Cheat Day: A Necessity or a Setback? Your thoughts?

I started MFP in May, so 5 months ago... Since then I've had about 3 cheat days, total. I have a lot of health issues and sometimes, there are just days where I'm going to have the damn whipped cream because that's my reward for even getting out of bed in the morning. But like someone else said: I don't take it to 10,000 calories. All of my cheat days I've been at 1800 calories or under, and my daily goal is 1500. I don't feel like it's a horrible thing, particularly because there are days when I'm 300 under. So if I have about 900 extra calories left over on Sunday and I use up 300 of them once every other month, I'm okay with that. I just don't go crazy with it.

I typically just work it into my calories for the week. If there is something I want to eat that wouldn't be considered healthy, I eat it and comp the cals. If I go over one day, I even it out for the week. I don't deny myself indulgences, I just limit the quantity.

I don't so much have a cheat day as an occasional cheat meal, if we're out to the theatre or something. I do think it boosts me to work harder other days, and even with "cheating" I still count everything. Actually, I was at a bit of a plateau not long ago, and that coincided with a week off work and an unavoidably social week. I still counted everything, and only put on a pound... But it got me going again. Losing!!

Some people do great with a cheat day, but mine tend to lead into many months of cheating. Yesterday I had a cheat day, and today I don't want to diet anymore. This is proof, cheating doesn't work for everyone. I am so off the wagon, now. :C

And my opinion on cheat days - I can't do them. Not now anyways. Maybe I'll do a cheat day as a reward every 20 pounds or something.

My last cheat day was a Saturday...well my cheat day turned into a cheat weekend, then to half a week. I didn't get back on track until Wednesday!

As of right now, I am not disciplined enough to do cheat days.

^^^This

I fell off the wagon for 6 weeks. When I say fell off I meant that more days were me not sticking to healthy eating and processed/takeaway food/confectionery became a higher% of my intake.

I have now decided that I have to stay away from these sorts of foods until my mental strength is one hell of a lot bigger than my hips ( this may take some time :embarassed: )

I have a cheat meal every so often. Never a full day though.

I used to never have cheat meals but that led to bingeing so **** it may as well have 1 or 2 meals a week.. why not?

I had a cheat day yesterday after about 2 weeks of eating clean. Almost a full big bag of All Dressed Ruffles, and half a Thin Crust Delissio Pizza...

...it was so good. I deserved it.

I don' t restrict what I eat while dieting, I just use portion control and keep under my calorie goal for the day. So I don"t necessarily have a cheat day, I just work whatever it is into my day. Everyone goes out occasionally and eats beyond their plan, but getting right back on track is the key. This is the first time I've dieted that I've actually lasted this long and lost this much. And I'm still going! I wanted a plan I could LIVE with as in forever! So eating better but not denying anything works for me!

Its only "cheating" if what you're living on is a restricted regimen. I'm not. There is a place for everything in the way I am eating now...which sometimes includes CHOOSING to enjoy something I don't eat frequently. Its not cheating. Its also not a "reward" for being "good" the rest of the time. Its living consciously, with the awareness of what I am eating....one choice at a time. Life without an occasional indulgence is barely worth living.

Well said! I love the "living consciously" because that is what I'm doing now.

Its only "cheating" if what you're living on is a restricted regimen. I'm not. There is a place for everything in the way I am eating now...which sometimes includes CHOOSING to enjoy something I don't eat frequently. Its not cheating. Its also not a "reward" for being "good" the rest of the time. Its living consciously, with the awareness of what I am eating....one choice at a time. Life without an occasional indulgence is barely worth living.

Agree...I hate the term 'cheat day'. I eat what I feel like eating, am 're-learning' to listen to my body telling me I am full, hungry, thirsty etc. Tracking my food and exercise gives me feedback as to where I am eating mindlessly i.e. choosing food items that leave me unsatisfied, leave me craving sweets, don't fill me up for the amount of calories I consume. I am eating better, still eat the things I love (chocolate!!! Cheese!!!! and a few other things) but I am satisfied with smaller portions, less sugar/sweets, less junk food. I still eat out but less often as many things just don't appeal to me anymore, don't taste good (too greasy, too salty, too sweet) and Ialso usually leave me feeling sick and bloated. So, eating out is still 'on the menu' but I will stop eating when I am full, make better choices to start with and if I have to have that dessert I will eat however much tastes good and take the rest home or share. I will go over on calories.....not often but it happened yesterday - I just had to have that pumpin spice milkshake at Culvers. Went over my daily calories of course, afterwards felt like I could have done with 1/2 of the 12 oz shake but I logged it and I am OK with it. I will have another shake sometime, I know that.....I am fairly sure I will end up putting half of it in the freezer for another time as yesterday was a reminder that I don't 'cheat', I make choices and if I just listen a little to my body I can have what I want and still be OK............And one thing that would never work for me is not logging my food....especially if I know I or if I would plan on eating more that I need or drink alcohol or high calorie beverages. It is what it is, I log it if I eat it and if it is junk or over calories so be it. Just my two cents

I'm against the idea of labeling a "Cheat Day" but I also believe this: the diet and exercise, the program, is part of a complete life and sometimes life includes indulgences. Stay honest, stay reasonable, keep tracking and move on. If you put a label on it you're more likely to overdo all day long, is my thought.

Keep up the good work. : D

When I first started I would give myself a day to splurge and eat normally. What I found was that I spending three or four days trying to get to my number that I was at the day. I weigh everyday, and I see all of the ups and downs that are normal, but I noticed when I had a "cheat" day my numbers would be up for several days before dropping back to where I was. I decided that it was not worth it to have a cheat day. If I want something that is not in my normal plan then I make damn sure I workout extra hard that day and balance out the additional calories. I gained a lot more will power over the past few months and this method has been working well for me. My motto now is stick to plan everyday, and if there is something i am really craving then work it into my plan along with a double workout.

Bump

It's not cheating if you have permission! :laugh:

I'm a returning MFPer. Yes, I did regain the weight I lost, but it took more than a year to do so. One day a week is not going to undo what I've done for the previous six. Last time around I only looked at calories. This time I'm trying for healthy too. I've also cut out tomatoes because of a suspected allergy. :sad:

I don't binge when it's my free day. The good habits I establish during the week start to become actual habits. I've gone back to cutting things in half when I go out rather than eating the whole plate like I think someone will steal it. Even on a cheat day I don't go far over maintenance, if at all.

A Necessity for some. A Setback for others. And just plain unnecessary for others. Personally, unnecessary. I eat enough and incorporate cravings in with my calories already, so cheat days are pointless.