Cheat days - Worst idea ever

Cheat days can help keep a diet sustainable, but the diet won't work if a cheat day is undoing the calorie deficit from the other six days (which can easily happen). If you are in a calorie surplus, you will not lose weight.

I think the key is to cheat mindfully now and again while at the same time being accountable for your overall calorie intake and making sure you are still hitting that deficit inclusive of any cheating.

I understand cheat meals - but not cheat days. Cheat days are WAY too much, I know this from experience. Some people can have them and be 'responsible' meaning they don't binge, but for others, it's completely possible that they destroy a whole weeks worth of hard work in a day.

I'm not cheating when I enjoy something beyond my normal...because I am not on a diet or an enforced regimen. I am living a more normal life, making healthy choices most of the time, and having an occasional indulgence. I'm not rewarding myself...any more than sticking more closely to my guidelines means I am punishing myself. I'm just living. Well.

They should make a "whiners forum" on MFP, where you can post your complaints about how others go about losing weight and how other people's cheat days effect your life directly. Seriously, stop whining. People's "cheat days" have no effect on your body or your weight, so mind your own damn business and sod off, bro.

this thread is a joke

How about a cheat week. Really just about 3 days. I wasn't feeling well. Extremely hungry and low energy. I slept 2 hrs on one night. The next day I came home and cleaned up after moving. Had about 7 hrs sleep. So I ate more than usual. Increased activity but just ate. Cereal for breakfast a taco burrito and poptart for dinner. Not usual items I eat. But now I feel full have more energy and will resume eating more healthful eating. I really ate what I wanted. I didn't eat chocolate icecream etc. Used common sense but did eat more than normal and higher calories and sugar. About 500 calories per day over for 3 days.

It takes 3500 calories to gain a pound. Contrary to what some might think...if I had a cheat day...I could definitely eat 3500 calories. Personally I think cheat days is what got me to the unhealthy weight I was. I splurge once in a while...but ONE thing! Not even a whole meal sometimes. Just my opinion. I'm looking for a lifestyle change...not a quick way to lose weight only to have to do it again.

It takes 3500 calories to gain a pound. Contrary to what some might think...if I had a cheat day...I could definitely eat 3500 calories. Personally I think cheat days is what got me to the unhealthy weight I was. I splurge once in a while...but ONE thing! Not even a whole meal sometimes. Just my opinion. I'm looking for a lifestyle change...not a quick way to lose weight only to have to do it again.

Guess what though, a lifestyle change can also include enjoying unhealthy foods. I refuse to never touch fries anymore. That mindset I find unhealthy. I do not usually eat them but once a month, so what? This is going to happen in the next 60 (hopefully :P) years or so. It'll be more sustainable when you allow yourself to have unhealthy things you like every so often and know that it's ok than when you completely restrict yourself. Just mho.

Cheat day, don't call it that way ... It's reward day.
I don't know about you, but since i'm not on a diet, it's a lifestyle in which i eat healthy all year long, so i think i deserve a day without restrictions.
You don't have to gorge yourself, but if you're clever enough, having a cheat day during a week of clean eating is totally doable.
I don't like incorporing high calorie food during the week because having a cookie or a slice of pizza doesn't make me happy, i like to be able to eat more of that.

So eat good food during the week, reach your calorie deficit and your macros, exercice and give yourself a cheat day

I'm 10% bodyfat and i have a cheat day every saturday (and i'm still cutting).

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Setting up overly rigid expectations is likely to lead to a person abandoning efforts.

Personally I don't buy this and I think it's just giving yourself permission to fail.

Change your mindset, be disciplined, succeed.

I stay disciplined by remaining agile.:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

I don't understand the concept of 'cheat days'. Whoever made the term up and promoted the idea has a lot to answer for.

I understand 'No exercise days' (rest days) but 'cheat days' I don't. I don't understand why someone would work hard all week then set aside a special day to blow it. I personally dont think going over calories on ANY day while staying within your weekly calorie goal is a cheat... that's just balancing your calorie intake over a week. But for the life of me I can't understand why someone would be on a 'diet' but set aside a day where they can eat whatever they want and think they are 'entitled' to it because they've been 'so good'. I mean who are they kidding?? Isn't that like telling an alcoholic they can drink as much as they want one day a week???

Look... I know this post will have already come across as all 'judgemental' but if there's any 'cheat day' advocates out there I'd love you to explain to me why cheat days are a good idea and how cheat days don't become 'cheat weeks' and how cheat weeks don't become blown diets.

I agree with you, at least on the philosophy side of your argument. I don't set up a "cheat" day. I have made a lifestyle change, and I can't really cheat on a lifestyle. I don't allow a "free day" during the week where I don't count calories or can eat tons of junk because (1) I don't eat that way anymore; (2) for me, it would absolutely be a gateway into a slide back into bad habits; and (3) I have no desire to undo all the good I have done for a bunch of junk food. I'm not breaking my good habits (eating well, exercising and being HONEST in my food diary) for anything.

Of course, special occasions happen, but you can totally plan for them. For example, tomorrow we are having my daughter's family birthday party. We are having pizza and cupcakes/ice cream. I am planning to be cleaning the house in the AM, and even though I don't count the calories burned from that, I know I burn a lot because I go up and down the stairs and move quickly. I will eat lightly for the rest of the day with plenty of water and healthy food. I have already planned what kind of pizza I am having (thin crust, tons of veggies, chicken) and have figured out how many calories it will be already. I can easily work it into my day. I will skip the cupcakes and just enjoy spending time with my family.

A food-centric holiday where I'm not in control of the food is more of a challenge, but you can make the best choices that are available, eat the stuff that is "special" to you and leave the rest.

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Actually most people who are successful at being in recovery from alcohol DO go to support groups. It's clear your knowledge of addiction, no matter the substance, is limited. Harm reduction is a model, however research has shown that while it may effective in the short term that it is not effective in the long term.

Being an alcoholic is *nothing* like eating too much food very day. Nothing at all.


Having a physical addiction is a completely separate issue from struggling with a bad habit.

Food Addiction exists.

It's not a physical addiction.

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