How often do you have a cheat meal?

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Replies

  • drchimpanzee
    drchimpanzee Posts: 892 Member
    Since I'm moving in to the mindset that I'm either maintaining or maybe losing more slowly usually Friday night and all of Saturday are freebies. I try to make it more of a "don't care what I eat" vs a "let's go insane" type of thing. I still work out six days regardless though. Run four miles three days a week and strength train three days a week. According to my TDEE guesstimates I'm actually allowed quite a bit so short of eating a bag of cookies I'm probably good no matter what.
  • 10kaday
    10kaday Posts: 177
    NEVER! I never plan on them. I attempt to eat healthy all the time. Sometimes I eat 1 cookie or 1 piece of cake sometimes, but I try to make it rare. Sometimes I go out for wings and beers with the guys (like once a month) and I've been ordering bad food because I don't want them to give me a hard time for ordering grilled chicken. Except, I think next time I don't care and I'm gonna order healthy. The day after wing night is like a hangover for me. My body feels like total poo because it's not used to eating all that saturated fat. I've decided, my body doesn't need it anymore.... period! I love healthy food.... I nee to stop being ashamed of it when I'm out socially.
  • galenofedgewood
    galenofedgewood Posts: 146 Member
    What's a cheat meal? I'm being serious...I eat anything I want...I don't deprive myself of anything. Yes, I generally make more nutritious decisions than I used to, but as long as it fits my calorie goals and macro goals (and a couple of my micros I have to watch), who cares.

    My wife and I do the same. We, however, about once a week ignore the calorie intake limit. Of course, we end up feeling bad about it try not to go over it too much. Last time we did the "everything that we've been wanting" day (Super Bowl Sunday, BTW), we both felt horrid. Haven't done that since.
  • Melissa22G
    Melissa22G Posts: 847 Member
    I cheat once a week. It's usually something highly caloric like Mexican food or Chinese where instead of measuring it out (which is what I do during the week) I eat without worry of calories till satiated. Usually on a weekend.

    In general, I eat what most consider "cheat foods" like girl scout cookies, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Mexican- but I log and measure it and eat only what I have allocated toward it calorie-wise.

    When "cheating" I practice eating till satiated which can be more or even sometimes less than what I would normall measure out.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    Cheat meal?

    I don't understand the question. If I want it, I eat it and try to fit it into my daily goals. If it fits, great. If not, then oh well - there's always tomorrow. In fact, I was a bit over yesterday. No biggie. I'll likely be over today, as I'm going out with friends after work and playing at an open mic night. Not too worried, although I will try to not go overboard. I'll just have to make sure I do some extra work at the gym Saturday.

    Of course, my goals are likely different vice those of others.
  • karrielynn80
    karrielynn80 Posts: 395 Member
    I consider myself your average "healthy eater" not too strict, not to lazy, just try to make home cooked meals, pack them for lunch & stay with in my macros - currently 25c/20f/45p.

    for the first 6 wks of my cut i gave myself a cheat meal on weigh in days IF i lost bf% / weight but tried to work that meal into or as close to my macros as possible. Then I "take off" Saturday & Sunday all together. No gym. I don't monitor my macros. Tho, i don't binge either - i've been eating this way for a while now & just "play it by ear" so to speak. I know for a fact, i don't get my calories in these days, but my macros are most likely off. . . that's just how i roll :D

    I took out my weigh in cheat meal starting this wk, b/c i've had some set backs the last few wks, sickness & whatnot & i want to "tighten" the reigns.

    But i'm mostly an "if it fits into my macros / i eat it" kinda girl - i had a donut yesterday. and still ended up lower on my f & c & higher on my protein. BOOM!
  • IAMSHELOCK
    IAMSHELOCK Posts: 31
    Once a week. Normally, it's my Friday dinner..... However, I splurged on Tuesday so, that was my once a week.
  • HummingbirdsStayActive
    HummingbirdsStayActive Posts: 72
    I give my self a cheat day once every two weeks... it usually consists of me eating more caloric foods, treat foods throughout the day, but also keeping in mind I weigh in the following monday so I'll have consequences if I over do it or can't control myself...

    most of my cheat/treat days tend to coinside with a pay day... also I try to schedule them in advance, like a dinner with friends where I'm not going to measure out my foods
  • squashyhelen
    squashyhelen Posts: 143 Member
    If you mean something unhealthy, I have Godiva every day. But one or two days out of the week I do purposefully eat at maintenance calories or up to 300 over. :)
  • 212ackley
    212ackley Posts: 431 Member
    I work out 6 days a week and keep my calories at or below my goal 6 days a week....Sunday is my day of rest, so I do try to keep the calories in check (at least at maintenance level) but if I go over, I don't freak out about it, but if I'm feeling snacky I eat! -- But I do continue to log everything...always!
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    I would encourage you to ask people that have cheat days or cheat meals how effective their weight loss has been. Then decide how serious about your weight loss you want to be.

    Also anyone at or near healthy weight or just looking to maintain has different goals and calorific needs then those of us trying to lose weight. It's a lot easier to absorb or work off a occasional "cheat" day when your maintaining then when you are trying to lose.
  • andersonjo0306
    andersonjo0306 Posts: 304 Member
    What's a cheat meal? I'm being serious...I eat anything I want...I don't deprive myself of anything. Yes, I generally make more nutritious decisions than I used to, but as long as it fits my calorie goals and macro goals (and a couple of my micros I have to watch), who cares.


    Completely agree. If my calorie intake allows a treat I have it. I refuse to feel as though I am deprived. I do that and I will CHEAT. I will give up
  • kg4ulu
    kg4ulu Posts: 39 Member
    I have one cheat meal on friday. I don't gorge, I just have something I really want and have the whole thing. This actually seems to help losing weight.

    ^^^this

    I have my bag of M&Ms and we usually eat out on Friday's. Just one meal, not the whole day.
  • ingeh
    ingeh Posts: 513 Member
    Usually special occasions. Valentines day was an all you can eat chinese buffet of 3 plates of lemon chicken, the next cheat day is mothers day for a meal out, then it will be my birthday in april. But I try to have something I like in my day like sweets if I want them
  • gatorginger
    gatorginger Posts: 947 Member
    I have cheat days when I go out with friends or family members cause I don't want to have to worry about what I'm gonna eat everytime I hang out with them so usually when we do those things I eat what I like but I always jump right back on track the next day
  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    normally have a cheat meal once a week. sometimes it'll be twice. depends if people invite me out to things where i cant track calories
  • slacker75
    slacker75 Posts: 78 Member
    I've just started to allow myself a cheat meal one night a week - i still try to make somewhat healthy choices, and I may go over my calories for the day - but I don't obsess about portion size, carbs, fat, etc. and I have no problems getting back on schedule the next day. Previously, when I was on WW - i would do a cheat day - and then flowed over in the next day, and the next.....but one meal doesn't seem to carry to the next day for me.
  • LokiOfAsgard
    LokiOfAsgard Posts: 378 Member
    As long as it fits into my calories, I'll let myself have that pizza or cookie (Or cookies). And if that means I can do it every day (which most days, it really does) Then I'll do it everyday :bigsmile:
  • AmazonRDH
    AmazonRDH Posts: 203 Member
    every sunday is cheat day. not just a meal. the whole day. that being said, i don't go hog wild but i enjoy coffee and a scone, taco-hell for lunch, and then sunday dinner with dessert. it works for me :happy:
  • DoneBroughtSexyBack
    DoneBroughtSexyBack Posts: 190
    about once a day...
  • LauraDotts
    LauraDotts Posts: 732 Member
    Never.

    Diabetes doesn't take a day off so neither can I. A little bit over a safe blood glucose level does hurt. Hurts a lot even if I won't notice. They add up, do damage and then kills. I've already allowed too much damage in the past. I see what diabetes has done to loved ones. Nope, no cheat meals for me.

    Now, occasionally I will have a meal that includes dairy as that does not raise my blood sugar. But, I pay for it the next day with sinus crap.
  • Energizer06
    Energizer06 Posts: 311 Member
    Never, once a cheater always a cheater!
  • TurtleTape
    TurtleTape Posts: 254 Member
    When I first started I had a cheat day every Saturday. Panda Express was my go-to. Now, my budget is very limited so I haven't been having cheat days (or even meals) regularly, which I miss. To be honest, I lose about the same both ways. My weight tends to all disappear at once in a two day span toward the end of the week. This weekend, though, I have friends coming up, which means cheating. Lots and lots of cheating. There's no point, imo, in limiting myself too much, I intend to have fun when I can and not let myself worry about going over.
  • karrielynn80
    karrielynn80 Posts: 395 Member
    I like seeing everyones variations of cheats.

    For me I don't consider the fun size candy i might grab during the day as a cheat, b/c it's not a vice of mine & i can have one & then go days / wks without another.

    for me it's more important to set a limit & stick to it. If i say i'm going to cheat on calories only, that's what i do (which is 99.9% of my mindset) 50-100 calories doesn't hurt me but i'm going to make those extra calories count into my macros. or vice versa.

    It's more about discipline for me than anything (which i've gotten good at). and i never allow myself a cheat when i'm starving - which means being responsible by packing enough food or having healthy food on hand so i don't do such things.

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