What do you guys think of "cheating?"

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Replies

  • I just plug in the enjoyment food into my plan for the day...for example, today I wanted a Double Stack from Wendy's..so I went and got it, 400 calories into my plan and I remained on track the whole day...I don't look at these things as cheating, particularly when I eat right 80-90% of the time...you can enjoy these "rewards" when you life a healthy lifestyle
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    If I really want something, I will usually eat it - but I don't consider it "cheating", I prefer to call it "life"!

    Often I'll buy a smaller size or eat half and throw away the rest. Then I've had it and I move on.
    Or I might buy a big size, eat it all, enjoy it and move on.

    Either way, I don't think it's a problem - I'm not planning to make my own life complicated by setting rules about what I'm "allowed" to eat or not for the rest of my life. I'm smart enough to know a healthy choice from an unhealthy one, I just work on getting a good balance.
  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
    I don't cheat because I don't know where it's going to lead. I took a "break" last Christmas just to enjoy the holiday and ended up gaining 40 pounds. If you can do it and get back on track then I guess it's okay. I'm avoiding it for now, though I kind of envy people who can eat whatever they want for a whole day or weekend and still lose weight.

    I'm with you. "My vacation break" last June led to more frequent cheats, then a Christmas break, then a downward spiral that led to an 18 pound gain overall. It has taken three months to lose that 18 pounds, and I don't ever want to have to repeat that.

    That being said, I live in a home where there's food around that's on my "do not eat" list. I'm often in charge of putting it away, so I've been occasionally eating a bite or two of this and that to taste. So far, I've been able to stop at that, but it makes it so hard to log. I feel like I'm being a bad influence when my friends see pizza on my diary, but don't notice that it was only 1/8 of a slice!
  • kungfuflyer
    kungfuflyer Posts: 29 Member
    It is all a balancing act and management. It's not cheating if you are achieving your goals. If you want pizza, ice-cream, cheeseburger, donut, etc. then go ahead and have it but know that it can set you back from your goals. However, if you have worked out hard and ate really good for the majority of your week and want some of that stuff then go ahead and have it. As long as you are making progress you are not cheating yourself. If it gets out of control and you start backsliding away from your goals then you are cheating yourself. You should enjoy life but feel good about yourself in the same manner so just make sure that you manage acoordingly so you can eat things you want but still achieve your goals.
  • wreckedredhead60
    wreckedredhead60 Posts: 40 Member
    Just read a post from someone comparing being a food addict to any other kind of addict - you wouldn't give any other kind of addict a chance to cheat for even one day - so w.hy do we feel it is okay to cheat with food we know isn't good for us. I guess the difference is you have to eat food - you can not give it up completely/ A piece of chocolate or a piece of cake is not that bad unless you know that it will just trigger you to over indulge. I guess it depends on the person. I smoked for years and quit - but I can light up when I am with a friend who smokes and not have another cigarette for months or even years - I've done it. Can I do that with a piece of chocolate or cake - nope - best for me to stay away for it. To each his own.