cheat days

DBiddle69

My first suggestion is to re-look what you are doing....I have not dieted in the past two years. I made a lifestyle change!

Because it is a lifestyle change it allows me to make mistakes as long as I understand I need to readjust and move on.

THIS WORKS FOR ME....it may not work for someone else!

What I do is use my calories a week at a time (Sunday - Saturday)...some call this zig zagging calories.

I am maintaining and on 1800 calories a day, I exercise on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday or Tuesday for 100 minutes and burn about 850 calories each exercise.

So Sunday is the start of the new week.
Sunday - I exercise for 100 minutes and have 2650 in calories....I eat 1700 calories for the day leaving 950 left over.
Monday - I exercise for 100 minutes and have 2650 in calories....I eat 2000 calories for the day leaving 650 left over.
At this point for the week I still have and additional 1600 calories left over and five days in the week left
Tuesday - I eat 2100 calories for the day so I am now down to 1300 extra calories and four days in my week to go!

Again, it is a lifestyle change so as long as at the end of the week I have enough calories to meet my desired weight loss or under my needed calories for maintaining it is all good!

Springer007

Its a strange concept...the "cheat day".
Funny thing about a diet.... its like playing a game by yourself.
Its just you watching, if you want to cheat, cheat. You only cheat yourself. In golf if you want to score the hole a 4 when you really took 7 strokes, then do it. The end results will speak for them selves.

People act like if they call it a "cheat day" it does not count. When really, in the end EVERY calorie you put in your mouth counts, even if its on a "cheat day". The next day that calorie counts the same as if you had it on your cheat day.

Chances are if you are needing a cheat day, then you are not doing something right. Anything you are craving you should be able to eat it, and then work off the extra calories that did not fit in to your daily or weekly calories.

Do you see what I am saying? MFP is designed to allow you a set amount of calories and then allows you to earn some more via excersise. Cheat day or not, when the smoke clears if you ate too many calories then you will gain weight, and if you were good then you will lose weight.

I see many people out here that dont lose weight and then complain about how they are doing everything right. You look at their journals and they dont have Saturdays filled in and then say "well thats my cheat day, I dont track Saturdays".

chuisle

Its a strange concept...the "cheat day".
Funny thing about a diet.... its like playing a game by yourself.
Its just you watching, if you want to cheat, cheat. You only cheat yourself. In golf if you want to score the hole a 4 when you really took 7 strokes, then do it. The end results will speak for them selves.

People act like if they call it a "cheat day" it does not count. When really, in the end EVERY calorie you put in your mouth counts, even if its on a "cheat day". The next day that calorie counts the same as if you had it on your cheat day.

Chances are if you are needing a cheat day, then you are not doing something right. Anything you are craving you should be able to eat it, and then work off the extra calories that did not fit in to your daily or weekly calories.

Do you see what I am saying? MFP is designed to allow you a set amount of calories and then allows you to earn some more via excersise. Cheat day or not, when the smoke clears if you ate too many calories then you will gain weight, and if you were good then you will lose weight.

I see many people out here that dont lose weight and then complain about how they are doing everything right. You look at their journals and they dont have Saturdays filled in and then say "well thats my cheat day, I dont track Saturdays".

Can we all agree its about what works? I have left my Saturday blank a number of times and still managed to lose and make progress towards my goals, other can't/don't. It's a personal preference...both work.

ChanniVincent

I've done that twice and completely regreted it.
Now I just have rest days while I eat healthy. I still exercise, just not as much.
Like today I'm tired from work so I'm doing pilates and yoga tonight. I stretched this morning, and thats all I'm doing, well plus I cleaned all day (my job). LOL.

Charloo1990

I do a cheat day once per week. i would go crazy with out my one cheat day. it also motivates me to stay on my diet during the week. i can look forward to the one day where i can eat whatever i want. i love it. every week i get one cheat day to indulge my cravings, after that day, i'm happy to go back on my diet. It hasn't hurt my weight loss progress. i've still lost weight. its up to you what you want to do. but it works good for me.

This^^^
It totally works for me too.

pavingnewpaths

Its a strange concept...the "cheat day".
Funny thing about a diet.... its like playing a game by yourself.
Its just you watching, if you want to cheat, cheat. You only cheat yourself. In golf if you want to score the hole a 4 when you really took 7 strokes, then do it. The end results will speak for them selves.

People act like if they call it a "cheat day" it does not count. When really, in the end EVERY calorie you put in your mouth counts, even if its on a "cheat day". The next day that calorie counts the same as if you had it on your cheat day.

Chances are if you are needing a cheat day, then you are not doing something right. Anything you are craving you should be able to eat it, and then work off the extra calories that did not fit in to your daily or weekly calories.

Do you see what I am saying? MFP is designed to allow you a set amount of calories and then allows you to earn some more via excersise. Cheat day or not, when the smoke clears if you ate too many calories then you will gain weight, and if you were good then you will lose weight.

I see many people out here that dont lose weight and then complain about how they are doing everything right. You look at their journals and they dont have Saturdays filled in and then say "well thats my cheat day, I dont track Saturdays".

All of this.

Springer007

Its a strange concept...the "cheat day".
Funny thing about a diet.... its like playing a game by yourself.
Its just you watching, if you want to cheat, cheat. You only cheat yourself. In golf if you want to score the hole a 4 when you really took 7 strokes, then do it. The end results will speak for them selves.

People act like if they call it a "cheat day" it does not count. When really, in the end EVERY calorie you put in your mouth counts, even if its on a "cheat day". The next day that calorie counts the same as if you had it on your cheat day.

Chances are if you are needing a cheat day, then you are not doing something right. Anything you are craving you should be able to eat it, and then work off the extra calories that did not fit in to your daily or weekly calories.

Do you see what I am saying? MFP is designed to allow you a set amount of calories and then allows you to earn some more via excersise. Cheat day or not, when the smoke clears if you ate too many calories then you will gain weight, and if you were good then you will lose weight.

I see many people out here that dont lose weight and then complain about how they are doing everything right. You look at their journals and they dont have Saturdays filled in and then say "well thats my cheat day, I dont track Saturdays".

Can we all agree its about what works? I have left my Saturday blank a number of times and still managed to lose and make progress towards my goals, other can't/don't. It's a personal preference...both work.

Absolutely, while cheat days work as motivation for many people I am just pointing out the fact that while WE may take a break, and choose not to log a day, our bodys dont take that same break. IF its too much of a cheat day then it will show.

Id just call it a backward progress day. Its like using a credit card. You got what you needed, but there is a debt left that has to be paid. If you "pay off" the debt from the cheat day in the next week , then you are great.

chuisle

Id just call it a backward progress day. Its like using a credit card. You got what you needed, but there is a debt left that has to be paid. If you "pay off" the debt from the cheat day in the next week , then you are great.

I would also point to the literature on refeeds, though that is highly debatable and geared towards people on more specific regimens than most. I tend to think of it in terms of adherence. A lot of fitness professionals agree that 90% adherence to a diet is a good place to get results. If you choose 1 meal a meal to be nonadherent, you're still probably in good shape. That said, yes, I compeltely agree that a cheat still 'counts' and if you you think it doesn't then you are fooling yourself. Your body is the most ruthless accountant.

katamus

Two weeks isn't that long.. I've been eating better for about three weeks. I don't like to call it "dieting" because I still eat a lot of stuff that I -actually- like but in moderation and cutting out the quick-fixes (mostly fast food, soda, candy). What are you craving? What have you cut out completely?

Vodkha

I am basically eating fruits, veggies, protein shakes and lots of chicken and salmon, greek yogurt...basically trying to keep my protein % as high as possible, carbs low unless it is a weight lifting day.

bradymeans

Honestly, I've been on MFP 6 months today and have never had a "cheat day". If its someone's BD, I'm at a BBQ, etc. I log the cake, potato salad, whatever...BUT I have a bite, a spoonful etc. I went to Atlantic City over the weekend and my girlfriend made mini white russian cupcakes for the trip... I had one... and logged it in. Who am I cheating by having a cheat day? ME! That's just my spin on it. Good luck in your journey

I wish I had your outlook on it

happyfeetrebel1

A lot of people do this...I personally do not. If I cheat one day, it tends to slide into another, and another..and it's a damn slippery slope for me.

txlissa62

I eat what Im hungry for, in moderation, within my calorie budget - instead of depriving myself until I lose control and eat 4 of said thing. Im not a puppy in training, I dont reward myself with food.

Rewarding yourself with food is like getting to the last mile of a half marathon and rewarding myself by turning around and running away from the finish line.

This, exactly. I don't designate cheat days. I eat what I want, in moderation. In reality, the only things I used to have that I don't any more are fast food and sodas. Everything else, I still have, including ice cream, pizza (homemade) and the occasional chip or three. I just budget for it in my daily calorie allotment.

I'm not going to deprive myself of my favorite things altogether, because that is not something sustainable. Healthy people are able to eat foods they love in moderation, and I'm teaching myself to do that as well.

As far as special occasions, I allow for those, too. Last Saturday we had plans to go out for dinner with friends for my mother's birthday. We were going to our favorite Thai restaurant. I didn't eat much during the day (just a tomato sandwich for lunch), but at dinner, I ate what I wanted - panang curry with chicken and rice, and fried spring rolls. I still lost .04 pound.

Now, I don't think this is something I could do every week, because it would probably add up. However, once in a while appears to be okay for me, as long as I stay within my budget the week before, and get right back on track the next day.

I will never reward myself with food. Emotional eating is what got me in this mess in the first place. I don't want to go there again.

graelwyn

Many here seem to incorporate a cheat day or cheat meal into their diet.
My trainer recommended I do this, and eat clean the other 6 days of the week, to keep a control on binges and not feel so deprived while maintaining my weight. Whether there are any 'shock to the system' benefits or not, I don't know. I have seen quite a few people suggest there is a spike from the sudden change in calorie/carb intake, but not sure I believe that or not. I shall probably be trying to incorporate a cheat evening a week into my diet, once I have the rest of my days under control and relatively clean.

Also, it is a matter of whether you have the power to get right back on track the day after, in the face of the hunger that some tend to experience after having a cheat meal/day, and perhaps, additional cravings for more of the same foods. It wont suit everyone. Some are better having no treats at all, and some are better suited to a little each day.

terryrh

I have a cheat day once a week, usually a Saturday, I don't go crazy - in fact I've often just had a cheat meal that could have been a regular days meal

I've cut out bread all together so a cheat day usually starts with white toast

I think allowing myself 1 day a week is what makes me able to get through the other 6, some weeks Im thinking about my cheat day on Monday others I could easily do without it, or I save it fr a particularly busy day or a day I have plans with friends

mondesa

Honestly, I've been on MFP 6 months today and have never had a "cheat day". If its someone's BD, I'm at a BBQ, etc. I log the cake, potato salad, whatever...BUT I have a bite, a spoonful etc. I went to Atlantic City over the weekend and my girlfriend made mini white russian cupcakes for the trip... I had one... and logged it in. Who am I cheating by having a cheat day? ME! That's just my spin on it. Good luck in your journey

This is so true. I am 5 months into my journey and this weekend my son (who recently moved out) was home for dinner so I ate fried cheicken and had pasta (I am doing atkins) So this is a super no no. But i had very small portions and drank tons of water I stayed below my calorie goal but still felt horrible for cheating on myself.

XxOMG_ITS_PINKxX

It doesn't matter how I feel about them because they happen anyway.

Completely the truth. I just try to keep things in moderation and try not to be too hard on myself. I have lost a little over 20 lbs in four months and there have been PLENTY of cheat meals/days in there!!!

Mrsbrandnewmeslimandtrim

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