does anyone NOT have cheat days/meals?

BeautyFromPain

Hi all,

I just started eating really clean couple of months ago. After a few days of eating clean I do not even crave it anymore but I end up having one cheat meal a week of junk food, (just because I was told I should) but after I eat the one meal I crave it so much more and give in. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them or people who do have them but cheat meals rather than fulfilling the desire only seems to make it worse.

Is it okay for me to NOT have cheat meals? DOes anyone else not have cheat meals/days?

Stephanie198907

I don't have cheat meals. I never got the point. The way I used to eat before was atrocious so I found alternatives to the foods I used to eat which taste just as good, if not better, than the foods I ate before. Which, in my mind, eliminates the need for "cheating".

barenaud13

The whole point of a cheat meal or day is so that you actually hold yourself accountable on days when you are eating strictly. They are by no means mandatory, especially not if you already have the control otherwise. I don't have cheat meals OR days. Calories are calories, and I'm counting them for a reason. Once I reach my goal weight, I'll have plenty of wiggle room in between a glazed donut and my maintain amount!

Lissakaye81

I don't. I know I could put back on in a day what I spent a month burning off. I take an appetite suppressant supplement and forgot to take it with me out of town and ended up carb binging one day and drank a mixed drink so I went over by 500 cals for 2 days, but actually still lost on those 2 days, so I don't know. I still eat some goodies everyday, but trying to eat healthy for the most part. I think having cheat days goes against everything I am working for.

Redapplecandie

That term is not even in my vocabulary. I eat what I want/can in moderation. Including chocolate. I make it work for me, if it doesn't fit in my log, I don't eat it.

zyxst

I don't have cheat days because I couldn't exercise enough to burn it off.

kototo

That term is not even in my vocabulary. I eat what I want/can in moderation. Including chocolate. I make it work for me, if it doesn't fit in my log, I don't eat it.

I eat what I want also. However, I am more aware of the calories, carb and fat content now. I make better choices. I most certainly have a treat when I want it and never consider it cheating... life is way too short and I cant possibly be that disciplined for the rest of my life. I want to be able to have an ice cream cone on a hot day etc. Knowing how that decision affects my daily values is important! Put a scoop of ice cream on your oatmeal in the morning instead of brown sugar and milk! LOL Live on the edge!

SueGremlin

I don't because I don't allow myself to crave things, I budget for things like that. If I did, this would not be the lifestyle change it has turned out to be and I would not stay with it.

JoolieW68

I don't plan cheat meals or cheat days. Sometimes they just happen, though.

However, since I'm [mostly] human, I just get back on track and keep moving forward.

PercivalHackworth

I never understood such day. Why are you restrictive during the other days ?

Elen_Sia

I don't understand the logic of cheat days/meals. I have specific fitness and body goals, too, so I am even more disciplined about what I eat now than at the beginning of my journey.

BeautyFromPain

I never understood such day. Why are you restrictive during the other days ?

Where do you want me to begin?
well most of the food i would be eating on said days would have like 1000+ cals per meal.
I feel so much better when eating clean, when I eat junk food now I always feel sick, it really helps my depression and just generally I have more energy.

kayleesays

Most Fridays or Saturdays I'll go over my calories by about 100-300. I don't really consider it a cheat day, but ehh.

alpha_andy

Cheat meals are BS if you ask me. Why give up several days of progress on a cheat meal / day?

The only time I cheat is when I'm socially obligated to eat more normally (business dinner or a birthday for instance).

Feathil

It's usually when I'm unable to avoid a social situation that I have to try to account for it. Paddy's day had to have a proper meal in a restaurant and plenty of drinking, but I logged it as best I could.

I don't assign myself cheat days because often I prefer the healthier snacks and meals I have now. But today my parents are visiting me, and that usually means chinese or something similar. It's situations like that I consider out of the ordinary, and I guess 'cheats' or 'breaks from the diet' but I still try to keep it under my calorie limit. I try to be more responsible in those situations even if it isn't the best foods for me.

baileylm

You can have a "cheat meal" without it having to be junk food. I believe the reasoning behind it is to give your metabolism a little jolt to keep it burning efficiently. The only thing needed to do that is a jump in calories but it can come in any form you like. For some, that may be junk food, for others you can just eat more of the good stuff. I agree that having a little junk food just stimulates your appetite for it.

cmayfield3

I don't really know what the term means. If it means you eat and don't worry about the calories and don't log it, then no. Everything I eat, I log, and I make sure I am within my weekly goal (meaning some days I go over, some under, but I make sure it averages out). But, I occasionally eat empty calories. I will have a candy bar for a snack, or some deep fried yummy, or a donut for breakfast. I don't consider that cheating, but some might.

Jessica1274

I don't have "planned" cheat days. Eating really low calories and having planned cheat days was a recipe for binging for me. Now I eat more calories (1800) everyday, and if I decide to go out to eat, our have a treat, I do. With a little planning, I can generally have what I want and still fit it in my goals. I have also found that by not being hungry all the time and having evened out my blood sugar, I don't WANT those other things as bad. I usually want to see a balanced day more than I want that dessert, etc. I do keep things like chocolate pudding that I can work into my day, and still get something tasty.

Having said all that, if I had a special occasion where I wanted to go out and eat whatever I wanted, I would do it. I would just probably eat less of it, and I don't do it weekly.

BeautyFromPain

I don't really know what the term means. If it means you eat and don't worry about the calories and don't log it, then no. Everything I eat, I log, and I make sure I am within my weekly goal (meaning some days I go over, some under, but I make sure it averages out). But, I occasionally eat empty calories. I will have a candy bar for a snack, or some deep fried yummy, or a donut for breakfast. I don't consider that cheating, but some might.

It's not, not logging.. it is "eating empty calories" to me as you put it.

Roxie861

Personally I dont have cheat meals as its just too much and can be a third if not more of your daily calories.

I will on the other hand have a biscuit every now and then if my calores allow it....AND only on days when I have done at least 40 minutes of exercise.

It hasnt harmed me so far to be honest.

To he honest I think its VERY true when they say everything in moderation.....the rest of my diet i eat very clean

TinnedTuna

I don't have cheat days, it spoils the whole thing,
at first i said i could have a tub of ice cream at the end of every month,
did it once and it made me feel so bad like i had just waisted that month, thrown it all away just for a tub of stupid ice cream...
so i don't do that any more and i feel better about things.
but i have eaten things i didn't plan on sometimes, but not a cheat day as such,

Matt_Wild

I have cheat meals which are usually very carby. They work for me and I get to low body fat levels with ease. No point restricting a meal or so a week if you want it.

This is a guy I've been coaching and was achieved with 11 weeks of dieting. Does it look like the odd cheat meal/refeed prevents fat loss to you?

vim_n_vigor

Your cheat meal doesn't have to be a bunch of crap you know. You can simply eat more of what your normally eat, or eat a favorite that you don't eat normally. Yesterday was a rest day for me. I added extra NET calories to the day. Today I have more energy and a 1.8 pound loss. I didn't go crazy with a bunch of junk, I just added more calories.

Pebble321

I don't "cheat"... I think the concept is flawed because it implies that you are doing something really hard and unsustainable, and the only way to cope is to break the rules (that you have decided to impose on yourself).
I certainly eat more cals than MFP recommends sometimes- like this week when I've been travelling for work and eating out for every meal, but that's not "cheating", that's life providing variety and challenges.
I know that just because I ate an unloggable and delicious tapas meal and enjoyed more drinks than necessary last night that I'm not going to wake up tomorrow and be 22kg heavier and back to my starting weight! I also know that a bit more moderation next week will be a good idea - simple really!!

ninerbuff

I "cheat" everyday. I've stayed basically the same weight for the last 25 years because I really never restricted what I ate and therefore never really binged or craved foods I liked since I was eating them anyway. Works for me.

A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

cmayfield3

I don't really know what the term means. If it means you eat and don't worry about the calories and don't log it, then no. Everything I eat, I log, and I make sure I am within my weekly goal (meaning some days I go over, some under, but I make sure it averages out). But, I occasionally eat empty calories. I will have a candy bar for a snack, or some deep fried yummy, or a donut for breakfast. I don't consider that cheating, but some might.

It's not, not logging.. it is "eating empty calories" to me as you put it.

In that case there is no way I could ever not cheat. You are talking about eating 100% clean every single day--never having a piece of cake at a birthday party, or trying the tamales at the new food truck? No way. Food is more than just fuel for me.

BeautyFromPain

I have cheat meals which are usually very carby. They work for me and I get to low body fat levels with ease. No point restricting a meal or so a week if you want it.

This is a guy I've been coaching and was achieved with 11 weeks of dieting. Does it look like the odd cheat meal/refeed prevents fat loss to you?

No it doesn't but difference here is that why should I eat something if I don't even feel like it?
ALSO the fact I'm trying to get at is if I have one cheat meal it screws up the rest of my week cos I just crave junk the rest of the week.

dsjohndrow

I don't cheat. I log my 1600-1800 calories every day. I don't even eat my exercise calories. I will occasionally eat out and don't always get the best choices, but I work hard at it. I have been logging nearly a year. It is a way of life, for me, not a diet.

BeautyFromPain

I don't really know what the term means. If it means you eat and don't worry about the calories and don't log it, then no. Everything I eat, I log, and I make sure I am within my weekly goal (meaning some days I go over, some under, but I make sure it averages out). But, I occasionally eat empty calories. I will have a candy bar for a snack, or some deep fried yummy, or a donut for breakfast. I don't consider that cheating, but some might.

It's not, not logging.. it is "eating empty calories" to me as you put it.

In that case there is no way I could ever not cheat. You are talking about eating 100% clean every single day--never having a piece of cake at a birthday party, or trying the tamales at the new food truck? No way. Food is more than just fuel for me.

Celebrations are a completely different subject..

RachelsReboot

I try not to but my way of life is so restrictive (out of neccessity) that sometimes I do slip up. I know that doing so is just going to make it worse though so I try my best not to.

Matt_Wild

Thats in you're head however. Insulin and glucose levels will only change for about 6-12 hours after.

Doesn't mean you should cheat if you don't want, no biological reason. HOWEVER I am saying there is no problem with cheating however, these pictures demonstrate it.