Cheat days - Worst idea ever

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.

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.

Cheat meals, I agree with...days...not so much. I think newbs (those newer to losing weight/your stereotypical yo-yo dieters). Sunday is mine. I however, am at church all day and almost never eat breakfast that day - so I'm fasting till lunch/dinner time where we usually have unhealthy food. I eat 2,000 calories a day and STILL lose weight, but I'm extremely active. At my activity level, a little extra won't bother me...but I think some people really need to make sure there doing more than laying on their back doing pilates before they induldge.

I think the word "cheat" implies a psychological break/reward. I can see why people think that doing a "cheat day" reinforces the idea that eating well is punishment. But there are good reasons to do a planned and controlled "refeed", and I plan on doing that when I get a little further along.

Maybe it is a personal need to approach differen, or human nature, not sure. But all I know is that "cheat" anything becomes an increasingly slippery slope for me. Example - Chewed snuff from age 13-36. Tried quitting and made it 2 years. Then I figured since I had this thing licked, I could start up "just" doing it while cutting grass. Then it was "just" while I was doing outside work. Then it was "just" outside of work. Then it was.... well, I fell back into full time. Luckily the second try was better luck. Cold turkey and have been off it for 8 years.

Food wise, I am a yo-yo. I go from highs of 299 to lows of 225. This has typically been a 5 year cycle. I am now on my downward swing and hopefuly at 48 a tad wiser. I dislike cheat day approach... Why? because it scares me. So, when I know things are going to be challenging with food, beer, etc on a specific occasion, I pre and post work my tail off. I have burnt as many as 4400 calories in a 24 hour period (thank you BMF) to prepare for a party. Just last night we came into pittsburgh for the hockey game. Worked out double before we left and i drank what i wanted and had some not normal food to me. Post game, I walked Duquesne campus (hilly) three times and a toal of 18,600 steps for the day. So high intake, but even higher burn.

Be careful of "cheat" anything.... if you are not of 100% strong conviction, it will bite you in the *kitten*.

Just my .02 cents.

Ted

I don't plan 'cheat days'. I allow myself to eat a treat everyday (assuming it fits into my goal) so I don't need to go all out and eat 2500 calories of rubbish on one day. Only time I won't log is a family/special occasion like weddings etc (simply 'cause it's awful trying to even GUESS what they put it in wedding food!).

Some people have that little bit more willpower than others - they can allow themselves to have just one serving of chocolate per day, whereas others can't stop at that one serving so they save up calories or whatever they do for their 'cheat days' and then eat whatever they want on that day.

If they work for some people - and they do seem to - then I say go for it!

I rarely have a "cheat" meal as I eat everything and eat portions that fit within my calorie allotment. so there is no need to feel deprived. Some days I eat a bit more and some days I eat a bit less. I ate what I wanted on vacation but tried to eat as healthy as I could for eating out 3 times a day. I needed to change how I looked at eating not just how much I ate. If I did not change how I felt about food I will not maintain my weight loss. I am not deprived by my diet but feel better for it.