cheat days?

MizzSoriano

So my husband and I are attempting a lifestyle change. We are starting slow by doing portion control first then integrating more and more changes. My question is regarding cheat days- my husband says they are necessary. I feel HORRIBLE whenever I do have a cheat day, because it makes me feel weak. Nutrition wise, is this cheat day smart or not?
I appreciate all input!! Thanks

GamerLady

I'm a fan of saving some calories for the end of the evening so that you can have a nice treat for all your hard work during the day.
If you deprive yourself of everything you use to eat, you'll end up craving all day and feeling guilty when you binge out. Keep it within your calories and you're good.

MizzSoriano

see THAT sounds like a better plan than having 1 day full of "eat whatever you want!"

neacail

Cheat days don't work for me on a weekly basis. It is way too easy for me to fall off the wagon that way. And, left to my own devices, I can consume 3000 calories by noon on a day when I'm not counting!

One reasonable cheat meal a week works better for me, but even that seems to be a bit much. I think one treat a week, which does not fit into my calorie goals, may be a better way to manage things for me.

chrislynn_marie

I don't do cheat days. Way too many calories can be consumed in a day. But I do believe in cheat meals once a week or so. If you completely deprive yourself of something, you'll find yourself binging.

dcyr009

I don't have a cheat day. I add healthy snacks to my diet as part of my calorie budget. Things like Thinkthin protein bars or Arctic Zero Ice Cream (150 calories) a pint. I eat at the same time every day. Your body gets use to a routine. If you incorporate cheat days, I believe you're body gets confused and requests the same amount of calories the next day. Which starts a bad habit and/or makes the next few days after harder to deal with?

This is just my own opinion and experience. Other people could be okay with it and not have this issue.

Lisah8969

Personally, I don't have them. I belong to the school of "everything is allowed in moderation" so if I want a treat, I make sure it fits my calories and macros and I eat it. If I think of cheating then I won't be in the right frame of mind to know that this is a lifestyle change and not something temporary.

TimeForMe99

If I'm going out for a nice dinner (not a chain place) I'll save some calories the day before and make up for it the day after. Most studies say a weekly average is the most important thing.

If your husband wants to have a cheat day then let him. You can do what's right for you. Go ahead and have a few wings and a beer; just log it and adjust your other meals accordingly.

spirit80

Call it what you want. You are here for a reason. You are cheating yourself!

pilarter

I say to myself "no sweat, no sweet". No cheating when eating chocolate If I am under my calorie goal, so I check calories in the evening, and see what I can "afford" to eat. Working out a little bit would be a good change in your routine, together or not, and would allow you both some "cheating" almost every day.
Anyway, "whatever you feel like" is never a good option. It is easier to get used to new healthy rewards, same or more tasty, and you won´t feel so guilty.

slittle80

I don't have cheat DAYS so much as a cheat meal every week or two. And to be honest... it's more of a reward of eating something I wouldn't normally consume but still in moderation. That way I don't feel like I'm completely deprived of the sweet things in life and can still maintain my normal rhythm. I typically still try to work it in calorie wise but don't beat myself up if it doesn't work out... One day or meal off your plan is better than falling off the wagon because you can't shake the cravings.

shelbysp8

I do not have "cheat" days I have "free" days - where I do not track. I do not go crazy "overeating" but I do save that day for a glass of wine or 5 :drinker: but I feel like if we don't allow ourselves a time to splurge then we will feel deprived and fall off the wagon. MY free day is Sunday after my weigh in and then I am back to tracking on Monday! :bigsmile:

I just log "Free Day" with that calorie total and click "DONE" for the day. So it's a mental break too - a break from all the careful logging.

My first few free days were total gluttony but I found that I felt like crap, so these days I moderate myself fairly well. But if I want something, I just have it. No guilt.

:happy:

mom2kpr

I don't have a set cheat meal or day. However, if I when I'm going out to dinner, if I want something "bad" for me, I just plan ahead. Eat an extra healthy, light lunch, exercise more, etc. Same if I'm going to a party or something. Worst case, I go out unplanned, I will eat what I'm in the mood for whether good or bad & adjust over the next few days. It's not what you eat in 24 hrs, it's what you eat over time. Don't cheat yourself out of what you want - just plan accordingly & you'll do great.

mjwarford

I prefer to think of myself having a free meal once a week. I don't feel that I am cheating if I fit it into my calories and have worked hard. A free whole day is a bit too much for me. I think if I never gave myself a free meal, I would feel too restricted and want to quit. For me it is about overall lifestyle, not that I can never have ice cream again.

summerluvinfit

We have a cheat "meal" every Saturday and stay within our calories - but the carbs can go over for the day. It works out great for us because we know we can have anything we crave on the weekend and helps us stay on track the entire week!

tryclyn

I have a really high day occasionally (and always log it), I do this to learn how to work around it and still lose. So I don't consider it a cheat, I consider it practice.

violinkeri

My answer would be, if a cheat day doesnt make you feel good, then why would you do it?

I think portion control is the key, and you are on the right track. Small, manageable changes. It may be a pain to count out my chips, but i still get to HAVE chips.

If you look at my diary, you will see I havent stopped eating carbs or sweets on a daily basis, but I'm always right around my calorie goal for the most part (monday was rough as it was the day after a trip and i was jetlagged and difficult)

da_bears10089

i think the difference here is the mindset. i used to have cheat days, or i would eat something bad for lunch and when it came time for dinner i would be like... ehhh screw it, my day is already shot. that's when i was restricting myself too much, either cutting too many things out of my diet or having too low of a calorie goal. i still go over from time to time, but it's pretty rare.

editted to add: we have pizza at least once a week, i will not pass up on a burger and some cajun fries from five guys if my hubby suggests it and still stay within my calorie goals (most of the time)

Snapper1985

So my husband and I are attempting a lifestyle change. We are starting slow by doing portion control first then integrating more and more changes. My question is regarding cheat days- my husband says they are necessary. I feel HORRIBLE whenever I do have a cheat day, because it makes me feel weak. Nutrition wise, is this cheat day smart or not?
I appreciate all input!! Thanks

If it makes you feel like crap, you're doing it wrong.

2ht2hand1e

Cheat days do not work for me at all. They turn into cheat every days. I have a hard time going back to making healthy choices after I have a cheat day. I do better with balance so I try to eat mostly healthy with treats sprinkled throughout.

albertabeefy

I'm a diabetic, we don't get cheat days if we want good glycemic control

My wife won't diet without "cheat meals" - not full days, she has two cheat meals per week.

But really, if you're feeling a need for "cheat meals" or "cheat days" you may be doing something wrong. I can eat almost anything I want in one form or another (there's lots of good low-carb/sugar-free recipes for desserts or whatever) without 'cheating' on my diet, and as-such never feel deprived.

aas1277

I think you have to have a cheat day once in a while. I feel so deprived if I don't have one of my guilty pleasures once in a while. I do have to say that I pay for it afterward though. We went out to dinner this week and I had two glasses of sangria, ordered an appetizer, entree and a rich decadent chocolate mousse dessert and coffee. i was up with an upset stomach in the middle of the night and felt like complete crap the next day. What I try to do is still eat everything I love in moderation. I can't live a day without chocolate in some form so I have a kashi bar or sugar free jello pudding, etc. I still get frozen yogurt with my kids but since there are so many self serve places where you pay by weight I can control the portion size and I eliminate toppings. That way I still feel satisfied instead of deprived all week. It's so hard but counting calories seems to be the only thing that works for me in getting rid of those last few pounds. For the longest time I was at a plateau with just exercise 5-6 days a week. As soon as I started logging my food the pounds seemed to start to melt away. So I think once a week to eat without caring if I go over my calories is fine as long as I get back on track the next day.

I also won't make a new recipe unless it comes with nutritional information. If I'm craving blueberry scones I search the internet for a healthier version for example so i get what I'm craving at a fraction of the calories, then it's a win win. Cooking light is a great magazine/website for lower calorie versions of some great comfort foods....even chicken pot pie and desserts.

MizzSoriano

I have decided that I wont be doing the "cheat day" thing anymore. all my hard work is going to waste! I like the suggestions about having maybe 1 cheat meal per week- thats a little but more appealing anyway. Thank you all for the responses!

rachelabdy

I love "cheat days" and mine is Sundays... having said that - it's not really a "cheat" cause I log what I eat and as long as my weekly average is still on or under my target then I'm happy!
Has worked well for me - I keep my high carb goodies for Sundays... and have chips and gravy for lunch!
Whatever works for you - at the end of the day - if you're still losing weight and logging what you eat - there is no issue as far as I'm concerned.

1ConcreteGirl

If you and your husband have differences of opinion about cheating, this could be a very significant issue in your marriage.

Have you considered couples counseling?

myfitnessval

for me what worked werent exactly cheat days, but days where i would eat HEALTHY portions of not so healthy or things i usually shouldnt be eating. for instance mine were sundays and those were days i would go visit my family who would cook anything from healthy to horrible food. lol so it was up to me to portion control like crazy. you can still have "cheat days" without truly cheating on your diet. for a little i tried just a 'cheat meal' where i had one of my favorite fatty foods once a week or so. do what feels right and what feels like it wont derail your progress.

Railr0aderTony

There is nothing you can not make fit with planning so why ever cheat? If you go over your calories then you go over, this is not a game so why cheat? IMO the only way to make weight loss last is live like you plan on living for the rest of your life and I do not plan on going without anything forever. If i want pizza then I will have pizza but maybe only a piece or two and a big salad. Everything in moderation. Best of luck to you.

Cr01502

So my husband and I are attempting a lifestyle change. We are starting slow by doing portion control first then integrating more and more changes. My question is regarding cheat days- my husband says they are necessary. I feel HORRIBLE whenever I do have a cheat day, because it makes me feel weak. Nutrition wise, is this cheat day smart or not?
I appreciate all input!! Thanks

If your husband is ok with his cheat day you should be ok with yours.

Take a warm bath light a few candles . . . throw on some jazz.

Enjoy yourself!

This is YOUR time.

pinkraynedropjacki

I've never had a cheat day. I see it that I'd only be cheating myself so what's the point. I don't hate anyone that does, but I don't feel the need to have a day to pig out when really I can have what I want if I work hard enough.

McManda89

I am going to do one free meal a month. Out to eat or take home, either way. Hot Deli Food and Concession Food count as out to eat. Even a BK Garden Salad or a McDonald's Parfait. Mmmm.

And parties/holidays/ect. are free also. Say you go to thanks giving dinner; go all out! Don't make yourself depressed over everyone's heaping holiday plates and feel like you aren't enjoying the holiday to the fullest (hah, see what I did there?) Or say it's your best friend's baby shower and not only is there a spinach artichoke dip but there's also cake, ice cream, and 7-up sherbet punch. Take a bit of each!