Cheat days??? do you have one or not?

135

Replies

  • rebelate
    rebelate Posts: 218 Member
    No. I think for me they would be extremely counter productive, and calling it a "cheat" day for would give it more power than it needs to. I just take into consideration what I want to splurge on, and plan accordingly.
  • hmadrone
    hmadrone Posts: 129 Member
    I do give myself permission to indulge at various times and in various ways, but I don't cheat.

    I am considering, though, adding TDEE days/weeks to my program. When I first lost 80 pounds, I was really strict with myself and I know I tanked my metabolism. I had to eat around 300 fewer calories a day to get the rate that the numbers said I ought to be getting. I'm thinking that adding some TDEE recovery periods will help with this.

    I'm trying to figure out how often to add TDEE days (one a week? one every two weeks?) to keep the metabolism ticking.

    I'm also thinking that, when I get to various sub-goals, I'll add a TDEE week or two to recalibrate my metabolism.
  • kbeckley11
    kbeckley11 Posts: 203 Member
    I have "cheat" days, but I'm not really cheating. Instead of eating at a deficit, I eat at my maintenance calories. I try not to go above maintenance, but if its a birthday or something, I will eat cake and pizza and not worry about calories. Most "cheat" days though, I am able to eat what I want without going over maintenance.
  • aud085
    aud085 Posts: 23 Member
    I picked Saturday as my cheat day so I can really enjoy my family. I dont eat a weeks worth of calories, I just dont study every morsal I eat, and I work out Saturday mornings. Sundays I give myself off from routine exercise but usually end up doing something fun with my daughter that might count as exercise anyway.

    I think especially for those who are really hard on themselves, you have to give yourself a break somewhere or life just becomes a big rut. If you are 300 lbs over weight then you probably shouldnt be thinking about a cheat day, but if your just average and need to take off 20lbs then I say it works.
  • aud085
    aud085 Posts: 23 Member
    I do give myself permission to indulge at various times and in various ways, but I don't cheat.

    I am considering, though, adding TDEE days/weeks to my program. When I first lost 80 pounds, I was really strict with myself and I know I tanked my metabolism. I had to eat around 300 fewer calories a day to get the rate that the numbers said I ought to be getting. I'm thinking that adding some TDEE recovery periods will help with this.

    I'm trying to figure out how often to add TDEE days (one a week? one every two weeks?) to keep the metabolism ticking.

    I'm also thinking that, when I get to various sub-goals, I'll add a TDEE week or two to recalibrate my metabolism.

    What does TDEE stand for?
  • chickey920
    chickey920 Posts: 8 Member
    I've allowed myself 1 or 2 cheat meals a week. Cutting everything would set me up for failure. But it keeps me focused on eating better because I look forward to the weekend when I can have a treat meal or 2 within reason. I don't want to go full blown crazy and blow tons of calories. But, I don't have to beat myself up for 2 slices of pizza or a burger.
  • groversa
    groversa Posts: 450 Member
    I don't have a set cheat day, but every once in a while I do go over by eating something I could have gone without. For the majority of the time, I stay within those calories, but do slip up some times. I don't know if I would want to have a set cheat day every week, because then I would feel like it it okay for me to go over or eat junk, when without calling it a cheat day i might have not gone over at all!
  • ReddRidingHood
    ReddRidingHood Posts: 13 Member
    This is exactly what I mean. Nothing crazy overboard. Just when I make pancakes for the kids on Sunday morning, I would like to have one. ONE.
    And if we go to dinner I would like to order normally off the menu without looking like a freak. Right now I am on a 1200 calorie a day "diet" to get me where I would like to be, then I will increase my calorie intake to a maintenance amount.

    I mainly ask myself if the food I am wanting is worth the amount of time working out that it takes to burn it off. A plate of Fettuccine Alfredo takes 2 1/2 hours of lunges to burn. Not worth it.
  • rebeccap13
    rebeccap13 Posts: 754 Member
    If by cheat day you mean eat delicious food and things like ice cream or beer... then every day.

    I hit my macros and cal goals with foods I enjoy, I bust my butt in the gym and tend to eat just a little under during the week so that I don't have to sweat the weekends if I go out with friends.
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    I do give myself permission to indulge at various times and in various ways, but I don't cheat.

    I am considering, though, adding TDEE days/weeks to my program. When I first lost 80 pounds, I was really strict with myself and I know I tanked my metabolism. I had to eat around 300 fewer calories a day to get the rate that the numbers said I ought to be getting. I'm thinking that adding some TDEE recovery periods will help with this.

    I'm trying to figure out how often to add TDEE days (one a week? one every two weeks?) to keep the metabolism ticking.

    I'm also thinking that, when I get to various sub-goals, I'll add a TDEE week or two to recalibrate my metabolism.

    What does TDEE stand for?

    Total Daily Energy Expenditure. The calories your body burns just to keep your organs running and the blood flowing plus all the walking, talking, and anything you do beyond just being alive but in a coma.

    Check out http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ to get yours
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
    No cheat days; I still eat crap once in a while but a lot less of it.

    Instead of 3-4 brownies (old behavior) have 1.

    Moderation appears to be working.
  • dawningr
    dawningr Posts: 387 Member
    A cheat day is what got me back to square one. Cheat Day turned into cheat weekend, turned into oh I don't need to go to the gym... to stopping tracking..

    I feel better when I eat healthy, but if I want to eat something outside the norm, I work it into my calories and day.
  • Katy_G2013
    Katy_G2013 Posts: 70 Member
    I don't do cheat days or cheat meals...if it fits into my calories for the day, I eat it. If I want something bad enough, I either make it fit into my day -- or I workout so that I can eat it and still reach my deficit. I do not deprive myself of things I want but I do not use an excuse to eat things that are not so healthy by calling it a 'cheat meal' either.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I don't have a planned cheat day, and the longer I live this lifestyle, the less sense it makes to me to have a day where you get to eat things you aren't "allowed" to eat the rest of the days of the week. In fact, I think it probably triggers binging more than it encourages healthy habits in people who have some form of eating disorder. And if you find yourself unable to stop eating cookies after one or two, so you just wait until your cheat day and have as many as you want, you have an eating disorder. Does having six cookies on Saturday make you less fat than having one cookie every day? Which one actually sounds like a healthier, saner, more sustainable approach to living your life?
  • aprilslusher
    aprilslusher Posts: 127 Member
    I have a cheat meal (that I log) once every 2-3 weeks.
  • hmadrone
    hmadrone Posts: 129 Member
    TDEE = Total Daily Energy Expenditure
  • wendrz
    wendrz Posts: 118
    I do Friday Free day, which means i am free of calories counts. But in my head I am already logging the calories in all day....LOL Since i have been eating right and working out, I really don't head for the high calorie food like i used too. Not to say I won't, but it is a great feeling to know that I am feeling better about my eating!
  • linsey76A
    linsey76A Posts: 102
    I do have a cheat day but I have to eat healthy 2 out of the 3 meal and I try to cheat at the end of the day where I won't eat as much calories.

    This is what I do also, my first 2 meals of the day are like any other day and my cheat is at the end, whatever meal i have been craving the most all week i have for dinner that night and allow a sweet treat. Just eat it like u would eat any other meal...correct portions. I make sure i exercise that day to help allow for it.
  • AzaleaGirl
    AzaleaGirl Posts: 13 Member
    In my vast dieting experience LOL, if I increase my calories on 1 or 2 days where my calorie count is 200-400 above my usual 1500 calories, I actually have a bigger loss over a 2 week period. I think there is some research out there supporting this.

    This link below has some anecdotal evidence (and pertains to WW points), not scientific, but lots of people find that this works well for them.

    http://www.wendie-plan.com/about.html

    I subscribe to this is not a diet but a healthier lifestyle plan, I don't think it is realistic to be so ridged as to never eat more than x amt of calories every day (at least for me).
  • ki4yxo
    ki4yxo Posts: 709 Member
    Since I'm working under the premise of everything within moderation and my calorie goal, I don't do cheat days or cheat meals.



    This.

    As long as I'm with in my goals, I eat it. Since I make most
    of my meals, it's not too hard to achieve. I'll have a slice or
    two of pizza once in a while.
  • PhiSigAmber
    PhiSigAmber Posts: 44 Member
    I don't believe in taking weekends "off" or even one whole day. I do, however, plan one "splurge" meal per week (I still use moderation, but allow myself to have something I wouldn't make a habit of eating regularly, ie ice cream, cake, pasta, etc). The key is in planning. If you didn't plan for it, don't eat it.
  • mottmadness
    mottmadness Posts: 4
    I allow a cheat meal once a week. It is just nice to eat something different. I also couple that with my longest workout day and even going light on other foods that day. My main focus is to keep my calorie intake below my calories burned. When I pull that off, I still feel great about the day.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    I just plan on having a meal out once a week, or having a meal at home I wouldn't usually have, complete with dessert and maybe even a little bread. Before, I would have a cookie or a chocolate bar each day, and that worked as well, but I would prefer to have a complete meal that is outside what I normally have.

    I will do this on a day I have had a good bike ride or workout and eat light the rest of the day.
  • Racquel1
    Racquel1 Posts: 93 Member
    I think as long as you have something in moderation there is no reason why you can't have those foods you love!
  • ashleydmassey
    ashleydmassey Posts: 106 Member
    In the beginning, I was adamant about having a cheat day. I've seen so many fitness people promote it. It really helped me a lot and I still always lost weight in spite of that day. It made the other six days a week more bearable too. Now, however, I just don't feel the need for one. Since I've learned to eat less, as far as quantity goes, I can't possibly tolerate overindulging. I get full so much easier. As far as "quality" of food, I will occasionally eat a small bit of "something" sweet but it's always something I budget in. It has been seven months since I have changed my eating habits and really, my desires have changed so much, and I've kept it real eating foods I know I would be able to sustain long-term, that "cheating" really doesn't exist per se.

    ~Ashley
  • ashleydmassey
    ashleydmassey Posts: 106 Member
    I think as long as you have something in moderation there is no reason why you can't have those foods you love!

    Agreed!
  • JudyAngelman
    JudyAngelman Posts: 58 Member
    I don't do cheat days but if I go out I might allow myself a little something extra, but even then I try to stay on track.
  • jnp96
    jnp96 Posts: 163
    Yep! Once a week I eat without any real concern. 6 days a week I do really good. Keeps me from feeling deprived.
  • poll09
    poll09 Posts: 549 Member
    at the moment im not i will count everything so if i have a bad meal i will eat less on other meals and iv tried to give up choclate dont no how long i can do it i want to lose 2 stone by april dont no if this is healthy x
  • itsdonna35
    itsdonna35 Posts: 59
    My cheat day is Friday. I work until 12 noon on Friday's and meet up with friends for lunch so I splurge a little...although I missed my lunch date yesterday :( So might have a treat tonight.

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