Do you believe in "Cheat Days"?

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Replies

  • Okapi42
    Okapi42 Posts: 495 Member
    I'm having a "cheat day" today, meaning I'm logging nothing and eating whatever I want, want being the operative word. I've had a high fever since yesterday, and have enough trouble getting myself to eat anything without the added bother of logging it.

    It's also my birthday, so I was planning a "treat" dinner anyway, but I've postponed that for obvious reasons. I still won't feel guilty about eating it week later.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,628 Member
    Do I believe in "cheat days" ?

    No ..... nothing is off limits ...... but some foods are triggers, so I eat them sparingly :drinker:
  • AddyMaeMomma
    AddyMaeMomma Posts: 84 Member
    I agree with the whole "I'm not on a diet, so why would I cheat?" thing. I don't think it's comparable to cheating on your spouse, but I also think it's silly to have a day (or days) where you splurge. I'm trying to change the way I eat forever...not just to lose a few pounds. Allowing myself "cheat days" makes it sound like this is only temporary and that as soon as I'm done with this diet business I can go right back to eating Butterfingers out of the vending machine at work. Not gonna happen.
  • CrystalWalks
    CrystalWalks Posts: 84 Member
    I totally understand the logic behind your statement but I must say that comparing martial relationships with the relationship of food to me is bizarre, bc to me if it fits in your allotted calorie intake and I am getting the correct nutrition and adequate exercise , then by all means if I want that piece of cake or icecream etc ....I will have it and I do not and will not consider it a " cheat day"......and so far as martial status not working if you cheat ....ummmm..... in some marriages you have what you call a hall pass or open relationships....which doesn't work for every couple (definetely not me) but im not hear to judge that... my point is spousal realationships should not be compared to food..... because food and martial relationships works differently for EVERY person..
  • CrystalWalks
    CrystalWalks Posts: 84 Member
    Do I believe in "cheat days" ?

    No ..... nothing is off limits ...... but some foods are triggers, so I eat them sparingly :drinker:


    My point exactly!
  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    Totally do not agree with cheat days and I like the analogy to marriage.
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  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    When I hear people say they are having a cheat day, I always want to ask them what rules they are breaking/ignoring..
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I think the FB post is ridiculous.

    If I cheated on my husband I would be destroying a sacred trust, breaking a vow and hurting one of the people I love most in the world. I would most likely do damage that could never be undone.

    If I eat too many calories one day I get a little bloated and maybe have a little GI distress the next day.

    Considering those two things to be anywhere near the same boarders on an eating disorder.
  • sharonKay65
    sharonKay65 Posts: 93 Member
    I haven't had any "cheat" days since I got serious about changing my diet and losing weight. However, I know there will be times in the next couple of months that I plan to enjoy the day whether it's a Birthday, or Easter... I will still try to eat in moderation and make healthy choices. However, if I do go over my calorie limit that day I will just try to get right back on track the next day. I love spending time with my Children and Grandchildren and very often a nice family meal is part of what we enjoy when they visit. Cheating implies we are doing something wrong, I think I prefer to think of it as simply a "special treat day" And for me, to compare a diet to a marital relationship.... let's just say I understand he is entitled to his opinion, I just don't agree with it. I think we are talking about two entirely different issues here, not to be compared lightly.
  • TheDarlingOne
    TheDarlingOne Posts: 255 Member
    I like to call them "casual days" as oppose to "cheat days".

    If i had a "cheat day" - my mind would think WOOHOO LET'S GO BUCK WILD lol

    If i have a "casual day" - my mind says, well...sure if you want a cookie from the walmart deli - and it's on the sale rack - yeah sure let's do it - if not, no stress we'll probably come across something better later.

    I find it's very important that I always have "doing better" on my mind - but sometime's I'm a lil' more relaxed, calling it a "casual day".
  • SylentZee
    SylentZee Posts: 262
    I understand the meaning of discipline and consistency with your diet, but, you shouldn't deprive yourself of the things you like.

    Treating yourself to something once a week is not a big deal and will not keep you from progressing. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is great but there's space for special occasions. I'm not saying eat that extra piece of cake or grab 4 or 5 cookies that are in the office, but, don't keep yourself from social events or have the mentality that dessert is the end of the world.

    Wanting a change in your appearance and health means making an adjustment to your lifestyle and I'm all for that but keep yourself sane in the process.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    If you don't eat 100% clean 100% of the time, you're just cheating yourself and your health
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    Is my diet going to be permanently damaged because I ate a ****ton of chocolate yesterday?
    No.
    This is a red herring.
    A diet is not a relationship.
    The end.

    And by "diet" I mean my food intake in general. "Diets" are not sustainable. I made a lifestyle change over a year ago, and some days I just want to stove cheesecake down my throat.
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    I do Tim Ferriss' Slow Carb diet, and cheat day has a very specific purpose and helps prevent your body from getting too comfortable with your diet during the week. It's been working for me so far.

    Having a cheat day also makes it much easier to stay on plan. If you have a craving for something, just put it on the list for cheat day and enjoy it then.
  • Trilby16
    Trilby16 Posts: 707 Member
    I don't have cheat days but I do ocassionally go a little overboard. On those day I figure it's ok, I am keeping my metabolism guessing.

    But a scheduled cheat day? No. It's childish.
  • Iron_Duchess
    Iron_Duchess Posts: 429 Member
    No, I don't have "cheat days", what I have is "treat" meals. I don't like to use the word "cheat" because I feel like I am doing something wrong, and eating something out of the "ordinary" is not wrong in my books. Also, I don't allow guilt to be associated with food anymore, and "cheating" always produces guilt and many negative emotions that used to be part of my life. I live in this world, and this world has many wonderful foods ready for me to enjoy in a healthy and moderate way. So, I plan my "treat" meals and I enjoy them to the full of my abilities!
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    If incorporating a cheat day (or refeed, or temporary lift on restrictions) is the same as cheating on your spouse, driving 5 over the speed limit is the same as vehicular manslaughter.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    Some days logging and weighing get a bit cumbersome and boring.

    If I know I'm going out for a special meal or it's going to be a holiday I call it a hiatus meal. It is a brief reprieve from having to do the tedious task of logging, measuring and weighing.

    I just log it as a hiatus meal and figure it will be about 1500-2000 calories. You often forget everything you ate during holidays or you want that extra glass of wine and the dessert when you are celebrating a nice dinner. I dont do it often, but that is my one meal to enjoy my foods without thinking about portion control. I still set stipulations. Water first and then veggies!. Then I can allow myself that one meal or my little hiatus.
  • JennyJo23
    JennyJo23 Posts: 33
    that's a good idea..
  • sevsmom
    sevsmom Posts: 1,172 Member
    I made a convenant VOW to my husband. . .not to food. So, if I wanna splurge. . yep. . .I will. And I don't try to hide it because it's not a bad thing. . for my health/fitness goals.
  • benflando
    benflando Posts: 193
    I think they are good after having lowered carbs days and can be used to refeed.
  • brookeaby1
    brookeaby1 Posts: 4
    I have a "cheat weekend" for my birthday each year. And that's it. So sue me ;-)
  • lelaspeaks
    lelaspeaks Posts: 163 Member
    The only days I would say I "cheat" on is my dedicated one day a week rest day. I eat at my TDEE that day. I don't really consider that cheating, but I guess it's above my calorie goal for the day, so yeah sure, I cheat.
  • sandydavies17
    sandydavies17 Posts: 6
    But even Bill Phillips advocates having a "free day" once a week in his Body for Life book. I know when I "cheat" I used to feel guilty and have a hard time forgiving myself and climbing back up on the wagon--but with a free day or just one free meal a week there is no guilt and it's just part of the plan!
  • PhearlessPhreaks
    PhearlessPhreaks Posts: 890 Member
    I don't have cheat days because I'm trying to make the changes in my diet be a way of eating that I can live with and not feel I have to "cheat" in order to be successful.

    For me, I need to make my eating style work for me everyday, not just six days a week.

    This exactly. And what someone else said; I'm not on a diet, so there's no need to cheat.

    If I really have a hankering for something, I fit it in to my day and calorie goal. Depravation is not for me.
  • porcelain_doll
    porcelain_doll Posts: 1,005 Member
    Absolutely. One day a week (usually Saturday), I do not exercise or count calories. I eat what I want without any guilt. It has given me something to look forward to each week, so I make sure I work hard the other six days leading up to it.

    I used to not believe in cheat days, but then I became burned out. When I would eat things I shouldn't, I would feel guilty, which would then lead to a cheat week, etc. This method has offered me a much better balance. Some cannot do it this way because they can't get back on the wagon the very next day. That is the key to making it work.

    As long as a cheat day does not turn into two days/three days/one week/one month, I see no problem with it.

    Edit: I also don't believe in deprivation. Lately I have ended up with some major calories to blow at the end of the day from my workouts, so sometimes I will hit up the drive-thru on a non-cheat day and get a Whopper or Big Mac. It is not the healthiest thing, of course, but it is nice to be able to do it and stay under my calories. I enjoy having the freedom to do that and still see results most weeks.
  • extraordinary_machine
    extraordinary_machine Posts: 3,028 Member
    You can't "cheat' if you're not "dieting." For me, this is how I'm going to eat for the rest of my life, so severely restricting calories, totally eliminating food that I love...yeah, not going to happen. I don't want to be one of those people that flips the phuck out when I'm getting ready to go out to dinner. I don't want to be forever staring wistfully at the queso...or the chocolate...or the salt and vinegar chips...or the...you get the picture.

    I believe in MODERATION. I subscribe to the "if it fits your macros" way of thinking. I try to eat healthy (I cook from scratch, rarely things from a box, etc.) 80% to 90% of the time, but if I want a Big Mac...I eat a frelling Big Mac. (Like on Saturday...it was delicious!)
  • DrAzathoth
    DrAzathoth Posts: 8
    I have a reward systems to my life style change, and have to achieve goals, daily, weekly, monthly, to obtain, I guess more a treat than a cheat. I have done many diets and what not and all have failed because of me looking at stuff as cheat days etc. I am making my life style better this time, my reward system can be silly and not all rewards are food related, actually most of them are not, some are underwear shopping, hiking trips and so on. I guess all I'm trying to say is that I enjoy my reward system, it sets me smaller and larger goals to work towards and makes me feel prouder in my journey.
  • northfresh
    northfresh Posts: 111
    I don't take my diet plan as seriously as relationships I know believe haha. Because yes I have cheat days, to keep my sanity and to enjoy life and its abundances. I don't feel the need to do so with relationships because they are satisfying on their own. I think that comparison is a bit ridiculous. But I suppose they say its a lifestyle so I better gtfo MFP!!! Lol

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