Your diet is not a test, DON'T CHEAT!

jjennasmithh

I see a lot of people on my friends list who have trouble with bad eating on the weekends. And it kind of aggravates me. Because they have so much potential and they could do so well with their weight loss if they just stayed on track. Sure, everyone has bad days, but the weekend is not a "get out of jail free" card! You can't just do well all week, and then say "oh it's okay to have a snack today, or it's okay to go to a chinese buffet tonight". I'm not sure what kind of diet everyone is on, but on my diet, cheating all weekend is not allowed. So I stick to the plan, and when my Tuesday weigh in comes around, I always see amazing results. Because this is a lifestyle change. This is my lifestyle change, it has become a habit. It is not something that I cheat on, and it is definitely not a test. I just don't get why you would waste a whole week of good work for one weekend of bad meals because it's what you want in the moment, but it's not doing your body any good.

It all comes down to one simple question: HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

tyrantduck

that's why i never call it a diet. i allow myself the occasional indulgence because otherwise i'll binge on it. once in a while WILL NOT HURT YOU IN THE LONG RUN. and i proved that this weekend.

jjennasmithh

that's why i never call it a diet. i allow myself the occasional indulgence because otherwise i'll binge on it. once in a while WILL NOT HURT YOU IN THE LONG RUN. and i proved that this weekend.

I call it a lifestyle change, but some people call it a diet. I'm not saying that once in a while will not hurt you at all, but I see friend after friend doing it. kinda makes me sad

cmriverside

You do things your way, everyone else does things their way. Neither is "right".

In my world, never having a treat day or Chinese Buffet just doesn't work. To each their own. I've been maintaining for five years, so I don't stress it too much.

roachhaley

As long as you have an overall deficit, you will lose weight. Sorry if it bugs you that people are enjoying themselves - as long as its working for them, I don't see the issue.

lilmissymoo90

i agree =D well done on your weight loss thou x

i do have bad days or days when i eat what i want like today my dinner i wanted was higher in cals so i just had a nibble at lunch time that way i didnt go over my calories.

i do belive having days off is important but not every weekend i use to do low carb and after loosing 50lb i couldnt stick to it anymore and thats y i joined mfp im still loosing weight just not as fast =D

VitaBailey

Good for you for never having a bad day! But if you ever do and you want to feel like crap, you can just re-read what you wrote there.

rockerbabyy

and thats why i dont call it cheating. because in my life, theres going to be all you can eat chinese buffets, and kids birthday parties and drunken binges on occasion. it is my lifestyle, im just more aware now and keep an eye on things instead of just doing stuff like that all the time.

onyxgirl17

It's interesting because I treat weekends like any other day. I don't usually eat out/do anything special. But I will eat what I want on special occasions dagnabbit lol because they only come a few times a year

MeMyCatsandI

I'm not sure what kind of diet everyone is on, but on my diet, cheating like that is not allowed.

Sounds like your "diet" sucks! I'll stick with mine.

shelbyfrootcake

I calorie cycle to accommodate the weekend treats. It's working for me far more effectively than 'being good' all week as I would inevitably cave at some point through self denial. Allowing for the extra intake at the weekend has finally broken the back of my 3 month plateau.

LovingLisa2012

well I don't " cheat" b/c nothing is off limits to me

I still eat McDonalds, chips, sodas, candy .. just in moderation
and I am losing just fine

I have done the whole "eat only healthy" lost a bunch of weight fast, only to regain double .. this time, I have made changes over all, but haven't cut anything out, and I am losing weight without depriving myself ..

I don't see what the problem is, about having a treat every now and then, now of course if you eat over your maintance calories everyday then you will gain weight, but not if you do it in moderation, now with that said, you may gain a lil water weight for a day or 2, but that is nothing that a lil extra water can't fix

:drinker:
just my 2cents, I will back out now, have a good day :flowerforyou:

islandnutshel

I pre-earn my chinese buffet, sushi binge, ben and jerry night. I plan it and go hiking that day, eat light and save up for whatever. It is good to feel that you can eat anything your heart desires if you earn it.
If it is going to be long term everyone has to figure out what works for them.

Joannie30

While of course i appreciate your points, I have to admit to being one of the people you speak of. I eat as well as i can during the week, and i tend to relax things a bit over the weekend. I haven't really found it has done me much harm. I'm losing steadily, i feel absolutely fine energy wise and i'm losing inches. I know if i didn't go off track on the weekends i would probably lose a bit more weight a bit quicker but i'm not in a hurry. Plus, having the odd off-day helps me to stay on track.

I guess it's just different strokes for different folks...?

Well done you for staying so motivated though!! If it works for you- great!
Good luck with the rest of your journey.

Jx

JRC41

Everyone loses weight different, TO EACH HIS OWN!!!

jjennasmithh

I'm not sure what kind of diet everyone is on, but on my diet, cheating like that is not allowed.

Sounds like your "diet" sucks! I'll stick with mine.

I mean for two to three days straight or one cheat snack every day.... My diet doesn't suck, I have a cheat day, but Friday, Saturday, Sunday, is still part of your week, and you can't just give up your lifestyle change because you want all of this yummy food that's thrown in front of you. I was just sharing my opinion. I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad.

allisonmrn

TRUTH!!! NIcely said OP!!

MeMyCatsandI

that's why i never call it a diet. i allow myself the occasional indulgence because otherwise i'll binge on it. once in a while WILL NOT HURT YOU IN THE LONG RUN. and i proved that this weekend.

I call it a lifestyle change, but some people call it a diet. I'm not saying that once in a while will not hurt you at all, but I see friend after friend doing it. kinda makes me sad

So if only ONE friend were doing it, rather than friend after friend, would you still be sad? No offense, but you kinda sound jealous. You said in you OP that if you cheat, you'll gain weight. I doubt it, but if that's how you feel, no wonder you're so bothered by other people cheating.

xo_Sarah_xo

Wow, if it bothers you that much then just "unfriend" them!

Just because you are angry that you are not allowing yourself some slack every once in a while does NOT mean that everyone else doesn't get to.

I will use my 4 year old's favorite saying..."You are not the boss of me".

In all seriousness though, you anger makes me think maybe you either need to loosen your reins a bit or just unfriend these people that you are jealous of.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

Um, I lost 40 pounds 8 years ago -- I have maintained that entire weight loss -- I've lost 17 more here on MFP. I have a few vanity I'd like to drop eventually.

Guess what? I eat what I want. I drink what I want. I don't let unrealistic ideals dominate my journey because well, that would suck.

But good luck to you. :drinker:

spiralz

These are all personal journeys so if other people are cheating it's kind of irrelevant really as long as your happy with your progress that's all that matters surely?

i love having a binge day! then i "beast" myself with a good long run the next day, works for me.......

Proyecto_AN

To each his own.

NoFatChick2

To each his own. I splurge on the weekends, but make sure I don't let it become a total blowout binge. Works for me. May not work for you though, so keep doing what works for you & don't worry so much about others. You'll be happier, trust me.

donyellemoniquex3

well there's a difference between a DIEt and a LIFEstyle change... just saying

zaph0d

Don't freakin tell me what I should and shouldn't do.

jjennasmithh

that's why i never call it a diet. i allow myself the occasional indulgence because otherwise i'll binge on it. once in a while WILL NOT HURT YOU IN THE LONG RUN. and i proved that this weekend.

I call it a lifestyle change, but some people call it a diet. I'm not saying that once in a while will not hurt you at all, but I see friend after friend doing it. kinda makes me sad

So if only ONE friend were doing it, rather than friend after friend, would you still be sad? No offense, but you kinda sound jealous. You said in you OP that if you cheat, you'll gain weight. I doubt it, but if that's how you feel, no wonder you're so bothered by other people cheating.

no I'm not jealous at all. I just wanted to point out something that was bothering me.

MyM0wM0w

You are right, it isn't a test, therefore I'm not "cheating". It's my life and if once or twice or even three times a week I want ice cream I'm going to do that and not think of it as "cheating".

Yes I may lose less weight that week than this one where I didn't eat as much BUT as long as the scale isn't going in the wrong direction it's fine with me.

This has to be something I can live with forever and I can't spend forever wishing I could eat ice cream and never having it.

VogtAndrea

Some people seem to need a day where they can eat whatever they want. There will be those who carry things way too far in every crowd. For alot of us, our lives are so scheduled and so rigid on weekdays or work days that it's much easier to manage what we eat. We're out getting groceries, shopping, doing yardwork, visiting people, catching up on things or doing something simply for the pleasure of doing it and opt for convenience foods which are larger portioned and heavier in calories even when we eat smaller portions.
If it fits within your macros, alot of people will say "Go for it". I'm seldom out of my macros by much and get more exercise on the weekends but that's ME....
Yes, it's a change in our lifestyle and we're here replacing bad habits with better ones (at least for the most part) . Allowing yourself a day to relax isn't a crime if its within reason either. Hopefully your friends will make choices when they're relaxing that are better choices in what they choose to eat and stay within or close to their macros. If they don't, they know they're not seeing what they want on the scales and if they log it honestly, over time they can see why.
This is a learning experience for many. True there is no test but the results are going to be the results no matter what. You're doing wonderfully well and will likely see much better results over the rest of your life. Hopefully your friends will learn from watching what they log and achieve better habits, better health, and what they want in the way of goals too, only slower.

LorinaLynn

That's one reason I never log food on weekends. I don't want someone nagging or chastising me for my choices because it doesn't fit their lifestyle. It fits mine. I've been including what other people would call "bad foods" since I started losing weight going on 2 years now, reached my goal in 6 months, and been maintaining since June of 2011.

I know I can't possibly eat enough in one or two days to "undo" what I've done the rest of the week.

MeMyCatsandI

I'm not sure what kind of diet everyone is on, but on my diet, cheating like that is not allowed.

Sounds like your "diet" sucks! I'll stick with mine.

I mean for two to three days straight or one cheat snack every day.... My diet doesn't suck, I have a cheat day, but Friday, Saturday, Sunday, is still part of your week, and you can't just give up your lifestyle change because you want all of this yummy food that's thrown in front of you. I was just sharing my opinion. I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad.

You're certainly not making me feel bad. But this is the exact OPPOSITE of what you said in your first post. If it works for you, fine. Keep doing it. But understand that what you do doesn't work for everyone. And if what other people do bothers you, you should just pay attention to you.

Krizzo87

Having a cheat day or even a cheat weekend is not an implication of failure or lack of desire... :huh: