Do you log food on your cheat days?

13

Replies

  • Cgrnlaw
    Cgrnlaw Posts: 84 Member
    Yeah ;-(
  • ShellyShuey
    ShellyShuey Posts: 162
    I do -- went over by 340 yesterday/daughter's birthday
  • ademiter
    ademiter Posts: 176 Member
    I log it just to have an idea how many calories I really consumed that day. I don't necessarily SUBMIT it. I have learned a lot on MFP about how many calories are in this or that and honestly as much as I don't want to know how bad I did on a cheat day, I really want to know to plan accordingly next time. :)
  • atxdee
    atxdee Posts: 613 Member
    I don't ever log it!
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I log the part where I'm not cheating. Then everything goes to hell and I don't really want to see the naughty things I've done. =p Cheat days generally aren't planned.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    I hear what you are saying but my I think by it's nature there is a negative element suggested by the term "cheat day". Webster's defines "cheat" as: "To practice fraud or deceit; to violate the rules and regulations". And I think in terms of committing to one's health and fitness this is true.

    Eating is one of the most enjoyable things in life (to me anyway), so why would I deprive myself of food on a regular basis? Instead of binging on a "Cheat Day" and throwing my blood sugars and chemistry way off kilter, why would I not just incorporate the things I love into my healthy diet regularly and stay within my macro numbers and stay on track???

    [snip]
    I just don't see the benefit. If you want pizza have a slice or to of veggie pizza in your regular meal plan - what benefit is eating an entire pepperoni pizza on the weekend on a "cheat day" as a "reward" - just baffling to me... sorry, not trying to stok the flames but for as educated and intelligent as many MFP members are, there are still some odd practices on here acccepted as healthy...

    I hate the word "cheat" used to describe eating foods that you enjoy. The foods you eat are part of your diet, and everyone makes their own "rules and regulations" in terms of diet and exercise habits.

    I also agree with "everything in moderation" so long as it fits in your macros. I have pizza at least once a week, and I fit it in my macros. I have a little bit of chocolate almost every day.

    When I had a time when I couldn't log on the weekends, I wrote it down and logged the whole weekend from my desk at work.
  • Stephanieb325
    Stephanieb325 Posts: 174 Member
    I log my cheat meals. I like to see how many calories it is and it just gives me a general idea of calories I consume on a "cheat day/meal". I learned that most of my "cheat meals" aren't even really that bad and that makes me feel pretty darn good!
  • HeinzPrincess
    HeinzPrincess Posts: 92
    As part of my lifestyle change, I enjoy some Saturdays out with some girlfriends. I eat what I want, drink what I want, and log nothing.

    If the word "cheat" bothers you, then don't consider it that. But my lifestyle includes friends, sweet wine, and dinners that are extremely difficult to track.
  • Nix143
    Nix143 Posts: 522 Member
    Meh. Only had one day so far when I have gone 'off plan' and that was a huge chinese meal that I had no idea of calories so I stuck 4000 calories in for it and forgot about it.

    Hate the word 'cheat' - it's food, it's neither bad nor good, it's just food. I'm not a cheat, I'm a person who eats said food and I'm not gonna start putting all kinds of judgements against it. Or 'treat' - I'm not a dog, I do not reward myself with food.

    This is a lifestyle yeah? So if logging makes you feel good or accountable then log. If it's counter productive then don't. Whatever works best for you :)
  • jamers3111
    jamers3111 Posts: 495 Member
    Log it... it helps in the long run understand how you body reacts to these days. I log it and try not to slit my wrists ;) Enjoy!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    As part of my lifestyle change, I enjoy some Saturdays out with some girlfriends. I eat what I want, drink what I want, and log nothing.

    If the word "cheat" bothers you, then don't consider it that. But my lifestyle includes friends, sweet wine, and dinners that are extremely difficult to track.

    I would call that a "break," like the poster above called it. It's a day to relax your brain and not have to think. That's not cheating though. In fact, the Bible says to take one day to rest. :smile:
  • mrsvatitagain
    mrsvatitagain Posts: 275 Member
    YES and I log everyday and everyday is a cheat day if thats the case. ALl in how and what you define as cheating, I mean im sure I have something everyday that people consider cheating, thats the beauty of NOT being on a diet, but simply changing my life and how much of something I eat, but I have no restrictions!
  • LivingInPuglia
    LivingInPuglia Posts: 122 Member
    Log it... it helps in the long run understand how you body reacts to these days. I log it and try not to slit my wrists ;) Enjoy!

    Where's the smileys? :-) I like that philosphy!
  • jennajocummings
    jennajocummings Posts: 104
    Log it! You'll be surprised the amount of calories you consume. & I would log them as you eat them. It'll help you to not fall completely off the wagon.
  • WickedSpinSistr
    WickedSpinSistr Posts: 139 Member
    No. The reason I have named my cheat days as "cheat days" is because of the no logging. I don't go overboard with the food; I just get too lazy to measure, weigh and log and need a break from it from time to time. Hence the "cheat".

    But my cheat days aren't me sitting around eating chips and ice cream. I eat pretty close to normal but just don't bother weighing and measuring everything. I might get a dessert if out at a restaurant or have a few glasses of wine without tracking it. Nothing explosive.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Of course you log it. When you track your progress from month to month you're going to want to know what works and what doesn't. I have "cheat" days all the time and strongly believe it helps my overall progress, but if I don't track them, how can I compare them to normal days? Or know if I went too far? Or not far enough?

    Don't be ashamed of the calories in your diary. It's just a number. Track your numbers and use them to improve yourself.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Log it. Just for the hell of it once I logged a "typical" before MFP day, I was up over 3,000 calories without including any snacks...that was just my 3 meals. Ick.
  • ctooch99
    ctooch99 Posts: 459 Member
    I agree 100%... I don't have cheat days I log everyday, eat what I want and make adjustments from there. There will be days I'll be 500 cals over 500 under... it all evens out, but if you don't log 1 cheat day can turn into 2 into a week a month 10 years like it did for me!

    ^^^^ EXACTLY...
  • kms1104
    kms1104 Posts: 110 Member
    I didn't log on weekends at all for months, then I just started this weekend. I was like "WOW!" to myself. Between beer and pizza football days, I think logging may help me not go AS over on those days. I thought I was better of NOT logging, but we'll see... try it and see how it goes.
  • Pandy1962
    Pandy1962 Posts: 105 Member
    Every Saturday is my eat what I want day, it might be a fry up or a bag of crisps, it all get logged, mainly so I can find it easier for the next time :bigsmile:
  • Kikilicious84
    Kikilicious84 Posts: 312
    Yeah...I log it to see how much I "cheated"
  • pamperedlinny
    pamperedlinny Posts: 1,688 Member
    I do...even though it's a cheat day, seeing my calories makes me cheat a lot less than normal :) Enjoy your cheat day!


    ^^this
  • itsmyvwbeetle
    itsmyvwbeetle Posts: 272 Member
    I log mine too. Just helps me keep my "cheat" days in check. I have a couple days last week I went over on calories. One was my birthday and one was a "I wanted those nachos and cheese" days. Anyway, it helps to look back and see that those 2 days didnt kill me.
  • airbent
    airbent Posts: 150 Member
    I've tried it both ways. But I feel like it's not really "cheating" if you log it and hold yourself accountable and make yourself pay for it later, etc...that's just torture and takes the whole fun out of it. Dieting is weird enough for me already because while I want to keep losing, I don't like feeling ashamed or bad about the things I eat. It's psychologically bad for me. I love food and I think at any size it's okay to enjoy food and not constantly punish yourself.

    Sometimes "cheating" means taking a day or a half-day off from logging because obsessing over every morsel isn't healthy for everyone. It doesn't mean you're lying to yourself or cheating yourself--it doesn't even mean you won't get a loss at the end of the week! (far from it.) There's a big difference between taking a mental health day and falling completely off the wagon.

    I stalled for a few weeks last month and once I loosened up a little, the weight started dropping steadily again. Do what works for you.
  • gldnlark
    gldnlark Posts: 53
    Yes, I typically log my cheat days. It helps me keep track of the effects of my actions - or inaction's. It also makes me hesitate on my next cheat day and maybe eat a little less or cutback in other meals as not to completely destroy the count for the day. To me, there is no point in not being honest on our logs. We are only lying to ourselves and this can hurt our progress if we can't face the consequences of our actions.
  • jensfitpal2012
    jensfitpal2012 Posts: 145 Member
    I log on cheat days to hold me accountable.The one thing I try to do even on a cheat day is use portion control,order the dessert,but eat 1/2.It's even more of a shocker when you see what 1/2 came too,keeps me honest when I am not cheating. Besides,they say everything in moderation is better.:)
  • konekkobaba
    konekkobaba Posts: 36
    Cheat! BUT be honest with yourself..if you need to have the good stuff, listen to your body!! but being accountable is important for the big picture of why you are on MFP.
  • Impy84
    Impy84 Posts: 430
    yes indeed.
    i can cheat and not be a complete greedy monkey and logging helps me remember that
  • Scorpioangel
    Scorpioangel Posts: 951 Member
    Yes - because I log for me and just want to track things and plus, the body keeps a record of everything anyways so might as well :)
  • LethelW8
    LethelW8 Posts: 24
    True story.
    Logged my last cheat day and found out that I was over by exactly the large chocolate chip cookie I had (my favorite food ever). The good thing is that my body was comfortable with my typical non-cheat calorie intake as I was more than full that entire day. The interesting thing is that the cookie wasn't as satisfying as it once would have been (I actually felt rather unpleasant after eating it). The better thing is that it was a cheat day so I didn't feel guilty for eating the so amazingly delicious cookie (did I mention how utterly lovely it was?). The educational thing was logging it in a day or so later and learning just how not-so-good it was to me. No guilt, but a lesson to take home the next time I'm dying for a cookie.

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