Should I Cheat On My..

My answer is no only because I was in a similar situation a few days ago. It was my friend's birthday dinner, and we went to a Chinese buffet and had drinks after. I gained the two pounds back that I lost the previous week. I definitely ate way too much, and I regret it.

I allow myself treats a few times a week but nothing too crazy. I don't do cheat meals though... usually when I go over my cals its because of alcohol intake rather than food. I log everything though except for vegetables (most days). I wouldn't have such a large cheat meal once a week. I'd maybe have one of those elements once a week. A milkshake one week and a burger the next or something. That way you have something to look forward to without having an immense amount of calories.

My answer is no only because I was in a similar situation a few days ago. It was my friend's birthday dinner, and we went to a Chinese buffet and had drinks after. I gained the two pounds back that I lost the previous week. I definitely ate way too much, and I regret it.

You gained water weight from the sodium in the Chinese food and probably have extra fecal material that has not yet been expelled due to the increased volume of food you consumed.

OP: Having a cheat day, break day, cheat meal, etc will not derail you. You may get there faster if you never, ever have a cheat day but don't you want to live at the same time?

My answer is no only because I was in a similar situation a few days ago. It was my friend's birthday dinner, and we went to a Chinese buffet and had drinks after. I gained the two pounds back that I lost the previous week. I definitely ate way too much, and I regret it.

Just no. You retained water, most likely from an excessive sodium intake.

To the O.P, I have a cheat meal/day every Saturday, just make sure you aren't going over your calories and try and fit it into your macros and it will not stunt you at all, infact if I didn't incorporate cheat meals I think I'd have given up at day 2. Just try not to go all out, don't beat yourself up if you do though, I've had days where I can't stop eating but overall I still lose weight that week. Although I feel awful after I do that so I try keep that to a minimum

I think for people who have a training plan or workout plan or whatever that is a bit more than walking around the block yeah a cheat meal a week is fine (within reason I could pack in 2 days worth of calories not good) especially if you aren't eating back anything during the week.

But, for people who are morbidly obese or have a binging problem, this probably isn't the greatest idea. No food should be off limits, but should be worked into the plan for the day or accounted for with an extra work out and calorie reductions elsewhere. Yeah I know people will disagree, but it really is safe to lose a bit more and to not have a cheat meal where you take in massive amounts of calories. Indulgences should be on the smaller side IMO.

Eating ain't cheatin'

Its been one week since I began cutting. I've stayed at my 1800 cals mark, and pretty much fit all my macros without going too overboard. I've gone to the gym every single day, and I already feel more refreshed and in shape than I have in a long time. However, I decided to allow myself a cheat meal every Saturday to keep me going.. I've been craving a Chophouse Cheddar burger, fries, and chocolate milk shake from Whataburger for days now.. Do yall think it'd be a smart decision to have this kind of cheat meal once every week? How often do you cheat? (if it all, in which case ill stick my tail between my legs and crawl back into my mud hole..)

I eat whatever I have been craving every Saturday. But I just chock it up to my new lifestyle and don't call it a cheat day. It's just and extra high calorie day. In deficit the rest of the week.

Clearly the next word is diet, if you actually read the post...

I stopped reading after realizing you werent going to finish that first sentence continuing from the subject line... wtf is that about?

not really sure.. guess being on low carb for a week messes with a guys head..

Okay, I'm new to this whole fitness/workout thing. I was all upset about the whole 2 lbs. Thanks for the info.

It'll drop straight back down really quickly, just try avoid too much sodium I was at a festival and after apparently gained around 5-6 pounds in 3 days, but I know fine well it was all those chips and cheese!

Ask yourself just who you are 'cheating'. I can assure you it is not anyone on MFP

Personally I keep my treats within my daily cal allowance, I really want to lose weight and keep it off, I don't want to feel I'm deprived so I have successfully changed the way I think about food and treats are part of that. Realistically, I believe this is the only way to succeed long term. Can you imagine recovering alcoholics for example having a 'cheat' day every week where they drank as much as they wanted? Or ex smokers putting one day a week aside to smoke themselves to death? It's like being in debt and paying it back slowly, then once a week having a 'cheat' day when you can spend what you want.

Sorry, I know it is reputed to work for some people, but I believe cheat days are evidence of lack of commitment in changing the way you think. That way of thinking made you fat in the first place.