Binge day?

I heard from someone that you should "binge" one day a week to kickstart your metabolism so you et right everyday except one day. Is this true? I always thought you were NOT suppost to binge ever!

Replies

  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    Some people call them binge days or refeed days. I personally have had much success eating the same amounts every day without "cheat" days or whatever you want to call them. I also know people that eat thousands of calories above normal 1 day a week and it works for them. I say do whatever works for you and that you'll be able to maintain forever.
  • leambi
    leambi Posts: 452 Member
    I have 1 day a week where i eat what i want, i dont go crazy or anything so i wouldnt call it a binge day or anything like that but i wont be as strick with myself as i would be normally, i usually weigh myself on a Saturday morning and have the Saturday as my "treat day". This seems to be working for me but every one is different so what works for me may not work for someone else.
  • ThePenguin36
    ThePenguin36 Posts: 10 Member
    I personally don't like the idea of a binge 'day'. For me personally, it sets me up for temptation the rest of the week. I prefer one meal a week where I am not as strict with my calories. It allows me to work on eating moderately without constantly obsessing over the numbers.
  • soo_z
    soo_z Posts: 42
    For me, personally, this does not work. If I have a free day I seem to have a really tough time getting back on track. I went to an event last Saturday where I basically ate everything in sight (kept telling myself this was a "free" day) and I am still having a hard time getting back on track this week.
  • skatardrummer
    skatardrummer Posts: 60 Member
    I find mixing in a little bit of something you want every few days into your daily calorie intake keeps you from binging. One oops day every so often won't kill your progress, but in my experience, an oops day a week will. Most of us will gorge ourselfs on sugar, carbs, fatty meats. This will put our metabolisms into trying to break that stuff down for a couple days. I had an oops day yesterday. I ate 2800 calories and I've been on a 1500 calorie diet. I actually vomited because my body wasn't used to the sugar and stuff anymore after it had been cleansed out of my body. I still feel kind fo gross today. I still lost some weight, but how I feel isn't worth it to me. I'd rather mix small amounts of "pleasure foods" into my routine diet so I don't feel gross and I'm getting some of what I like.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I could be wrong but I don't believe there's any evidence that a single surplus day has any lasting effect on upregulation of metabolism.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I could be wrong but I don't believe there's any evidence that a single surplus day has any lasting effect on upregulation of metabolism.

    So you are saying we should have 2 binge days?
  • i try no tto "binge" or go over my calories, however when i am taking a "cheat" day i stick to my goal, and eat whatever sounds good. i don't really pay attention to my macro's on that particular day, so often times instead of a day packed with tons of protein i will eat more high carb foods like muffins and pancakes. i do this for no other reason other than i just like that day off mentally. i try to only do this 1 or 2 a month.
  • emmalouc93
    emmalouc93 Posts: 328 Member
    I do this weekly, more for my own sanity than upping my metabolism ha ha :D
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I could be wrong but I don't believe there's any evidence that a single surplus day has any lasting effect on upregulation of metabolism.

    So you are saying we should have 2 binge days?

    Well done sir.
  • FireBrand80
    FireBrand80 Posts: 378 Member
    I could be wrong but I don't believe there's any evidence that a single surplus day has any lasting effect on upregulation of metabolism.

    ^^^This. Leptin levels will be right back down as soon as you resume your deficit.
  • acstansell
    acstansell Posts: 567 Member
    It's a slippery slope. I didn't have my first cheat day until after I'd lost 25lbs. But, when I am stressed or overly emotional it's too easy to give up and cheat, and then 1 day becomes a week - once it became a month and 5lbs put back on. When I cheat, I CHEAT.

    So, I think it really is going to depend on how well you know yourself. For me, I have to watch how much I cheat. I've made myself the challenge that I'm not cheating again until the scale reads 199 or less. That's 17-20lbs from now.... I was really strict w/myself the first 2 months and I've been slacking badly the last two. I want to lose my goal by my year anniversary (9/10/13).
  • I heard from someone that you should "binge" one day a week to kickstart your metabolism so you et right everyday except one day. Is this true? I always thought you were NOT suppost to binge ever!

    It would kickstart you alright, kick you right back to where you started.
  • 29bubbles
    29bubbles Posts: 126 Member
    I found that if I have one bing day....it leads to more. For me, it's that little open door for my very bad habbits...and every time I tell myself it'll just be one day....it tosses me way off course. :cry: I do allow myself treats..... which is another thing I stuggle with cause it's not in moderation...obviously, I have little self control. Sigh...but this is about you.... Are you stong enough to get back on track after a day "off"??????? That is the question...if not, "don't do it" would be my advice. If you do, then teach me how! :bigsmile:
  • bberg0521
    bberg0521 Posts: 49 Member
    With me being a binger I don’t think this is a good idea for me. It will set me up to fail and everything will get washed away.

    Some people have success and some don’t. Losing weight is about finding what works for you because every body is different and in different ways.

    Good luck to you for finding something that works.
    :smile:
  • I found that if I have one bing day....it leads to more. For me, it's that little open door for my very bad habbits...and every time I tell myself it'll just be one day....it tosses me way off course. :cry: I do allow myself treats..... which is another thing I stuggle with cause it's not in moderation...obviously, I have little self control. Sigh...but this is about you.... Are you stong enough to get back on track after a day "off"??????? That is the question...if not, "don't do it" would be my advice. If you do, then teach me how! :bigsmile:

    Ha i have self control :) i usually "trick" myself into using frozen fruit as a snack so i believe im getting something that im not suppost too ;) i was just curious if there was any truth to this as ive been craving chocolate cake for a week it doesnt help that its sitting on my counter mocking me with its sexy stare...lil *kitten* :/
  • phxricky
    phxricky Posts: 54 Member
    Binge on beer day!!! (says the guy with the big belly.....me)
  • I don't have binge days, but everyone is different. I remember when I first started to control my food intake the idea of a binge day was very appealing - there was something to look forward to as a reward for being good all week. But as my attitude about why I was doing what I was doing changed, the need/desire for binge days simply went away. I'm trying to eat to be healthy, and binge-ing is simply counter productive for me.
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    i try no tto "binge" or go over my calories, however when i am taking a "cheat" day i stick to my goal, and eat whatever sounds good. i don't really pay attention to my macro's on that particular day, so often times instead of a day packed with tons of protein i will eat more high carb foods like muffins and pancakes. i do this for no other reason other than i just like that day off mentally. i try to only do this 1 or 2 a month.

    This is what I do too. And if I can, on the cheat day I'll do some extra exercise in the morning to lessen any "damage". I'm throwing a big backyard BBQ tomorrow so I plan on going for a run and doing 30DS, then enjoying the rest of the day with friends and family without worrying about counting calories.