Do you have a "cheat day"?

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Replies

  • mccallp319
    mccallp319 Posts: 52 Member
    I lost weight regularly even with cheating on the weekends until I was about 60 lbs down. After that I hit a plateau that I couldn't get past for about 6 months until I decided to cut out my cheat days.
  • 12bfree
    12bfree Posts: 67 Member
    I've never really understood the concept of a cheat day. Especially if a person is trying to loose weight. However, I can see having a reward day as a positive experience. For example, If all goes well, I'll hit a personal milestone next Friday. I plan to celebrate by going out for a nice dinner and a bottle of wine (maybe two). However, I'll document it and move on towards my goal. On the other hand if a person incorporates regular "cheat days" into their weight loss program, I believe they could be setting themselves up for disappointment.
  • Lifelink
    Lifelink Posts: 193 Member
    On the other hand if a person incorporates regular "cheat days" into their weight loss program, I believe they could be setting themselves up for disappointment.

    I can't hear you over all the cheat days I've had over the past year.
  • sgomez1214
    sgomez1214 Posts: 2 Member
    We don't have a cheat day but we don't deprive ourselves of anything we like either. I love love love pizza and instead of having some of the other options, we make pizza at home. And if we are going out to eat and we know that it will require us to use a lot of calories, we make sure to work out either before or after so that we don't have go over our calories too much. We log everything (whether it is a 'cheat' meal or not) and if we make a bad choice somewhere during the day, we know what to do. But definitely having cheat meals is easier to control then having a complete cheat day.
  • Wetcoaster
    Wetcoaster Posts: 1,788 Member
    On the other hand if a person incorporates regular "cheat days" into their weight loss program, I believe they could be setting themselves up for disappointment.

    I can't hear you over all the cheat days I've had over the past year.

    +1

    I eat like how I plan on eating for the rest of my life.
  • 12bfree
    12bfree Posts: 67 Member
    On the other hand if a person incorporates regular "cheat days" into their weight loss program, I believe they could be setting themselves up for disappointment.

    I can't hear you over all the cheat days I've had over the past year.

    What exactly do you consider cheating? If a person is achieving their goals where does the "cheat" part come into play? A person can only do one of three things, gain weight, loose weight, or maintain weight.
  • jimwon953
    jimwon953 Posts: 20 Member
    No.

    Even when I'm eating with my family or friends I take the healthiest option available and if there isn't one, I just take half a portion.

    Most of the calorie jumps in my diary are alcohol related or induced - as in, 'I got drunk yesterday and today I am eating like a horse because I'm hanging'. I try to avoid social occasions that involve alcohol because one drink always leads to more, which leads to fried chicken on the way home.

    Next blip in my diary will be on the 2nd May when I'm going out for drinks to celebrate my birthday.
  • ChristineRoze
    ChristineRoze Posts: 212 Member
    I just started but i don't think i will have a cheat day, I have a bit of an addicted for fast food and generally if i have it once i will keep eating it :P.. Same goes for chocolate, i just don't know how to say no so i want to cut it out of my diet completely
  • Ezzmie
    Ezzmie Posts: 41 Member
    I would change the language that you use - don't think of it as a cheat as that implies you falling off the bandwagon, think of it as a treat and rather than a day I would do a meal/snack - for me it would be chocolate or even chips sometimes (count out a portion and put the rest away). Don't deprive yourself - this is a lifestyle change it's about being healthy. Keep tracking and you will get to your goal.
  • as124
    as124 Posts: 27
    Cheat meal once a week, cheat days where I don't even log on holidays. But I fit any foods I'm craving into my calories for the day, especially chocolate. And if I'm really craving something I just take one bite.
  • rayofsunshine2368
    rayofsunshine2368 Posts: 108 Member
    Yes we are on the same page about the eat up day. It resets your hormones so you can loose more weight
  • BlueberryWatermelon
    BlueberryWatermelon Posts: 73 Member
    Occasionally I have days where I eat above my calorie goal (if I'm going out for dinner or drinks, etc) but I log everything and try to stay under maintenance. I'm afraid that if I gave myself a total cheat day without logging, I would completely fall off the wagon.
  • thriftdiving
    thriftdiving Posts: 11 Member
    I haven't gotten that far along in my progress to have a "cheat" day. Plus, I don't believe in restricting the type of food I eat anyhow. I just eat it when I want, but in much smaller portions (think one slide of pizza versus three).
  • nursecj13
    nursecj13 Posts: 3 Member
    Cheat days I have heard it great for every date. Now for me I try not to cheat because my fear I cheat one day I might cheat again and start eating the bad foods again. I will not let myself get beaten for not eating what I want to eat. I portion the size and make sure it’s in my calories for the day. I also learned how to swipe, for example, if I am craving sugar I will not head to the candy jar I will grab a fruit. In time I have learn to listen to my body and figure it wanting the natural sugar that are in fruits. The craving of sugar seem to vanish.
  • talpilon
    talpilon Posts: 25 Member
    My fiance and I usually have a cheat day every few weeks. It helps to have something to look forward to. And it kind of shocks your system a bit. I find that because of having cheat days every once in a while, it's kept me going on this lifestyle change and not discouraged me.
  • Ivana_KillerBody
    Ivana_KillerBody Posts: 56
    Yes, and according to the 4Hr Body (book I'm following); it is actually good to do cheat day once a week to boost your metabolism so it doesn't go into hybernation mode. You will notice it takes about 2-3 days to drop to the pre-cheat day weight, but then it's downwards significantly again. . .
  • djslickrix
    djslickrix Posts: 35
    I had one today, I'm supposed to have it tomorrow but I had it early.

    I usually have a cheat day once a week.
  • brenannn
    brenannn Posts: 19
    It seems that every day is an unintentional cheat day for me :P
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    No
  • MissBellaBaby
    MissBellaBaby Posts: 6
    Tonight Im going on a dinner date and my dinner is going to send me a bit over my cal intake BUT i also already worked out. I wouldnt have a cheat day of grubbing all kinds of food and worrying about my cal intake but for dinner i wont feel bad its just one meal. Ive heard someone say 1 bad meal doesnt do anything just like 1 workout doesnt either. Make sure ur working out how you should be and working out aswell. Make up for it thats what i plan to do. Anyways dont deprive yourself that really sucks!! But be strict with ur self ONE CHEAT MEAL A WEEK. You'll be fine! Promise.
  • eslcity
    eslcity Posts: 323 Member
    Like one person said already... I normally just have a cheat meal.. not a whole cheat day... it usually happens on Saturday.. because it is date night with the family... but we also incoprate a long walk in the park or outside shopping mall..

    Also when i know i'm going eat more then usually.. i also put in an early morning walk before the family wakes up... and late evening walk... before bed.
  • Noogynoogs
    Noogynoogs Posts: 1,028 Member
    Everyday ll
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    I am having one today. I haven't had one in several weeks, and since I am experiencing full body DOMS and having difficulty moving, it seems like a good day for one.
  • MissBellaBaby
    MissBellaBaby Posts: 6
    Would this be a whole day of eating crazy or just 1 meal??
  • MissBellaBaby
    MissBellaBaby Posts: 6
    Yes, and according to the 4Hr Body (book I'm following); it is actually good to do cheat day once a week to boost your metabolism so it doesn't go into hybernation mode. You will notice it takes about 2-3 days to drop to the pre-cheat day weight, but then it's downwards significantly again. . .
    Would this be a whole days worth or just 1 meal??
  • Bjamino
    Bjamino Posts: 51 Member
    I have today but it has been within some sort of an acceptable reason. As long as you don't make it a frequent thing it's ok, not done me any harm at all :)
  • Rachywascakes
    Rachywascakes Posts: 14 Member
    I try not to think of anything as "cheating" or "bad". If I go out for dinner, I generally stick to two courses rather than three, but I won't miss out on a pudding! I try to make sure that I have been to the gym that day or go the following day so I can relax more about the calories.
  • CARNAT22
    CARNAT22 Posts: 764 Member
    I tend to live by 80/20.. (when I am on track - which I am clearly not at the moment !!)

    I'd be good 80% of the time, eat as clean as possible and try to limit carbs and avoid crap / alcohol BUT I'd go easy on myself for the odd meal.

    Based on the notion of 3 meals a day 80/20 would mean 3 meals a week you can be a bit more lenient with yourself. I used to have the odd cheat meal here and there.

    Currently I am still not in the right frame of mind to get back to things as I used to but I know that the odd cheat isn't going to undo everything - sometimes we actually need it.

    The trick is not to let a cheat meal become a cheat day and then a cheat week.

    I remember in 2011 I went away for a week and ate a meal / drank wine every night but as I swam loads, ate healthy in the daytime and drank lots of water I only gained 2lbs !!!

    Those were the days!
  • ritan7471
    ritan7471 Posts: 99 Member
    I'm starting over again but for me the problem is that a cheat meal turns into a cheat day turns into not logging at all.

    So this time, I decided that I can eat whatever I want on Friday night (sauna night) but I have to log EVERYTHING. I also made my diary public. I'm finding I can't eat as much as I plan to, but it does give me something to look forward to, ie. "I can eat that on Friday, I don't have to eat it now". Last Friday I couldn't eat all the chocolate I planned to, so I've put it away for next week. :)

    This time my husband is on board too, or at least willing to eat whatever meals I cook. I think he always was, but now one of his friends is losing weight and he's feeling motivated too.
  • tjohnoconnor
    tjohnoconnor Posts: 58 Member
    I have one cheat meal a week where I might go as high as 500 calories over on that meal. I do rest for one day a week from exercise

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