Cheat Days/ Cheat Meals

alyssaanagram

I think it's fine mentally, emotionally and physically, I've always used this rule. Over time my "what ever the hell I want day" has evolved to better choices. Making the lifestyle change to eat nourish my body has changed the way I think about food.

Agreed! This is what has happened to me - I used to go crazy on Saturdays with eating out and dessert but now my portions are much more controlled and balanced. It just takes time.

AmyLRed

i have cheat days, though i call it "planned overage" or intentional overage days.

That being said, if i had done it week one, i would have fallen off totally, thats just me. I waited a full month or more before having a first overage day. I am planning one for this Saturday!

MarilynGrube

I love my "FAT-URDAY" !!! Once a week, just a meal...anymore than a meal and I get sick. That one free meal is enough to keep me sane and satisfied!

dls06

I seen that show. He said; your "Cheat Day" should not mean, "Go Crazy and blow your whole week" day.

ceecee368

Some refer to this as cheat, others as free days or free meals. Dr Oz's topic for tomorrow's show is actually going to encourage folks who are on a weight loss plan to have cheat days/ free days etc. How do you feel about this? all week long I did really good and stayed under my calorie goal. I started this new lifestyle change 7 days ago and I am down 3 lbs, but my cheat meal today will it mess me up? I did feel deprived this week but this cheat meal was really something to look foward to. I did not blow the whole day, just one meal but I ended up about 1000 cals over normal but I feel great and I am ready to get back to work tomorrow. How do you feel about cheat/free meals? (fyi I did a search in the topics but there were no answers to the specific questions i asked)

I really try not to take a "cheat day". That said, I do think it's important to let yourself indulge on occasion so that you won't end up bingeing on something just because you've been keeping yourself from having it. I think the way to accomplish a cheat day or cheat meal is to plan for it during the days before. If you know you have a party to go to on the weekend and want to be able to eat whatever you want, push yourself a bit harder with your workouts the days before.

Changing your diet and exercise habits to create a healthy lifestyle is an every day commitment. I guess I just worry that if I let myself have cheat days then I'd easily start falling out of my healthy habits.

ogibson3

I have a cheat day to eat whatever I want once a week, after the weight starts to come off I even try not to do it too bad on those days. "Cheat" days gives me something to look forward to all week, it's kinda like motivation. I usually feel better after that day which is on Saturdays and ready to hit it hard on Sunday. It's been working fine like that for me and my husband for a month now and I've lost 20 pounds and he's lost 30. Looking forward to this Saturday

katkins3

Just me, but I hate hate hate the word CHEAT, and for that matter, the word DIETING....
Why is it if a fat person eats a lot one day they CHEAT, but if a thin person does it, it's just what they are eating.
I know it's semantics, but seriously, the word CHEAT is so negative, CHEATING on a spouse is BAD,...eating an awesome meal at the Olive Garden once a week which I did last week is NOT bad, it's just enjoying different food once a week!
You aren't BAD either. When people say I AM BAD I HAD CAKE , it drives me bananas-- ok thanks for listening haha
I call it my FREE meal- not my cheat meal because I am not cheating anything...

This^

I don't have a Cheat meal or day.. I occasionally go over my goal. Mostly I go over on a special occasion, such as a birthday party or vacation. I don't waste my time on guilt. Its just one day or meal and won't matter in the long haul.

cowgirlslikeus86

I very rarely go over my calories. In the last 5 weeks I had my birthday one weekend and the superbowl followed on sunday. I over ate by like 2000 calories on my birthday but on Sunday I ran so that I could have a few extra calories for superbowl. Thankfully the hostess had healthy/gourmet foods instead of soda/beer and chip n dip. I actually ate really well that day and I hadn't intended to. If I know I am going to be in a situation where I will mostlikly have to eat unhealthier choices or more calories than I want to, I will workout longer that day.

Once in a while I am famished on a given day. If my stomach is truly growling and hungry, I will eat more. My body is telling me that it needs more food. Yesterday I was craving Mac n cheese. I ate a whole box. 900 calories for lunch... but I only went over my daily calories by 5. I try to keep those crazy meals within my calorie allotment for the day. I don't look at them as "Cheating". I look at them as "This is what I want so, lets make room for it."

It takes 3500 Calorie deficit to loose 1 pound of fat. I can easily eat that in one day of "Cheating". If I did that every week I don't think I would loose as much weight as I am. Just my thoughts anyways.

Sexynvoluptuous

When i first started, I allowed myself a cheat day once a week. It didn't really affect my progress. Over time, I noticed that even on my cheat days, I couldn't physically eat like I used to. My body was just used to eating less. So even though I was eating what I wanted, it took less and less for me to be satisfied. That is also the trick, eating until your satisfied, not STUFFED.

You are right, that is important to eat until only satisfied and not stuffed

Sexynvoluptuous

Just me, but I hate hate hate the word CHEAT, and for that matter, the word DIETING....
Why is it if a fat person eats a lot one day they CHEAT, but if a thin person does it, it's just what they are eating.
I know it's semantics, but seriously, the word CHEAT is so negative, CHEATING on a spouse is BAD,...eating an awesome meal at the Olive Garden once a week which I did last week is NOT bad, it's just enjoying different food once a week!
You aren't BAD either. When people say I AM BAD I HAD CAKE , it drives me bananas-- ok thanks for listening haha
I call it my FREE meal- not my cheat meal because I am not cheating anything...

LOVE It!! Thanks, and it's okay about the rant I understand

Sexynvoluptuous

I have a cheat day to eat whatever I want once a week, after the weight starts to come off I even try not to do it too bad on those days. "Cheat" days gives me something to look forward to all week, it's kinda like motivation. I usually feel better after that day which is on Saturdays and ready to hit it hard on Sunday. It's been working fine like that for me and my husband for a month now and I've lost 20 pounds and he's lost 30. Looking forward to this Saturday

Good for you, that gives me the extra boost I need to keep doing it lol

busyPK

Check out the Spike84 group - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/50-spike-84

I am just now looking into it, but there are a lot of helpful people in that group that have found major success using the method.

Sexynvoluptuous

Check out the Spike84 group - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/50-spike-84

I am just now looking into it, but there are a lot of helpful people in that group that have found major success using the method.

awesome, thanks!

MsMuniz

I have a cheat meal every Friday night, and it is what I look forward to so it keeps me motivated throughout the week. And I go all out on that cheat meal, apps-meal-dessert, but am back on track Saturday a.m.

vilardip1

i follow a keto diet 6 days a week...less than 50 g of carbs (15-25 fiber) so im usually right around 30 net carbs...high fat, moderate protein...once a week i eat and drink literally whatever i want...last sunday, i drank at least 10 beers, had a 2200 calories taco bell/burger king meal, bagel w cream cheese and pizza...probably close to 7000 calories...been doing this since Jan 2, lost 19 lbs...if you have the control it can be done

Sexynvoluptuous

i follow a keto diet 6 days a week...less than 50 g of carbs (15-25 fiber) so im usually right around 30 net carbs...high fat, moderate protein...once a week i eat and drink literally whatever i want...last sunday, i drank at least 10 beers, had a 2200 calories taco bell/burger king meal, bagel w cream cheese and pizza...probably close to 7000 calories...been doing this since Jan 2, lost 19 lbs...if you have the control it can be done

wow, good for you on the loss!!!

Emily_Katherine

Personally I don't track on weekends. I find that I'm much more active on weekends than I am during the week, and it is more trouble than it's worth for me to portion/track everything I eat and do. I don't binge for two days straight, but I'll eat out or go for a few drinks with friends and not worry about it. It works for me.