cheat day?!?

Ater my brother and I spoke to a few trainers and those who cpmpete we decided to have a cheat day.
What we did though was break it down to where we have a cheat meal and eat one snack per week.
I still count my calories just to show me how bad I was and this makes me workout a lot harder.

I don't have a scheduled cheat day, but if I feel I need to cut loose and let go once in a while, I do so, within reason. I think it has help keep me on track as well as confuse my metabolism a bit. HTH. ;]

I do a cheat meal once a week but I still log in my calories.

I think having a cheat day is a great idea within reason. If you do this everyweek, you should still maintain a record of your calories, and I think it would be wise to still do a small workout that morning. Remember, when you started, they automatically knocked off the number of calories you needed to cut down to meet your goal, on your cheat day, I would add this to whatever your daily calorie allowance is and try to stay below that. That's the number of calories needed to maintain your weight, so as long as you don't go over those, its almost not like cheating at all.

Right now I'm just starting, so I don't have a "cheat" day yet. I think you can have a cheat day, but you should record your calories so you won't get out of the habit and to see how bad it can be for you. Once I start seeing a difference and I might splurge and then have a cheat day.

Friday is my cheat day but I make it a cheat meal not the entire day because I like to have a few drinks afterward. Like Iceprincess said...I have to have a cheat day in order to stay sane! :drinker:

I have what I call "high calories day" about once a week. I kind of zig zag my diet so this high calories day probably isn't doing me bad. Unless this day falls on an event during which it is hard to count calories, I still count and log though. I just allow myself a lot more flexibility and a sweet of fatty extra.

I try to have more like a cheat meal, and still log my cals, even if its way high and embarrassing..

But lately as ive gotten closer to my goal it hasnt been working like it used to, and i spend all week trying to "lose" what i "gained" from that day, so I might have to cut back to every other week or something.. But when I had more to lose I think it actually helped me lose weight! Im a believer in the zig zagging cals!

Id say go for it if you know you can get back on track the next day- a lot of people cant have a "taste" or they get all off track!

I dont think a cheat day is a bad idea. I feel that every time i had one before I always took way too advantage of it. So now I just have the cheat meal or occasional snack or if im going out, my drinks are my cheat meal and i've learned not to feel bad about it and just get right back on track right away.

I would never survive if I didn't have one.

Like some of the others -- I still count calories but I do my best to not focus on them... I eat what I want and dont feel bad about it.... but you also have to consider this.... if you're working out and end up being under your calories on a few days... or everyday (I have been and it hasn't affected me).... your cheat day will kind of balance itself out....

You can do this! .... I literally know you can!

I think it's great to have a cheat day. It gives me perspective. After enjoying the day, I realize that I really enjoy the "healthy" foods that I'm eating and that having the cheat day just reminds me that I'm not giving up anything really. It also reminds me that when I remain active, I can enjoy those days with little guilt.

My cheat day is Saturday night, and I find myself not even WANTING to go crazy. Having some wine, and then maybe snacky foods like chips and sour patch kids lol!!!! During PMS, I have to cheat, or else everyone I know will despise me for the whole week!! I believe the more that you tell yourself to deprive, the more you crave.....

So I'm currently a personal trainer, have done figure competitions, etc. Of course you are allowed a cheat meal (from appetizer to dessert) now don't go ballistic, but that is your reward to yourself have working so hard all week on wkout and nutrition. I tend to designate my cheat meal on Sat--but I always make sure I hit the gym on that day. Sunday is usually my off from workout day so I wouldn't cheat on a day that I wasn't going to go to the gym.

Also, there is a nutrition program called Paleo Diet--with this you get a whole cheat day, however, I have found I feel hung over from the food I ate, and the next day is awful, I eat a modified Paleo all lean meats, fruits, veggies, nuts (ie: almonds, walnuts, cashews) no rice, potatoes, starches like corn, peas, bread, oats--and on my cheat 1/2 day or meal each week I will eat the No foods, however, I have learned not to go crazy or I feel so cruddy the next day.

Well hope this helps!