What is with these cheat days?

2

Replies

  • rosemaryhon
    rosemaryhon Posts: 507 Member
    I was thinking the same thing. If I 'cheat', I know that I am just re-starting a bad pattern that I am trying to break through MFP. Plus, I allow myself a 'treat' now and then, as long as it fits within my calories for the day, etc. I am not strong enough to 'cheat' and not start playing mind games with myself again in justifying 'just one more cookie', 'just one bad day', etc.

    Since each person is unique, maybe having a less-structured day is helpful to some and keeps them on track in the long run. Maybe, some people 'cheat' by having an extra glass of wine or one slice of cake and they can keep it under control. I am not one of them - at least for now.


    This ^ is true for me too.
  • jaf320
    jaf320 Posts: 33 Member
    When I was eating REALLY strictly during the week (a few years ago now), I used to have a "rule" that I could eat whatever I wanted one day a week...BAD idea. Definitely created a binge mentality on that day that I had never had before, and made it difficult to eat socially or "go with the flow" regarding eating situations. After a lot of thought on the issue around the time I joined MFP, I've decided that I'm no longer doing a cheat day and instead am doing my best to make sound, rational choices that don't involve either extreme (deprivation or an "eat ALL THE FOODS" mindset) on a daily basis. This has been so helpful for me. I''m proud to say that I've literally eaten out (or been in a dinner party type situation) 4 out of the last 5 days and not gone way overboard at all. I've eaten according to hunger cues, eaten reasonable amounts, and have truly realized that it is far better to have some treats randomly "allowed" into your everyday!

    I do track on all days though...not so that I can be restrictive (as you can see from my diary!) but because it really keeps me out of that "might as well eat everything now that I'm indulging!" mindset.
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    I lost 50 pounds and have been maintaining that for at least a year and a half now and I still have a "cheat" day every weekend. ALL DAY!

    "Cheat" means different things to different people.
    For me, I exercise more that day and still try to keep my calories within a reasonable range of my normal goal. "Cheating" *usually* means restaurants, simple carbs or some candy I've been craving (today it was a bagel, a donut and a mexican restaurant!)

    I think you should worry about what you want to do for you and let others worry about themselves. That way, everyone is happy! :)

    First let me make it clear I am not worried about others doing this.I am just curious to the logic and justifications ppl have for these actions.
    I am not against it nor do I condone it, I just dont understand it. Being on here I have learned many things I didn't understand. I just want to broaden my knowledge and understanding of these actions so that I am able to comment in a better more educated way instead of commenting with just my feeling or attitude towards it. Nothing is one sided and for the most part all things are not black & white. But in order to be a better BFFF I need to understand it because alot of my BFFF do this.

    I think you should thoroughly read the thread instead of writing it off to worrying about ones self and not others. You are welcome.
  • newdaydawning79
    newdaydawning79 Posts: 1,503 Member
    I don't have a "cheat" meal, but I have a "TREAT" meal once a week (at least I try to keep it to once a week haha) where I eat anything I want. It's usually pasta and tiramisu and I usually go over my cals by up to 800 (which is still 200 below my TDEE). It's stuff I'd still plan on eating in moderation at maintenance so I don't see why I can't enjoy it in moderation now. :D

    Every once in awhile I have a pang of guilt about it but it usually fades. haha I have a mentality that sometimes gets the best of me when it comes to these changes I've made!
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    Saturdays are usually my cheat days. That’s when I bake and like to poke my fingers in bowls. It’s not that bad for me though but it makes me learn to instead of having a day to just have a meal. Last Saturday I had a piece of Turkish bread for lunch and that pushed me over. A lot of it comes down to learning about what you’re eating. I find a cheat day good because now that I’ve lost a little a bit of weight it’s showing me what food do what to me. I never realized how bloated I got after eating Turkish bread. It sat with me all day. But I’m not that crazy about losing weight where I’m going to neglect my desires to eat pizza, chicken wings or Chinese food. I just don’t give into it as often as I would. I have felt guilty after eating (not even a full day of it) but as I said it’s all about learning.
  • dancingdeer
    dancingdeer Posts: 373 Member
    Why should you care if someone has a cheat day or not? Some of us only have a few pounds to lose, or are closer to our goal, or whatever!

    Work on what works for you - and let others do the same.
  • missability
    missability Posts: 223
    I have been here and on my own plan since January 1, I have lost 41 pounds. I make 80% of my days, wheat corn gluten and soy free. I eat tons of fresh fruit, cottage cheese, fresh or frozen veggies, Lean proteins like fish and poultry. I use organic, free range and cage free when ever possible. if my diary lists a veggie or fruit, butter, milk, eggs etc....90% of the time it is organic, cage hormone, antibiotic etc etc free. I am just to lazy to look it up that way, I just find the veggie or fruit, do the svg, and enter it. My fats are grapeseed, walnut olive oils, organic unsalted butter, yogurt, farmers cheese, cottage cheese, etc....Having said all that....When I started I had done a lot of reading on the hormone called Leptin, and how triggering it after days of low calorie is important to keep the furnace going, as it were...I eat very low<<<doctor supervised, Half my stomach is gone, and have had 3 bowel surgeries, (and a myriad of health issues) and then every 6 to 9 days, give or take, I have a "TREAT" meal. never after 4:30 pm, and only ONE meal. I start my treat meal days with a protein breakfast, and a light mid morning snack in preparation....it does not stumble me, it is not an excuse to over indulge. In fact I struggle to get up over 1600 calories on treat meal day....so I do not think everyone is the same or treats the idea of a CHEAT the same...Everyone has to find what works for them, :) thank you for your time:)
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    If your "cheat meal" is the last meal of the day, it can easily be synonymous with a "cheat day," can it not?

    If you're the guest at a friend's dinner table and find that the meal turned out to be higher in calories than you anticipated (perhaps you felt it gauche to pull out your MyFitnessPal smartphone app before spooning some onto your plate), then how is lack of "self control" responsible for your having gone over?

    If you typically exercise for a set amount of time in the evenings, planning your calorie intake during the day to eat back the majority of the exercise calories, and have your workout curtailed due to unforeseen circumstance (illness, family emergency, twisting an ankle while running, etc), is lack of "self control" to blame for your "cheat day?"
  • newdaydawning79
    newdaydawning79 Posts: 1,503 Member
    Why should you care if someone has a cheat day or not? Some of us only have a few pounds to lose, or are closer to our goal, or whatever!

    Work on what works for you - and let others do the same.

    That wasn't the OP's question, she was trying to understand the mentality to be a better MFP friend. She wasn't harping on people FOR doing it, just trying to understand the why.
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    I can understand "cheat days'... But not if they are often/HUGE/guilt inducing/keeping one from reaching their goals.

    I occasionally have a day or even two of not logging or measuring or worrying about calories. But I stick to my food goals in between non-logging days, have no guilt, don't binge, and am still reaching my fitness goals.

    If someone is having huge binging cheat days and not reaching their goals, then "cheat days" aren't something they can afford.i guess those are the people with binge eating disorders and it's harder for them to just walk away from chips and cookies.

    (I don't think of my non logging days as cheating though, I make my own rules and occasional non-recording is part of my rules, therefore not cheating)

    Yes. This is where I get confuzzled. If you feel guilty about it why do it or cont to do it? What are you getting from it? And at what point do you say stop? I have trouble understanding why it cant be spread so that you still meet macros.
  • Autumnsun26
    Autumnsun26 Posts: 83 Member
    I am sure they ONLY feel guilty when they see the numbers go up on the scale LOL. I occasionally over indulgence with a meal but not on a regular weekly basis. Just every once in a while with a special event etc. I think about everything I partake in before I decide to make the choice to indulge. Is it really worth all the hard work to over eat and end up with a gain? For me.. no, no it isn't!
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,854 Member
    I keep seeing posts of how guilty ppl feel during and after their "cheat" days. I understand the totally ridiculous justification that it prevents ppl from failing in their diet (as does self control) but seriously do you really need an entire DAY to cheat?
    I don't do "cheat days" myself, but it seems to work for some people. How do you justify bacon?
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    I keep seeing posts of how guilty ppl feel during and after their "cheat" days. I understand the totally ridiculous justification that it prevents ppl from failing in their diet (as does self control) but seriously do you really need an entire DAY to cheat?
    I don't do "cheat days" myself, but it seems to work for some people. How do you justify bacon?

    I love BACON!!! But actually since my lifestyle change I switched over to turkey bacon. Why is turkey bacon bad?
  • tomcornhole
    tomcornhole Posts: 1,084 Member
    I like the thought expressed earlier that if a day of indulgence is planned, it isn't cheating. Maybe call it an excursion day. I have had an excursion day every Saturday for the past 13 months. It does not make me feel guilty. As a matter of fact, I feel guilty if I don't cheat. It plays a vital role in MY (as in me, not anyone else) long term weight loss goals. I don't push it on anyone else and I grow VERY weary of folks judging me on this site. I let MY success speak for ME. I have no clue if it will work for anyone else.
  • JeneticTraining
    JeneticTraining Posts: 663 Member
    It's like a nice treat/reward for some. I haven't had a cheat meal yet.
  • OkieTink
    OkieTink Posts: 285 Member
    I get why people do it. I don't understand why they feel the need to post about it.

    I eat bacon. Daily. Sometimes more than once a day :)
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,854 Member
    I keep seeing posts of how guilty ppl feel during and after their "cheat" days. I understand the totally ridiculous justification that it prevents ppl from failing in their diet (as does self control) but seriously do you really need an entire DAY to cheat?
    I don't do "cheat days" myself, but it seems to work for some people. How do you justify bacon?

    I love BACON!!! But actually since my lifestyle change I switched over to turkey bacon. Why is turkey bacon bad?
    I was just riffing off your avatar. "Turkey bacon" isn't bacon. They just call it that since it's an alternative to bacon.
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    I like the thought expressed earlier that if a day of indulgence is planned, it isn't cheating. Maybe call it an excursion day. I have had an excursion day every Saturday for the past 13 months. It does not make me feel guilty. As a matter of fact, I feel guilty if I don't cheat. It plays a vital role in MY (as in me, not anyone else) long term weight loss goals. I don't push it on anyone else and I grow VERY weary of folks judging me on this site. I let MY success speak for ME. I have no clue if it will work for anyone else.

    Thank you I dont want to be one of those judgers I find myself in the same boat with the diet soda issue. It helps with some and others say it is pure evil lol I tend to just stay out of those convos now since I dont have anything to offer up as fact and can only go by what others testaments are on the subject. I dont do cheat days but who am I to say it is wrong I have no proof it is wrong for the most part I just need to better understand it.
  • restoreleanne
    restoreleanne Posts: 217 Member
    I have Had a cheat day every week I eat 2000 calorie 400 extra calories. It' the day I eat the whole eggs or a sandwich on bread instead it being lettuce wraped.it's not all unhealthy foods.
  • broox80
    broox80 Posts: 1,195 Member
    A cheat day for me would totally kill me. I do eat a few overly fatty meals, hello wiiiiiings!!! But I just have to be sure to exercise more to cover the extra calories.I think of it like paying for my food. I have to earn the extra cals to use them!! I suppose everone is different, but this way works for me.
    And to the OP, ♥ avenged sevenfold. M is my celeb crush. You broads can keep Tatum and Gossling just give me Shadows :blushing:
  • Kaddehawk
    Kaddehawk Posts: 12
    I never have "cheat" days because I don't consider any food really Forbidden. To forbid something tends to make you want it more. That can lead to over indulgence. What I do instead is treat my calories like money. Living on a restricted income ( disability) means you have to have careful spending habits. I may see something tempting, but not necessary, and I look at it and ask if that is really how I want to spend my money. I do the same with my calories. I may be tempted to indulge in something like the donuts that were brought home recently, and it was tempting... it's been a while since I have had any, but I decided that was not how I wanted to "spend" my calories. Then when I do splurge a few calories on a treat it is just a small amount. Enough to satisfy a craving or desire. Because it is never forbidden I am less likely to over indulge or to feel guilty afterwords.
  • carolynhart01
    carolynhart01 Posts: 73 Member
    I have never set an actual cheat day. I set up rewards for reaching goals but that may be splurging at the grocery store for the really good atkins bars that I normally don't budget or whole grain buckwheat pancakes with s/f syrup. If I don''t have them often, they are a special treat and still fit into my day.
  • 2FatToRun
    2FatToRun Posts: 810 Member
    I keep seeing posts of how guilty ppl feel during and after their "cheat" days. I understand the totally ridiculous justification that it prevents ppl from failing in their diet (as does self control) but seriously do you really need an entire DAY to cheat?
    I don't do "cheat days" myself, but it seems to work for some people. How do you justify bacon?

    I love BACON!!! But actually since my lifestyle change I switched over to turkey bacon. Why is turkey bacon bad?
    I was just riffing off your avatar. "Turkey bacon" isn't bacon. They just call it that since it's an alternative to bacon.

    It isnt bacon!?!?! WTF ..BRB....there is a deli worker behind the counter at Walmart I am gonna sock in the face ..... :laugh:
    JK JK but yeah I am new so I am watching everything that passes my lips. I am slowly incorporating my old favorites back just want to make sure I am ready mentally and emotionally to have enough self control so I dont land back to what got me here. Plus it is pretty darn tasty :drinker:
  • Trilby16
    Trilby16 Posts: 707 Member
    If I have a special treat in mind, I will work for it and earn it (i.e. exercise) in advance. Then I enjoy can it guilt-free.
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,854 Member
    It isnt bacon!?!?! WTF
    Trufe. Look it up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_bacon
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,854 Member
    Every day is a cheat day for me. I cheat fat.
  • SJackson50
    SJackson50 Posts: 282 Member
    I call it a "spike" meal...never feel guilty about it. Whatever works!
    Good luck in your goals!
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    Im coming down from a cheat WEEK high;) but i have no guilt as i am still within my goal range. There was little moderation involved. Now back to my usual goal of maintenance calorie...to prepare for my next week of delicious foods that are meant for me! Thankfully 4500 calorie days can be a useful reminder of places we've been but don't want to live at:)
  • tomcornhole
    tomcornhole Posts: 1,084 Member
    Thankfully 4500 calorie days can be a useful reminder of places we've been but don't want to live at:)

    I never thought of it this way, but I think you are spot on. Interesting take on the topic.
  • rachpetersen
    rachpetersen Posts: 265 Member
    To each their own. If you don't like it don't comment about it. Do what works for you and let others do the same without judgement or criticism.

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