Do you log your cheat days?!

abberbabber

First of all, I don't believe in cheat days. Those will only set you back. Second, yes, log in everything. Don't try to fool yourself into thinking that you're losing weight. You might not be recording those calories, but your body definitely is.

ignore the haters. if 88 pounds is the goal youve set for yourself than let it be. people get a little too concerned about eachother here on mfp. your goal weight of 88 pounds will have absolutely no effect on their lives so no need to waste your time getting upset over their opinions : )
just be happy. thats all that matters hun ; )

Yes, heaven forbid people show concern about another human being. How dare we. Haters we are, indeed.

/sarcasm

She was upset about it this afternoon - I was just trying to be nice! But telling her what she already knows isn't going to do anything. I think everybody already knows that so I don't know why they keep telling her that it is unhealthy. I thought maybe some kind words would cheer her up.
I apologize.
/sarcasm

Telling her to shoot for a goal that is extremely unhealthy is NOT being nice. It's enabling. I'm sorry she was upset and yes some people said some incredibly rude things that they shouldn't have said. But the answer is not to just pat her on the head and encourage unhealthy habits. You want to be nice? Listen to her, be a friend, encourage her to get help...but don't encourage her to destroy herself.

I understand and I am hun. When I tell her to be happy, she knows happiness does not go hand in hand with disordered eating. I firmly believe anybody has the right to do whatever they want with their body so I'm not going to tell her what to do or what she's doing wrong, but I do want her to be happy. If it gives you any hope concerning her health, she posted about having to eat today and hwo she was going to get rid of Ana. I give her props. She's recovering much better than I am.

:drinker: <~ There's no "happy dance" smiley so that's the best I've got. I know how damaging poor self-esteem can be, and it breaks my heart to see someone set such unrealistic goals for herself. I hope she works things out and, more than that, I hope one day she looks in the mirror and sees herself as a beautiful, unique child of God.

rainydaze613

Yep, I force myself to log them despite the glaring red numbers staring back at me. For me, it's more effective if I do that, because in a way it's like I'm accepting it. Sometimes I have to put my diary on "private" for a few days to clear out any binge embarrassment though. lol. But I'm recording it for me to see, and that's ultimately what matters.

Gergal73

I log everything I eat on a daily basis. I have to as I'm a Type 1 Diabetic and am required to figure insulin intake based upon carbohydrate consumption. If I don't log everything, it messes up my system. It's too difficult to add the carbohydrates in my head and remember. Much more simple to log it and look at the totals. It helps having doctors who require me to send my records to them twice a week. Regardless, I would still log everything I eat even if I didn't have to.

Tani_LT

First of all, I don't believe in cheat days. Those will only set you back. Second, yes, log in everything. Don't try to fool yourself into thinking that you're losing weight. You might not be recording those calories, but your body definitely is.

Girlfriend, you might want to have some cheat days yourself. I am sorry, but a weight loss goal to be 88 lbs. is ridiculous.

I agree! 88lbs! It is ridiculous! Acceptable for you is not the same as healthy. You might need to get checked out or something.

AeolianHarp

Well we sure wouldn't want to irritate you!

I end up getting purple, I rip my shirt and ........ I run into a corner and get all emo.

T_Hughes

Yes, the idea is to keep track of what you are eating, and working out.

I personally, believe that everyone knows what works best for them, so some may not have"cheat days" at all and others may be having small amounts of foods they love, and maintaining the exercise routine to keep up weight loss.

Besides, you may be surprised at the number of calories you actually consume on a cheat day, it may be alot less than what you thought.

Clarisse0304

First of all, I don't believe in cheat days. Those will only set you back. Second, yes, log in everything. Don't try to fool yourself into thinking that you're losing weight. You might not be recording those calories, but your body definitely is.

Girlfriend, you might want to have some cheat days yourself. I am sorry, but a weight loss goal to be 88 lbs. is ridiculous.

LOL! Yeah to be honest, I'm a little concerned too about the 88 lb goal you set for yourself.

Totally agreed, hopefully there's smarter people out there not to follow your example, cause whatever you are doing its definetly not healthy.! you need other type of help and not the type of losing weight help.

AimeeLynn90

I log everything, so I know where I stand. A good example was tonight. I thought I was going to go over like crazy, but, after I logged everything, I actually had alot left, even for a dessert! I like logging everything so I can keep track of my weekly net goal.

dynamojones

I do and it makes me mad to see how bad the food was I ate compared to other days. Really motivates me to get back on the bus.

textlikekisses

I log everything - because believe it or not on my cheat days (or spike days), I don't go over by much - plus I like to see everything since i'm trying to lose. it's not a guilt thing for me - it's just keeping up my routine.

j1wright

I started January 31st 2012 so haven't been here long but I have been on here every day and I have logged every day. I haven't really considered any day a cheat day so far. I guess that would be considered a binge day and I haven't binged yet. I have gone ove but just by 100 or 200 cals I hardly count that as binging or cheat really.

_Timmeh_

I do! Having adult beverrages today...err well had a few already :laugh: :drinker: so yea this will end up being a splurge day.

Sp1nGoddess

I log EVERYTHING that passed thru my lips.

pantsdailyon

I log cheat days, but my cheating is usually on carbs rather than calories. I still stay below my recommended calories, so as far as MFP is concerned I'm still under my goal.

Serah87

I don't have cheat days!! :bigsmile:

shadowkitty22

I've been doing this since January 1st and I've yet to actually have a full blown cheat day. Instead I've done cheat meals where I eat Burger King or something (and even then it's the grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo) just so I can tell myself that I'm still eating fast food. And then on those days I still wind up going to the gym so I can tell myself that I've earned to eat at the same place as my family for lunch. But regardless of what I eat, cheat meal/day or not, I log it. I'm hoping to not struggle with this though when we go home in a month and eat all this food that hasn't been available to us for the past 3 years.

kluvit

what cheat days?

I plan for extra calories in a special meal with a combination of saving up for a few days, more exercise, and eating lightly the rest of the day. That way nothing is off-limits, so I don't feel deprived like I need to cheat.

CynGoddess

Yes I do, I think it helps to see in black and white what you have done to hold yourself accountable and decide if it was worth it.

PrettyLydie

I log everything, until I get too drunk and lose track...lol

dawn1209

I always log in, even if it's only breakfast, but sometimes on a "cheat day" I will log in EVERYTHING just to show myself that if I ate like this everyday what I would weigh. It helps to keep me motivated to be good on my normal days.

jfaure23

I need to feel that I am in control of this process. This means, I do go ahead and eat things I shouldn't. It reminds me that this is all about me, and the only person who can change me is myself! It forces me to take responsibility and reminds me that I am human. Plus, I never need to feel guilty since I know that I AM IN CONTROL.

thriftycupl

Sometimes if I want to know the calories that I've taken in. Usually I just note that it's a cheat day, log one item and enjoy the day!

sarahc001

Yes. I like to look back and be realistic about what I am doing and how I eat. However on my "cheat days" or nights out, I typically can't keep track or accurately approximate what I am eating, so I just do my best.

You should do what is best for you, and what will be most likely to keep you on track long-term. If logging everything on a "cheat day" makes you depressed and want to quit being healthy overall, I wouldn't do it.

The important thing is to think of this as a long time lifestyle change, not as a situation where you are "bad" if you indulge every once in a while. For me it helps to log the cheat days, simply because I used to eat worse EVERY day and it gives me some perspective.

mysticheart24

Well I never consider a cheat day....I usually plan what I eat before I eat it and I log all that I eat....I usually try to keep it within my calorie limits....now when I went on vacation to Vegas I didn't log anything....so maybe that can be considered my cheat days....but with all the walking I still did good....I am so determined to get this weight off....but I don't obsess about it!!!!!

skeslack

First of all, I don't believe in cheat days. Those will only set you back. Second, yes, log in everything. Don't try to fool yourself into thinking that you're losing weight. You might not be recording those calories, but your body definitely is.

Girlfriend, you might want to have some cheat days yourself. I am sorry, but a weight loss goal to be 88 lbs. is ridiculous.

LOL! Yeah to be honest, I'm a little concerned too about the 88 lb goal you set for yourself.

I'm pretty short so I find it acceptable. You might think it's a too small goal weight, but that's your opinion, not mine.

Unless you're like 4'9" or shorter, that's seriously not healthy.

My five year-old is 55 lbs. You want to weigh 33 lbs more than a healthy five year-old? You are aware that 9 year-olds aren't allowed on this site, yes?


It is your choice, but I fear for you. That's my choice. Please see a professional. :flowerforyou:

I agree with the rest of those who responded to your reply to this thread. I also looked at your blog that you posted on your profile. What can we do as a community to help you? I would urge you to get professional help as soon as possible. I know it is a very complex situation, but you are worth so much more than this. You are not your body. You are a beautiful human with potential to use your strengths of dedication, determination, and perfectionism for things so much more positive in your life and others. Take care of yourself and know that there are people who care.

maggiepz

I usually do. It helps me determine what I can eat the next day unless I REALLY don't want to know. Last weekend I had a Garbage Burger from Max and Ermas. I usually don't get that out of control. Eventhough I only ate half the bread but I really don't want to know how many calories it was! Thank goodness I'd eaten little previously. I already knew that the next day would be slim for calories.

bradXdale

When logging on my cheat days I try to generalize as possible, because honestly on my cheat days sometimes I don't know how many servings or how much I actually ate.

gracieabem

I have decided that whenever I am home (which is 98% of the time) I am going to log. Even if it is a special occasion and I know I'm going to perhaps overeat. I logged over Easter which was a bit of a blowout. However, I am going to not bother logging when I am away (for uni, holidays etc) I figure that I don't want to be bogged down by doing this all the time and I don't want to be obsessing about every last morsel. Hopefully not a ticket for me to eat everything within arms length, but I doubt it. I feel that I have, for the most part, my eating under control (without deprivation... yay!)

Eventually when I'm on maintenance I'd like to stop logging the weekends.

Jesusgirl1984

Sometimes I log my cheat days but a lot of days I struggle with my eating habits so i would have to say half and half. it depends on a lot of diffrent factors. other days i do not log my cheat days

fitnotfluffy

I log everything. There hasn't been a day where I didn't log since I started using MFP except for Easter because I didn't know how to log the home cooked stuff my family made. I always hold myself accountable, even on 'cheat' days.