Does anyone else NOT do a "cheat" day?

mtarika

I try not to have a cheat day because it is really hard for me to get back on track afterwards.

sweetmelissa40

I don't have one. If i want something, I have to b able to fit it into my calories.
I WILL NOT deprive myself. Deprivation sets a person up for failure.
Just my opinion....
Have a great day!! :glasses:

emuhawk

No cheat days here. But I also don't restrict what types of food I eat on a daily basis - if it fits in my calorie budget and I want it, I eat it. Working well for me so far!

fairestthings

I'm trying to change our lifestyle, so we have cheat days but they're not scheduled. We'll eat out for birthdays, anniversaries, with visiting family... but we make sure to choose healthier option restaurants. I also plan ahead. Sundays I don't exercise, it's my day of rest, but if I can, I will eat extremely healthy the day before eating out and exercise a little longer than typical.

But I don't believe in cheat days because it insinuates the person is dieting, not changing their lifestyle which is the key to permanent weight loss and health.

JoyousJustine67

I have planed cheat days and sometimes i just eat LOL but i have worked hard so i am good with rewarding myself

SteffieMark

I have never had a "Cheat" day. But, I am a person who does not get cravings. If anything, I have to set an alarm to remind myself to eat. I know that's silly, but I do. I get busy doing other things and the time just flies by. Before I realize it, 2 meals have been passed by. If I felt like having a food item that would be considered a "Cheat", I would have it and work it into my macros.

mfpcopine

No, because it could become a cheat weak, or a cheat month.

LiddyBit

It's interesting how differently people perceive a cheat day. For me, a controlled cheat will prevent long-term cheating or falling off the wagon. I really have to fight my all-or-nothing tendencies and it is very difficult for me to just work treats into my daily routine. THAT is what will send me off the rails. I either have to eat very strictly or let myself totally go, middle ground does not exist for me.

MoreThanMommie

I do not have a cheat day. If I am craving something I work it into my calories and/or exercise my butt of that day. I am just curious, does anyone else not do a cheat day?

I eat whatever I want and comp the calories with exercise.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

^^Same.

StephGodsPrincess

Once every two weeks I have a meal of something I wouldn't normally eat but really like but work it into my calorie count for the day.

katemme

No 'cheat days' but I exercise more if I know we're going out to dinner or getting dessert or whatever. Otherwise I just eat small portions of whatever I want. I generally don't eat a lot of junky stuff anyway, don't keep it in the house.

contrari

I have a "goal day." Typically this is pretty far out, like 6 weeks. And that's the day I have the things I've been wanting to try. Otherwise I'm prone to just eat impulsively and excessively more often than I should... and this is why I'm on mfp. Also, not every holiday is a cheat day. There are too many holidays once birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, going away parties, and the hallmark holidays get factored in.

I'm working on having my cheat day not be "binge day" and more of a sampling situation.

kdeaux1959

I never have a "cheat day" but if I go over (even by a lot) I don't get all bent out of shape over it either as long as it is an unusual circumstance. An example would be day before yesterday. My wife's band went to a theme park.. By the end of they day I was double my calories for the day... This is by no means the norm for me... It is not a change of direction or anything.. It was a one time thing. I did not sweat it. I just returned to my usual routine the next day (I usually try for about 500 under goal calories with exercise)...

A cheat day per se tells me that we have not changed our relationship with food... It is our maladaptive relationship with food that has gotten us where we are right now... That has to change before a lasting change can take place in our bodies. On the other hand I think if we get all bent out of shape over one bad day (especially if it is due to an unusual reason... special dinner, birthday, vacation, etc.) then our efforts can be unsustainable since for the rest of our lives we will have to navigate through those type of obstacles in life.

amycarol59

I do not have a cheat day. If I am craving something I work it into my calories and/or exercise my butt of that day. I am just curious, does anyone else not do a cheat day?

I do not have cheat days if I am craving it I figure out why I am craving it and it is usually a vitamin or other nutrient I am lacking in so I work it into my calories. The one thing I crave regularly is red meat because I don't eat it but during that dreaded TOM I get a little low on iron. I make salmon marinated with steak seasonings it taste just like steak and it gives me what I needed. No more cravings. YOu are right on track!! Keep going!

Embolee

I don't have a cheat day. I work it in or place what I eat. I become discouraged when I don't. It's like taboo, don't eat this, don't eat that, UGH. So I just measure a serving and add it in. I may go over my calories for that day but it's out of my system.

spngebobmyhero

that's what I do too. I never go crazy for a planned day. Occasionally I will have a day that I eat way over, but its not a planned cheat day or something I feel bad about. It happens, I enjoy the food, and I do my MFP thing the next day as normal.

wolfi622

So far no cheat days. I always fit it in my calories - and I generally never eat back more that 1/2 of my exercise calories. If I know a big meal is coming - like a wedding we are going to next week, I'll just adjust the rest of they day and/or the day before to make sure I have the calories "available".