What do you consider as a cheat meal?

candies, icecream, chips kinda stuff. Anything that isn't worth the calories it consumes (that being, not filling and likely raises your macros a lot)

Those things would probably not raise your protein a lot, just carbs, fat, and calories.

Over eating by 300 calories or more at the end of the day is a cheat day. Eat a slice of pizza is not. Just yesterday I had TWO slices and was still under. Oh bad me!

This is my philosophy - and since MFP builds in a 500 calorie deficit I try to just not go over maintenance calories on a 'cheat day' - I look at it as keeping my metabolism high and therefore a necessary part of the process!

pretty cool! Is Thanksgiving dinner a cheat meal? just need some clarification!

Thanksgiving could go either way depending upon your willpower. Turkey breast (w/o gravy), peas & carrots, fruit salad or jello salad are all very healthy, low fat choices. You can easily eat your fill of those items and not destroy your diet for the day. You could even manage a small piece of dessert if you stick with just those meal items on your plate. However, throw in mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and multiple desserts - then it becomes a cheat meal. It's up to you to decide.

I ate a chocolate souffle, with chocolate sauce, raspberry sorbet and vanilla salt the other day in a restaurant it went over my base and exercise goals, it was DEFINITELY a cheat meal I adored it, and logged it, so I do not feel bad for it!

lol, i ate a small cheese pizza last night, had a couple gin and tonics and a chocolate chip cookie. went over, yes. but cheating? no. just a great friday!

I still have days where I feel like I goofed when I see that I'm over on protein or sodium or whatever, but I know I'm still learning and the weight is coming off, so I'm doing something right.

Isn't being over on protein a good thing? I'm nearly always under and I know I ought to get more protein into my diet!

I haven't completely banned myself from any foods, although there are some that I am temporarily avoiding until I can 100% trust myself that I won't allow them to trigger a binge.

For me, a "cheat" would be considered deliberately making the choice to eat or drink things that would put me over my limit for the day. Like my birthday - I made the conscious decision to have a big dinner, drink a pint+ of rum and have some vegan cake. I knew it would set me over my goal for the day, but I did it anyway. I don't feel bad about it because I planned for it in advance with extra exercise and cutting down on calories the rest of the week. So I guess it's not really cheating if I don't feel guilty? That sounds horrible if taken out of context, haha!

I would however, feel guilty if, during a moment of weakness I succumbed to a trigger food that would lead to an all out binge - in which case, when I start binging the logical portion of my brain checks out for a short vacation and returns the next day and has to deal with the damage. THEN I would feel bad because I would've let myself down for giving in when all it would take to get me out of that situation is to take step back and have a moment to think about my choices. This hasn't happened yet...

But like others have said, it is completely mental (for me, anyway) and I guess guilt and other negative emotions wouldn't come into the equation for someone with a healthy relationship with food. But that's the difference for people who already have a solid relationship with food and those who are coming from a background of dysfunctional/emotional eating... It certainly CAN be overcome though if you put your mind to it.

pretty cool! Is Thanksgiving dinner a cheat meal? just need some clarification!

I have changed my life style and that includes the whole life. Feasts at the big holidays are part of that lifestyle, and are not cheat days but are part of life that needs to be taken into account. I don't feel bad for these feasts.

We do make some dishes differently and switch out some of the old dishes for new healthier dishes (no more Jello salad YAY!).

Cheat meal would be something over 1000 calories, basically anything that makes it hard to stay under my goal once I count it.

Example:

Maintenance: 2500 calories
For Fat loss: 2000 (take out 500 calories)

Cheat meal: 2500, ONE day per week... Is a cheat meal and will not kill you as long as you get back to your diet strictly !!!

Conclusion,

Eat what ever you want but don't go over 2500 calories (If your maintenance level is 2500 calories)

I would say to me, a cheat meal is where I simply over indulge and end up with lopsided macro nutrients for the day. Something like eating a pint of Ben N' Jerry's would tip my carb intake over a cliff.

I would like to consider pizza a cheat meal. But if I get chicken pizza then I don't think it's actually that bad. And the pizza place near me never lets their pizza get really oily.

So generally any processed sugary crap is my cheat meal. Metrx 100g bars, fruit candies, poptarts, cookies (especially italian with powder)

I don't do cheat meals or cheat days. I have found that by using MFP I am able to enjoy foods that I like, just not as much of it as I was eating. So instead of half the pie, I eat 2 pieces of pizza and skip the wings. If I tried to cut it all out, I'd be miserable. Right now I'm not in the mindset that I can just give it up. My emotional attachment to various foods is too strong. I'm working on it, but it will take some time.

I hope to be able to disassociate certain foods with boredom, excitement, parties, celebrations, etc...Eat to live, not live to eat.

I don't consider any type of food a cheat. What am I cheating on? I eat ALL the food in moderation.

What's your definition of a cheat meal?

Anything you pretend you didn't eat.

Yep, this.

I think eating a slice of pizza is considered as a cheat meal.

What's your definition of a cheat meal?

A cheat meal or cheat day is part of the group of words ( " hangry " and " eating clean " belong to that group among others ) I can't even understand and are absolutely meaningless to me.