Does anyone have a cheat day?

Sarahsmiles0875

Now don't get me wrong...it is not like I am trying to rationalize the idea of having a cheat day, where mouth meets apple fritter in delicious sweet bliss (although that is what I am craving right now), however, I am wondering if anyone allots themselves a "cheat" day to exceed their alloted calories for the day in order to satiate the "bad/junk food monster" inside? Or do you work the not-so-good-for-you food into your calorie intake for the day? I know that my purpose in joining is to become a better version of myself, I also know that I do not want to fall off the wagon. Is having a naughty once a week or every other week just a gateway to old habits?

DesertMermaid29

I have a great many cheat days somehow ive still managed to lose weight on schedule. I exercise a lot, it helps i guess ha.

strawberrie_milk

I have a controlled cheat day (it's actually called a refeed/carb-up) because I follow a low carb diet. So I don't allow myself whatever I want but I do get to enjoy some foods that I normally don't allow myself to eat.

mroger801

Usually, I will try to build in the less good foods into my daily allotment. I do this either by doing a little extra work-out or mentally saying "this is okay." May is full of birthdays for me, so I know that there will be cake and that I will enjoy it. Its just about making sure that not every day is a less than good day.

Gioooo

I feel like cheat days lead to a free for all and bad choices. I allow a cheat *meal* once a week and I also eat w.e I want for the most part but in moderation (or at least try to)

Kenhabes

I LIKE to work it into my calorie routine, but I don't sweat if I go over one day (not too much over though). The past several years, my wife and I use Friday night as our cheat meal + dessert. I am NEVER successful at losing weight if I deprive myself.

jenessae

I try to not deny myself of anything. A couple of bites of whatever I am craving usually satifies my need. But, occasionally on the weekends I will have a whole piece of that birthday cake or that candy bar. If you deny yourself daily, it will most likely lead you to a binge. Moderation is key.

yungnold

Cheat day? what's that! Can't cheat on what's suppose to be a lifestyle change!! LoL

jenj1313

I've stopped planning cheat days, but if I have a day that's horrible (usually due to stress, craziness at work... or, on the flip side a happy occasion like a party), I just skip logging and consider it "cheating" because I didn't play by the rules.

I am trying to minimize the number of "cheat days" that I have, but they do happen from time to time. That's life (for me anyway). Tomorrow's another day, as the cliché goes!

When I allowed myself a scheduled cheat day, I always ended up having 2 or 3 because they were too much fun ;-p

I also try to work out like crazy the day after a "cheat".

kbmnurse

Yes I do. Usually on the weekend one whole day no exercise, lots beers and whatever want to eat.

coliema

I don't really have a "cheat day", but weekends are the hardest for me to eat healthy foods. Weekends for me are usually VERY busy so I normally get take out because I'm rarely home.

I do have an occasional day though where I need some chocolate or ice cream, or both!

zoeelizabeths

I personally can't eat the things I really crave. There are some treats I let myself have, but others that I stay away from because if I have it once I will have it ten times that day. For example, I can keep a dark chocolate bar around and only eat a square or two a day, but if I have peanut butter cups in the house, I will eat them all in one day.

That being said, when I allow myself "cheat" meals, it's more like I go out for a nice meal that might be more than my allotted calories but is still balanced and healthy and won't lead to further binging. So I might go out for sushi or Indian Food or a burger or something like that. But I still try to keep it relatively healthy.

katyejean

A cheat day can either help you or kill your efforts. I allowed myself small cheat things like a cookie here or there throughout the month, and then I lost it. I've been off track for about 2 weeks, and now I'm back. I think special events can pass as small cheats? Like, birthdays, anniversaries, whatever kind of event that you go out to eat. Be sure to pick something as healthy as possible, but we all know restaurant food isn't all that great. I don't think here or there will be a big deal, but you have to be smart about when you have that chocolate, cookie, whatever. I would plan it a week or so ahead. And be like "If you reach this mini goal, you may have a cookie." No, you shouldn't reward yourself with foods, but it could still possibly help. This is the idea that I'm trying next. To see how it goes for me.

messyinthekitchen

Yes on the weekends I do. But I try my best to stay in or at least close to my calories limit. This is after the hard way forever. I find people who have actual cheat days, never lose the weight. They spend the entire week trying to lose all the water weight they gained that weekend.. So I find the way I do it now works better. Then once a month I allow myself to indulge at a restaurant with my fiance or my girlfriends. It keeps me on track and i don't feel like I am depriving myself of the food that I enjoy.

Kayley

One day every other weekend I let myself go nuts. Still losing weight eating disgustingly yummy food here! :drinker:

mdsjmom98

I have cheat days, not very often, maybe once a month, but even so, I don't go overboard crazy, maybe an extra 500 calories or something. Usually my cheating involves potato chips or something salty. :laugh:

E6165

Yes, I wouldn't actually say a cheat day, but I try not to deprive myself of what I want. A little bit of goodness is ok. I look at this as a lifestyle change not a diet. I know, a lot of people say that but really I want to be able to eat healthy, make healthy choices and have portion control. I think once we have portion control we can indulge in a little something sinful every now and then as long as it doesn't become an everyday thing. Good luck to you!

aftergypsies

I don't call it a cheat day. If I know I'm gonna eat out I'm mindful of what I have the rest of the day. But yes I sometimes eat things not set in my normal routine.

jenj1313

Cheat day? what's that! Can't cheat on what's suppose to be a lifestyle change!! LoL

Man... if only I were perfect... my house and car would always be clean, my lawn would be perfectly mowed, I'd leave work on time every day, always look flawless, never be late to anything, always say the right thing in those awkward social situations, my eating would be perfect and I wouldn't need this silly website ;-p

But... since I'm far from perfect, all of the above aspects of my lifestyle require cheats, work-arounds and improvisation at times. My eating habits are not exempt.

Just my two cents... being a little sarcastic, and I get the lifestyle thing, but for it to work for me as a lifestyle, it's gotta allow some wiggle room.

All the best!
Jen

Ephena

I try to occasionally work some of the not so great stuff into my allotted calories but yeah there are occasional cheat meals, days, or (in the case of this weekend) multiple days :embarassed: but they are random. Sometimes planned, sometimes not. This past weekend I wasn't feeling very good, sick with a cold for the first time in over a year and I felt so drained that I gave in to what sounded good. The flip side is today my body almost instinctively reacted to such an overload of food by barely being hungry. I was surprised but excited to find that maybe finally my body is regulating itself, fingers crossed.

shannp

I say everything in Moderation and you will have more success changing your habits than if you deny yourself any treats whatsoever. I still enjoy my 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks a day, or that packet of crisps if I want.

Do deny yourself all your favourite things as this will just lead to binging.

SpydrMnky27

Yes, I have cheat days. I eat low carb and I allow myself to have a day off. Sometimes it leads to a weekend of horrible eating but I'm getting better. I do much better with cheat days than eating whatever I want in moderation.

catpow2

Yes--and it usually also involves copious amounts of alcohol. Last cheat day--3 beers, large gyro (split w/husband), fries (also split w/husband), 2 slices of veggie pizza. I also walked a lot--1 mile each way to a local festival, did a tour of homes, and then walked around festival. I also probably wasn't grossly over my calorie allotment, but none of it was healthy. I think it's ok to have a cheat day from time to time as long as your diet is good the other 99% of the time, and you balance it out. The next day I got up early and did an hours worth of cardio and HIT to try and make up for it.

DB_1106

No, I do not do cheat days.

What is the point? I'm curious.

Lindamack5987

My cheat day is Sunday. We have Sunday dinner at my Mother-in-laws house and she don't do diet. But I try to stay as close to calories as I can. Like skipping dessert.

netztoy

I put myself on a 90/10 rule...90% of the time I eat healthy and the remainder 10% I enjoy my self:bigsmile: ...that's a lifestyle change I can stick with. I refuse to totally deprive myself!!

fitnhealthykaren

Yes and no. One day of the weekend I'll definitely be a little more lax about total calories and I have my adult beverages as well. But, I don't eat anything horribly bad, I still eat good for you food, just more of it. For instance, I had a lovely new york steak with a baked potato and zucchini for dinner last night. (I don't usually have baked potatoes, so that was my splurge) I also had two light gluten free beers with it :drinker:

steph124ny

I'm new to this game...but I have a plan of how to handle it. If I know I'm going to "cheat" (Birthday party, time of the month, etc...) I will plan more exercise to make up for it. That way I can still eat a bit of what I want. I've been doing really well with the calories since I started 2 weeks ago, but I still had a little, itty-bitty baby size frozen yogurt when my family went out for ice cream. And I still had Papa Johns and breadsticks the other night. I just ate less. You can make it work.

Charlie_DiNozzo

I have a cheat day once a week, on Sunday. It really helps me get through the rest of the week since I follow a very strict diet, and do not eat ANY junk food or sweets during the week. And even then, I don't go super nuts. Maybe bacon and potatoes to my usual egg white and spinach omlette, maybe use real eggs instead of just egg whites. I will eat half a bag of popcorn, have soda, which I don't during the week. Maybe a piece of cake, or a candy bar, or some M&Ms.

Sarahsmiles0875

Thank you all so much for your feedback! As this is my second week on MFP, I am trying to adjust mentally to some of the aspects of the calorie counting, the meal selections, and how much I actually did not think about before. After this week my plan is to incorporating physical activity into my lifestyle, and perhaps that would counter some of my cravings.

For those of you who do work out, do you balance the calories to your dialy count based on what you worked off in exercise?

coolteenager101

No, I don't have cheat days. That would really affect my weight loss