Cheat Days

2

Replies

  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    I have a "free" day once a week. I eat anywhere from 4500-6000 calories on those days.

    Ticker speaks for itself, really.
  • MrsKTillman
    MrsKTillman Posts: 35
    I dont do cheet days, because this isnt a DIET.. its a lifestyle change. If i want something i have it in moderation and balance the calories.
  • dont_give_up
    dont_give_up Posts: 312 Member
    I have cheat days just about every week and I try not to use the same day. All my cheat days are different. Some days I will eat just a candy bar, which I normally don't do, and other days I will have a cheat meal. There have been days where I eat ice cream for dessert or a snack, even if it's one of my normal days. I also measure my foods on cheat days and I always keep track of what I eat, rather it's a cheat day or not.
    I have lost on weigh in day, and some I have managed to maintain. Sometimes depending on what I ate for my cheat day, I do feel guilty, and other times I don't. We're not perfect, and we are going to mess up once in a while.
  • lovelyr06
    lovelyr06 Posts: 6
    I have a "cheat meal" once a week. I try to shoot for wednesdays! I could really screw up my weight loss if i gave myself a whole day to eat whatever i wanted.
  • sweatydebs416
    sweatydebs416 Posts: 18
    I usually have a cheat meal once per week. Sundays are "bagel sunday", so I enjoy a heavy carb filled breakfast and am so worried all day that I am going to gain weight, but it's been the opposite! usually the day after my cheat meal I actually have a loss in weight, so I feel that having a cheat meal is a good thing for your body
  • SolanumSunrise
    SolanumSunrise Posts: 244 Member
    I don't have any planned cheat days. I try to budget in all the foods I can't live without so I don't feel the need to have a cheat day. But every now and then I'll find myself out with friends on an unplanned outing, and without having budgeted for eating out I inevitably go over. This happens maybe twice a month, and I haven't found that it has slowed down my progress enough for me to notice. I will often try to do a little extra cardio that week to make up for the extra calories, but I don't stress over it.
  • angel_of_harmony
    angel_of_harmony Posts: 188 Member
    I believe that "dieting" should be more of a lifestyle change rather than a short period of time that you attempt to eat healthy.

    In this case, I do not count when I splurge as cheating, but I do try my best to still monitor what I am eating. You can eat regular food and still be healthy. It is all about portions and knowing when you are able to "splurge" as I call it.

    I have to monitor the amount of fat in my diet, so on days that I want to eat something that is higher in fat I will order a salad with my dinner or perhaps have something light for lunch. This method can also be applied to those whom are tracking their caloric intake, which is a goal of mine.

    I generally ask myself "should I eat this" or "will I regret eating this later"? If I cannot honestly answer yes, then I do not eat it.

    Everyone's diet is different but my guilty pleasures include the following: brownies, funyons, french fries, dr. pepper, cheesecake, and brownies.

    I rarely eat these foods but when I do I am sure to log them in my diary. Also, keep in mind that you can substitute your favorite things for healthier options. For example, I purchase the fiber one brownies instead of eating the regular kind and I eat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream.
  • kethry70
    kethry70 Posts: 404 Member
    I have an occasional cheat meal. But, I try to keep mostly within my TDEE. And I don't go crazy- I'll split a dessert and have a glass of wine or I'll have a dozen tortilla chips with queso dip. But, I try to make mostly smart food choices and keep the portion size down on the "cheat" items
  • Ranna51
    Ranna51 Posts: 24
    I don't have a cheat, if I want something I have it...... if I don't have the cals I workout so I can. for me this is a lifestyle not a diet

    This.

    The only cheat days I partake in are those in hotel rooms with loose women and cheap liquor.

    Don't forget the cigarettes- :smile:
  • kelseyeve
    kelseyeve Posts: 4
    I don't plan for "cheat days", but I find that about once a week I have a day where I feel more hungry than usual, so I eat more than my allowed calories on those days. I feel like if my body is trying to tell me something, I should listen to it! I have been steadily losing weight as well.
  • marcvandenberg
    marcvandenberg Posts: 190 Member
    I just log everything, so i don't cheat.
    If I go over i have to compensate it in the next days, by exercise or on diet.
    If that's not possible then I know why i don;t loose weight.
    So "cheaing" is allowed.
    Don't cheat on logging it.
  • shiplizard
    shiplizard Posts: 20 Member
    Actually, a massive cheat day (I got burger king to deal with some depression) that kicked me 900 cal over my limit actually helped jump start a new week at a slightly lower calorie count. I felt satisfied and not trapped even as I was eating a few hundred less than I used to for the next few weeks. I'd plateaued at 231 , 231, 231, and then I had my cheat day and dropped to 1800/daily without feeling like I was depriving myself. That was two weeks ago and I'm at 227 and still ticking downwards.

    The weekends, especially Saturdays, are my cheat days. I don't start a Saturday PLANNING to go over, is the thing-- but if I get in the mood for fast food or a massive iced mocha, I go ahead and get it. If I see I have 200 calories left and there's a 600 calorie scone calling my name for an after dinner snack, I hit that **** hard. I find that knowing I can have the things I crave- -just not right now-- helps me eat at my level or at a deficit for the rest of the week, and I always average out at right around my goal . Some Saturdays I wind up eating at a deficit because I'm not in the mood. I take it as it comes.

    It's more psychological than anything (although there's something to be said for goosing your metabolism by reminding your body that there's plenty of food around). If you feel guilty and you don't like it, don't do it. But if you tend to feel trapped or depressed by your calorie limits, getting that extra slice of pizza one day a week can ease up the strain on you. It's a personal choice.
  • traceytwink
    traceytwink Posts: 538 Member
    I never have a cheat day, but I have no foods off limit, I eat what I want when I want, so I guess to some people on here if they looked at my diary every day would be a cheat day, I've been eating that way now for 9 months and have maintained the same weight for the same amount of time ????
  • voyagewithme
    voyagewithme Posts: 15
    People tend to have largely different versions of what a cheat day is. I personally don't allow myself a whole day to eat whatever. That just seems a little over the top and detrimental to my progress. I allow myself one meal per week where i can eat whatever i want. That doesn't mean i'm gonna eat a whole pizza by myself on a saturday night! A cheat meal to meal is 2 pieces of pizza or a candy bar, Unhealthy foods eaten in moderation!
  • woodsy0912
    woodsy0912 Posts: 323
    I recently just switched to a weekly calorie goal. This allows me to "bank" unused calories throughout the week and use them on the weekends! I am loving it because I was certainly feeling too restricted with my old plan.
  • sc10985
    sc10985 Posts: 347 Member
    Usually 1 or 2 Sunday's a month we splurge on dinner and a dessert. Today I was kinda bad though and ate bugles and m&ms in addition to our takeout dinner lol. I don't let it consume me like I used to though, and I have been steadily losing weight :)
  • Nai280
    Nai280 Posts: 12 Member
    my cheat days are sundays. i normally dont track on that day some people do it and some dont agree. its like we are cheating ourselves. and yes i have loss with cheat days. my weigh is are on sunday mornings and then my cheat day begins lol so it evens out.
  • Healthynut31
    Healthynut31 Posts: 109 Member
    If you have a "cheat" day, you might feel better calling it a "spike" day, where you allot yourself more calories than usual, or just splurge on one really good meal. I allow myself to do this 1-2 times a week so I can go out to dinner if I want or just enjoy something like a good dessert. :) I did this most of the time while I was losing weight and other than a day or two of water retention, my progress wasn't hindered at all.
    Wow!! Congrats on the progress!! Keep it up! :happy:
  • Healthynut31
    Healthynut31 Posts: 109 Member
    my cheat days are sundays. i normally dont track on that day some people do it and some dont agree. its like we are cheating ourselves. and yes i have loss with cheat days. my weigh is are on sunday mornings and then my cheat day begins lol so it evens out.
    Maybe I will try it that way!! Thanks!!
  • Healthynut31
    Healthynut31 Posts: 109 Member
    I recently just switched to a weekly calorie goal. This allows me to "bank" unused calories throughout the week and use them on the weekends! I am loving it because I was certainly feeling too restricted with my old plan.
    Amazing!! And with sooo many pounds lost, who am I to disagree!! Congratulations!! :bigsmile:
  • StArBeLLa87
    StArBeLLa87 Posts: 1,582 Member
    I used to but now I just eat a sweet once a day and stay in my calorie goal but usually am netting low to begin with

    Sometimes ill eat a candy bar just to boost my calorie intake cuz I don't eat fried food and gluten in general due to the fact I'm allergic
  • Healthynut31
    Healthynut31 Posts: 109 Member
    I don't do cheat days. The more you swerve from your life style change path, the harder it is to recover. One of the points of losing weight and getting healthy is to stop looking at junk food as a source of joy, elation, or pleasure. Eating healthfully can be a pleasurable experience. So much of my life has spent using food as an antidepressant that it is no wonder I had to start at 362 pounds. I still have a ways to go but I'm already starting to feel better.
    Thank you for that insightful reply!!
  • Healthynut31
    Healthynut31 Posts: 109 Member
    I dont do cheet days, because this isnt a DIET.. its a lifestyle change. If i want something i have it in moderation and balance the calories.
    Thanks for the comment!! and....WOW congrats on the weight loss!!!
  • Robin_Bin
    Robin_Bin Posts: 1,046 Member
    See http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/973542-how-often-do-you-cheat-on-your-diet
  • RyanOnInsanity
    RyanOnInsanity Posts: 5 Member
    I hopped on the Tim Ferris bandwagon maybe 2 years ago, which introduced me to the idea of a 'cheat day.' I would have an entire day per week to eat whatever I wanted (usually including pizza, soda and ice cream among other things) and still managed to drop ~35 lbs over two months. With my personality it was perfect because any time I wanted something that I shouldn't have been eating I would just tell myself 'you can have it on saturday' and then push it entirely out of mind. Added benefit for me: sometimes I would try to cram so much garbage into one day and end up feeling so sick that I just stopped craving a lot of those foods altogether.

    So to answer your original question - yes, it is possible to have a weekly cheat day and still lose weight. I would suggest not overdoing it like I did though...
  • sunshinestater
    sunshinestater Posts: 596 Member
    I used to think I'd have cheat days when I first started out here, especially since my work sometimes involves eating (I write about theme parks and attractions, and they have events that involve food). But over the past few weeks that attitude has changed. Now I don't see it as a cheat day but as a "life got in the way" day. I try to minimize the damage with exercise, if possible, and I never let it be an excuse to slack off for additional days. I don't beat myself up over it either. Life isn't perfect, so I figure my eating doesn't have to be, either, as long as I stay within my calories the majority of the time.

    I'll probably allow myself some indulgences like a Melting Pot outing one of these days, but rather than see it as a cheat day, I'll do some extra exercise and remind myself that it's okay to do something like that every now and then. Surprisingly, though, since I've been eating healthy and shifting toward more vegetarian meals, I don't have as much desire for big, sugary indulgences like that. My body wants the good stuff now.
  • CharityGC
    CharityGC Posts: 499 Member
    I think it depends on you. Once or twice a month I have a meal or day where I don't count calories, so I guess that is my cheat day although I don't label it as anything. This weekend we're having a Cinco de Mayo party (hello enchiladas, guacamole, and taco dip!) and I will be partaking of absolutely everything. Then, on Sunday, I'll be right back to counting calories again. It works for me, I'm at my goal, and I'm happy. On a daily basis I eat everything in moderation so I never feel deprived but there are times counting calories isn't going to happen (I'm sure our guests would love it if I asked for calorie counts on all the food they bring!) so I don't worry about it.
  • bnorris2013
    bnorris2013 Posts: 256 Member
    I started off having cheat days

    Then I switched to cheat meals

    And now if I want to have a cheat meal or day I earn the calories by working out for them


    I feel better knowing that I have earned my fave foods
  • gigi_RN2013
    gigi_RN2013 Posts: 141 Member
    Does anyone on here have a" cheat day" one day out of the week?? I tried this today and have not weighed myself yet. I kind of felt guilty after I ate the foods tho. I guess my real question is does anyone practice a cheat day and still manage to lose weight on their weigh in day??

    i do have a cheat day where i don't weigh myself and don't exercise and become more relaxed with my eating....
    Although the following day I feel really guilty and work out twice as hard lol
    I've been doing this for about a month now and still lost 9lbs :)
  • vixtris
    vixtris Posts: 688 Member
    i do pizza hut pasta on tuesdays because its half off lol. so thats basically my cheat day. also my official weigh in day, in the morning. so that meal wont effect my weight since its been a full week since i ate it last XD

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