CHEAT DAY ADVICE NEEDED

AliceRoseHooperAC
AliceRoseHooperAC Posts: 58
in Health and Weight Loss
okay so this is my general plan:

mon - rest day (1200kcal)
tues - 35mins cardio (1200kcal)
wed - 35mins cardio (1200kcal)
thurs - rest and CHEAT day! (around 2500kcal)
fri - 35mins cardio + 25mins strength (1200kcal)
sat - 35mins cardio
sun - 25mins strength

I'm just asking for advice to see if having a cheat day with 25000kcal is okay, or will it stunt my weight loss?

any advice is welcome. thanks y'all

Replies

  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    I don't know your stats or goal...
    But a lb is roughly 3500 cals. So if you have a weekly deficit of 3500 cals you would roughly lose 1lb a week.

    So your intake would be 9700cals a week with that setup. IMO like that it seems low it's only 1385 cals a day. You do a whole lot of cardio...
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Without stats there are just too many variables to comment on the calories, however, I would do more strength training that 25 minutes twice a week.

    Rigger
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Eating that little and all that cardio.. sure you have the calories to spare.. but just remember your scale will jump after that cheat day.. so ya know.. expect an increase for a few days after it... And also make sure you don't go over board on the weekend.. cause 1 cheat day during the week followed by Sat + Sun high calories means your deficit is gone.
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    I'm not a big fan of cheat days, seems like they lead to cheat weeks. If you want to add 1300 cal to your weekly budget you could spread it evenly across the week and have more to eat every day--and maybe not feel the need for a cheat day.
  • delicious_cocktail
    delicious_cocktail Posts: 5,797 Member
    Just be safe.
  • AliceRoseHooperAC
    AliceRoseHooperAC Posts: 58
    ohh sorry guys i completely forgot to include some stats.

    CW: 140lbs
    height: 5'6.5"

    GW:125lbs
  • handyrunner
    handyrunner Posts: 32,662 Member
    is it a cheat day or a cheat meal? a cheat day may make it to easy to binge. but otherwise i think they are a great motivation.. I have one cheat non paleo day a week. but as one poster said be prepared for a small jump the next day.
  • wyattj99
    wyattj99 Posts: 454 Member
    I lost about 60 lbs before joining and now losing my last 10. Ever since the beginning of my new lifestyle change I always had a cheat meal, not a whole day but a meal. It worked for me cause if I didn't have a cheat meal I would be failing, also if I wanted a cookie I'm gonna eat it, not over do it but bad foods in moderation is healthy so you don't fail!
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    ohh sorry guys i completely forgot to include some stats.

    CW: 140lbs
    height: 5'6.5"

    GW:125lbs

    Put your infos in there and see what it pop you... Pretty sure your numbers as of now are too low for you

    http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Personally I'd rather just have a more modest calorie deficit than the cheat day...I'd rather eat in the neighborhood of 1400-1500 calories per day than stick to 1200 all week except 2500 on a single day...the outcome would be the same over the course of 7 days.
  • tessmca
    tessmca Posts: 27 Member
    Your progress will tell you soon enough depends on what you are eating for the cheat day.

    I found it better to have a cheat meal, still have it Monday is my bun day lol
    Its an iced chelsa bun thick with icing, I LOVE it and look forward to it.
    Found when I had cheat days I ate too much or would drink too much alcohol (which then does all sorts of nasty things to your weight loss for the next 24 hours)
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I'm just asking for advice to see if having a cheat day with 25000kcal is okay, or will it stunt my weight loss?

    any advice is welcome. thanks y'all

    What are your general goals, and what is MFP suggesting as your daily goal?

    As you're planning to include a high intake day in your programme, it would be useful if you could say why. I'd assume that you're acknowledging that 1200 cals per day is a pretty miserable existence.
  • delicious_cocktail
    delicious_cocktail Posts: 5,797 Member
    As long as you have a net deficit you can pretty much do what you want.

    But setting yourself up to binge and restrict might oscillate out of your control. Something a bit more moderate, sustained, and sustainable might better suit you.
  • kickivale
    kickivale Posts: 260 Member
    You and I have very similar start weights and goal weights…and height matter of fact!
    I net about 1350 cals per day, give or take 100 over/under. But I always have calls left over at week's end.
    I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week, solely depending on if I have a "party night" and I'm in need of a recuperation the day after…
    Since September 2013 I have dropped 12 lbs, so right on target with the lb a week.

    Subjective opinion is coming now :)
    I think you will see the results you are looking for with your numbers, but I sort of agree that sometimes high calorie cheat days can lead to more than just a DAY. It depends on your willpower! I know that if I have a day with soda, pizza, brownies, chips, etc I feel disappointed and I almost feel like I shouldn't have done that at all. If I throw in a candy bar or a milkshake or a bag of cheetos on a random evening, I just walk a little extra or I have a smaller portion of carbs in one of my meals. I am too compulsive to have a whole day of "whatever food I crave"

    Best of luck! You look fantastic already in your pic by the way
  • sillyvalentine
    sillyvalentine Posts: 460 Member
    1200 calories is too low.

    Start with 1500 a day and cheat once a month or after you've lost some weight and you feel that you deserve it.
  • Sreneesa
    Sreneesa Posts: 1,170 Member
    I personally wouldn't make it that complicated.

    If you want to eat a meal then eat the meal. Do it in moderation.

    For example, I went over my calories yesterday by a few hundred. Didn't affect me as I never really do that.

    Last week went over my calories by drinking several glasses of wine. Didn't affect me, matter of fact lost weight, due to the fact I do not do it often.

    Also that same week I went and had 1600 calorie huge double burger(farmer's market) with bacon, avocado, cheese oozing from both patties,, huge burger, lolol,,French fries, ranch,,, oh so goooooddddd... and I still lost weight. I do not do it that often. This after my night of drinking several glasses of wine. lol

    If this is a lifestyle change, I believe thinking in ways that limit yourself and thinking things like "cheat day" seems way too complicated and like a diet.

    But then again got to do what's best for you. I mean Ill eat McDonald's at times just to come close to filling macros and do fine.

    However, I will say I eat mostly nutritionally dense foods because I like it so its not that difficult for me.

    I believe allowing yourself a few meals a week that you truly enjoy isn't going to hurt you or affect your progress.

    I will say that I'm doing mostly strength training with weights and cut down on cardio ALOT(maybe 1 or 2 sessions the last few weeks). Digging how it seems to make my weight come off quicker so far. lol

    But everyone is different so got to play around and see what's best for your body and goals.

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