The concept of a "Cheat"

Debbe2

I completely agree with the OP and I don't subscribe to a "cheat day". I am eating foods I love, avoiding foods I don't, eating because I'm hungry (well practicing everyday) and enjoying food as delicious nourishment. No longer an activity which means navigating holiday meals, restaurants, and social activities in a healthy, conscious and mindful way.

kao708

I don't consider anything off limits because that's just not realistic. And I prefer to call them Splurge Days/Meals...no cheating because I still log everything to keep a record of it.

mmychal

It's just a word. People use it to mean different things. For my wife and I, we havea cheat meal once a week where we'll allow ourselves to eat something fried or less healthy than some of our normal meals. We still monitor the calories and try to stay under our daily limits and usually do.

We call it a cheat day because it's actually FUN to imply you're breaking some rules even though we really aren't.

It's just a word, people. Get over it.

curtnrod

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Cheat:
1. To deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud.
2. To influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice.
3. To elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting

Pretty much sums it up

Anything in moderation, but I prefer rewards

HerbT51

I'd much prefer to live in a world where nothing is off limits as long as I possess the strength to have it in moderation. That said, for the time being, there are trigger foods that I will not allow ...

You already have it figiured out. There is no need to "cheat" if you already accept everything in moderation. It is all about the trade-offs and exchanges. If it is a sustainable life style you will succeed. If it is a "diet" you will slip back eventually.

LeslePG

I have meals that I go over on calories because that's what I want to eat and once in a while it's nice to just be able to eat what you want. I don't consider it a "cheat" meal, I just consider it as something that's I'd like to eat. More of a "treat" than a "cheat". People don't seem to understand that you can eat what you like and still lose weight. Just moderate everything and make smarter choices.

^^^^
This!!

Cugster

I tried to have my first "cheat" day yesterday at an amusement park! I wasn't going to log anything... Just go crazy! Had my first bites of funnel cake and decided I just couldn't do it! I ate wahtever I wanted, which turned out to be little bits of "naughty" food. 1/4 funnel cake, 1/2 cup dippin dots and my one giant splurge...Fruit smoothie made with ice cream! I just didn't eat as MUCH of the junk as I did before! Ended up staying under my calorie goal anyway! Moderation!!!

mmychal

I tried to have my first "cheat" day yesterday at an amusement park! I wasn't going to log anything... Just go crazy! Had my first bites of funnel cake and decided I just couldn't do it! I ate wahtever I wanted, which turned out to be little bits of "naughty" food. 1/4 funnel cake, 1/2 cup dippin dots and my one giant splurge...Fruit smoothie made with ice cream! I just didn't eat as MUCH of the junk as I did before! Ended up staying under my calorie goal anyway! Moderation!!!

You have the cheating concept nailed down perfectly. In the spirit of the Olympics, a gold medal for you.

simonsayzz

I don't consciously have cheats, I wake up every day and know I can't. That being said, I will have a HANDFUL a popcorn at the movie, a BITE of cheesecake when I'm out with my girls, lick the frosting off the knife when I cut a birthday cake....etc. I don't ever take my own personal " cheat" portion. I'm pretty rigid, but have lost 67 pounds in 8 months by sticking to it, and I won't go back. So, if all i get is a leftover nibble of a treat, I make it work! I am, however, only 2.4 pounds from the goal I thought I'd never see....and you can bet I'm going all out when that day comes! Margaritas and nachos, baby! Lol

Rockontoothpicks

Everyone has their own path to success that works around their diet, their fitness routine, work, and family obligations. Some people like the Cheat or Free day for many reasons. I avoided free days and most food that was counter productive to my goals my first 6 months of MFP. However now that I surpassed my first two goal weights I do treat myself to a meal (usually on Saturdays) that is maybe higher in calories than I normally ate. However for that to work for me I make sure I work out that day and that I avoid french fries (which is something I miss dearly but haven't had in all of 2012) because I am still trying to stay far away from fried foods as much as possible for my health.
Some people have cheat days where they eat whatever they want....I don't knock it....I just know it wouldn't work for me. I love wearing pants that are several sizes smaller than last year too much. However if someone can do it and keep going on their path to success then I am happy for them (especially if they can eat fries) lol

Jeliwood

Ah, I don't really believe in cheating because I feel the same way you do but I do think there are meals that you splurge a bit more on than normal but I would do that any way I was eating. I'm talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my birthday and my husband's birthday. It's simply the fact that I wouldn't normally go out of my way to eat a lot of those things. Cake, pies, some of the side dishes. They're good, but they're best left to once or twice a year. Like for my husband's birthday I made him a dark chocolate fudge cake. I had a slice and it was good. I didn't feel bad about it, or get really excited about it. It was at my husband's request and his gift.

I can see special meals, but not cheat days or meals. It seems like a free pass to eat whatever you want.

lol That being said... I'm Cajun too and I can honestly say neither one of those things hold any appeal to me. Now, dirty rice (especially with some mac and cheese on the side), fried shrimp po boys, and bread pudding is a WHOLE other story. Oh, god. Pralines. I haven't had a good praline in ages. You can't find them in the northern part of the state. (Man, I want to go back to New Orleans.)

darrensurrey

Don't see the problem with a cheat day. Cheat day. Free day. Refeed day. Treat day. Feet day if you're a garra rufa fish. It serves a purpose to keep those who can't quite give up the fun stuff on the straight and narrow for longer. Ultimately, you won't need a cheat day but if you've got to do a bit of socialising then it means you avoid feeling guilty. Just don't go kerazy with everything.

I tried to have my first "cheat" day yesterday at an amusement park! I wasn't going to log anything... Just go crazy! Had my first bites of funnel cake and decided I just couldn't do it! I ate wahtever I wanted, which turned out to be little bits of "naughty" food. 1/4 funnel cake, 1/2 cup dippin dots and my one giant splurge...Fruit smoothie made with ice cream! I just didn't eat as MUCH of the junk as I did before! Ended up staying under my calorie goal anyway! Moderation!!!

Well done! That's a relief. When I saw "just go crazy", I thought "Oh, no!" as that is what many people seem to think cheat days are.

CoderGal

So I was wondering what you do. Do you subscribe the the cheat day/meal theory? If so how often do you indulge? And how do you feel afterward?

I don't call them cheat meals but I often eat allot (>2500). I'm to goal now and just had one yesterday and ended up the same weight today (119). I like having large days...it gives me a lot of energy...I played zombie run, went on 2 more walks, did weights, and tons of stretches. I was bouncing off the walls and I didn't need coffee to do it. I ended up in the red for the day, but I had more energy then I usually do (even though I probably have to much to begin with haha).

I had a dirty feed of deep fried cod (3 giant pieces). That's what put me over for the most part. Did I mention I don't like fish? I tend to eat cod every now and then because I hardly get any iron and the battered stuff doesn't make me feel nauseous. I ended up with 200 grams of protein for the day :S I'm use to being short.

loumaag

After replying to the OP then reading some of the replies that followed I feel I need to say something. A lifestyle change is something that is unique to each individual. One person's lifestyle is not the same as someone else's lifestyle, so a change in that is also unique.

I see a lot of folks still are "rewarding", "treating", and yes "cheating". Again, for me, none of that applies. My goal is to maintain my calorie intake below my daily goal plus what I exercise. I saw several references to folks who talked about special days or events; well, I also have those days. But I adapt my day around them, last weekend my wife and I were taking some friends out for a birthday dinner, I knew I was going to probably make some poor choices so that morning I got on the stick and burnt up 968 calories exercising. Good thing too, since my dinner came in at ~1450 calories! But guess what, it wasn't a "cheat day" it wasn't a "treat meal", it was just me eating what I wanted but going into it knowing that in advance. BTW, I still came in under my daily calorie goal that day.

As for the concept of cheat days/meals as a reward, as someone suggested...my reward is that ticker you see right below this post. That is the results after 73 days of lifestyle change.

neverstray

After replying to the OP then reading some of the replies that followed I feel I need to say something. A lifestyle change is something that is unique to each individual. One person's lifestyle is not the same as someone else's lifestyle, so a change in that is also unique.

I see a lot of folks still are "rewarding", "treating", and yes "cheating". Again, for me, none of that applies. My goal is to maintain my calorie intake below my daily goal plus what I exercise. I saw several references to folks who talked about special days or events; well, I also have those days. But I adapt my day around them, last weekend my wife and I were taking some friends out for a birthday dinner, I knew I was going to probably make some poor choices so that morning I got on the stick and burnt up 968 calories exercising. Good thing too, since my dinner came in at ~1450 calories! But guess what, it wasn't a "cheat day" it wasn't a "treat meal", it was just me eating what I wanted but going into it knowing that in advance. BTW, I still came in under my daily calorie goal that day.

As for the concept of cheat days/meals as a reward, as someone suggested...my reward is that ticker you see right below this post. That is the results after 73 days of lifestyle change.

For me, if it's a birthday, as an example, I'll have a piece of cake. WTH! It's a special party and all that, and I want to be part of it. But, knowing that, I'll mellow out on eating at the event. I've been very good lately. I'll eat something, but I'll stay on the lighter side. Skip the hotdog and potato salad, and just have a green salad and maybe some other lighter options. Just go with those.

For bigger event, think 4th of July, Labor day, Thanksgiving, Christmas...I just eat, but I just have one plate of stuff, and I keep it light. It's easy, for the most part. But, you have to go through a few years of it. The key, LOL, is to make your plate look full, even if it's very light, so that people don't say stuff about you not eating enough. And, then, eat it slowly. Not for you, but so you don't finish before everyone else and then they pressure you to have more. These are some tricks I've learned. LOL.

I_love_frogs

I don't call it a cheat meal. I call it a TREAT meal. It's a treat because I don't do it every day. If I know in advance what is going on...where we are going,... I can look and see the menu online to see what my choices are and how I can best fit it in. If I have advance notice I will exercise and earn some more back to cushion the blow. But I still remain on track as much as I can. Eating salad <without all the bits and bobs that shoot up the cals>, eating all my veggies, ordering fish etc.

If I don't know and its a spur of the moment thing? I know what are good choices overall so I can have a decent meal and not feel hungry.

I make the best choices I can without depriving myself. That being said? If I am in the mood for a good steak, then I will get a good steak and I will enjoy it! I will savor it, and I will accept what consequences come from it. That means I work harder the next few days. BUT if I get that steak? I don't eat all of it...some goes home. The potato only has a few bites and goes home to my chickens. I have to eat all my veggies.

And as for sweets ? I am not the kind of person to be able to say no to dessert. I can share it or get a mini or steal a bite or two off my friends or loved ones plates. I refuse to get one for me tho...and usually a bite or three is enough. Again if I overdo it and eat a good chunk of cake? I will chalk it up and work harder the next few days.

Nobody is perfect, we are all human. Accept responsibility for your actions and accept the consequences. If I eat that piece of cake...I have to work out an extra hour at the gym...is it worth it?

airangel59

No cheat meals.

No cheat days.

Eat what I want but in moderation and I ensure that it fits in my daily calorie allotment, if it doesn't then I don't eat it.

I agree with this. For me it's too easy to continue that cheat/free/pig out day and since this is a lifestyle change for me, not a diet , I'm going to have to learn to eat the right way or I'll just end up gaining it all back again. This is just me, others may be in a different mind set. You have to do what works for you, I've been this route before and hoping this is the last time.

jjteddy1982

IF ANYONE LOVES FOOD IN THIS WORLD, THAT'S ME!!!!!! but i dont call it "cheat" days, because as its been said implies you did something wrong, I call those " WORK HARDER MEALS" if i know that im going to go to a party or a dinner where I know my options are not very healthy, I know that extra few minutes running or working out are going to be needs it, I eat pretty much everything but with MODERATION. eating something not very healthy is not wrong as long as you know how to balance things.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

Yeah, I refuse to nit pick of language here, which I what I think this argument is about.

I've been living a healthy lifestyle for 8 years (since 2004, when I lost 40 pounds on WW). I gained 5-10 pounds during a pregnancy -- then I found MFP and that weight came back off (I like having a tool to track what I am eating). Sure I have a couple vanity pounds to lose, but I'm good with how I feel and how I look.

Over those 8 years, I have eaten more than I should PLENTY of times. It happens, being realistic about that is what is going to help you have longevity in the success of your weight loss. Some of the days I've know a head of time I was going to over -- some days, it just happened. While I think the concept of rewarding yourself with a cheat day on a regular basis might be counterproductive IF you have food issues like emotional eating, my husband does it though and has sustained a 4 year weight loss of 30 pounds.

You can make a healthy lifestyle change that also includes occasional big eating days. The only way you are cheating yourself is if you are living a life that makes you unhappy. So arguing that "cheat days" are "wrong" for who want them (assuming theyr have a healthy attitude toward food in the first place) is just silly. If cheat days aren't for you -- great. That's what works for YOU and your lifestyle. Just because they work for others doesn't mean they are "wrong" or "bad".

therealangd

...
Do you subscribe the the cheat day/meal theory? ...

In a word, no.

First, the whole concept of cheat implies dishonesty. On top of that, who am I cheating? Myself? I don't even want to get into the psychological ramifications of that.

Next, if I were to "cheat", it would indicate that I am doing something that has rules, generally rules that I find either rigid, bothersome or both. Since I have chosen to change my lifestyle from my former "anything goes" to a more "normal" lifestyle, there is really nothing to "cheat" about. Note, I am not dieting, I am just returning to a more normal, balanced way of life.

Okay, some folks here might suggest I am fooling myself with that attitude...well maybe, but I don't have to cheat either.

I agree with this 100%. Couldn't have said it better myself.