cheat days

KimLovesDon
KimLovesDon Posts: 152 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Pro or con?

Replies

  • salu1975
    salu1975 Posts: 26
    PRO! as long as you dont go overboard...
  • lanapoo
    lanapoo Posts: 57
    I try not to have cheat days. If I crave something, I'll just keep it under my calories.
  • lmdenn33
    lmdenn33 Posts: 34
    Great topic! This is something that has been weighing heavily on my mind this week. I just think I would feel too guilty. Not sure what to do...not go overboard? I KNOW I would lol The weekends are particularly tough for me
  • momslastdiet
    momslastdiet Posts: 29 Member
    Weekends are tough for me too, with the whole family around and out of my Mon-Fri routine. I don't have cheat days, I just keep it in my daily cal. and eat anything in moderation, but mostly healthy choices.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Cheat meals, yes. Days, no. For me, too much damage can be done in a day as opposed to a meal. I lost weight by doing cheat meals once in a while and am maintaining with the occasional cheat meal. It works for me.
  • Angmu7
    Angmu7 Posts: 23 Member
    I think it depends on you. For me they are a con and a slippery slope.
  • ryblueeyes
    ryblueeyes Posts: 257 Member
    Based on my BMR/TDEE, my daily goal is pretty high which allows me to eat enough that I don't feel deprived. That said, the occasional cheat meal is okay, I just plan the rest of my day accordingly.
  • Lisah8969
    Lisah8969 Posts: 1,247 Member
    I try not to have cheat days. If I crave something, I'll just keep it under my calories.

    ^^^This. If you think of cheating, then you aren't thinking of what you are doing as something you will need to do forever. You are in the mindset that this is temporary until you lose the weight and then you can go back to what you were doing before. If you make cravings and indulgences work into your calories and macros, then there is no cheating and you aren't being deprived and this will make you more successful in the long run. :smile:
  • jme6976
    jme6976 Posts: 49 Member
    I do cheat meals also. It helps me not feel deprived and I think it keeps my body from getting in a rut expecting the same thing all the time. I have about 1 cheat per week. I try to exercise more on that day too.
  • JenRun1
    JenRun1 Posts: 212
    Cheat meals, yes. Days, no. For me, too much damage can be done in a day as opposed to a meal. I lost weight by doing cheat meals once in a while and am maintaining with the occasional cheat meal. It works for me.


    Exactly
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    HELL YEAH!!! WEEKENDS! YEAH!!!!!!
  • CarrieBombria
    CarrieBombria Posts: 8 Member
    I just started allowing myself one meal where I might a little bit extra, but since I'm on Weight Watchers anyways, I just save my extra weekly points for that splurge so it's allowed anyways!!
  • langsyne
    langsyne Posts: 106 Member
    I think it depends on you. For me they are a con and a slippery slope.

    Me too. If I give in, I get the cravings back full force. If I don't cheat, I don't get the cravings.
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    I have no reason to cheat because I haven't cut anything out of my lifestyle :)
  • pamwhite712
    pamwhite712 Posts: 193 Member
    I exercise more to eat more food. The other night I was on the treadmill, and I kept thinking "garlic bread". We were having spaghetti for supper and I love the New York style Texas toast garlic bread. Sometimes I think I should make sign that says "Will exercise for food".
  • whatjesseats
    whatjesseats Posts: 228 Member
    Cheat meals, yes. Days, no. For me, too much damage can be done in a day as opposed to a meal. I lost weight by doing cheat meals once in a while and am maintaining with the occasional cheat meal. It works for me.

    I generally have one cheat meal per week, usually on the same day as my long run.
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    I have no reason to cheat because I haven't cut anything out of my lifestyle :)
    This


    I'd rather spread my calories out, like eat 100 more per day than eat an extra 700 in one meal. once a week. If I know I'm going to eat something big for supper then I eat very little else that day. It comes down to what works for you. No matter what you do honestly log it. If your not losing like you want/expect you won't know why or what to change if your not logging it.
  • jennmodugno
    jennmodugno Posts: 363 Member
    I will never, EVER "plan" a cheat day. HOWEVER! That being said, if one day my husband is home at 9pm from a 13-hour work day, and I've had a bad day with my 3-year-old and am tired, I am not opposed to throwing my healthy dinner plans out the window and grabbing fast food. Assuming, that is, we haven't done it recently. But generally if I want bad food, I work out more to fit it into my calories. I got a milkshake the other day after a particularly grueling karate class! I don't feel guilty about it the next day that way, and just about every single day I can have a cookie, or chocolate milk. :)
  • DAMETRE
    DAMETRE Posts: 24 Member
    I exercise more to eat more food. The other night I was on the treadmill, and I kept thinking "garlic bread". We were having spaghetti for supper and I love the New York style Texas toast garlic bread. Sometimes I think I should make sign that says "Will exercise for food".


    ^^^this
    This is also true for me. LOL.
  • KevinS62
    KevinS62 Posts: 239 Member
    PRO! as long as you dont go overboard...

    Good answer. The last time I dieted, I had my weekly weigh in on Friday mornings and basically took weekends off. And as time went on, my weekends turned into an Anything-Goes thing. Like now, I was on a ~1,500 calorie/day diet, but I bet I was having a few days hitting 3,000-3,500.

    A big difference to what I do now. I just guessed at my calorie intake back then and now I'm counting calories with my MFP app. And while I let myself have an extra beer or two on the weekends, I've been using the ap and being concious of how much I'm taking in. I've gone over a few times, but I try to keep it close.

    I'm only just about to start third weekend, so I'm still working out the kinks in my process/plan. But I think I may allow myself 2,000 calories Sat/Sun this week and see how it goes.
  • khadijak17
    khadijak17 Posts: 393 Member
    I stick to my calories 6 days a week and on my weigh day I have what I want I don't starve myself during the week and am losing weight someone I know who I started mfp with lives on 800 calories a day and binges on the 7th day she's losing quicker but I defo would not recommend it tried to tell her that she should be more careful but she won't listen I guess I'm thing to say keeping a small defect most of the time and splurging isn't bad if you want it it can be good you don't have to go on an extreme so called diet :)
  • bmakkz
    bmakkz Posts: 7 Member
    I love cheat days! I just track everything I eat and keep it at my 'maintenance' calories for the current weight.
    For example, I literally had chocolate, mini-pizzas and soda yesterday, but managed to keep it at 1,700-ish. Moderation is key!
  • coderedjulia
    coderedjulia Posts: 43
    Usually a major con, and if I have a cheat day, it can't just be one meal. I'm prolly also drinking high calorie drinks like soda and alcohol. It's funny how it takes so long to lose weight, and you work so hard to do it, but one day of a screw up and it you can gain quite a bit of weight.
  • mwooderson
    mwooderson Posts: 254 Member
    For the first time ever I am planning a cheat food...not cheat day. On a specific day I have picked out I am going to the store and purchase nut stuff. Nut butter(s) and a selection of nuts. I am then going to plan my meals for the following days around the nut stuff.
  • lewcompton
    lewcompton Posts: 881 Member
    I usually just have a cheat food on occasion rather than a cheat day and I plan it in so that it fits with my weekly macros and within my calorie goals for the day. I won't do buffet. Like sending an alcoholic to an open bar. Like sending a crack ho to an evidence locker... Not a good idea! Perhaps once I get close to my goal weight then I may be capable of doing one once a year or so, but I really doubt it.
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    I try not to have cheat days. If I crave something, I'll just keep it under my calories.

    ^^^This. If you think of cheating, then you aren't thinking of what you are doing as something you will need to do forever. You are in the mindset that this is temporary until you lose the weight and then you can go back to what you were doing before. If you make cravings and indulgences work into your calories and macros, then there is no cheating and you aren't being deprived and this will make you more successful in the long run. :smile:

    This. What are you "cheating" from exactly? I am not on a diet or overly regimented or restrictive eating plan, I therefore have nothing to "cheat" on. I find a way to fit in all the naughty stuff-smaller portions and/or save it to have on long-run days where I earn a boatload of calories or something. Finding ways to fit the naughty stuff in without turning it into an evil event or a binge-fest is the key to my long-term success.

    But to each his or her own-whatever works for you is what works for you.
  • kansaspeach
    kansaspeach Posts: 25 Member
    I used to be a HUGE fan of cheat days. But it's SO hard to get myself right the next day - I'd then tell myself - "okay, two cheat days won't hurt anything." Then my whole life and exercise plan would get derailed and I'd find myself in a never-ending string of cheat days, and depressed and unmotivated. If I don't eat right every day and work out, I don't want to get back on the wagon. So, like some others have said, I'll give myself a naughty treat once in a while (oh, Starbucks non-fat no whip mocha, how I love thee), but I keep it under my calorie allowance and burn every day on the elliptical. ::happy:
  • DaniJeanine
    DaniJeanine Posts: 473 Member
    If you work out regularly and stay on track most of the week, you should not be harmed by a cheat day. As long as its an actual "cheat" day and not a BINGE day.
  • 212ackley
    212ackley Posts: 431 Member
    Everyone has a system that works for them, but I know for me a cheat day would end up being a cheat week & I would end up right back where I started...I am waaayyy more comfortable having what I want, when I want it...just keep the portion in check. That is my saving grace. Last night I had a cup of icecream after dinner.. and I still was under my caloric goal for the day (1600 cal's). :)
  • MallorieGreiner
    MallorieGreiner Posts: 135 Member
    1 cheat meal a week while still be under/hitting my calorie goal. I look forward to it so I don't binge. I have to plan out my cheat meals though so I don't go overboard...=)

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