a craving for something I'll either find a healthy version, exercise portion control or eat it and then compensate by being especially healthy at the very next meal or do a bit more exercise. Ironically, the more healthy I eat the less I want a lot of the old foods I craved.

breeanreyes

I would recommend a meal or snack that is a little higher in calories but be sure to log them so you can track whether they're hurting your progress or not. I never eat so many calories that I would gain weight if I ate that way every day.

bahacca

Instead of a set day, I just choose a few things I know I'll want or have that week and work around those things or just do smaller portions. Like pizza-I have 2 slices and a huge salad instead of 4-6 pieces of pizza. I buy REALLY GOOD quality chocolate and good wine and have a low calorie dinner-like fish and loads of veggies so I can indulge after dinner. So, about every other day or so I have a "cheat day", but I don't go over on my calories. I find this keeps all of my cravings at bay and I know if there is a day I go over, then it will even out over the week from days I go under slightly. If there is a day I KNOW I'll go well over(like next weekend I have a birthday party), I'll just go to the gym on a day I usually don't or the like.
If you can stay at or under calories and really want a day you are not tracking, I'd try tracking a few of those days just to see what you are REALLY doing. If you are eating Olive Garden Tour of Italy, cake, donuts and Double Doubles all in one day, it may set you up for gain or no loss later on. Maybe try a cheat meal instead of a full day if you find the day is too much.

mkmfrog

In 2010 when I lost my 25 lbs, I did it with Fridays and Saturday as FREE DAYS. My thinking: This wasn't just about weight loss, it was also about creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I wanted to lose the weight in way I would maintain the lifestyle. And that included having one or two cheat days.

Now, I don't have Fridays and Saturdays completely free. I watch what I eat during the day, but at night...if I want to go to dinner, have cocktails and a dessert, I will. But then I get back on track Sunday through Thursday.

I want this time to be different than all the other times I lost the weight, because what I did in the past didn't work--I gained the weight back. Maybe I didn't lose the weight as quickly because of the Cheat Days, but I am still eating and exercising the same as I did when I began by journey in September 2009. I have been able to maintain the loss, heck I have even lost more in inches!

SaraTN

Sometimes its as simple as making your own cheat foods more of a healthy option. Instead of a burger go with a lean turkey burger open faced... or make your own pizza that is light on cheese and heavy on veggies, bake sweet potatos cut into fry shape, have a taco salad instead of nachos... just search for healthy alternatives to the bad and you will be fine.

tanigrrrrr

I agree with everyone saying a whole cheat DAY is too much, I personally have a treat meal. Last week I lost 3kg (around 7 pounds) and for my treat meal I went to Max Brenner Chocolate Bar and ate decadently - probably about 1000 calories in one sitting.
However, I worked out twice that day, and ate extremely light for the rest of the day and was well under my calorie goal for the day. Remember to drink pleanty of water to flush yourself out, and dont go too overboard. I really help that looking forward to my treat really helps cravings and prevention of binges and Im more careful not to waste my cheat meal on something thats not worth a weeks work like a chocolate biccie.

xxslvrxwngsxx

My cheat days have been Fridays when I go out with the ladies after work for drinks, I let myself have some alcohol (usually a few light beers or a skinny maragrita) and a sensible appetizer. I don't deny myself the fun of going out and say I just not getting food or something, I let myself have fun and do what I want, in reason. Of course I would rather have a 1000 calorie mudslide, but the 2 beers I have for 200 cals feels so much better bacause there is no guilt Good luck and be sensible

MaximalLife

I love my cheat day, or as I prefer to say: "RE-FEED THERAPY"
I have a weekly day where I eat about twice my daily goal, and a monthly food orgy where I eat like a man going to the electric chair for 24 hours.

LOVE IT!
It's nice knowing I am never more than 7 days from eating anything I desire in whatever quantity I want.
I'd go nuts otherwise.

taso42

My suggestions would be
- go for it
- don't call it a cheat day (bad connotation)
- don't use it as an excuse to fall off the wagon

LuciaLongIsland

I am planning a cheat day once a week. I am looking for advice and ideas I don't want to go over board and wonder if the cheat day is even worth it?

thanks for any help advices and recipes

Why the need to cheat, Do it or dont.

Zarebeth

I don't have a set "Cheat day". I allow myself a little extra leeway on the days where there is a special occasion, and I make sure I consume few enough calories to have a treat waiting for me if I make it. My treats are a beer with dinner and a Skinny Cow truffle bar (100 calories) if I am a good girl. On special occasions I still track, I just omit the treats. Since I have almost 100 pounds to lose I can't afford a pig out.

4theking

Not a cheat day, a spike day. 2 x bmr one day a week. Eat high carb, low fat. No guilt and right back on track the next day! It will help to boost fat burning hormones and keep you sane while losing fat.

AnarchoGen

My suggestions would be
- go for it
- don't call it a cheat day (bad connotation)
- don't use it as an excuse to fall off the wagon

exactly. call it a "treat day"

slayerdan

Read my blog entry on so called cheat days.

brittonymiller

I allow myself a cheat meal on weigh-in day. It is usually a dinner out. I don't really worry about how many calories I consume during that meal, but I usually only let it be my entree (though I can't pass up chips and salsa if it's Mexican). I don't usually let myself have a drink, dessert or an appetizer unless I've purposely chosen a low calorie meal.

I think cheat meals once a week are great. They always seem to boost my metabolism and help me maintain my sanity. Sometimes I will be craving a certain food so bad that I just tell myself I can have it on Saturday if I'm good for the rest of the week. And I know that a ton of people will say, "Eat what you want, just in moderation," but there is no way I'm going to cut a burger in half and feel satisfied. I'm going to wait until cheat meal and enjoy the whole thing with no regrets!

Oh! And make sure you drink even more water on cheat days. Lots and lots of water!

2Bgoddess

I have found that a cheat meal every other week works for me. On my diet i am keeping my carbs low, so my cheat is often a regular meal, plus garlic bread :-) i don't feel like i am depriving myself that way. I wish i were one of the people who could do 'moderation' but my will power only has two gears. All or nothing!

Just doing what seems to work best for me.

jeanarae1983

I've started with just kind of having a cheat meal. And even then, I try to keep it as healthy as possible. For instance, last night I had steak for the first time in nearly 6 weeks! But, we had top sirloin that was trimmed down and the proper portion (I would have loved to have had more though!). With it, we fixed oven roasted sweet potatoes tossed in a little olive oil and cajun seasoning and steamed broccoli with garlic and lemon juice.

And a "healthy pour" of Petite Syrah.

So that was my cheat meal.

The night before that, we had a Papa Murphy's deLITE take and bake pizza and I had one 64 calorie beer. So, I feel like I'm kind of relaxed with what I'm eating but am taking careful steps to make sure I'm not going crazy.

I always have these "cheat" days on the days I have max cardio, because for whatever reason...that makes me feel better.

Meggles63

Go for it! That's all I need to say!

3dogsrunning

I am planning a cheat day once a week. I am looking for advice and ideas I don't want to go over board and wonder if the cheat day is even worth it?

thanks for any help advices and recipes

Why the need to cheat, Do it or dont.

Not all of us are doing the same thing, not everyone works the same way. I am on a temporary but strict diet for an upcoming fitness competition. There are a number of benefits to a "cheat day" or a re-feed, but mostly for me, it is the mental thing. I can easily forego temptations during the week when I know I have a day when I can have it. I have also totally changed how I feel about food being on a strict diet with the freedom to have what I want only at a certain time. Some foods I used to crave simply do nothign for me any more, like McDonalds. I enjoy other foods that I took for granted before. I feel that when I am back to eating what i want, I still won't be making those types of choices, which is a good thing.
I work extremely hard for the entire week, I eat extremely carefully. Right now I am working out twice a day. Having a cheat meal or cheat day (depending on how close to competition I am) isn't "not doing it".
While cheat days may not work for everyone, it doesn't mean they don't have their value for some. I will continue to have my cheat meals even when I am finished the competition. I may not do whole days or may pay closer attention to the amount of calories I consume (I don't really go overboard anyway) but it is something I will include. Then again, I am in the "everything in moderation" camp, except when in contest prep.

AmyBeth719

I have a cheat day every Saturday, however, everyone's different. I need it to keep me in check during the week and stop cravings. Plus it gives me something to look forward to. And the amount of calories I may go over is different everytime. )

LadySteele54

i think if its not gonna throw your goals off then go for it however i know for me it would be too much for willpower as it would be very hard going back to the grind. for me its best to get into a routine and not alter it. but everyone is different and if it works for you then go for it , you wanna get healthy but you also wanna be happy too!

Rachiepie6

My "cheat days" usually involve me eating close to maintenance calories, and they usually come on non-exercise days due to social activities.

Something I would like to change, but if you eat maintenance, or even a lil over, for ONE DAY.. can be a good thing

nas24

Cheat days for me are if i know im going out to dinner or something like that, i eat really healthy and low cal the whole day, make sure i workout and then eat what i want for that meal. I feel that a whole cheat day, doesnt work for me. I started to try and do that the other day, but i just couldnt do it. I ate like **** the 1st part of the day and finished by eating really healthy. If i do have a cheat day, its more like a cheat meal. I also dont log what i ate for that meal and just relax about the whole thing. I do try and give myself cheat workout days (or days off) but recently im not that great at it... ive been working out for about 2 week strait

kammy92

I don't have a cheat day. If I want to eat something higher in calories I'll work out more to make up for it!