Pig Out Days?

Heck yeah. I pick one day of the week (usually Friday, Saturday, or Sunday) and eat what I want.

I don't like the idea that eating certain foods are bad or that I am living a life where I NEED to cheat. I wouldn't stay in a marriage where I felt the need or desire to cheat, so why on earth would I stick with an eating plan that requires it?

I just started a new lifestyle change and from past experiences, if I have one cheat meal I end up eating more than I expected to. So, for me I try to stick with my vegan foods only. I don't have enough strength to stop at one candy bar... yet !

I had my first cheat day last weekend and I pretty much regret it. Mainly because when I checked my nutrition for the week I was over my net calories. I have no problem with being over one day and it evening out by the end of the week because that means I'm still within my 7000 calorie deficit to lose approx. 2 lbs/week. If I start eating into that 7000 calories deficit (literally) then I am not going to be on track to lose 2 lbs that week. It just makes me feel like I wasted all the hard work the other 6 days of the week to blow it in 1 day! Next time I may have a cheat meal or a cheat day but still keep it within reason to stay under my net cals for the week. Or maybe just plan better earlier in the week to have extra cals each day so by the time I get my cheat day I have a god bit of wiggle room. Hope all of that made sense

Thread from 2011 and user has deactivated

You can have a cheat day once a week. Don't pig out though. I'd still stay under whatever calorie guide lines you need to still lose weight. What you'd probably want to do is just switch up the kind of foods that you're eating.

But be very very careful of rewarding yourself with food.

I can think of 2 things to consider when making your decision to have a pig out day, and what a pig out day means to you.

#1 Mental / Emotional


For some people, having a cheat day could be seen as just that: cheating. An abomination, letting yourself down, giving up on your goal, or being weak. I'm not sure how many people think this way, but I used to. There would be some holiday or party and I'd just go to town on whatever fantastic tasting thing my relatives were trying to make me eat as if THEIR lives depended on it. No structure, no control, just "okay, not on my diet right now." This would invariably lead to be being off my diet for a few more days and in some cases ended it altogether.

Now, I think part of the reason I couldn't stick with my diet is because I would feel like I was giving everything up. I would have great results from diet and exercise, but I would get 'burned out" My smart brain knows the feeling of fasting won't last forever, but my hungry brain really wants pasta.


#2 Actually Purposefully Allowing Yourself to Gain Weight

In my latest venture down healthy lifestyle lane, I decided that I wouldn't allow myself any cheat days...only "MAINTAIN DAYS." I went into the MFP settings (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided) and changed my goal from "Lose 2 pounds per week" to "Maintain my current weight." BOOM Now I have 1000 more calories OR roughly 9 ounces of potato chips. NOM On at least 3 of these 'maintain days' I've exercised as well giving me 1500 more ways to "responsibly" eat the foods I love.

It's amazing how great it feels to feel like your 'pigging out' but are actually just pausing. Not gaining any more calories. Not taking a break from looking at what you eat (by still logging everything). You don't have to give up everything you like all the time, just plan for it.

Another reason I like this approach is because it makes me think of the future: Hey, when I'm at a healthy weight, I'm going to have my goal set as "Maintain my current weight" for the rest of my life.