Thoughts on "Cheat Day"

Dremak1

Eating healthy has become a way of life for me however I live with my husband and son who - on the weekends - insist on eating out and they usually want desert. I am all for splurging for ONE MEAL on the weekend and then not for the entire meal - still eat a healthy meal and then have a dessert OR eat whatever you want for the meal and skip desert. It is all about choices and your weight loss goals. If you are exercising everyday - one meal is not going to break your diet - ONE BINGE DAY - will.

TeutonicKnight

Saturdays are my cheat days and I have still managed to lose 20lbs. I log all I eat so I see how many calories I consumed on my cheat day. I think it does little in the way of messing up your system, but it greatly improves your mindset.

I do not go crazy, but I will have something I normally would not, like some pizza, a Big Mac, or Weinerschnitzel! YUM!

hparker2

I experimented with this a few weeks ago. Over easter was when I decided to try this cheat day thing. Of course I had the "cheat day" mindset and ended up eating a lot of junk, chocolate mainly! It was delicious and I didn't feel too bloated. The next day however, I felt extremely bloated and it took a few days for it to go down. i did weigh one pound less a week later. So thought, well maybe cheat days are good, but I just won't over do it this week. So I ate a burger and sweet potato fries, with just a couple pieces of chocolate. Again, it took two days to recover. So, if you can seriously control your cheat days and not go all out, then i could see where they may be okay, mostly psychologically. However, this week I started just planning things into my calorie count. This helps me a lot, because if something sounds good and I have it right then and there, I have more control and can stop after just a little bit, as oppossed to totally binging. Now, last night, the family went to carls jr and I was worried about the nutritional and caloric count on their food. i ordered the turkey burger with no mayonaise. It was a whole wheat bun, the turkey burger, lettuce and tomato and was delicious! It says 490 cals, but without mayo I think it's closer to 400. So for me, that was very satisfying, but still not too bad for me and I don't feel guilty at all about it.

jutymo

I don't think I could have a cheat day, planned or not. If I started regular cheating, be it a meal or a day, I'd start eating higher calorie levels and ALWAYS find a way to justify it as a "cheat" even if it wasn't time for a cheat. I'm trying to eat normally and even calling it cheating messes with my head.

I have higher calorie days where I eat out or have something special but I always try to stay in my set range (1,500-1,800 per day). Most days I eat very close to the low range and sometimes just slightly under my low range. If I know I'm having a meal out or a special day or something others would call cheat meals, I adjust my other food for the day so I come in close to or slightly over my high range after eating that meal or food. An extra 300-500 calories goes a long ways if I feel the need to have that occasional meal out, chinese carry out, candy bar, slice of birthday cake.

Plan, plan, plan. Works much better for me than cheating....

zomoro56

I think the periodic cheat meal or day is okay, but only after a few weeks of routine and clean eating. Getting past the hump that is the start of a new food lifestyle is so hard and incorporating unhealthy food choices early on in the process can completely derail your process. I set my cheat meal or day in the future and incorporate a date night or fun activity as a reward for my hard work. Like next friday will be a few weeks of clean eating so my reward will be a date night of dinner, a concert and over night with the lady. This works best for me as a cheat meat or day every week throws me off my momentum and makes things too difficult for me.

2wiceOver

Once every 2 months I allow myself one evening where I don't count what I eat or drink. So far I have had only 2 of these in the 5 months I've been on this journey.

I basically don't care about them anymore. My next one will be late next month which corresponds with my buddy's wedding so that's what I'll use it for. After that I'll be at my goal weight and will be looking to increase or maintain anyway.

deftoneschic1432

Actually, you should have atleast one cheat day in your diet. Your body gets bored processing the same foods and exercise which is why eventually you hit that plateau. When you give yourself one day to eat what you want, your body will start burning the bad food the same way it burns the good, meaning your it wont do much harm especially when your cravings are bad enough that you start justifying your inbetween snacks. Plus, going months without anything super unhealthy is good. But it becomes bad when you want to induge in something bad for you and your body can't handle all the grease or the sugars involved in processing it.

missprincessgina

I have 2 cheat meals per week. For me this means one night with cocktails and a meal of whatever I want. Or sometimes a large blizzard or something totally decadent and I'm not allowed to think or calculate calories. On vacation, I try to eat two healthy meals or snacks a day and then one meal I can eat whatever I want. I also workout everyday on vacation to try to balance the increase in calories.

XxXHillaryXxX

I agree with those who say it is "one step forward, two steps back" but I know for myself that I NEED to "cheat" sometimes to keep going. So instead of a cheat day or a HUGE cheat meal, I have a mini cheat. Basically I have something that I've been craving but a healthier version or a smaller portion. Or I find a new snack that I'm loving and want an extra serving of (right now it's Indiana popcorn at 150 cal. per 2.5 cups). I make sure to stay within my calorie allowance or make sure to work out longer that day. Too many cheats and that's not going to help you lose weight. I've dieted off and on for years and always fall off the wagon when I try to be too strict, hence why I'm starting over again, haha. My husband on the other hand has one of the best bodies at his gym, has mini cheats and has been eating this way for years. This time I'm taking his advice...it works for him and seems to be working for me.

moonspells

My fiance and I have agreed to one "indulgence day" a month, PROVIDED that we have both stayed on track with healthy eating, tracking and exercising and have not gone over calories even once in the interim. It's motivating for us and as this is a lifestyle change and not a diet, we need to be able to indulge once in a while without guilt or feeling like we're falling off some wagon. It's planned for and we don't go entirely hogwild but we do what we want (this month, it's going to be all you can eat sushi - can't wait, although I imagine all we can eat will now be somewhat less than it would have been before we started with MFP!).
We've only been at this for just under 2 months but it's working for us so far...I've lost 15 lbs. and he's lost over 20...so far, so good!

Good luck with your journey, whether it includes indulgence days or not! )

doorki

I don't eat my exercise calories during the week so that I can have what I want over the weekend. I tend to see calorie goals on a weekly scale. My Monday weighins are a bit on the heavy side but then I come right back down and having lost weight by Wed or Thurs. The chart may have its up and downs but the trend is bearish.

msrat1

I dont diet but my "Cheat Day" is to enjoy a sweet treat still in moderation and not over indulge on that. I usually do that when I know I am going to be moving around a lot such as yard work day, or spring cleaning day, etc.....

SirBen81

I've heard of having a "cheat day" or just a "cheat meal". What do you think of this? I understand that you need to curb your cravings, but are we being counter-productive by doing this? I just want to know what you think about having a cheat day. Do you have one? How often? Thanks!

It's fine, but call it what it really is, a "Fail Day", or "Fail Meal". No one is perfect, but we can still be honest.

sapphiretyger

I am on the fence about "cheat days" because I have found that one day of cheating can escalate into many, and that was how I ended up derailed and putting back on 20 pounds ... when I had made it all the way the maintenance stage of my weight goal.
At the same time, they are going to happen! Thanksgiving is a day in the USA that comes to mind for me. I guess the key is to get up the the next morning and go right back to watching calories ...

doorki

I've heard of having a "cheat day" or just a "cheat meal". What do you think of this? I understand that you need to curb your cravings, but are we being counter-productive by doing this? I just want to know what you think about having a cheat day. Do you have one? How often? Thanks!

It's fine, but call it what it really is, a "Fail Day", or "Fail Meal". No one is perfect, but we can still be honest.

I think fail is a bit harsh. Most of us will not eat a deficit our entire lives, so a stress reliever of any kind is not a failure.

_itsB_

yep I definately have a cheat day, I do try to keep it to a "cheat meal though. I know if i go cold turkey on everything and never have fries/pizza/take out again, I'll eventually just give up and just binge eat! I do try to be good on a day that i know im getting take away though

icandothis318

I have a cheat meal or a cheat day. It all depends on how I am feeling. I don't get caught up in the eat clean every waking minute because I don't want to place those extreme limits on myself. I am human and every now and then if I feel like going off track, I do just that and get right back on track when I am done.

sherronh

I dont do cheat days. If I know im going to have a heavy meal or day I try to exercise and have lighter meals around the day.

SpydrMnky27

Yes I have cheat days. The bloating sucks for a few days but then it's all good.

jasperann

I personally don't look at any meal as a cheat meal. This is a life style change for me. I will be doing this for the rest of my life and honestly, I am not going to go my whole life without ever having pizza or ice cream. So I just work around it. If I want pizza I figure out the calories for it and log it, and adjust the rest of the day around that meal. Just part of life now. Just don't go crazy and you can have what ever you want. lol Everything in moderation.

violabeatle

I try and have a cheat meal rather than a day because I don't want to set myself back! Usually it is a dinner. I usually stick to low cal foods, especially fruit and veggies during the day (fill me up without overeating!) and then indulge at night so that the day balances out. Usually it involves a trip to the gym too!

10KEyes

I've heard of having a "cheat day" or just a "cheat meal". What do you think of this? I understand that you need to curb your cravings, but are we being counter-productive by doing this? I just want to know what you think about having a cheat day. Do you have one? How often? Thanks!

I don't like them. I think it is counter productive. in my opinion, it fosters the wrong mindset, it reinforces the "diet" or "Short Term" mentality rather than "Lifestyle". If you change your lifestyle, it should be for life and that means some things go away "forever". Sort of like an ex. Or you if it is something you cannot live without, then you will have to work it into your plan.

However, it is understandable that there are times in which one can not eat properly due to the immediate situation. In these situations, you just have to fly by the seat of your pants.

JessieArt

The last time I had a cheat day it took me 3 weeks to lose the weight I gained from it. So now, if there is something I really want, I save up my calories and just have a little of it.

Today I'm saving up for a margaritta at the Jimmy Buffet concert!

tarnbop

I used to do this, and am still tempted to, but I'm getting scared at how it will affect the scales, which I think is a good thing!! For me, if I have done well in a day and have enough calories, I allow myself a small treat. For me, most days, this is a small portion of chocolate buttons. However, if it would tip me over or if I hadn't had a good mindset/eaten something else that wasn't very good for me, then I would leave it out...
x

KrystleKiri

I try to counter it. Two days ago for example, I had WAY too much sodium for my liking, and yesterday I balanced it out by watching what I took in. I lost 5 pounds over the last 10 days, so I had a waffle for breakfast. For lunch, I'll have a salad with hard boiled egg whites, I think it's okay to 'cheat' a little, but not over indulging, and balancing it out means the world.

Lorleee

I don't think a whole day is necessary. What I enjoyed doing was a cheat meal. Satuday night dinner out I'd always have whatever I wanted along with dessert and a glass of wine. But the whole rest of my day was "normal" and I often ate a lighter lunch to prepare for the big dinner out!

kimberly0416

If I have a good hard 2 hour workout, afterwards I can eat within reason anything I want. So instead of "cheat" I do "reward". :drinker:

Leiki

I've done this, and it worked.

I use "cheat days" when I know I'm going to be eating out on a special occasion or with good company.

When I know a cheat day is coming up, I'm really good for the week. I eat well, and save calories, and exercise.

On the cheat day, I will eat whatever I want without guilt. I will still log it, and still exercise if I can.

My most recent cheat day was half a month ago. I at 3x what I normally eat. Even though I earned over 800 in exercise, I was still over by 700 calories. It was the highest I've eaten since getting on MFP.

I continued eating well and exercising after the day was over. My weight went up temporarily. 4 days after I broke my plateau and LOST a lb. I was plateauing for 3 weeks before the "cheat day."

If you would like more details, my food diary is open and this is my cheat day log. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/Leiki?date=2012-03-31

cip1

Weekend is a cheat time
I'll either try to eat more but still healthy (not always succeeding) & have it around 2000kcl in total (my normal daily is 1200) or if I feel like pizza & ice-cream - I'll bloody have it!

The fact that I know I'll potentially have a bigger meal or ice-cream on one of the weekend days - does help me to stay away from the fridge, sweets & night munching through the week.

Edit:
as someone mentioned already - I'll still log it, even if/especially if most of what I've eaten is on rather unhealthy side.
also - as a kind of tradition, I have a long rock climbing session on one of the weekend days but I'll have a cheat day even if I don't happen to exercise, just be a bit more careful with what & how much I eat.

mandi2r

I have cheats in a while... Maybe more then I should.. Like yesterday I had chinese food, even limiting my plate size felt like it huge cheat... But I believe its better than ignoring those cravings and passing all your favorite foods to one day totally giving in..

So I say yes to a cheat meal but not to a whole day..