Why a Cheat Day is a misnomer
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To merely focus on the weight gain or loss aspect of one's diet is either ignorant or willingly dismissive.
How do you measure your heart health? Liver? Kidney? Your risk of getting cancer? Just because you maintain a desired weight does not make you healthy.
1 day a week.. 80/20 ... Are you saying 20% of your diet doesn't effect your internal health? Spiking blood sugar, creating increased insulin, possibly mineral deficiencies.
I am not saying your 'cheat' is making you unhealthy (although it might), I am saying justifying your cheat with the scale is poor judgement.0 -
Huh wasn't expecting the topic to actually be a rant on semantics. Also, I don't use the term "cheat" day, I call it a "splurge" day.
A misnomer is a term which suggests an interpretation that is known to be untrue.
The title of the thread clearly states my intent to discuss the meaning of the word cheat day.
And, since semantics is the study of meaning...
I personally don't use the term cheat day or any term for that matter. I eat sensibly most of the time and if I want to have something more, then I'm doing so on my own choosing and enjoying it.
As for the term "cheat day", I don't think it's necessarily a misnomer. The word cheat being equated with the word "unfaithful" as someone who is cheating on their spouse, you are cheating on your diet.
This meaning would work whether or not it's planned or not planned.0 -
In that case, let's call them "Breakin' the Law days"!Lighten up!!!! Cheat also means to break the rules. It's our lives, let us live them the way WE want to...
Or "Jump ship Day". Call it what you will, I call it FRIDAY........0 -
To merely focus on the weight gain or loss aspect of one's diet is either ignorant or willingly dismissive.
How do you measure your heart health? Liver? Kidney? Your risk of getting cancer? Just because you maintain a desired weight does not make you healthy.
1 day a week.. 80/20 ... Are you saying 20% of your diet doesn't effect your internal health? Spiking blood sugar, creating increased insulin, possibly mineral deficiencies.
I am not saying your 'cheat' is making you unhealthy (although it might), I am saying justifying your cheat with the scale is poor judgement.
I justified with the scale because it's the easiest measuring tool most people have. But all of my numbers are getting better. I have normal blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse rate, etc. The more my weight goes down the better my numbers get. Anyway, to address the specific issue......I've lost weight before and was unable to maintain it when I failed to have a day that I didn't track every piece of food that goes in my mouth. It gets tiring and I get tired of constantly telling my family and friends that I can't eat here or eat there because the menu doesn't work with my current eating plan. Most people in your life are not actively watching what they eat, so they are supportive to a point. An off day allows me to live my life without feeling guilty because there are times when you just want to forget about counting calories. There has to be a balance.0 -
To each their own. Cheat, Skip, Jump, Spike....what ever it is, might work for some may not for others. For THIS girl, I love MY day and it works for me!
Good luck, great health and kick *kitten* to all of you on your journeys, whatever your goal may be! xoxo0 -
So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?0
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I call it anti "starvation mode" day
Why are you starving yourself the rest of the week? Is it so you can justify eating a bucket of fried chicken every Saturday?
sorry, I need to reload my sarcasm font.
I actually call it Saturday0 -
Good thing I'm not on a 'diet'0
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Well, if you ate it intentionally with no regret, don't call it anything! Just log it and move on instead of proclaiming to the world like most people do.
Agreed. Take the diet as a lifestyle, not a short-term tool. This means you can look at weeks at a time or months or even an entire year collectively as a win. Any "cheat/lapse" day doesn't just disappear, it gets averaged in with all the rest and the end result is what you see in the mirror. I like the indulgence label...gluttony in moderation is good for the soul.0 -
So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?
Faulty logic....just because something is good for you in one aspect of your life does not mean that it is good for all aspects of your life....0 -
I do not choose to call it a cheat day, but I know plenty of other people who do use this term. I think this is because the implication of a cheat day is that you are eating something you would not eat normally while on your diet. I love when people brag about their "cheat" meals or days because it shows they are human beings who have normal cravings and appetites. IMO they are only "cheating" themselves if their cheat meal or day is unplanned, uncontrolled, and leads to weight gain. Otherwise, I think these days are beneficial to most people.
My "cheat days" are called spike days. Since incorporating spike days I've lost several stubborn pounds and I no longer feel out-of-control when it comes to food.0 -
So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?
Why does it matter? Just because someone chooses to have a day or even a meal where they eat something they normally don't and decide to call it a "Cheat <insert meal, day what have you>" why does that mean that they "cheat" in other areas of their lives?
Perhaps you would feel different if it was called a "treat" day? You just seem to have issues with the word and the context it's being used.
I'm fairly certain you are not 100% perfect so why don't you just lighten up?0 -
I have days where I don't worry about or count calories, but I don't call them cheat days. I call them occasions, as in Easter or other holidays, birthdays, family/friends gatherings. They are not cheating, but neither are they failures or lapses. They are just part of life as I know it. They won't make me fat. Overeating on non-occasion days will.
But, I think some people might like the term "cheat day" because they like to break the rules once in a while. They like to think they are breaking a rule. It's fun to cheat on your diet sometimes.
^THIS =]0 -
In that case, let's call them "Breakin' the Law days"!Lighten up!!!! Cheat also means to break the rules. It's our lives, let us live them the way WE want to...
Or "Jump ship Day". Call it what you will, I call it FRIDAY........
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So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?
Not that it's any of your business, but here's a list off the top of my head:
1) Playing video games instead of doing chores
2) Sleeping in on the weekend instead of waking up early
3) Staying up late during the week to grab a couple brews with my buddies
4) Having a cigar on my patio after a hard day
5) My bachelor party
6) My wedding
7) My birthday
8) My fiancee's birthday
9) Easter
10) Xmas
11) Thanksgiving
12) Hiring a maid to help around the house instead of doing it myself
13) Hiring someone to do my lawn rather than me do it myself
14) Watching a football game rather than doing chores
15) Watching TV rather than doing chores
All 'cheats'0 -
I agree. If you want to "cheat" aka ate like crap, then add an long workout to cover for it. Or accept that your over your goal for the day and try harder the next day.0
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So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?
I "cheat" work by taking vacations. I "cheat" my parenting responsibility by getting them sleepover days with grandparents and having a date night with my wife. This usually coincides with "cheating" waking hours by sleeping IN late. I "cheat" my thrifty personal finance by treating myself and/or my family to something special...a trip, a new appliance, a Blu Ray for family movie night. I "cheat" death by going skiing. I "cheat" chores by hitting a round of golf. For most of us, life isn't about the tithe...we live in our routines but sometimes need a break...if the average ends up in the healthy or good range while being happy then it's a life worth living for most of us.
One thing I never cheat: safety. Always buckle up. Always look both ways before crossing. Always wear a helmet while biking & motorcycling while for the latter I also don the boots, gloves and leather jacket.0 -
You should write a book on the rules of life and post it in the Success Stories board when it becomes a NY Times bestseller!!!!!0
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Well, I guess it's nice to see that dictionaries still get used in these the days of text speech and auto-correct. Alas, tilting at windmills really doesn't burn that many calories so I think the original poster may be disappointed.
I still use cheat days. I guess I'm just fine with a lack of precision in my word choice. For instance, when I worked for a freight railroad, I told people I was a brakeman though the actual job of being a brakeman died out in the late 1800s with the advent of air brakes. Even better, when I go to buy music in a store (yes, I am one of the few people left on earth who do that), I still call it a record store though I'm buying cds. Cheat day is a misnomer, for sure, but it's also become a fairly ubiquitous term with a common understanding. To each their own, I guess.0 -
So funny....
Start a thread to voice your opinion which is written as law not an opinion...
spend rest of thread trying to belittle everyone into agreeing with you...
and if they arent buying it...point out that your vocabulary and comprehension is better than theirs..
gotta love the forums0 -
So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?
Not that it's any of your business, but here's a list off the top of my head:
1) Playing video games instead of doing chores
Chores? LOL. Are you 13?0 -
I think many of you didn't even read my original post. Or perhaps you don't know what the word "misnomer" means.
Misnomer: Definition, A small unmarried female gnome
This thread is starting to get douchey...0 -
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So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?
Did you read what I said about personal finance? Isn't any form of entertainment wasteful spending? Why would you do such a thing then?0 -
So funny....
Start a thread to voice your opinion which is written as law not an opinion...
spend rest of thread trying to belittle everyone into agreeing with you...
and if they arent buying it...point out that your vocabulary and comprehension is better than theirs..
gotta love the forums
I've been here since 2010 and it's pretty much the same *kitten*, different day lol.0 -
Why can't it just be a "I'm gonna eat whatever I want day"? Why is it lapsing, regressing, cheating? Hell if you want it eat it!!!! Get back at it the following meal or day.0
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So, those of you who embrace cheating, what other parts of your life to you have regular cheat days?? If it is good for your body, should be good everywhere else too right?
Did you read what I said about personal finance? Isn't any form of entertainment wasteful spending? Why would you do such a thing then?
If you have a budget and going to the movies is in it, then that is not cheating.
Several of you are using the term cheat to describe something you plan for, which is the opposite of what I am talking about.0 -
^ Toilet trained at gunpoint0
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I'm sure by starting this thread, callmeBAM was actually trying to say "if you ever eat a cookie during the week you are Hitler and you will never lose weight, you fat failure"
(I hope that's sarcastic enough to not need to explain it)0 -
So funny....
Start a thread to voice your opinion which is written as law not an opinion...
spend rest of thread trying to belittle everyone into agreeing with you...
and if they arent buying it...point out that your vocabulary and comprehension is better than theirs..
gotta love the forums
I've been here since 2010 and it's pretty much the same *kitten*, different day lol.
Love this!!!!! Everybody loses a few pounds & then want to beat everybody up cuz they want to have a "cheat day"! I thought MFP was a learning tool to help us realize what the heck we putting in our mouths? I didn't know it turned every successful loser into rocket scientist!0
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