Question about cheat days+

mgreen10

Is it better to have a cheat day once a week, or a cheat meal once a week? Assuming that in both cases, the number of calories consumed that day would be the same.

jesz124

If calorie amounts are the same regardless which you choose to do it doesn't really matter IMO.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

lvtruu1

You wouldn't classify either as cheating if you stayed within your caloric goal.

Choosing to eat something less healthy isn't cheating based on calorie counting. With counting calories it doesn't make any difference where those calories come from. Obviously that doesn't apply to nutrition.

Don't get into the weeds with this. If you stay within your caloric goals, for weight loss, what you eat in the short term, won't make much of a difference.

serenapitala

If calorie amounts are the same regardless which you choose to do it doesn't really matter IMO.

This.

dixiewhiskey

Whatever works for you... nutrition wise is a different story.

Greenrun99

if your planning to eat out or something and have take out.. or something you normally wouldn't eat.. then cheat meal is fine.. as others have said its not really cheating if its inside your calorie goals.. but it might be something you wouldn't eat everyday (for example Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, McD's, Chinese Food,etc)

serenapitala

You wouldn't classify either as cheating if you stayed within your caloric goal.

Choosing to eat something less healthy isn't cheating based on calorie counting. With counting calories it doesn't make any difference where those calories come from. Obviously that doesn't apply to nutrition.

Don't get into the weeds with this. If you stay within your caloric goals, for weight loss, what you eat in the short term, won't make much of a difference.

This too

bostonwolf

Depends on your diet. I follow Tim Ferriss' Slow Carb diet, where a once a week cheat day is planned and exceeding your normal caloric intake is highly recommended.

jehavin

You wouldn't classify either as cheating if you stayed within your caloric goal.

Choosing to eat something less healthy isn't cheating based on calorie counting. With counting calories it doesn't make any difference where those calories come from. Obviously that doesn't apply to nutrition.

Don't get into the weeds with this. If you stay within your caloric goals, for weight loss, what you eat in the short term, won't make much of a difference.

Yes. It depends on why/what/how you are cheating. I take one "cheat" day each week, but cheating to me means not going through the drudgery of logging everything I eat. However, on those days, I try to keep about 70% of what I eat the same as any other day and then allow some splurges that I know I would be horrified (or feel a little guilty) about if I had to look up the calories/macros. That way, I know that I am going over about 250-400 calories on that day, but I am still getting good protein/carbs/veggies/fruits PLUS a little extra indulgence.

I have done "balls to the wall" cheat days where I ate all the crap that I had denied myself all week. It sucked, (emotionally, physically, etc,) so I stopped. I hated how my stomach threw a fit, how it made me bloat and automatically gain 2lbs the next day from water weight and how it made me feel like a "binge eater" again.

In order to remedy that, I now allow myself to break up the "treats" over 3 or 4 weekdays, tracking them and including them in my diary. It's usually things like a brownie (150 cal, 20gcarb, 2xweek,) or an apple fritter, (300 cal, 40gcarb, once every two weeks,) or some fried food, (400 cal, 40g fat, once a week,) and I just ADJUST MY EATING for the rest of the day to make up for the imbalance.

So, in short, figure out *why/how* you are cheating and then how best to get those "treats" or "emotional freedom" without tipping the scales (which is what the calorie counting math really is). Good luck with your journey!

EmmaKarney

There's really no such thing as a cheat day.

You simply eat into or wipe out your calorie deficit and either slow down or halt your weight loss.

jehavin

Depends on your diet. I follow Tim Ferriss' Slow Carb diet, where a once a week cheat day is planned and exceeding your normal caloric intake is highly recommended.

I actually employ a form of this in the fact that I keep my carbs moderate (around 150-200g per day) and then, on my "cheat day," the extras are usually carb centered things that don't fit into my daily macros. I probably consume about 300ish carbs on that day, which, based on what I've read, is good for the body to "refuel" carbs to reset/stabilize all the physiological benefits that carbs provide, (neurological functions, fuel for my longer LISS workouts, general emotional/hormonal health,) which some data argue might be compromised by a lower carb lifestyle. It's kind of my "insurance" carb day

HealthyDreamy

Hmm I was under the impression it was a cheat meal and not a cheat day - Cor bly have I been missing out LOL ;0P

Unknown

This content has been removed.

carlysuzanne85

I do one cheat meal a week and make sure that it's not so big or crazy that it blows all my progress for the week. On the day of my planned cheat meal, I will make sure to get a really solid workout in (I usually do my cheat meal on the weekend so I can do an extra long workout to offset at least some of those extra calories) and eat really healthy for the rest of the day and drink lots of water. I do think it's important to have that to look forward to. It helps me make good decisions throughout the week. If I eat over my calories on Monday, I know I'm sacrificing my fun meal out on Saturday so it helps to hold me accountable in that way too. Bob Harper also recommends a cheat meal once a week. If you can fit it into your calories for the day, even better but I am trying to be realistic in my weight loss even if it does slow me down a bit, so one day over a week is okay with me.

EmmaKarney

I get the psychology of a cheat meal/cheat day.

Point still stands - whether you log them or count them them or not, the calories have been consumed and count as part of your net total!

jehavin

OP, since most of the responses are arguing whether cheat meal calories "count/don't count," I reread your original post to see what you were actually asking, which was if people thought a meal or a day was better.

I still say a day, because I like to spread out my "deviant" eating throughout the 12 hours I'm awake, (eating an extra 600 cals of my sugar-dense "treat" foods at one setting would make my stomach ache,) but, as you said, if the calories during the meal or the day are the same, then it doesn't matter! Just make sure you have a clear calorie estimate in mind (like you know you have an extra 100 calories that you've been under each day and a 400 calorie workout that you did that morning so you know you can "cheat" by an extra 650-900 calories) and either eat it in on meal or spread it out throughout the day. And make sure you get the rest of your core nutrients in that day, too, (fruits/veggies/complex carbs).

mgreen10

You wouldn't classify either as cheating if you stayed within your caloric goal.

Choosing to eat something less healthy isn't cheating based on calorie counting. With counting calories it doesn't make any difference where those calories come from. Obviously that doesn't apply to nutrition.

Don't get into the weeds with this. If you stay within your caloric goals, for weight loss, what you eat in the short term, won't make much of a difference.

No, I'm not staying within my calorie goal for my cheat day, that's why it's a cheat day. Say I eat 1200 on a regular day, but my cheat day would be like 1800. I'm asking if it will be better to have one large meal or spread the calories throught the day.

mgreen10

There's really no such thing as a cheat day.

You simply eat into or wipe out your calorie deficit and either slow down or halt your weight loss.

Not true. There are valid reasons to have a cheat day or meal. I'm not going to be PC and call it a free day. Call it whatever you want to help you sleep at night, I don't give a s&$t what you call it, it's the same goddamn thing.

The concept of a cheat meal originated from Bill Phillips book, Body for Life. I don't know if he made it up or not, but that's where I first heard of it. Bill believed cheat meals served two purposes. The first was physical. He felt it was good to eat as you wish for the day. It's good for your body. You've been restrictive and it's good to just add the fat and some of the bad stuff you've been avoiding. He explains it in much better terms in his book. Secondly, there is a psychological purpose. And that's obvious. It's a chance to eat things you've been leaving out. It gives you something to look forward to, and it gives you some relaxation. Lets say you're going to a friends BBQ on a Saturday afternoon. You don't have to be the weird diet person, just eat reasonably. Enjoy the BBQ chicken, and a few beers. It's ok. Have a chocolate chip cookie too.

But Bill stresses, that you don't go crazy. You just kind of do what you want within reason.

If you haven't read this book you should. It was written in the 80's, but his concepts are still valid and there is reasoning behind the cheat day.

The IIFIYM didn't exist back then, also a low fat diet was thought to be better than one with good fats, so you'll see him talk about eating 4 egg whites and all that non sense. It's ok. But, that was the reason for the cheat day, because the diet was restrictive. For many IIFIYM's, this is no longer necessary, although I still blow it out once in a while.

The reason I have a cheat meal/day is that I've read numerous articles (recent ones too) that say it's good for your metabolism and good for avoiding a plateau.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

ForABetterMe89

I just plan to eat what I want when I want and just stick with better portions. If I go over, I better work my *kitten* off harder tomorrow.

lambchoplewis

I don't call it cheat days but... when I have an event, party or whatever, I look forward to a few glasses of wine and some "different" food. Usually, I go for the boiled shrimp, salad no dressing etc. BUT... my problem is that after a few glasses of wine, I want to eat everything in site!! I want to be able to stop eating and enjoy people and the event. This is my goal... be able to eat a normal amount of food at a party and once I get home, don't binge.