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!