can i have mcdonalds on my cheat day

cedarghost

One McDonalds cheeseburger once in a while is not going to kill you. I know it's full of salt and fat and calories and blah blah blah, but we all have to live and no-one can eat healthily 100% of the time.

Have it, enjoy it, log it, and get back on it tomorrow.

^^^This. In the greater scheme of things it isn't going to matter. The only issue I could see is if you have control problems. I eat whatever I want one day a week but I try not to go over maintenance as well. If I do, I don't worry about it. Lately, I have found that I end up eating mostly healthy any way.

rogerbosch

As long as it fits in with your macros! You can always take off a bun. Chicken wraps contain relatively low fat. I just had two and a strawberry sundae. Scale didn't budge (but then, I want to gain).

toberdawg

*Disclaimer* I have not read all the posts.

When I MUST have McDonalds this is what I order . . .

A Double Cheeseburger dressed as a Big Mac.
And, a Side Salad with no dressing.
If I must, I will get a small order of fries.

I remove bread from burger and throw it out. Then put burger "insides" on my side salad! I get my McD's fix without going over my calories.

Lucky for me since I have been dieting, I have only craved McDonalds once.

AmberJo1984

If I did this (eat a whole meal from there), it would only make me disappointed in myself later. Afterall, I don't count anything as cheat days. This is a whole process, not a diet. I may eat more on certain days... but, I try not to eat them with junk food (empty calorie) carbs. They never satisfy me, and do make me overdo it (instead of just eating a little more).

With that said, though... I'm not perfect. If I have enough calories (or it wouldn't bring them over completely) at the end of the day, I may have a small frosty from Wendy's once in a while... but, that's pretty much it. Oh... and I did have 3 chicken strips from Chick-Fil-A one day. But, that's all.

caitlyn30

I don't think it will make you want to eat more, but it might make you gain some water weight from the sodium.

1sisrat

I saw the movie "supersize me" 7 years ago... haven't touched fast food since. Seriously, with all the care in the world, that food is crap.... not real food. It looks like food, may event taste like it. But, there are so many fake additives and crap in it that it is not real food. it is poison.

also, Has anyone ever noticed that the inside of a McDondalds smells like a fart?

purplepeonypanda

Geez, there's a lot of food snobs on this board.

You can have anything you want on a cheat day. If it makes you fall off the wagon, then maybe cheat days aren't the best for you.

How about just a cheat meal? Eat a light breakfast, healthy lunch, then get your treat for dinner?

And keep in mind Supersize Me was made by someone who ate that three times a day for like a month. I don't know anyone who does that. Also, he's vegan and it was an ethical statement on his behalf too.

Helloitsdan

I can fit McDonalds into any day.
Today i'm on a cut and about to eat an entire pizza.
Eat what you want in a deficit to lose weight.
Eat clean and be a macro god when in a surplus.

Musikelektronik

can i have a mcdonalds cheeseburger on my cheat day or will it be too unhealthy and make me want to eat more ?

Yes, but you should have a cheat meal, not a cheat day. Cheating for an entire day could wipe out some of the hard work you put in during the previous six days.

SoViLicious

My cheat meal if I ever have the balls.

Hungry howie cheese steak
Checkers wings
Five guys huge burger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am pretty sure I will die.

Tori_356

if its a cheat day then why not? thats what a cheat day is, eat what you want and get it out of your system so you're not depriving yourself. id say have what you want then the next day get back on track right away.

basillowe66

ONLY IF YOU WANT TO RETAIN YOU FAT !cDonalds =FAT , no Mcdonalds = lose fat !!! Your choice

Jennloella

yes.

njgirl50

I have had McDonald's - a small fry is 230 calories, hamburger is 250, and it wasn't a cheat day. I made sure I logged what I ate and adjusted my other meals accordingly. I just noticed that they have the calories each food on the menu which helps. I wouldn't eat it everyday, but I do like it once in awhile. Last week I went and had a small fry and a grilled chicken bacon ranch salad - meal was under 500 calories. If I go out to eat, which is rare as I am watching my sodium count, I try to look at the menu ahead of time so I know what I am getting when I get there - it helps me stay on track

Helloitsdan

ONLY IF YOU WANT TO RETAIN YOU FAT !cDonalds =FAT , no Mcdonalds = lose fat !!! Your choice

Pretty fear monger of you.
Also pretty false.

TexanThom

If you can't decide what to eat for yourself, I don't see much of a future for you in life.

secretlobster

Experiment with what works for you. If eating McDonald's and having cheat days are that important to you, find a way to make them work. If you find that a McDonald's meal leaves you feeling crappy, or causes you to binge, or destroys your willpower to get back to your plan the next day, maybe it isn't working. But if you can eat that and not suffer for it, well, you're an adult and you can make your own choices. Sure you can still lose weight, if losing weight is your primary goal.

I don't do fast food or plan cheat days for myself, but lots of people do and are still able to meet their individual goals.

tiamaria3

You shouldn't eat McDonald's EVER not only is it horribly unhealthy (fat, sodium, etc) ...the food quality is bad as well.

You're body is a temple... don't put that S*it in it! lol. If you really want a cheeseburger...make an amazing cheeseburger at home! They are so much tastier and then you can control what you put in it.

But in seriousness, if you want to have a cheat day. Eat a McDonalds cheeseburger... it is not going to derail much.. but I would consider going through drivethru and leaving. THEN if you do realize it tastes amazing...you can't have another.

Also, expect to have stomach knots and possibly be sitting on the toilet if you have not had McDonald's or greasy food in awhile. Take it from me...I made a similar mistake once. ;-)

I agree with this reply!!!! Don't do itttt :noway: have something else,i normally go for subway's at least in this case i'm not working toilet duties :laugh:

Kendi_Alyssa

It's your cheat day so you can definitely do what you want, just make sure that one burger means only one Though there are much tastier foods to have on your cheat day. On my first cheat day I had a ginormous calzone filled with mozzarella and ricotta cheese, and TONS of pepperonis.... It was awesome, but afterwards I was terrified that I gained weight.... But I hadn't because even though I had a cheat meal, I kept up my diet as usual for the rest of the week, so it should work out fine if you keep everything else up to your diet standards My second cheat meal was a giant piece of pizza and a cupcake, but I was at a theme park so I ended up getting some exercise to make up for it!

So in summation, I say go for it if it's truly what you want for your cheat meal, just make sure that you're good the rest of the week I'm sure you've worked really hard just like all the other lovely people here on MFP so you definitely deserve to have a cheat meal sometimes!

Cricket09

McDonald's is super high in sodium and fat. I would cheat on something more tasty that wouldn't set you back as much. :happy:

Mini_Medic

I try to stay away from fast food like McD's and Taco Bell, but sometimes you have to treat yourself. Fair warning as many others have posted, it will most likely NOT fill you up, and you will be left wanting. This can lead into going way over on calories or macros or both, depending on what you allow yourself to eat. I know from personal experience if I go "cheat" and have pizza that I will definitely over eat and go way over my calories (try 2,000+ over!) if I allow myself "one slice, just this once". That is just me, of course. Best bet is to avoid it, because the longer you avoid it, the less cravings you will have.

In fact, since I cut out fast food, my cravings have dissapeared completely. If I do allow myself an indulgence, I usually do not enjoy it, and it doesn't taste good and I have to pay penance to the porcelain gods later.

SWilkins75

You shouldn't eat McDonald's EVER not only is it horribly unhealthy (fat, sodium, etc) ...the food quality is bad as well.

You're body is a temple... don't put that S*it in it! lol. If you really want a cheeseburger...make an amazing cheeseburger at home! They are so much tastier and then you can control what you put in it.

But in seriousness, if you want to have a cheat day. Eat a McDonalds cheeseburger... it is not going to derail much.. but I would consider going through drivethru and leaving. THEN if you do realize it tastes amazing...you can't have another.

Also, expect to have stomach knots and possibly be sitting on the toilet if you have not had McDonald's or greasy food in awhile. Take it from me...I made a similar mistake once. ;-)

According to your food diary, you enjoy McDonalds crispy chicken sandwiches. Those are loaded with sodium as well as your macaroni and cheese from noodles and co.

To the original poster, if you want one get it. Just make sure it stays in your daily calorie goal. For example, plan to have one tomorrow but eat very well all day long. I also suggest buying a side salad with it as well because stop that craving, I can almost guarantee you'll still be hungry. I don't eat very well but I try and I work out 5x a week,. If you feel guilty or cruddy after eating that burger, work out. Remember this is forever. Do what you think you can handle forever. I used to get large meals with Coke from Mcdonalds. Now I usually get a sandwich, side salad and bottled water. If some people can eat healthy ALL of the time and never have cravings or can resist them, good for them.

Helloitsdan

You shouldn't eat McDonald's EVER not only is it horribly unhealthy (fat, sodium, etc) ...the food quality is bad as well.

You're body is a temple... don't put that S*it in it! lol. If you really want a cheeseburger...make an amazing cheeseburger at home! They are so much tastier and then you can control what you put in it.

But in seriousness, if you want to have a cheat day. Eat a McDonalds cheeseburger... it is not going to derail much.. but I would consider going through drivethru and leaving. THEN if you do realize it tastes amazing...you can't have another.

Also, expect to have stomach knots and possibly be sitting on the toilet if you have not had McDonald's or greasy food in awhile. Take it from me...I made a similar mistake once. ;-)

I agree with this reply!!!! Don't do itttt :noway: have something else,i normally go for subway's at least in this case i'm not working toilet duties :laugh:

I dont know....subway has some of the most processed foods out there.

http://www.davidmodderman.com/blog/index.php/nutrition/think-your-getting-a-healthy-meal-at-subway-look-at-this-and-see-what-your-really-getting/
http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/ingredientslist.pdf
http://www.greeneggsmarketing.com/2009/01/close-your-eyes-at-subway.html

PS I stopped eating at Subway when I realized that my biggest bouts with lower GI issues were post Subway meals.
Never had that issue at McDs.

SWilkins75

Experiment with what works for you. If eating McDonald's and having cheat days are that important to you, find a way to make them work. If you find that a McDonald's meal leaves you feeling crappy, or causes you to binge, or destroys your willpower to get back to your plan the next day, maybe it isn't working. But if you can eat that and not suffer for it, well, you're an adult and you can make your own choices. Sure you can still lose weight, if losing weight is your primary goal.

I don't do fast food or plan cheat days for myself, but lots of people do and are still able to meet their individual goals.

This.

girlykate143

Really, McDonalds on your cheat day?!? Go to Red Lobster and indulge!

Really, Red Lobster? the stuff that comes off a frozen box? Really?
actually, just skip the pseudo meat in the burger and get fries and a choco shake to dip said fries into.

csuhar

As others have said, one burger on your cheat day won't kill you. Heck, it wouldn't kill you even if it's not your cheat day.

One thing I did notice when I had a fast food burger (Burger King, in my case) after a long hiatus was the SIZE. I was pretty hungry by the time I got to BK that day, so I ordered a plain Whopper with fries and a fountain drink. Normally, as a 6'2", 230lb active male, this isn't much of a big deal, especially because I had not eaten much that day. But I couldn't eat more than half of it before I was simply done. After half a burger and some of my fries and a drink, I was full.

So enjoy your cheeseburger, but I'd say you should be prepared to leave some of it behind and shouldn't feel compelled to eat it all if your body doesn't want it.

TheFitHooker

Sure you can have whatever you want, but why would ya want McDonalds? LOL..

DanaDark

Depends what you eat there and how many calories you have left in the day in addition to your macros.

Truth of the matter is fat people existed BEFORE McDonalds. They will exist AFTER McDonalds. Eating a calorie surplus for prolonged periods causes fat gain. Not simply eating McDonalds.

Those that say "NEVER" eat there fail spectacularly at nutrition management and failed to learn the key to truly holding off weight. (Except those that hate the taste lol).

Moderation and avoiding over indulgence is the key.

secretlobster

Are you on MFP because you want motivation to make better choices, or because you want permission to make bad ones?

kenazfehu

If you really want to, but really - there are so many more delicious and nutritious choices. I like making my own cheeseburgers using lean meat, really delicious, mouth-watering cheese, and thin buns. I can even make it work into my daily nutrition; no cheating required.