Do you give yourself a "cheat day"?

I end up with at least one unplanned "cheat day" every week, mostly to not offend at a family meal and it would be almost impossible to track that day. If I planned a cheat day I would end up with two bad days. IMO it's better to not plan one since it's hard enough as is.

Dont give myself a cheat day, But I do give my self a cheat meal.. one or maybe two each week

I never have cheat days, but if I know I'm having champagne and cake ill fit it into my calorie budget.

This is really helpful. I'm so new to all of this, I find myself not counting meals on the weekend, and that can turn disastrous quickly. I think two or so "cheat meals" is a great idea!

I don't give myself a "cheat day" but if there's an event that I have to attend to, then I would eat smaller portions and somehow fit those portions within my calorie goal for the day, and work my *kitten* off the next day on exercising.

I give myself a cheat item....On sundays its a ice cream cone

And everyother saturday we go to the movies....I try and eat healthy.... but I treat myself to a candy of some sort and a ICEE but I ensure I worked out that day and my meals are good

Memorial day was my first full cheat day in two months....I just pigged out and didnt watch anything

But I dont give a whole day each week

I weigh-in on Saturdays. If on that day I want something I get it. I don't go crazy so its not an all day thing. But lately I find myself still eye balling the serving size and looking up the calories to make sure I am making the best choice. So if I chose to get a hamburger I get the one with the lowest calories and without a bun.

I think its all about make better choices than it is about cheating that's what got us here in the first place. LOL

I don't give myself a cheat day"because honestly, I haven't "outlawed" anything from my diet. I do try to make good decisions each meal. I try to choose healthy foods in managed portions. That said, if I want to have a beer or two, or an ice cream cone, or a couple of slices of pizza I do so without remorse or guilt and know that I will have to "pay the treadmill" eventually. I have found that I am more likely to fall off the bandwaggon if I deny myself whatever I am craving. For me portion control is more important than limiting food groups. Also, remember that the scale is not necessarilly your friend. By that I mean that you can loose inches by working out (looking and feeling better) without "loosing weight" (because you are replacing bulky fat tissue with lean muscle tissue).

As for the weekend, enjoy the wedding, have a piece of cake and a sip (or two) of champaigne and stick your overall plan of loosing weight over time. Weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint.:drinker:

Last summer my bf and I tried to get healthy and we had a cheat day, but it got out of control so we don't really do that anymore. But usually I give myself a bit of a break on the weekends. I am in a good structured schedule here so I find it easy to stay on the ball (I am eating 3 meals and 2 snacks) but when I sleep in on the weekends I get off the routine. I try to still make good choices even when I "cheat", and I ask myself if the taste is really worth it when I am working so hard to be healthy. But I also don't deprive myself since that leads to bingeing.

I'm the same as jleydon an love the first sentence "I don't give myself a cheat day"because honestly, I haven't "outlawed" anything from my diet." :laugh:

@ flowerbud - Interesting; I might have to do that for my maintenance.

I never have cheat days, but if I know I'm having champagne and cake ill fit it into my calorie budget.

Thats my mentality also. I try to plan ahead if I know there is something higher calorie coming later in the day. But I also am not really stressed if i overeat anymore. I try to squeeze in a little extra exercise and make it up the next day also.