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

I don't really like the word cheat day personally but i think its fine to have days where you eat what you want. I work occasional junk food or high cal foods in. I usually try and make it so my average for the week works out between 1400-1600 cal so I might have 1300 most days and then up them for 1 or 2 days a week so I still average a deficit.

Of course!
I don't call them "cheat days," necessarily, but if I'm not feeling very well and I want something that I normally wouldn't eat, such as ice cream when I have a fever during the summer, I'm going to eat it.
Or if we're out and I want a chili dog, I'm going to eat it, as long as it fits within my calorie goal for the day.

I call them "treats."

Depends if you're able to get back to your healthy eating. With some people (myself included) a cheat day will turn into months of eating whatever I want. Depends on the foods too. Know what you're trigger foods are and be careful with them.

God bless,
Karen

its only cheating if you dont log it.

This!!!

I have a cheat day every Saturday and I NEVER stay in my Normal calorie goal. I'm always wayyy over.. NEVER have I gained weight because of this. I always loose 2 to 4 lbs a week..

So I say yes enjoy your cheat day, Just make sure you are working out through out the whole week,, You should be fine..

While I don't have a cheat day every week, primarily because I don't feel the need, but my wife has one every Saturday and she's down 22 lbs in less then 2 months. According to a lot of diet plans, such as 4 Hour Body, a cheat day is not only ok, it's required. 4 Hour Body refers to Saturdays as Dieters Gone Wild. Here's a good article http://www.fitsugar.com/Benefits-Cheat-Days-20263088

Also, if I know I'm going to do it, and I plan for it, is it really "cheating"? I consider it more of a Treat Day. I earned it, I'm taking it.

I'm going to be the stick in the mud here, but hopefully I give you something to think about.

1) Someone already said this, but log it.

2) I personally don't do well with the "cheat day" mentality. It encourages me to go overboard.

3) You can work cravings into your regular regimen with moderation. If I want a BLT, I make sure to work it into that day's calories. If I want soda, I have one soda. If I want a cookie/cookies, I have one serving of cookies. But that's what works for me. If I had a "cheat day" I'd give myself unlimited cookies, unlimited sodas, unlimited sandwiches, and be in tears Monday morning.

4) You'll succeed if you figure out what works best for you. If you can work your cravings into your regimen great. If you need a "cheat day" take one. But the key really is figuring out what works best for you.

I don't give myself a whole day, but part of a day, no more than once a week. I coordinate it with activities like seeing friends, and I always plan and log it (i plan the when, not necessarily the what). If I let it happen impulsively, that will bring me right back to that place where I think and act impulsively, and that's how I got into this mess in the first place! I do try to balance it out by making extra-good choices the days right before and after.

This is definitely one of those "whatever works for you" options; done in moderation, you can do it and still lose weight.

Cheat days don't work for me. They can set of another and another for me. If I want something, I usually work it into my meal plan for the day. Also, in the past I have rewarded myself after losing 20 pounds. Me and my ex-husband went out to dinner and I had something I would never eat on a diet and besides feeling sick afterward, I couldn't get back on my meal plan for over a month. I envy those who can have a cheat day and get away with it.

I don't have them weekly, but I have days where I don't care what I eat. I usually schedual them around family functions or outings with friends/ husband. The state fair is coming and trust me the calories that day will be impresive.

I don't have "cheat" days. I'm not cheating on anything. If I want a calorie dense meal or a few drinks or something one day, I plan for it. I eat very healthy and get in a hardcore workout beforehand and then I know that I can indulge a little more. "Cheating" has such a negative connotation and when I want to splurge a little, I do it the right way and enjoy myself without it having to be wrong. I don't plan them weekly or anything like that. If I feel I need or want something a little extra then I will but personally I don't think it's necessary every week if you are satisfied with what you are eating otherwise. My diet also consists of food that I already enjoy, just within my calorie limits, which helps a lot. I figure, if this is going to be a lifestyle change and I am going to expect myself to change my eating habits for good, then I need to eat food that I like and not some cardboard crap. Sure, sometimes there is boring stuff and cardboard crap, but overall, you can't expect yourself to be successful if that's all it is.

I don't plan cheat days but if I eat a not-so-healthy dinner, I don't worry about it. Yesterday, I ate twice as much as my (admittedly) low goal of 1200 but I've been at goal or under for the entire week and I plan on being at goal or slightly under for today as well. In the past, I've actually found that I have lost weight directly following a day where I have been over.

Plus, eating too much, like I did yesterday, makes me want to eat healthy even more for today. So I look at it as a healthy thing

Nothing wrong with cheat days as long as you maintain control overall. Mine tend to be cheat weekends I just make sure I get plenty of exercise!

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!!

and we thank you for it!

I had gotten down to 121 lbs, my goal weight, so I decided to have a cheat meal, a burger and fries, and the next morning I woke up like this again. :sad: So, no, it's not ok to have a cheat day, and I will never do that again in my life.