Cheating, how do you atone?

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Replies

  • bulbadoof
    bulbadoof Posts: 1,058 Member
    Turn that guilt into gratitude - you confused your metabolism and now it's going to work a little harder for you. I would definitely exercise a little more and eat extra healthy for the next couple of days to make the most of it, but don't feel like you have to do it to catch up - think of it as an advantage!
  • Sarahgrace0228
    Sarahgrace0228 Posts: 63 Member
    .I did it Saturday. Had horrible guilt. The following day I dusted the dirt from my shoulders and started the week out healthy.. :) Say your week started out Sunday and Sunday was one of the days you had an "oops" with your diet. Calculate your weekly intake and see what you need to do to even it out. I did that. Had a 695 calorie deficit yesterday.Work a bit harder the next few days. Don't eat less just eat more lower calorie foods like fruits and veggies. That starvation mode would be bad thing
  • Christi6604
    Christi6604 Posts: 247 Member
    Luckily, I don't ever have episodes where I'm just "off the wagon" for a long period of time. I mostly have planned instances where I go a bit over (i.e. I have one day a week where I eat what I've been craving irregardless of calories, but in moderation...and generally only one meal).

    If I DO happen to make a poor food choice, first I try to figure out why I made the choice and adjust accordingly. Was I really thirsty? Was I upset about something?, etc. Then I just get back to life - making good overall food choices. Because that's what I do now.
  • ChrisFitPro
    ChrisFitPro Posts: 32 Member
    Luckily, I don't ever have episodes where I'm just "off the wagon" for a long period of time. I mostly have planned instances where I go a bit over (i.e. I have one day a week where I eat what I've been craving irregardless of calories, but in moderation...and generally only one meal).

    If I DO happen to make a poor food choice, first I try to figure out why I made the choice and adjust accordingly. Was I really thirsty? Was I upset about something?, etc. Then I just get back to life - making good overall food choices. Because that's what I do now.

    I tend to favor this calculated approach to my "lifestyle" (lol at people being afraid of the word diet)... But everyone is different. Type A - Type Z. If you like control and planning, then you can have your cake and enjoy it too :)
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I just don't tell her.
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    I log it and start over the next day like it never happened.

    I agree with Victoria. Don't punish yourself for enjoying an "awesome" weekend. :smile:
  • SamTheIntlDvlpr
    SamTheIntlDvlpr Posts: 24
    haha I did the same thing in like my 3rd and 4th week, and I was annoyed with myself because my weight loss was very slow in those weeks, compared to my first 2 weeks where i dropped 5 lbs.. so because i didnt see my results that i wanted to, i stopped cheating lol
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    I think it depends on how motivated you are to meet your goals. Personally, I try not to have any cheat days because I'm really trying to reach a specific goal in a set period of time. So, if I end up cheating by accident or something, I get my butt to the gym. I try not to "punish" myself by making myself feel like I need to atone for "sins" committed. Everyone screws up once in a while when trying to lose weight, it's nothing to beat yourself up over. The less guilt I can associate with small mistakes and setbacks, the more likely I am to stay motivated and positive when I DO screw up. Just my two cents :flowerforyou:
  • deannakittygirl
    deannakittygirl Posts: 228 Member
    First off, don't call it "diet". And it's not "cheating". It's living. Pick yourself back up the next day or day after. It's only a big deal if you make it a big deal :-) Too many people beat themselves up over living life and indulging now and again. It's going to happen, so accept it, figure out a "plan of action" if you will, and get back to your healthy lifestyle. If you don't allow yourself to indulge now and then, you could end up going on a binge or completely giving up altogether. Don't punish yourself. But if you know that this is how weekends might end up, try increasing your water throughout the week, increase your exercise by a bit, make sure you're following whatever lifestyle you've chosen as best you can.
  • deannakittygirl
    deannakittygirl Posts: 228 Member
    agree
  • kstrunk1
    kstrunk1 Posts: 462 Member
    I had a planned "indulgence meal" last night b/c we took my dad to a really nice restaurant for Father's Day. I logged it in and made sure to drink a lot of water so I could flush some of the sodium out. I like to have planned indulgences b/c then I know what I'm going to do, there is absolutely NO guilt and I try to be a bit more stringent with what I am eating throughout that particular day. I was way over my calories yesterday but so what. We all had a blast! I want to change the way I look at food and not be ashamed of wanting to eat some very unhealthy foods once in a while. This is the only way I will make this lifestyle change stick. I've been at this since March 10 and feel like it's really going to work this time b/c my attitude about food has changed - much of it due to MFP! :)

    So I say, forgive yourself and no atoning!! Live your life and eat sensibly but allow yourself those indulgences. :flowerforyou:
  • Cupcakehippiemommy
    Cupcakehippiemommy Posts: 457 Member
    I used to do that all the time, and finallyI said forget it and now I just eat what I want in moderation and it is a more realistic lifestyle for me. I introduced tons more frutis and veggies and only water to my life and I gotta tell ya I do NOT feel guilty for having 1/2 cupcake for dessert :) I also keep in mind that if I go over my cals I can burn the cals off but not the sodium or sugar off of certain foods...
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    I have had a cheat day ever since I started and it hasn't gotten in my way yet -- what has is that I went from 1 to 2 cheat days, so although I am still losing weight its slower :) I eat low on my 5-6 good days (around 1300 cals) and I NEVER eat back my exercise calories. I think this evens itself back out for me. I am sure noone will agree with me, but heck I lost 82 lbs in 14 months and never felt hungry or deprived of indulgences.

    ETA - and when I say cheat I don't mean gorge. I have cereal for breaky, a latte, maybe some crackers and peanut butter for snack, then I eat out for lunch and dinner.... I may even have a couple beer. I have never stopped to log this food but I am never stupidly excessive. If I crave something I leave it for my Friday cheat day.
  • Darlingir
    Darlingir Posts: 437
    I beat myself with a cane stick
  • Melonhead
    Melonhead Posts: 168
    I "pay" for it in advance. If I really want that slice or pie or pizza, then I workout and earn those calories. The funny thing - I'm finding that after I workout, I don't even want what I was originally craving.

    No one is perfect, so as long as it's not a routine thing, it probably balances out during the week.

    If i was going to punish myself, i would probably force myself to listen to Nickleback for an hour
  • CrueChix
    CrueChix Posts: 47
    I just don't tell her.
    Ha! From reading your other posts, I just knew you were going to say something like that! Lol...too funny.
  • tempestrising
    tempestrising Posts: 41
    I wouldn't worry so much ....one or two days going off your plan. I bet you will back on track in no time.
    Don't be too hard on yourself..we're only human.
    Personally I look forward to having an Indulgence meal now & then.
    I know I will work just a bit harder for the rest of the week.
    If I put in those meals that I am craving once in awhile..the less
    likely I'm to give in to a binge or overeat.
    It's more of a lifestyle change..than a diet..b/c it should work for the long term.
    Best Wishes :happy:
  • Ghostpoo
    Ghostpoo Posts: 24 Member


    If i was going to punish myself, i would probably force myself to listen to Nickleback for an hour

    Wow, way too much torture there! haha!!
  • fivezero15
    fivezero15 Posts: 9 Member
    I have tended to not log on days I know I really blew it, but I've decided recently to log no matter what. Sometimes I don't want to because how do you log "Big Plate of Indian Food at the Buffet" when you don't even know the names of the foods? So I've been making myself use the quick calories add feature and trying to be pretty honest. It helps me get back on track the very next day instead of giving up for a week or more.
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    Nvm, zombie thread.
  • RawMomma10
    RawMomma10 Posts: 89 Member
    Welll even when I have my cheats I am still maintaining my calorie goal.... so... I dont really pay much attention to it... I wait till the weekends for my cheats.... and during the week I work my *kitten* off and I make healthy choices and hit my goals.... so .... you just have to find a way that works for you to be able to indulge once in awhile without feeling guilty or like you need to starve yourself or work extra harder or whatever.... I guess its different for everyone but that to me doesnt make sense as then your just making yourself feel worse which prob leads to wanting to eat more...(former emotional eater here... so I can relate to that) or not eating enough and working out harder which then is also self defeating....and it just creates an ugly cylce....

    Good luck with whatever you do... I hope you can figure out how to make it work for you soon!! :)
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    I mope, hate myself, then go workout as usual, nothing extra and get back on track (at least try) lol
  • Soccermavrick
    Soccermavrick Posts: 405 Member
    I think most of us cheat on our diets once or twice. I am not sure I call it cheating though, more good days and bad. Of course I do not like the word diet either, because I am trying to eat healthier over all, not just till I hit a number.

    The reality is I am not sure punishment helps. I think you have to record it, and then get back on your path. And just accept that the number might not go down this week. I mean I went on vacation and all of a sudden, eating out for dinner and snack food became the norm, and the scale jumped 2 lbs. Now I hope to see that gone after a week back, but I am not sure, so we will see.
  • cmeiron
    cmeiron Posts: 1,599 Member
    Guilt should be reserved for moments when you do something really bad - like kick a puppy or sleep with your best friend's husband or steal your neighbor's newspaper. Not for eating something that isn't considered a "diet" food. :)

    Just acknowledge that it happened, plan for an alternate in the future (if you want to prevent it from happening again, I'm not assuming you do), and then move on with life. This is a lifestyle change. You're going to eat cake SOMETIME in the next few years before you die, right? Might as well accept it, plan for it and keep on movin' on,

    ^ QFT

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