Cheat Day?
RyanKnight71
Posts: 34 Member
I have finally reached a point where I really feel like I have a really good grasp on what im eating and should be eating. I have for sure transitioned out of the stage where I really want to lose as much as possible each week, working as hard as possible to hit 3 and 4 lbs a week. I've settle into a place where im completely fine with 1s and 2s because its more about the end result and eating healthy for the rest of my life. Its not about getting there as fast as possible anymore and more about knowing im on the right road and making sure this road is something I can stay on forever. Ive heard a lot of people talkking about cheat days and wanted to get peoples opinions. I was thinking anout starting to try to count calories on more of a weekly basis. For example this week according to mfp to lose 2 lbs a week I can eat 1870 calories a day. What I was thinking about doing is all though the week keeping track of all the calories I was under 1870 and being able to eat those calories however I choose on the last day of my week, which is Friday. I would not take into account calories from workouts, food calories only. What do you guys think?
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Replies
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I think many people have had success on this sort of plan, but I also think it goes against your stated goal of wanting to adjust to "eating healthy for the rest of [your] life." IMO the cheat day mentality is using food as a reward. You've heard the term "putting something on a pedestal" I'm sure. I think this is sort of the same thing. If you view food as a reward, it still has power over you.
Not everyone thinks of it this way, so I'm not saying I have all the answers... This is just my opinion. I personally think that in order to be truly successful long term, we need to disassociate food from our normal pleasure routine, as much as possible. The days we don't have yummy greasy or sugary foods, we feel deprived and we may end up resenting the healthy lifestyle we're working for. Some people are seemingly unaffected by this, but for me that's how it works.
All of that said, I'm not there yet. I still have the occasional treat, but I fit it into my macros for the day. I've also gotten my guiltiest food pleasure to work for me - starbucks coffee. Instead of the 500+ calorie venti white mocha I used to get, I've reduced it to only two pumps with 6 shots of espresso and 4 oz of 2%, over ice... 240 calories
. I know I need to cut this out completely but I haven't yet. The more weight I lose, the more motivation I have to progress towards my ultimate food-related goal: eating for fuel instead of pleasure. That ultimate goal seems harsh on the face of it. It's not really to never eat food that tastes good, that would be terrible... it's about eating food that I do enjoy, but within the bounds of "healthy" food and staying within my macros every single day.
Hopefully you find what works for you. good luck 0 -
When I started losing weight I was 359.8. Right now I'm 285.3. 44 lbs of that have been over the last 15 weeks. I feel at this point I've pretty much gotten my eating under control. I understand my goals, I understand how it isthat I'm going to get where I'm going. In a way I think a cheat day is my way of not feeling incredibly guilty for going well over my calorie goals for A day. If I'm allowed 1870 calories a day and that numbers only going to go down, never up, is that a realistic food plan for the rest of my life everyday. I always feel terrible going over my calories, so if I do go over my goals because I wanted to have a couple beers on a friday night with some friends why should I feel guilty about that. After food, can I ever guilt free go have a few 100-150 calorie beers with the guys? The obvious answer is no. But what if I'm able to "earn" those extra calories by being extra cautious throughout the week? I'm not talking going nuts here either. If I stay under by 100 calories a day we're talking an extra 600 calories on friday.0
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I also enjoy beer
I "earn" mine by doing some extra cardio that day. If I know I'm going out drinking, walking a few miles or running some earlier in the day gives me some extra room. I just try really hard to not ever go over my goal net calories. So far, so good... but who knows, I might just eat a whole ice cream cake one of these days and have to eat some crow on top of it
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I guess thats the difference then. I don't eat calories burned. Dont even log them anymore0
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in that case you should be fine. I don't really "eat my exercise calories" either, but I do use them as a "get out of dessert free" card on occasion For instance, that starbucks drink I was talking about only ever happens after a long session at the gym, or the wife and I walk to starbucks (3.5 miles round trip) to get it. It's a net negative in the calorie department, so I'm happy. 0
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I get it. Its absolutely imperative to be able to have a few luxuries as long as they're not in excess. In the long run I dont think its possible to do this long term not allowing yourself some room from time to time. I got to be able to entertain and BBQ with friends. I'm a self proclaimed grill master, it's what I do. If I do an awesome job all week why shouldn't I be able to knock a few back and have a good time. I have however limited the baby back ribs, and briskits to more healthy options like pork loin and lhave even cometo enjoy turkey burgers0
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so, I just need directions to your house and the time/date of your next cookout...I get it. Its absolutely imperative to be able to have a few luxuries as long as they're not in excess. In the long run I dont think its possible to do this long term not allowing yourself some room from time to time. I got to be able to entertain and BBQ with friends. I'm a self proclaimed grill master, it's what I do. If I do an awesome job all week why shouldn't I be able to knock a few back and have a good time. I have however limited the baby back ribs, and briskits to more healthy options like pork loin and lhave even cometo enjoy turkey burgers0 -
The wife and I try to use a "cheat day" on Saturday for one meal. She finds calorie counting is very stressful, so she likes one meal that she doesn't have to look for... but she still tries to make a good decision.0
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I kinda had a "cheat day" today... I had several things I wouldn't normally have. If fitbit estimates are to be believed, I still came in well, well below my daily burn, but I had a couple full-flavored beers, about 18oz of soda, a ham and cheese sandwich with some kettle potato chips, and a rather greasy grilled chicken sandwich. A rather decadent day but I don't think I hurt my progress at all. I tried to log everything as accurately as possible but there was no way to really log the ham-n-cheese (clubhouse at the golf course) or the chicken sandwich (a small burger joint), so I tried to get close. Log says just under 2000 calories, fitbit estimates about 4500 burned. I think I was probably a few hundred calories over what I logged in reality. Even if I really ate 50% over the log I still did pretty well on my "cheat day"
So a full day of drinking, golfing, eating, etc. Felt like a cheat day but managed to stay on plan. Feels good, man.0 -
For me, I had to re-evaluate my relationship with food. I saw food as a reward, or a pick me up, or sometimes even a right. Once I started really counting what was going into my body weekly, I was shocked. I've hit a plateau after 70lbs total loss since November of 2012, but I've made gains in all my lifts at the gym, and the measuring tape (and my shorts falling down when I walk) shows me that my scale is misleading. I liked watching the number drop in the beginning. It was satisfying, SEEING the results. Now, I have learned to FEEL the results of my efforts. When I eat poorly, I feel crappy. When I eat healthy, satisfying meals, I feel great. When I throw another plate on the end of the barbell, and hoist away, I feel invincible. And when I go out drinking on the weekends, or go off to my BBQ cooking competitions, I don't feel guilty. I feel lucky and content with my life. I'm glad to see this community of big and tall peoples really communicating, too. I was worried for a while that the conversations had dried up. Good to see I was wrong.0
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Had my cheat day, feels good to get a "day off". Weighed in this morning and I lost 1.5lbs for the week. Very happy with that. Its a total of 76.5lbs ive lost. Clothes don't really fit well anymore and ive already had to take the drill and scissors to my belt. I'm trying to hold off as long as I can before buying new clothes because I still want to lose at least 30 more lbs. One of these days ill get around to posting a few before and during pictures0
