Cheat days?

for me personally, since i already eat 2100 calories, i dont really need a cheat day.

For me a cheat day in just that i would include a treat (ice cream, hot dog, etc.), knowing that I will cut back on something else later on during that day or put in an extra half hour in the gym. You need days like that or you are just gonna give in and pig out one day!

Check out this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/748373-why-i-hate-the-word-cheating

It says most of what I think on the subject.

I think it depends on the person. For me, I am trying to eat in a way that I can sustain for years to come. I know from my experience that I can't do that if I impose rigid rules about what I can and can't eat. I am much more successful if I eat within my calories most of the time, but allow myself to relax on special occasions, or even on non-special occasions. I don't consider those "cheats" though, because I'm not on a diet.

I get where you are coming from with the "whole life before was a cheat day" thing, but I think if you don't allow yourself flexibility you just set yourself up for the endless cycle of mindless eating/crash dieting that so many of us know so well.

I just fought off a cheat. Husband and Daughter are having burgers from River City Cafe. I am sticking with the Very Veggie lasagna (340 for a huge chunk) instead. This is a huge win for me today.

I don't do a cheat day, but I will do a cheat meal. But I still usually stay within my calories for the day.

I don't plan cheat days, sometimes they just happen. If it's the weekend and my friends and I decide to go out to a restaurant, I'm not just going to sit there and not eat because I'm trying to stay low-carb or whatever. I find something that I like on the menu. It's not that often that it happens and I don't beat myself up about it. I'd rather enjoy my life than be miserable when all my friends decide to go out. That being said, I only have a "cheat day" once every like two weeks. If you never let yourself cheat and you feel fine, good for you! I just know that sometimes when I'm really really working hard and I devote myself, that I feel like I deserve to fulfill my craving a little bit, and when I don't, that's when I go in the danger zone of possibly bingeing or something like that if it goes over the edge.

As many have said, I don't really like to think that I'm on a diet, so why have cheat days? It's about eating better as a whole and that doesn't necessarily mean cutting out all the treats you like. It means eating them less often, or less of it, ya know? I believe that being overly strict on yourself is what makes it so easy to fall off the wagon.

I do have "cheat days", but it's really just a day when I afford myself an extra treat, and it's usually every two weeks or so. I find ways to work yummy things into my diet every day while still staying under my calorie goal, so I don't feel deprived or crave anything. So on a cheat day, I might just have a small drink from Starbucks, or a donut or something... last time I had an oat fudge bar from Starbucks, and it was delicious!

I tell myself during the week, when I'm craving something with no nutritional value, that I can have it on Sunday. And then when Sunday rolls around, if I still want it, I eat it. Since its only once a week, I like to savor it. For instance, I have a weakness for white chocolate truffles. So today, I bought myself a bag, took 6 (2 servings....I gave the rest to my sister), sat down with a novel, a glass of water, and a blanket, and thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon. No guilt. I'm also eating out tonight, but I'm relaxed enough to make a decent choice. Make it work for you, however that ends up being.

Everyone is making a wonderful point about not being on a diet its a life change but having those 'cheat' days or even just a day you can have stuff that is out of the normal. But i feel like if you really want to change your life you cant do that. and yeah it is a difference between sanity and insanity but yeah its a total life change because we want a change so why have the ice cream or other stuff? i mean when i want something sweet i get a granola bar with small chocolate chips and its all good.

You CAN change your life, without having an All or Nothing approach.

Like some have said, I have 6 lower calorie days, and 1 maintenance or higher day per week. I have also cut out artificial sweeteners and the majority of DIET foods. I am trying to learn to eat with real foods that my family eats, in proper proportions. One of the HUGE benefits to this, is that if I am ever in a situation where I could not pre-plan, or am going to a family gathering, I know approximately how many calories are in a cup of, or tlbspn of, specific foods that are not diet. so when I choose cheese, or salad dressing, or anything, because I am more familiar with the normal food counts, I can choose accordingly, and not feel totally derailed.

I know a slice of Kraft american cheese, is 60 calories. I do buy SOME lighter foods, such as velveeta 2%, which allows the family to all eat the same meals and keep flavor. but aside from that, we all eat the same stuff.

I want to be NORMAL. normal means, having that day once a week where you go out with friends or family, and may not have as many good choices to pick from, but yet have enough knowledge in your arsenal to make a healthy choice. If all I did was diet 24/7 and eat diet meals, I'd never LEARN anything. Yes my life before this was 24/7 out of control eating. My goal is to learn how to eat some of the stuff I like in moderation, on occasion. Getting too strict - well- been there/done that too many times, and eventually I gave up and all the weight came back. now, i have a normal day at least once a week, so I never feel deprived, never feel like I am dieting. AND I am losing.
good luck!

Tina

I do not believe in cheat days. and in my opinion a cheat meal does not mean you can eat w/e you want necessarily. For example, at Chilis Crispy Chicken Tacos As Served 1510 cals. Thats all my calories for a day. So if i wanted to "cheat* i suppose i could have half of it for dinner and have a very very light breakfast and lunch. But then you would have to eat the rest the next day doing the same thing. You could split the meal with someone.

A cheat meal, again in my opinion, is a term used by those that eat totally *clean*. And they stay within their net calories.For example, they would add their forbidden salad dressing instead of using vinagrette. Or have a regular brownie instead of a protein homemade brownie..or have a milkshake instead of a protein shake. Make sense? People should not sabotage themselves by thinking they can cheat because its a term that is thrown around and gives them an excuse to do what they really shouldnt be. Oh yeah, I remember these guys that were at a 24 hr gym i was going to. it was like 1am and i walked in and these young guys had pizza in there. I joked around with them and teased about how healthy it was.. they said it was their "carb up" day.. i chuckled and rolled my eyes..lol

Be sensible and cheat like i do everyday with a 100 calorie ice cream bar for my evening snack after dinner. its low fat and i still stay within my calories

Check out this topic: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/748373-why-i-hate-the-word-cheating

It says most of what I think on the subject.

I think it depends on the person. For me, I am trying to eat in a way that I can sustain for years to come. I know from my experience that I can't do that if I impose rigid rules about what I can and can't eat. I am much more successful if I eat within my calories most of the time, but allow myself to relax on special occasions, or even on non-special occasions. I don't consider those "cheats" though, because I'm not on a diet.

I get where you are coming from with the "whole life before was a cheat day" thing, but I think if you don't allow yourself flexibility you just set yourself up for the endless cycle of mindless eating/crash dieting that so many of us know so well.

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