Cheat Days - Are You A Believer?

if i want to eat more
i work out more
cheating on your diet is a slippery slope...

^^^This^^^

Well, at least I try to stick to this thinking, but of course there are days when you don't get to workout but your appetite is out of control so you declare it a "cheat day" and move on.

I do. Only one day a week and its not a whole cheat day, but a "cheat meal." For me its all about self control. If you don't have it, then I wouldn't go there, but it works for me. I've obtained great results. So, if you can do it, do it. IF you can't, then don't.

I like to call it splurge days rather than cheat days. I still log everything, but unless I went WAY over, I don't let it bother me or let me feel guilty. I just move on and forget about it (until I stumble across it when I look through my history of course ).

I believe in them. And I follow the "Fit For Life" Bill Phillips program and he believes in them too. Once a week on Fridays I eat what I want and I take a break from exercising. Although I don't pig out all day and night, I will stick to the plan during the day, and then enjoy dinner out with my family or pizza and wings for dinner in. One time I had severe ice cream cravings (I don't usually eat ice cream period) and gave into the craving and binged somewhat. It got it out of my system, and I was right back on track and immediately lost any gain the following week. The key is to forgive yourself and get back on the train. Deprivation is not the answer. Binging isn't either, however I do believe there is a happy medium. If I knew that I could NEVER have any of the "bad" stuff to eat for the rest of my life, I would be really really depressed! Also, since I no longer eat until I'm stuffed (hate that feeling) I only eat until I'm satisfied and somewhat full which means I eat way less than I did in my fatter days. Although I just joined MFP and show "0" weight loss, previous to this I lost 40 pounds and have managed to keep it off for 4 years.

I usually go over my calories by a little bit (100-200 cals) on the weekends. I try to exercise a little more to make up for it. Once in a while I'll go over by a lot (300-500, I've never gone over more than 500) and that's when I feel really guilty and it stalls my loss. I haven't done that in a while. You gotta live a little, and 1290 calories every day without ever going over would probably make me pretty miserable after a while but it all depends on if you can spare a week without a loss, etc.

I can see how they are helpful to some people, but I never really found them to be useful for me. I just eat food I like normally on a daily basis, so I don't really feel like I need to go binge on crappy food very often.

My "cheat days" are about 2,500 calories. I eat between 1,500-1,900 normally depending on exercise. I don't really see them as "cheat days" though. I know that I will never be able to sustain a lifestyle that doesn't include Chinese buffets, desserts, adult beverages etc. For me, it's just apart of my routine. So 2-3 times a month (7 days the months I am on vacation) I have 600 calories beyond losing .5 a week. That's 1,800 calories or roughly one half a pound. I do make an effort to have a monthly deficit of about that much, so that it balances out. However, if I don't -- oh well.

It's the journey for me.

Hell yes. I eat less during the week (900-1000 per day) and then I let loose on the weekends. Before anyone bashes me, I've lost 70 pounds doing this so...

I am the same, but for me i just pretty much am maintaining my weight, which is OK,,,,I could do better for my last 10 pounds I want off though lol

I heard zigzaging your calories is supposed to be good....just to livin your metabolism up

I think each person has to do what works for them, me personally I eat what I want, in moderation, so I don't ever feel like I am missing out on my favorite foods.

I fully believe in cheat days. Like others have said, you should be making lifestyle changes, not following a diet.

So if you eat healthy for five days, go ahead and loosen the diet one day. This is not an excuse to go bat *kitten* crazy per se.

If you have been following a low calorie diet for several weeks, it is highly recommend to at least slightly overeat to reset hormone levels. Arguably, one day of overeating will not reset levels, several days or even a week of elevated calories is needed. Good thing the holidays are coming up!

Having one cheat day helps me to stay razor-focused on my nutrition the rest of the time. So if you use cheat days strategically, go for it.

My Personal Trainer encourages it. One cheat meal a week - normally at the weeked - I'll get a chinese/Indian or pizza - I find it helps me stay on track as I do be good for the rest of the week then.

I do a lot of excercise so I feel like I derserve a treat

Everyone is different but it works for me :drinker:

Same here! My trainer allows me to have one cheat meal and one cheat dessert per week. Prior to, I didn't really have any guidance so the weight wasn't really coming off. She prefers that I don't eat it at the same time (meal + dessert)..but so far it's working. Now I must say, a cheat meal is a normal size meal that you wouldn't eat on a regular basis...like a cheeseburger and fries, for instance. It's not a free day to eat so much that you derail your hard work.

Whatever works for you. I am more of an 80/20 person most days, because I don't think I want to see what a cheat day would look like for me since my cravings tend to build up if I don't address them.

I dont have cheat days but sometimes I have cheat meals. One cheat meal once in awhile isnt going to do much.

Ultimately, I think this comes down to individual preference. I've not really had a need for cheat anything, just a couple of meals where we ate as a celebration for anniversary, birtday etc. However, why if you are making a lifestyle change do you have to make a whole cheat day especially if you are try to lose weight? One meal per week is one thing, but a whole day? You shouldn't have to deny yourself so often that you have this overarching desire for "cheating". In the end you are only going to cheat your own progress. I think once I'll go to maintenance that I'll continue to count during the week, but not be so serious on the weekend, but I don't currently have any problems sticking to my caloric limits. I've struggled with macros, but that is something different.

I believe in trying to eat healthy all the time and every once in a while enjoying it. I don't have a specific day because sometimes it just happens and I try not to let it happen a lot because the more I keep eating the stuff that will be on a cheat day, the more I eat of it...then more and then more and more...get the picture here!