Does anyone else allow themselves...

I personally can't have an "off" day because I will go overboard and eat everything in the house.

I do take it one day at a time. I treat each and every single day as if it's the first day of my diet/lifestyle change.

I also celebrate the little NSVs along the way. For example, I ordered Chiplotle with the girls from work last week but, I opted for brown rice and passed on the cheese and sour cream. I was still able to enjoy my lunch, not feel guilty and still met my goals.

Little changes here and there help in the long run.

Feel free to add me! Best of luck on your journey.

I wouldn't recommend having an off day when you're only a week in. A better plan is to incorporate s few treats into your budget during the week so you don't feel deprived. Right now you need to get used to eating to plan and sticking with it.

I don't do "off" days. If I decide I want something, I usually have a little. Example: Last week I knew I was going to the movies, which means popcorn! So, that day I kicked *kitten* on my workout and did extra cardio! I was still WAY Under my calories.

I try and eat healthy most days. What did they used to say 80/20?! :-)

I do the same when I know I'm going to eat something I "shouldn't".

I like the If It Fits Your Macros mentality. Since I can usually fit whatever I want into my daily calories (with a little extra exercise if needed), nothing is off limits and I don't need a cheat day. I regularly have candy, crackers and frozen yogurt. The key is portion control.

I like the If It Fits Your Macros mentality. Since I can usually fit whatever I want into my daily calories (with a little extra exercise if needed), nothing is off limits and I don't need a cheat day. I regularly have candy, crackers and frozen yogurt. The key is portion control.

This exactly. In my opinion, allowing yourself to have an "off" day and eat whatever you want is a recipe for disaster. Instead of looking at food as "good" and "bad" I eat whatever I want as long as it fits into my macros (protein, fat, carbs, calories) for the day. You can do a lot of damage on an "off" day.

I don't have "off" days really but I do have days where I don't get any good exercise in but I still stay under my calories or if I'm going to eat something naughty I workout harder that day. Either way I try to even it out so the past days of hard work weren't for nothing.

You've got to find what works for you. I personally have never had planned "cheat" (or "off") days or meals, I've always just tried to fit what I want to eat into my calorie allowance. Of course, there are days when I don't end up logging, or I know I've gone beyond my allowance because that just happens sometimes - Christmas, birthdays, unexpected meals out etc.

Some people will say don't have days without logging, others will say that it's helped keep them focused. Try it and see what works for you. Obviously, if you manage to wipe out your weekly calorie deficit with that one day, then you're going to find it difficult to meet your goals.

On a slightly different note, I think that there is a lot to be said for being relaxed about tracking, and learning to eat moderately without the structure of weighing/measuring/counting everything you eat. I have been tracking on MFP for over 18 months and maintaining my weight loss for nearly a year. One thing I have found difficult is letting go of the safety net of tracking. I'm fine with continuing to calorie count, but I have found that I don't cope too well with days where I can't track for some reason. I find it harder to eat moderately then, and I wish I'd spent more time while I was losing weight learning how to be more relaxed about the tracking. Not everybody experiences that, but it is something to bear in mind.

So, I think if you have an "off" day where you don't worry about what you're eating, and don't worry about counting everything, but you don't go overboard, and still eat relatively well (fairly nutritionally balanced, not eating huge portions etc) then it could be a good thing. It could help you learn how to eat well for the rest of your life. If you are generally very strict with your intake and then have an "off" day each week where you just mindlessly eat huge amounts of food, just because you can, then you could risk ruining your progress, as well as potentially develop an unhealthier relationship with food.

I have a "free meal" on saturdays or sundays. I can perfectly not have it, is depends on my mood.

I believe that eating stuff you really like every once in a while, even when they are not the healthiest choices, not only keeps you sane, but helps you to really create a healthy eating habit. Knowing that you can have a huge burger today and tomorrow continue eating healthy is, for me, the best to know that my lifestyle and eating habits have really changed.

Nope. No off days for this gal. If I want something, I eat it. I just track it and move on. For example, I had a burger and fries on Friday night. I journaled it and moved on. Taking "off days", in my experience, just leads to more "off days" until the "off days" out-number the "on days." It's just a slippery slope for me. Also, "on program" doesn't mean that you can't ever have the things you love. You just have to plan for them!

I sure enough do allow a somewhat off day! You kind of have to. However, I have noticed that since I have been doing this for almost a year now, the off days are far and few between. Water makes a world of difference, and so does working out!

Congrats on your 3 pounds! Good luck!

Instead of having an off day, why not just eat what you want and stay in your calorie range? You can eat junk and still keep a deficit.
You're treating your 'diet' like a punishment by using off days as a reward.
You can still be satisfied while losing weight.

Instead of having an off day, why not just eat what you want and stay in your calorie range? You can eat junk and still keep a deficit.
You're treating your 'diet' like a punishment by using off days as a reward.
You can still be satisfied while losing weight.

I didn't see it as a punishment. It was just that my TDEE was so low due to a desk job and sedentary lifestyle, that I had to plan my nutrition carefully so that I wouldn't feel just starved at the end of the day. Something as simple as two slices of whole wheat bread could blow my macros and calories for the whole day.

I take days off (rest days) from exercising but I try to maintain my calorie goal on a daily basis.

I've been on and off the wagon a few times over the last couple of years, always fluctuating within 10 pounds. I found that hitting it hard constantly for a few months works in the short term, but after a while I get bored and then I fall of the wagon one day and then I just get in a slump.

I have realized it has to be less about weight loss on the brain and more about a lifestyle change. Like everyone else said, don't deprive yourself because you end up binging...better to indulge (not over indulge) a little when you crave something (this doensn't mean eating a brownie every days (which is my weakness).

Everything in moderation. Even exercising for me, if I do it hardcore 6 days a week, eventually it gets boring or I miss a day here and then it's easier to miss another day. INstead, I'm now choosing 3-4 days a week, and not in a row to do 60 minutes, and then I try to make sure I take walks or a light 10 minute cardio routine if I want on the other days. Bike riding or yoga also work.

In the early stages, I would not suggest off days since you are still trying to re-build good habits. Once you have a few solid months in and your new food routine has become habit, I think an off day is okay.

Personally, now that I have been at this for a quite some time, if i go crazy on my off days- I FEEL TERRIBLE for the next two days. After experiencing this a few times (with gut wrenching pain), my cheat days are moderate simply becuase I know how painful the consequences can be.