Cheat Days

ldrosophila

I wanted a consensus on everybody's thoughts on cheat days. Do you think it helps with weight loss or is detrimental?

MrsRobertson1005

helps, every once in a while you have to have a day where you don't track. i mean like, a couple times a month but that's about it.

cirellim

There is honestly no truth behind "kickstarting" your metabolism with a cheat day or things along that line. It is true that dieting slows your metabolism but one day of binge eating will not do anything long term to effect it whatsoever. To be honest maybe have one small meal where you eat outside your diet once a week. But ONLY if you stayed on your diet all week that way it serves as an incentive to stay with it through the week.

CyberEd312

I have 2 cheat meals (spike meals) a week and have from the very beginning. It keeps me honest the rest of the time and gives me something to look forward too...

princeza9

I think it's more psychological. I don't do them, personally. If I go over every once in a great while, it's not a big deal for me. I exercise a lot, and am so careful the rest of the time. If I want a slice of pizza or a burger from In N Out (after Easter, as I gave up red meat for Lent), then I have it. If that means I have to workout extra, then so be it.

My friend just got back from France and brought my back my biggest European weakness (other than chocolate, she didn't bring any back for me)- a certain kind of cookie that I know I can plow through in record time. So I'm staying away from them, but I will be getting some brownies in today for good behavior.

LDunzweiler

I have read / heard many different opinions on this topic. Personally, I feel GUILTY when I cheat at all. Hell, I feel guilty when I have a Skinny Cow for dessert when I have done well! LOL! I don't think you should ever have an entire day where you cheat. This shouldn't be just a diet part of your life....it should be a whole life change, for the better. I feel there is nothing wrong with rewarding yourself with a dessert or even a trip to your favorite fast food joint as long as moderation, portion control, & good choices are a part of your 'cheat'. That way, you can still feel good about your reward. Again, this is a personal opinion and I am new to this game too!!! I always feel better when I eat better & exercise daily.

MPwife10

I have one every week and it helps me not cheat the rest of the week.

mrs_french

i think cheat days are more of a mental aspect for me! but, i have to be careful because i'm such a social/emotional eater that i can make any occasion/reason/friend/event/food to make me want to cheat.

long09

I struggle with this one...I think that I want a cheat day, but then I end up feeling guilty. I am proud of how far I have come, that I almost don't want to ruin it by doing a cheat day. I do allow myself to indulge in a favorite treat every once in awhile, but always remember moderation. I always ask my self "is it worth it?" or "am I going to regret my choice?".

poedunk65

cheat days are OK as long as you don;t go nutso.

jsapninz

Sure, it helps. Like going the wrong way down a track helps you win the race. :noway:

Fairy_Farts

Cheating is a sin..... also, you could catch something from it and your doodle will fall off.... just sayin'

Amy_Lee_2012

Typically, I have a cheat day once a week and will continue to do so. It keeps me on track for the rest of week and makes me feel like I am not depriving myself of anything. I don't go crazy, but I do enjoy foods I wouldn't normally allow myself to have.
It gives me something to look forward to.

198601

Saturday is my cheat day - not with food, but with allowing myself to have a cocktail (or two or three). I just make sure that I hit the gym in the morning... as I am on the elliptical I keep thinking "that's one more" every 100 calories I burn!! LOL.

gafrausto

I've used cheat days for years, but simply to maintain some sanity by letting loose. It helps me look forward to certain foods that I don't normally have--a treat--but wouldn't recommend more than once a week. Just my 2 cents.

littlemiss165

A cheat meal or two a week works for me... I still try to make good choices like drinking a glass of water before, still making a healthy choice if I'm going out to eat and not gorging myself. Even cheats need moderation!

jegg0425

I have begun making the lifestyle change over the last month. Still pretty early on so I am trying to steer clear of designated cheat days. I just figure that there are times when I will be out with friends or a special event where eating healthy is a struggle. For example I helped a friend move this past weekend and she ordered pizza. So I guess that was my cheat meal; however I don't "plan" them out. My birthday is coming up and I am sure that I won't behave myself that night either.

One thing I've noticed is over the last month I haven't had the indigestion I used to. I haven't had to use Tums before bed since. It used to be a nightly requiremend because of acid reflux. I enjoy not feeling like crap and I worry that a fast food meal (extra greasy) will actually make me sick.

ebony__

I think it would be more of a mental/ sanity thing for some people. If having a cheat day gives you incentive, or something to look forward to, then do it, its better to have one unhealthy day among a lifestyle of healthy days than to just have an unhealthy lifestyle!

TurnLeftNow

I wouldn't do it. In the long run it totally killed me.

Put the foods you want into your daily plan. No foods are bad, just stay within your calorie limit. Don't make food a treat/cheat that you get to reward yourself with for doing a good job. Learn how to eat it all in moderation.

projectconsistency

"Cheat" and "guilt" are words I try not to associate with food. There is a place in my diet for anything I might want, so if I want to have three slices of pizza for dinner one night, I just track the calories and move on. I'm down about 100 pounds, so it's working well for me.

Pebble321

I don't see the point in setting myself up with something that is so hard to sustain that I have to "cheat" on myself, it seems counterproductive to me.

Some days I eat more calories than MFP recommends, sometimes I eat pretty close to that number, sometimes I eat less. Which one is "cheating"?

thepanttherlady

I usually allow myself 1 meal a week to eat what I want. A lot of people don't even log that meal but I do just so I can see where my weekly caloric deficit ends up. If I can work out to allow for the added calories of my meal then I do...sometimes.

My vice is fast food so allowing myself a meal a week it helps me curb the craving for the rest of the week. I used to eat out anywhere between 1-3 times a day 5-7 days a week. 1 meal a week is doing pretty well for me.

wildearthmama

My philosophy with cheat days is this: I don't want to be obsessed with food! Whether you're obsessed, eating constantly, and overweight, or obsessed, starving yourself, and super thin, food obsession is unhealthy. I try to make healthy choices, and put myself in situations where I don't want to eat junk. For example, I spend time outside, playing with my kid, knitting, or studying, keeping myself occupied. I keep unhealthy food out of my house, for the most part. I keep busy, and don't let food control my life. However, if my mother-in-law cooks a delicious freaking cake, of course I'm gonna have some! And it's not a cheat day, it's my LIFE! All things in moderation, strive for balance, and you'll be fine. It's an art, not a science, after all!

InfinitePoss

Well there are some programs that do allow a cheat day. Many years ago I did Body For Life and you were allowed one cheat day per week. When I was on the program I rarely took it because it felt kind of weird to spend the whole week eating clean and then to throw down a whole pizza , or something crazy like that, one day per week.

Personally, I think there will just be certain occassions when I will just cut myself some slack, like during the holidays or when I go on vacations. I am not going to be sitting at Thanksgiving Dinner, or partying with my friends in Vegas, and entering stuff into MFP, that would be a bit much for me.

tseabee

I think it's ok to have a cheat day once in awhile so the temptation to cheat everyday isn't as strong throughout the process of dieting

blytheandbonnie

I think that this if this is a lifestyle change then we need to become the controller of our food intake. I don't really like the term 'cheat day' myself. This is life. Some days are going to better than others. Some days are going to be easier than others. Some days we feel strong and in control. Some days...not so much. It is unrealistic to expect yourself to NEVER have an unplanned meal, or a day when you can't get all your fresh fruit and veggies in. If we end up feeling guilty and beat ourselves up about it, then our relationship with food is not where it should be yet. One day is not going to make or break you. It's a cumulative effect. You definitely need to have way more 'in control' days than 'out of control' days', but all in all, one day or two in a month where you go over your calorie goals or eat something 'unhealthy' (I'm thinking deep fried fish and chips here, omnomnom.) is not going to derail your entire healthy lifestyle. That's just what I've been thinking lately. I mean, eventually I'm going to get to my goal weight and then I won't be trying to lose anymore. I'll still want to stay healthy and keep up the exercise but I don't want food to take up as much of my life as it does now while I am actually losing. This journey for me is about getting control over the food in my life. Being afraid of a particular food or always being afraid of going over a certain set calorie limit does not seem like control to me. Sorry I went on so long. Thanks for 'listening' if you took the time to get to the end. :flowerforyou:

ebony__

I don't see the point in setting myself up with something that is so hard to sustain that I have to "cheat" on myself, it seems counterproductive to me.

Some days I eat more calories than MFP recommends, sometimes I eat pretty close to that number, sometimes I eat less. Which one is "cheating"?

there needs to be a like button

sherry9300

I guess the better question would be, Can you handle a cheat day? Not everyone can.....myself included.

kolkol

I have a cheat meal once a week, I have averaged a 2 lb loss each week too! & I do have a sweet treat once in a while, but it is definitely counted into my daily calories. I even felt like this when I was in weight watchers I had one meal where I was kind of unsure how many points it was worth but I would still have good losses. It has worked for me, but may not for everyone.

kekl

I don't have cheat days because when I want something I will eat it. I watch my weekly intake more than my daily one. If I want to eat something delicious and fattening and I can fit it in my calories, I will. If I can't fit it in my calories, I'll just eat it anyways and exercise a bit more/eat a bit less for the next day or two.

sheilsun

i opted not to have a regular cheat day however when there is an occasion (and they come up and are many) like a birthday, special event, holiday meal ++, special occasion, I give myself a break and enjoy!! The next morning, I try my best to start my goal program of good healthy eating again!! sometimes with a little guilt however try to work through it. Interested in others' thoughts on this.