The NOTORIOUS "cheat"

Why consider it a cheat meal if you can make provision for it by staying within your caloric limits?

I used to go wrong with 'rewarding' myself with food. Everyone works differently and I have got a bit less anal about not eating certain things but I try to have a 'healthier' option of something I'm craving and fit it in my calorie goals.

Personally, I think the reward should be non-food related because then it feels like you're depriving yourself. When I reach a goal I'll buy something, splurge a little bit... Lool spend my m&m's money on nail varnishes etc.

I think it is different for everyone but maybe the terminology 'reward' suggests its what you get for being punished lol

I don't like using the word "cheat" with regards to food either, but I'm not sure "reward" is that much better really. Terminology aside, a lot of people find this practise works well for them. Personally, I like to just fit the food I like into my normal calorie allowance, and don't feel the need to have that one particular meal to cheat/splurge/whatever. I try not to see food as good/bad or healthy/unhealthy; just eat what I like, in portions that allow me to meet my calorie and macronutrient goals.

I sometimes do have meals or days that other people might see as a "cheat", but it's more just because that's how life works than that I've planned for it. For example, if I go out to eat at someone else's house, or a buffet or something (which is not very often) then I basically allow myself to eat what I want without stressing out too much about how to log it. Chances are, I go over my goal, but it's only once in a while, so I don't feel bad about it. That happens maybe once a month. The key (for me) is to structure my every day diet so that I honestly don't feel the need to cheat or reward myself, because it doesn't feel like a chore in the first place.

On those occasional days I eat well (not too much) I feel guilty and workout afterwards to earn back my calories. It is easy not to go over your calories on here, just work out more :-)

I don't have a set 'cheat' day/meal. But if I'm going to a party or it's my birthday or any of the other odd things that crop up where you know it's going to be hard to stick to your calorie intake, I just enjoy myself and get back on it the next day.

At the end of the day, we all need to live as well. Life is not about dieting.

You can only "cheat" on a diet.


And no, I don't reward weight loss with food. That makes absolutely no sense.

There's no such thing as a "cheat". For me this is a LIFELONG change, so i allow myself whatever I want as long as it is in moderation. I never feel bad about it. I'll continue to do this for the rest of my life.

I've heard about cheat days and cheat meals but I think a day is way too much and calling it a "cheat" anything leaves a bad association. No one likes a cheat, whether in relationships or games cheating is frowned upon and implying you are cheating would make you feel like you're doing something wrong.

I think that reward also has a negative association. You shouldn't need to reward yourself with food.

If there is something I really want, I eat it. Not on a specified day, and I don't think of it as a reward or a cheat, just something I want. BUT, I make sure I'm still near my calories for the day, or I eat a little less the next day. For me, this is sustainable. Sometimes, it's worth going over my calories for the day, but I don't let it derail me.

I think "cheat" days or meals reinforce the mindset that one is "on a diet" so I try to avoid that thinking. If I want to have something less nutritious, I will have it, and normally well within my calories for the day. If I go over on calories, I will try to work them off before the day is out. On a day-to-day basis, I allow myself chocolate or whatever and I fit it into my normal calories, so I don't generally feel deprived or desperate for a binge on something later.

I'm still one for calories in vs calories out.

If you're down 6000 calories in the week and make it 5000 rather than 7000; you're still doing better than eating at TDEE all week.

I used to basically have the weekend as a 'cheat' - generally 'good' food but more of it. This time I haven't and have lost a lot quicker.
However, I've often found the occasional big meal to actually be beneficial. Maybe the 'reset' does help my body. And it's rare that after one isolated nice meal that I put on weight - quite often the opposite.

Ideally what I'd like to do is for the 'cheat' to be after I've done a load of exercise.
Cycle for over an hour and burn 1000 calories - suddenly a big meal is not only not that bad, but can actually be seen as 'healthy'; replenishing energy.

I can see where you're coming from but I don't agree with it. I read an article explaining the amount of calories required to gain a lb and the number was 5500. 2000 of which your body requires to maintain your current wait (maybe more depending in your muscle mass) sitting still. Another 3500 to equal that lb. 5500 calories is the equivalent of 9 pepperoni pizzas from Pizza Hut. So I don't think that one meal, even pigging out, would reverse all the work from the prior week. If I did it every day, then yes... Eventually those extra calories would add up. I don't know about you though, but I know I can't eat 9 pizzas... Even personal-pans.

Saying that, I absolutely under no circumstances have any intentions of stuffing myself to the point of explosion. It is simply a meal consisting of not my regular healthy calorie conscious food.

I used to think that too,
then i read an article like this:
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/850612-christmas-dinner-will-hit-4-000-calories



thats a pound of fat right there in 1 meal.
Admittedly Xmas is "special" occasion,
but we used to have a roast dinner each week.....

I would just like to know......... who are we cheating??
I have things that I want but keep them within my allowance most times. Then if I happen to go over every month on one occasion then I do not feel too bad about it!

If it fits into your cals for the WEEK and macros, eat it.