Don't call it a cheat day
BoxerBrawler
Posts: 2,032 Member
Don't call it a cheat day! To me, the concept of a "cheat day" implies a dieting mentality and we are not on diets right? This is a long term lifestyle change right? We want to get smart about the way we eat, think about and look at our food choices and portion size right? 
I prefer to call it a "Treat day".
Just sayin... :happy:
I prefer to call it a "Treat day".
Just sayin... :happy:
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Replies
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Agreed...
For me, "cheating" is sometimes logging any extra snacks into the next day so I stay within my calorie goal. I just hate the red numbers.
(Though on special days like today I let it go...)0 -
I have to agree with this.
I shouldn't have to feel guilty for living a little and enjoying some foods.0 -
Call it what you want, it doesn't matter. That still doesn't take away the fact that you certainly are on a very low calorie diet.Don't call it a cheat day! To me, the concept of a "cheat day" implies a dieting mentality and we are not on diets right? This is a long term lifestyle change right? We want to get smart about the way we eat, think about and look at our food choices and portion size right?
I prefer to call it a "Treat day".
Just sayin... :happy:0 -
treat days are fine, as long as not everyday is a treat day... it´s always about measuring...0
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Agreed. I'm gonna go have a treat right now!0
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i want to loss 8kg in three months any good suggestion0
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Technically, a diet is the kind of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats. I am on a 1,490 calorie diet, others are on a 1,800 cal diet, a 1,300 cal diet, etc. Some are on an eat-whatever-the-hell-I-want diet.
I never understood the cheat day concept, though. The deficit for the week is what is important. So people who still want to reach their weekly deficit and have a "cheat" day will need to make up for it by eating less on another day. Unless they don't mind a smaller weekly deficit than planned.0 -
My diary is a contract with myself. If I go over, I cheat... period. I don't care how you call it, stop judging the way *I* call it.
If I didn't feel that eating 1000 calories over my TDEE was cheating, I don't think I'd ever be able to stick to this lifestyle long term. Believe it or not, it does help to see overeating as a negative thing.
Also, technically... what we eat is our diet. Whether it's low calories or not.0 -
I never understood the cheat day concept, though. The deficit for the week is what is important. So people who still want to reach their weekly deficit and have a "cheat" day will need to make up for it by eating less on another day. Unless they don't mind a smaller weekly deficit than planned.
Just speaking from my own experience (which is different than many since I started so big and need to sustain a very long term deficit) I don't focus on a daily or even weekly deficit. It is all about the long term for me.
A "cheat day" (and if you hate the term fine, I don't like it either cuz it is inherently negative) allows me to take a mental break from a caloric deficit. I am not even going to touch on the physiological aspect because I don't understand it fully yet - but psychologically it is 100% useful for me.
In another thread someone challenged me that cheat days are a hindrance no matter how I use them (just by their calorie dense nature). For me - who has tried this many times - having a night every two months or so where I can get my rockstar on, don't log **** and don't let it bother me has been key to me being able to sustain this long term.
At the end of the day I do what works for me to sustain a long term deficit. Days, weeks...even months aren't that important in the long run...at least in my particular situation.0 -
Yes... thank you for the reminder and for the record, yes, I know I am on too few calories. I am in the process of changing this now but... baby steps ok? 0
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I agree treats are better than cheats.
Because you can have treats without going over TDEE...by even a little.
I did last night...chocolate bar, chocolate covered almonds and McDonalds...and hit my protien...Yah.
Didn't go over my TDEE...
Eating an over abundance of food for one day or one meal is unhealthy imho...displays a poor relationship with food and indicates this isn't a lifestyle change but rather a "diet" in the negative sense. (unless you are bulking of course which is a totally different scenario)0 -
I never understood the cheat day concept, though. The deficit for the week is what is important. So people who still want to reach their weekly deficit and have a "cheat" day will need to make up for it by eating less on another day. Unless they don't mind a smaller weekly deficit than planned.
Just speaking from my own experience (which is different than many since I started so big and need to sustain a very long term deficit) I don't focus on a daily or even weekly deficit. It is all about the long term for me.
A "cheat day" (and if you hate the term fine, I don't like it either cuz it is inherently negative) allows me to take a mental break from a caloric deficit. I am not even going to touch on the physiological aspect because I don't understand it fully yet - but psychologically it is 100% useful for me.
In another thread someone challenged me that cheat days are a hindrance no matter how I use them (just by their calorie dense nature). For me - who has tried this many times - having a night every two months or so where I can get my rockstar on, don't log **** and don't let it bother me has been key to me being able to sustain this long term.
At the end of the day I do what works for me to sustain a long term deficit. Days, weeks...even months aren't that important in the long run...at least in my particular situation.
And I completely agree that not counting on occasion can be the only thing that keeps one on target in the long run.
I guess my issue is some people consider a cheat day necessary and beneficial for everyone. If someone has bingeing tendencies as I do, a cheat day can be detrimental in the long run.
It is also funny to me when someone has a cheat day, because it is what you are "supposed" to do to stay on track, but are then upset when they didn't lose what they thought they should that week. You may not count the calories you consume on that day, but your body certainly does.0 -
Okay, okay.... chill... To those who feel like I am being judgemental about what you call it please know that is not my intention. I just made this post to lighten things up and be positive. It's just my own personal feeling on it. It is meant to be lighthearted and fun so please watch those stress levels We don't need to get into the technical terms and specific discussion about calories in and out do we? jeez... :laugh: 0
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Agree0
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I eat clean and a cheat meal just means having something which is not clean like wine. Apart from that I agree with you.0
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And I completely agree that not counting on occasion can be the only thing that keeps one on target in the long run.
I guess my issue is some people consider a cheat day necessary and beneficial for everyone. If someone has bingeing tendencies as I do, a cheat day can be detrimental in the long run.
It is also funny to me when someone has a cheat day, because it is what you are "supposed" to do to stay on track, but are then upset when they didn't lose what they thought they should that week. You may not count the calories you consume on that day, but your body certainly does.
Sorry I should have mentioned that! I agree 100% that for some people cheat meals are the start of a slippery slope and can trigger binge eating. This is def an area a person has to make a personal call and be honest on how it effects them :flowerforyou:Okay, okay.... chill... To those who feel like I am being judgemental about what you call it please know that is not my intention. I just made this post to lighten things up and be positive. It's just my own personal feeling on it. It is meant to be lighthearted and fun so please watch those stress levels We don't need to get into the technical terms and specific discussion about calories in and out do we? jeez... :laugh:
I actually agree with you that "cheat day" is a bad term...but at the end of the day it is just a name. I don't like it because it implies something negative, and for some people that can trigger binges because it makes them feel bad about what they are doing.0 -
Well said.My diary is a contract with myself. If I go over, I cheat... period. I don't care how you call it, stop judging the way *I* call it.
If I didn't feel that eating 1000 calories over my TDEE was cheating, I don't think I'd ever be able to stick to this lifestyle long term. Believe it or not, it does help to see overeating as a negative thing.
Also, technically... what we eat is our diet. Whether it's low calories or not.0 -
Yeah that's how I feel too, it just sounds negative and can be a slippery slope. One cheat day can turn into two then three and it's too easy to justify why a person can or should have a cheat. If it's a treat... it just makes it special and more like a once in a while thing
Again... just my own personal (meant to be whimsical) thoughts on it.0 -
Yes but what matters is not how you call it... it's how you deal with it.
Arguing over semantics is pointless (and why am I even posting this LOL).0 -
Meh...semantics. Shrug. :ohwell:0
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In another thread someone challenged me that cheat days are a hindrance no matter how I use them (just by their calorie dense nature). For me - who has tried this many times - having a night every two months or so where I can get my rockstar on, don't log **** and don't let it bother me has been key to me being able to sustain this long term.
At the end of the day I do what works for me to sustain a long term deficit. Days, weeks...even months aren't that important in the long run...at least in my particular situation.
This is my "key" this time around. Every time I've "restarted" this I've upped my calories. It is so much easier to sustain this way, and I'm happier. I know I need to give myself a year to reach my goal, and so I keep trying to look forward. There are some days I just don't count, or I just know I'm going over, but I get back on track the next day.0 -
Someone has a lot of time on their hands today.....0
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I much prefer the sound of treat day drooling at the thought of it lol 0
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Yes!
One of the greatest gifts I've ever given myself was to finally, finally get to the point where I've ceased looking at food choices through a prism of morality.
I own everything that I put in my mouth. None of it makes me feel "guilty" or like I'm "cheating". Considering how much guilt and shame I use to associate with food on a daily basis, this is enormous. And so damn liberating.0 -
Absolutely Correct. That "dieting" mentality and "cheat" meal is what keeps the yoyo weight, health going. It is definitely a lifestyle change that makes this process a success. For me I tell myself I have to "BURN to EARN" If I want something "special" that day, I better make room for those calories. LOL!!!0
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Okay, okay.... chill... To those who feel like I am being judgemental about what you call it please know that is not my intention. I just made this post to lighten things up and be positive. It's just my own personal feeling on it. It is meant to be lighthearted and fun so please watch those stress levels We don't need to get into the technical terms and specific discussion about calories in and out do we? jeez... :laugh:
I totally get what you were saying. Saying treat day does sound better than a cheat day.:drinker:0 -
Agreed. I also think the concept of binging or treating for an entire day is a bad one. Make it a treat snack or a treat meal.0
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I don't do "cheat" days, but I do do "IIFYM" days, which feels like a treat day to me.0
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Agreed, I don't do cheat days either. I also don't log my exercise, giving myself a "reward" of more calories for exercise is counterproductive for me. That being said, when I go over on my 1450 Calorie suggested intake, I don't stress about it, I log it, and get over it. I do believe it's important to incorporate your favorite foods into your day or week without considering them "cheats" or "guilty pleasures"0
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To me a cheat day is when you don't record everything you eat. My contract with myself is to record food and exercise as accurately as possible. If I go over (or under) my calorie goal for that day I try to learn from that. It's kind of like taking my temperature, if it's too far over or under I need to pay attention and adjust things0
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