Is having one 'bad day' a week a good thing?

kukspuks

IDK I always hear people saying,"Treat yourself with one 'bad day' a week. This way, you're not as tempted." But after every Saturday I eat out I feel kinda sluggish, but at the same time I'm like,"Yay! I didn't have to eat salads and oatmeal today." Why do you guys think? Should you have one per week?

bahacca

Some opt for a bad "meal" as opposed to a bad "day". I usually indulge on Saturdays when I go to my ILs house. They always have delicious wine, food with too much butter and olive oil, but it is SO tasty. I have also found I usually lose weight on days after I #1-rest from lifting and 2-go over caloric intake a bit. No idea WHY, but there you have it. I try to work cravings into my calories/macros even in the middle of the week. I had Chicken McNuggets this week, Del Taco last week. Seeing as I was eating this stuff multiple times a week and NOT counting the calories, it is a huge step for me. Not perfect by any means, but it works for ME. Do what works for YOU so this can be a long-term commitment. If that means a cheat day or meal each week, so be it.

almarsala

Bump

AntWrig

IDK I always hear people saying,"Treat yourself with one 'bad day' a week. This way, you're not as tempted." But after every Saturday I eat out I feel kinda sluggish, but at the same time I'm like,"Yay! I didn't have to eat salads and oatmeal today." Why do you guys think? Should you have one per week?

There is no such thing as a "bad" day. Food is neither good or bad. Food is food. You're correct, you don't have to eat salads and oatmeal. You should be able to eat anything you want everyday. Within moderation of course.

bradphil87

I eat a little heavier on my big lift days, but I try to never eat over my tdee.

belladonna786

If I do decide to treat myself I still try and keep it within my calorie goal or just slightly over, and it's usually only one meal not a whole day.

ironanimal

If it helps your adherence, do it. If it causes you problems getting back on track, don't.

asticoral

I think its normal to indulge every so often, feeling sluggish as you stated, might be an indicator something you ate was "too heavy" and cutting back on the amount ( 1/2c. vs. 1c.) might be the ticket.

I can now eat mac n cheese without consuming the entire box, a goal for me..... peanut butter and cheese is still a cross to bear at times, LOL

If I have a day where I've gone well over I make the next day lighter and or work out more to even the score for the week.

JustANumber85

I hope you arent eating salads and oatmeal every day. I think anyone would get tired of it.

tashaa1992

IDK I always hear people saying,"Treat yourself with one 'bad day' a week. This way, you're not as tempted." But after every Saturday I eat out I feel kinda sluggish, but at the same time I'm like,"Yay! I didn't have to eat salads and oatmeal today." Why do you guys think? Should you have one per week?

You can eat what you like in moderation, or make a healthier version of your favourite food? I never eat anything I don't like and I don't have cheat days because I eat what I like every single day. Eat how you plan to eat for the rest of your life.

Guamybear

IDK I always hear people saying,"Treat yourself with one 'bad day' a week. This way, you're not as tempted." But after every Saturday I eat out I feel kinda sluggish, but at the same time I'm like,"Yay! I didn't have to eat salads and oatmeal today." Why do you guys think? Should you have one per week?

There is no such thing as a "bad" day. Food is neither good or bad. Food is food. You're correct, you don't have to eat salads and oatmeal. You should be able to eat anything you want everyday. Within moderation of course.

What he said... you shouldn't have to eat food you don't really want to eat to lose weight..that's where people slip up. I usually have a treat a day, sometimes chips, sometimes cake..and I never guilty about it.. I also don't have bad days because I eat all my normal food..just smaller portions..

johannajebediah

i've tried having one "bad day" but i find i often overindulge and it's actually harder for me to get back on track, because the next day i crave the sweets and junk foods.
instead what i do is try to use an 80/20 or 90/10 rule on most days where i eat 80 or 90 percent healthy good foods, and i allow myself small indulgences each day. as long as your indulgences aren't high fat and aren't too high sugar, you shouldn't feel negative effects.
a great website for low-cal healthy desserts is chocolatecoveredkatie - DELICIOUS and never puts me over calories

also, try making your own "junk foods" instead of buying chocolate bars or chips. you can easily make your own potato chips baked in the oven, or french fries or sweet potato fries and it's much healthier because nothing is fried in tons of oil.

bubbleskiwi

I make sure to include 'treats' once in a while, within my daily calories.
I found that when I would allow myself a 'cheat' day, then it would take me 2 or 3 days to get back on track.
I would rather just eat in moderation, and add treats and count them in my cals.

cebreisch

My dad always gave himself Sunday's off. I don't think I can do that because I'm too afraid it'll give me license to just keep going. I'd rather have a little indulgence here and there.

Anyway - what I'm really trying to say is you have to find a way to make it work for you. I know with thanksgiving coming up, that's going to be my "indulgence" for the week.

Heather_Rider

I eat what i want every day, but use portion control so i can.... but that being said, I "cheat" on Saturday. I drink beer and while i log my calories, i dont count them at all.

collectingblues

I don't get the point of it -- but I also don't live on salad and oatmeal. I try to eat in moderation *every day* -- not having salad/oatmeal days, and not having cheat days. I look at days in the context of a whole week -- I don't worry as much about counts for one day or another being over, as long as the week average is at or under target (or less than 10 calories *over* target). I'm seeing the results on the scale I'd like, so it works for me.

I think you need to look at what will be sustainable once you hit maintenance. Will you always want all salad/oatmeal days, with only one day a week where you can eat foods that you like? Or will you be able to eat in moderation every day?

Verity1111

IDK I always hear people saying,"Treat yourself with one 'bad day' a week. This way, you're not as tempted." But after every Saturday I eat out I feel kinda sluggish, but at the same time I'm like,"Yay! I didn't have to eat salads and oatmeal today." Why do you guys think? Should you have one per week?

I notice if I eat all my junk delicious food at once (binge) I feel dreadful and may gain some lbs. I also notice if I eat a lot of food (last night I had pizza, a huge bowl of ice cream with reddy whip< 0g fat, low sugar, 4g protein in the ice cream, spaghetti (baked with cheese) and a sandwich with mayo on french bread too Lol) Yet I split it up. I won't gain any weight. I doubt many people can do that unless they're active, or it could be giving it time to settle and start to digest that works. Not sure. I don't lose muscle when I do this once a week (TMI FYI: stupid weeks before TOM make me ravenous). I sometimes even lose a lb when I let myself eat anything I want for a night. That was all within a few hrs time. lol My husband gains when he doesn't eat enough, so I think I'd rather eat what I want for one day, exercise, eat right when I eat at home, and see how it works out.

fun_b

For me it could be a disaster. I have had a terrible day today and let emotional eating get the better of me. I knew I was doing it but couldn't help myself. This is the first time in ages and although I am annoyed I will forgive myself and do better tomorrow. However I could not do this all the time because I can already feel those old voices in my head telling me I have been bad and I should give up. I will not listen and will continue as I had done (even though I haven't been perfect last few days either) but I am determined to lose those 6 pounds so I will not let this affect me.

vjohn04

What's wrong with Oatmeal? It's tasty....

sheesh. :laugh: I eat it because I like it.

MemphisKitten

I do it! But then I feel horrible the next day too. But I think it helps us stay on track the rest of the week.

WinnerVictorious

IDK I always hear people saying,"Treat yourself with one 'bad day' a week. This way, you're not as tempted." But after every Saturday I eat out I feel kinda sluggish, but at the same time I'm like,"Yay! I didn't have to eat salads and oatmeal today." Why do you guys think? Should you have one per week?

There is no such thing as a "bad" day. Food is neither good or bad. Food is food. You're correct, you don't have to eat salads and oatmeal. You should be able to eat anything you want everyday. Within moderation of course.

^ this.

the daily over/under on your calorie goal is almost meaningless. focus on the weekly and the monthly averages. if you eat 500 extra calories on Monday, just make up for it with extra exercise and/or trimming 500 calories over the next few days.

treat yourself to what you want every so often, so that you keep cravings and binges at bay. a scoop of ice cream here or there or a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup from time to time is not going to hurt yor progress. depriving yourself of things you want will lead to binges later that can hurt your progress.

XXXMinnieXXX

I think one bad snack / meal / drink is fine.. But not a whole day. I can do a LOT of damage in one day! Lol x

Ivy_leaves

I don't have an entire naughty day. Just one naughty meal on one day. Which usually happens because I go do something on the weekend that involves food or alcohol, honestly.
I think a whole day may be pushing it. But that's just my opinion.
I still lose a pound a week and have my naughty meal, which I enjoy and keeps me hard pressed to work out and eat healthy thoughout the week.

WinnerVictorious

What's wrong with Oatmeal? It's tasty....

sheesh. :laugh: I eat it because I like it.

i hate to break it to you this way, but...

oatmeal is recycled cardboard. chopped up, steamed, mashed into little oat shapes, then bleached. ever wonder why it has no taste? have you ever tried to eat paper? that's why. true story.

Big Oatmeal does not want you to know... stay away from the Soylent Green too.

ReinasWrath

Personally I give myself one day a week where i allow myself to eat and extra 500 cals. That way i can have what I want but won't have too detrimental of an effect on weight loss. I find it helps me stay on track long term. During the week if I get a craving or get sick of eating healthy foods I can push through it by looking forward to the next spike day.

pwnderosa

I look at my calories for the week so I may go over a little one day or another depending on if there is a party or I'm craving the really good little taco shop I found just before joining here. (darnit!! ) Doesn't usually work out as a whole "bad day" but I definitely mix in a few naughty food choices throughout the week.

kukspuks