Is it ok to have a ''cheat day"?

alabamacutie2005
alabamacutie2005 Posts: 4
in Introduce Yourself
I have heard that having a cheat day helps cuz it gives you a day when you can satisfy your sweet tooth or sugar desires. But is it ok to have one and still lose weight too??
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Replies

  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    Once a week as long as you're staying within your normal calorie goals for the rest of the week is fine, even good for your sanity while losing weight.
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    Some people do, I don't. The sugar /carbs would set me off and I don't have the willpower to stop. My sweet tooth got me here and it took me years to get the mindset to change my lifestyle and find MFP. If I can' t fit the food into my daily plan, I don't have it.
    Good luck whichever way you decide to go. Suppose can try it once and see how you/your body handles it.
  • thenrd
    thenrd Posts: 2 Member
    I truly believe that if you "cheat", you will always find a reason to cheat. If you need to reward yourself, make it something NOT to eat. I have to keep telling myself that too.
  • fitz1970
    fitz1970 Posts: 7
    I don't do a whole day . . I can cheat a lot in 24 hours! LOL! But I do allow a cheat food every now and then. Usually salty sweet chocolate . . and usually when I'm PMS'ing!! It's for the greater good of all mankind!!
  • 84jeepster
    84jeepster Posts: 198 Member
    its only cheating if you dont log it.
  • amnsetie
    amnsetie Posts: 666 Member
    cheating is such a pejorative term
    i eat more some days.
    sometimes up to my tdee

    like other vices i try not to do it two days in a row.
  • bailbondbabs
    bailbondbabs Posts: 26
    I cheat to shock my system and it works! Not often but I also contain it to just that time. I am very lucky, since I adopted my daughter I have major willpower :love:
  • ashesfromfire
    ashesfromfire Posts: 867 Member
    I personal have a "cheat day". Every saturday from noon to midnight I let myself eat whatever I want - typically this results in pizzaa for dinner :)
    What it really helps with, more than anything, is during the week when I crave something, like a soda or chocolate or potato chips (whatever) I just tell myself that I can have it on saturday. Typically, by the time saturday come around I don't want [enter craved food here] anymore! Works great!
  • mds81
    mds81 Posts: 9 Member
    Make sure you log it! That way you can look back over past weeks and see if they are impacting your goals

    Ps: I call mine 'lapse' days, as cheating sort of implies you are cheating to get to your goal - which would be a good thing. For me it is a lapse in willpower :)
  • FeelinChastastic
    FeelinChastastic Posts: 78
    I'm not big on sweets but when I crave chocolate, I usually crave peanut butter with it. Reese's Peanut Butter cups are a huge weakness! So, I found a healthy substitute! Nature Valley Granola thins! They make a thin peanut butter granola square coated on the back with dark chocolate. It's small but it's only 80 calories and it fixes the craving :)
  • farroz
    farroz Posts: 51 Member
    Yeah I cheat at least once a week but have only been on 7 weeks but have lost 14 pounds so it seems it is ok. I do try to do a hard workout on cheat days.
  • JulieDerda
    JulieDerda Posts: 163
    I HAVE to do a cheat day.. /meal// drinks what not .. but I always workout hard core on that day.. .. I have lost weight doing so also. Everyone is different so dont take my word for it..Some people just take a cheat meal.. or what not.. i have a cheat meall but really its turns into a cheat day b/c i drink after i eat bd too.. BUT if it works for you do it.. If it doesnt just do a meal.. Dont listen to what me or anyone else says. EXPERIMENT w/ this.. Because this is a lifestyle change and you want it ot work for you. It's not a race so find out what lets you lose wieght..
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I have cheat days when I feel they're necessary. They don't hurt as long as you don't eat a billion calories. Instead of eating 1400 like normal, eat more but keep it under control.
  • ScottFree_66
    ScottFree_66 Posts: 200
    Cheat day makes it sound bad.... call it a reward day. Personally I try to do a meal and not a whole day now.
    I found it to be a great incentive and allows you time to go out with friends or spouse and not worry about calories.
  • Mr_Bad_Example
    Mr_Bad_Example Posts: 2,403 Member
    To each their own...

    I've worked 'cheat days' into my routine for the last three years now. I pick a day when I won't track or care and I have whatever I want. It's enjoyable, but when the day ends I'm ready to get back to watching my calories and working out. That way I don't feel deprived. And the proof that it works for me is that I've lost 30 pounds and kept it off in all of the time that I've been tracking and exercising seriously.

    But hey, everyone has a different take. Try it and see what works for you. If it's not helpful, don't do it - if it is useful to you, work it into your routine.
  • brendas026
    brendas026 Posts: 68 Member
    I dont like cheat days, but I prefer a cheat meal ( see the difference?) two healthy meals and one bad, instead of the whole day.
  • jamm2000
    jamm2000 Posts: 79
    Absolutely! I have 2 cheat days actually - Saturday and Sunday. But Monday - Friday I stick to my calorie goal. I've always dieted this way and never had a problem losing weight.
  • jesshayl1
    jesshayl1 Posts: 5
    What I do personally is my weighin day is Saturday. As long as I've lost something then I get to enjoy "Faturday". I eat whatever I want that day. I don't call it cheating and I still log everything though. As long as you can get back to your normal routine the next day then I would recommend it. Good luck!
  • oOMusicBabii
    oOMusicBabii Posts: 494
    I don't have planned cheat days...that has never worked for me personally.

    But sometimes you can't help when one happens by accident. For me it's the accidental ones that really kick me in the butt because it reminds me of times when I've been out of control and how I don't want to be that again and then I kick it up a notch.

    Life happens, so does delicious food that can seem to blow everything. All that matters is you enjoy it and then get back on track.
  • fragilegift
    fragilegift Posts: 347 Member
    Mine are 'free days' - I'm usually under for most days out of a fortnight or whatever so I know I can indulge one day if it happens to come up. I don't deliberately set out to have these though.
  • samuraistephanie
    samuraistephanie Posts: 5
    Lapse day, reward day whatever you want to call it, are nice on small occasions but still try to be aware of what you are putting in your body. I have just started to try to loose the weight I have put on in the last 6 months. Just remember pounds come on quick but drop off slow. Question is will YOU be okay with it later. If no, then stay strong, if yes, than that is your choice!
  • subcult
    subcult Posts: 262 Member
    Yeah I try to have one a week usually Saturday, that also happens to be the day I do yard work at home and my moms. I usually play hard with friends and my kids. It seems to restart my system and it gets rid of my food and alcohol cravings. I also find I am a lot more willing to burn 1k plus if I know I can have both good and bad food that day.
  • theNurseNancy
    theNurseNancy Posts: 149
    Every weekend, I eat things I want. I still lose weight and keep my sanity. You just have to have the willpower to not turn it into a habit again.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    Yep. After all, it's not like you're never going to indulge once you've reached your goal weight, so why not indulge while you're losing weight? This journey should be about developing healthier habits. One of those is moderation.
  • NZhellkat
    NZhellkat Posts: 355 Member
    I have heard that having a cheat day helps cuz it gives you a day when you can satisfy your sweet tooth or sugar desires. But is it ok to have one and still lose weight too??


    I don't have "cheat day", I have a "Damn you've done well" day. My sports doctor back in New Zealand coached some of our top athletes and Olympian hopefuls told me that you can have anything you want as long as it is in moderation. If you don't deprive yourself then you are less likely to binge. And you can use it as a short term goal/reward too. I lost 51 lbs that time and did not miss out on anything. Today I have had one mini red velvet cupcake. I work hard so that I can still eat treat. The biggest difference now though is the right portion. Now I'm going to have another soon as I have a lot of calories left to eat.
  • sharleengc
    sharleengc Posts: 792 Member
    People are of different opinions. Some say yes and some day no.

    I for one, have a cheat day every week. It hasn't affected my progress at all. Usually, my cheat day is the day that we do our grocery shopping. We live 90 miles from town so our weekly trip usually includes lunch or dinner depending on if we go Friday after work or Saturday, a latte stop, and soft serve yogurt on the way home.

    My weight may go up the next day by a 1lb r 2 just because of day before but it's right back down. I also have a huge sweet tooth so everyday I have something but I save 150 cal for my sweet tooth. The rest of the week I am within my calorie goal.

    It may depend on your body since everyone is different, but if it works for you..go for it!
  • Sassy922
    Sassy922 Posts: 399 Member
    Personally, I hate the expression "cheat day'. It makes it sound like what you are doing is temporary, and once you get to goal, you can eat the way you do on your "cheat day". And if that happens, you'll be right where you were to begin with.

    I log every day, no matter what. The good. The bad. The ugly. I've had 3000 calorie days, and I've logged it. if you want to call that my cheat day, then do. But I call it life.
  • SoFLpeg
    SoFLpeg Posts: 15 Member
    Who are you cheating or what are you cheating on?

    I eat the food I love. In moderation. I eat chocolate or ice cream pretty much every day. Burgers, pizza, pasta, peanut butter...things that people say they "cheat" eating. I also eat a lot of fruit and veges and lean meats and whole grains. In other words, a healthy mix of food.

    I don't eat "diety" food. I eat good food that tastes good. Not all the high calorie/fat stuff in one day. If I view how I am losing as a "diet" I will "go off and go back to eating the good stuff" then I will gain back all the 50+ pounds I have lost in the last year.

    This is how I eat. This is how I will always eat. Just when I finish losing as much as I want, I will pick up a few more calories a day.

    Food isn't good or bad. it is food. It is fuel. It also isn't a reward.

    I would say change your mindset instead. Work in the things you love. Every day.
  • elijhasmomma
    elijhasmomma Posts: 270 Member
    im having a cheat day as i type this lol!! that means for me:

    1-i did not burn my 746 cals set for 6 out 7 days of the week
    2-i went over on sodium and sugar but am under my 1300 cals for the day total

    it's cheating for me because i am netting like 1100 cals for the day comparedd to the 400-500 i usually net eating 1300cals a day AND exercising. but started at 281 and am now (29days later) 260 so what I do works for me. I average about 4-5lbs loss a week BUT this is just my body and I have a LOT to lose to begin with and have regular check-ups with my doc.
  • homerhat09
    homerhat09 Posts: 1
    I didn't have any cheat days the first time I started losing weight, with the exception of holidays. Then, As I got closer and closer to my goal weight, I would gradually add in 1 cheat day. Eventually, being graced with a young age and 60 minute per day exercise levels, I would have friday, saturday, and sunday as my cheat days, and eat terrible. I would usually gain between 5-6 pounds (shocking, I know) then lose it all off during the week only to repeat again on Friday. It worked for me, but I'm sure nt everyone's bodies could handle that much change

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