cheat day?

I don't do a whole day, I do a meal once a week. And I eat pretty much whatever I have missed that week. And wine.....there is ALWAYS wine!

I'm thinking about doing a cheat day once a month if my weigh in was good. Not pigging out, just eat what I have been craving the most.

one meal a week for me, and its usually supper, tonight i had wings.

one cheat meal a week for me. Not a whole day but one meal a week. i eat whatever i want, it keeps me sane and not resentful.

This...but with portion control. Sanity is necessary and most certified dietitians and nutritionist will suggest the same to keep from binging and falling off the "wagon". Some people do a whole day, but I have mobility issues, so I limit it to a meal.

Good luck!

i personally dont do cheat days. only because i never quite know when the temptations will be there and its only human nature to want to have something bad here and there. i leave "cheat days" for special occasions when i know im going to go over on my calories. examples like dinners out where ya know your going to drink a beer or eat wings, or a bday party where you know there is snacks and cake. you cant control when those events occur and im not going to be that person on a diet and deprive myself. and even on a cheat day, i will log and exercise.

Cheat meal, not a day, pick a meal once a week, its something to look forward to and have what ever you want, if you have it earlier in the day the better chance you have to wear it off, this cheat meal is something new i learned, and i like it.:bigsmile: Thanks Scooby!

Cheers:drinker:

About every 2 weeks or so, hubby and I will go out to lunch or dinner. I am mindful of what I get, but I get what I want usually a small cut of meat and include veggies and/or salad and still log it all. Keeps me sane especially if I have been craving something like a steak or prime rib.

I allowed myself a little something something after each 5 lbs lost. For myself, I never felt the urge to have to allow myself some latitude on 1 day a week. I've worked too hard for the first 6 days to ruin it on the 7th.

That being said, I understand why people would allow themselves to go a little over for 1 meal (treat themselves to a small dessert, or something for lunch/dinner that is higher in calories than they would normally eat). I dont think there's much harm in that. However, if that "cheat" meal turns into a "cheat" day where all day long you eat, and eat, you are setting yourself to fail.

For example, let's say you have it set to lose 1 lb/week. All things equal, you are looking to burn 500 calories more than you consume per day. Let's assume you do everything perfectly for those first 6 days and you have a deficit of 3000 calories for the week. If on that final day, you over eat by 2000 calories, you've thrown back half of what you worked hard to achieve. Granted, you'll still lose about a little than less than 1/2 lb for the week, but why work so hard for 6 days to throw it away on the 7th? On the 7th day, you over eat by only 500-1000 calories, then you still have a deficit of 2500-3000 calories for the week which means you still lost close to 1 lb for the week and that "treat" didn't ruin all of your hard work.

Ultimately, it's a to each their own. I will not go the rest of my life not having something sweet. The key is to do it rarely and not let it lead you back down the path to resuming your unhealthy lifestyle. For some, that is allowing themselves a food item at 1 meal. For others it means an entire day of endulgence. Others, like myself, do that rarely (However, now that I'm at or near my goal weight, I do allow myself a little something each week since I'm trying to maintain). When my goal I was to lose weight, I did not treat myself to something weekly.