Cheat Meal Question

Flufferoon
Flufferoon Posts: 14
in Health and Weight Loss
I've read about how cheat meals can help your metabolism and how they don't always ruin your diet, as long as it's only once a week or so. But how far can you go with it? Let's say I normally take in about 1100 calories or so per day, with moderate exercise (since I work about 4 to 6 days a week for about 6 to 8 hours each day, always on my feet moving around). I also do some nights where i brisk walk for an hour. Now, i normally don't eat back the exercise calories I've burned. The calories I've said before were basically what i've kept track of that i was eating. Now, is it safe to have one day where instead of a 300 calorie dinner, I have two slices of pizza instead? And instead of a dessert of lets say 100 calories, I instead have some sort of ice cream dessert from BK or Wendy's or Dairy Queen or something? I don't know, something like that. And then after that day, go right back to my normal routine? Or would that ruin me?

Replies

  • pattyg1821
    pattyg1821 Posts: 81
    well first of all your are tooooooooo low are you calories. You need to eat atleast 1200 for survival mode. But if you are working out that much a day /week you need to feed your body so you get enough calories in to fuel your metabolism so you can loose weight.

    I am currently trying to loose weight -atleast 100lbs. Im keeping calories about 1200-1500 and I have a fulltime job plus go to gym and.

    As far as the cheat days........ I would say says cheat days will keep you from tempatations later in the week and keep you from caving in or giving up all together. I think thats why diets never work..........people are too strict. Its got to be a lifestyle change which happens slowly. So if you have to have that soda or cheeseburger go for and then the next day get back on track.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I've read about how cheat meals can help your metabolism

    Single meals won't appreciably/significantly upregulate metabolism and/or it's associated hormones.

    and how they don't always ruin your diet, as long as it's only once a week or so. But how far can you go with it?

    Overall calorie and macronutrient intake will drive progress. You could get a good estimate on how badly a cheat day would effect you by just looking at weekly deficit/weekly intake.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    IMO if you have a significant amount of fat to lose, you probably shouldnt worry too much about cheat meals.

    Just set up a decent deficit from TDEE and relax.
    The fat will come off.

    And 1100 isnt very smart.
    Review the stickies or go here for another method that works
    >http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12
  • Flufferoon
    Flufferoon Posts: 14
    As far as the cheat days........ I would say says cheat days will keep you from tempatations later in the week and keep you from caving in or giving up all together. I think thats why diets never work.........

    Well, I constantly find myself dreaming about being able to have some pizza, or pasta, or macaroni and cheese again. I never really allow myself to have any unless it's a Lean Cuisine meal. Which, even at that, I don't have very often. I still crave desserts but not as hardcore as I crave these few things. I'd like to have them once or even twice (omg, twice) a week, but I'm afraid if I do so, I'll end up ruining myself.

    I also tend to stay below 1200 because I'm afraid that if I do take in that much, I'll end up gaining weight..

    A normal week without my extra exercise will consist of at least 4 to 5 days of me working, for about 6 to 8 hours a day. I'm on my feet, standing and walking around the store, with only a 30 minute lunch break to sit down. So, I'm really not sure how much I burn with that.

    An extra exercise routine will consist of me brisk walking outside at night for an hour, with some jogging sprinkled in, every few blocks or so.. Again, not sure how much i burn with it. I don't eat back the exercise calories when i do this.
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    As far as the cheat days........ I would say says cheat days will keep you from tempatations later in the week and keep you from caving in or giving up all together. I think thats why diets never work.........

    Well, I constantly find myself dreaming about being able to have some pizza, or pasta, or macaroni and cheese again. I never really allow myself to have any unless it's a Lean Cuisine meal. Which, even at that, I don't have very often. I still crave desserts but not as hardcore as I crave these few things. I'd like to have them once or even twice (omg, twice) a week, but I'm afraid if I do so, I'll end up ruining myself.

    I also tend to stay below 1200 because I'm afraid that if I do take in that much, I'll end up gaining weight..

    A normal week without my extra exercise will consist of at least 4 to 5 days of me working, for about 6 to 8 hours a day. I'm on my feet, standing and walking around the store, with only a 30 minute lunch break to sit down. So, I'm really not sure how much I burn with that.

    An extra exercise routine will consist of me brisk walking outside at night for an hour, with some jogging sprinkled in, every few blocks or so.. Again, not sure how much i burn with it. I don't eat back the exercise calories when i do this.

    You wont gain eating above 1200 unless you are 3 foot tall.

    Read the link.
    =D
  • Flufferoon
    Flufferoon Posts: 14
    I suppose I'll take all the measurements in the morning, since that would be best. But it all seems so friggen confusing and complicated to figure out. I just want to lose like 5 more pounds or so. I've been stuck for about 2 weeks, not losing any weight. I keep track of my calories and what i eat in a journal and on average I get anywhere between 950 to 1100 or so. I'm thinking about seeing a nutritionist on top of all this.

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