Cheat Day, How Far Do You Go?

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  • Camish911
    Camish911 Posts: 150 Member
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    I've had days where I eat 2,200-2,400 calories but I usually more than make up for it with exercise.
  • oddyogi
    oddyogi Posts: 1,816 Member
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    Ever watch Man Vs. Food? YEEEEEEAAAAHHHH
  • Mav3rick54
    Mav3rick54 Posts: 180 Member
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    On cheat days, I typically eat between 3,000 and 4,000 calories. One day per week. I purposely keep my calories low the other 6 days (1,200-1,500), so that I can eat what I really want on my cheat days and still be under my weekly calorie goal. I've lost 31 pounds with this method.

    ^^ This is what I do as well. See ticker for pounds lost using this method.
  • R_Calvillo
    R_Calvillo Posts: 177 Member
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    On cheat days, I typically eat between 3,000 and 4,000 calories. One day per week. I purposely keep my calories low the other 6 days (1,200-1,500), so that I can eat what I really want on my cheat days and still be under my weekly calorie goal. I've lost 31 pounds with this method.

    This goes for me too.
  • ChrysalisCove
    ChrysalisCove Posts: 975 Member
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    Never higher than my TDEE, even on a total splurge day like my son's bday - but honestly eating at TDEE-20% is hard for me... I'm accustomed to far less! My struggle is less about portion control & more about a previously sedentary lifestyle (back injury) + skipping meals + eating out a LOT.

    ETA: I have also found that, for me, going back to normal after too extreme of a cheat is VERY difficult!
  • Toxyc
    Toxyc Posts: 36 Member
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    I usually only go to around 2,000 calories on my cheat days. I don't like going too crazy as it'll just make me feel bad afterwards.
  • ekztawas
    ekztawas Posts: 114 Member
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    I don't really do cheat days, not because I don't see results from them but because it is so difficult for me mentally. It's very hard for me to return back to a normal calorie intake after a cheat day. A cheat day has turned into a cheat week and it really effects my mood. Instead I allow myself a treat here and there throughout the week. That's what's worked for me, though. :)
  • Mrsallypants
    Mrsallypants Posts: 887 Member
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    I could probably eat 4,000 calories on a cheat day (especially eating at a restaurant or pizza). Maintenance is about 2,300 calories, so I would gain half a pound of fat on a cheat day.

    At a 500 calorie-a-day deficit diet, it would take 3.4 days of dieting to burn off one cheat day. It seems counter intuitive to have a weekly cheat day, maybe only eat maintenance calories once a week and have a bona fide cheat day every 3 to 4 weeks. Maybe a "cheat meal" once a week, but not overdoing it and blowing 3,000 calories in one meal.

    One cheat day a week would reduce my weekly calorie deficit from 3,500 calories (one pound of fat per week) to 1,300 calories (1/3 pound of fat per week).
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
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    I eat whatever I want. It's about moderation not deprivation, so personally, I don't ever need a cheat meal/day.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
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    Often hit 4000+ calories.
    BUT that's on my leangains 'cut' workout days - 2400 calories (which is still below TDEE in reality) cardio + exercise calories.
    So it's more a case of a 'IIFYM' rather than 'cheat'.
  • robeff
    robeff Posts: 15 Member
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    I didn't allow myself many cheat days until I'd lost around 50-60lb, probably just a couple times a month. Now I'll do a cheat meal, not a day. It's too frustrating to put in all the work then blow the margin just for 1 day IMO.

    Anyway I'll usually do like, a bacon cheeseburger with fries and some bourbon old fashioneds.. probably like 1000-1200 calories over normal for the day. Fries and bourbon are my kryptonite :)

    In general I try to maintain a diet of things I don't totally hate so I'm not miserable all the time which makes me go nuts on cheat meals. I did the occasional lowcal day though just to mix things up. It's not a bad plan, veggie stirfry with lots of garlic/onion can be good.. mushrooms for a lowcal meat substitute.. sauteed in soy sauce. Really low cal meal.
  • Annalisa_87
    Annalisa_87 Posts: 56 Member
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    I have one cheat day a week, usually a saturday and I up my calories by 500, so usually that's a couple pieces of pizza and an ice-cream or something :)
  • linds5456
    linds5456 Posts: 1
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    on my cheat day its usually a Sunday, I can eat whatever I want and not feel guilty, that's not the problem. My problem is not being able to recover after a cheat day. I find myself not being able to get back on track for the next few days.Does anyone else feel like this?
  • beachylove
    beachylove Posts: 137 Member
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    I still try to keep mine within reason, i think my highest ever on a cheat day was 2400 (we were in Reno so beverages are what killed me) however for most I try to stay around my 1200 net but allow myself to have something like Pizza and maybe a beer.
    I try to still keep my total calories low and only have one meal that is outside my normal.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
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    Oh and I should note that I've been using the excuse of having a friend's dog here too (as well as my own, who plays ball in my yard fine for exercise) as an excuse to do a run every day - 450-1000 calories a day extra burnt, which earns me some cake and so on :).
  • corgarian
    corgarian Posts: 366 Member
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    I personally dont allow myself a cheat DAY, I just dont want to confuse my body, I'm not on a diet I'm trying to make a lifestyle change. But I do allow myself a cheat MEAL. I have mine on sundays, and it always feels perfect, I never feel deprived, and I never feel guilty.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
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    'Confusing the body' is often considered a good thing for healthy/fitness for various reasons.

    It's thought that if your BMR has been reducing because your body is getting used to lower calories, a higher calorie day can help.
  • corgarian
    corgarian Posts: 366 Member
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    'Confusing the body' is often considered a good thing for healthy/fitness for various reasons.

    It's thought that if your BMR has been reducing because your body is getting used to lower calories, a higher calorie day can help.
    yes but again I'm not trying to teach myself that I'm "dieting" I'm trying to adopt a new lifestyle and the way I see food. I dont want my brain to think of a cheat day as the happy day with food. It's all good and happy!
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
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    Well I try to stay under my TDEE, or otherwise to limit the damage. My worst has been 3200... Usually I try to keep it under 2500 (my TDEE is 2000 or so).
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
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    I go ALL the way. Seriously, as much as I can eat. Every now and then having a very full tummy feels good.

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