Do people really have "cheat days"?

cdickens13
cdickens13 Posts: 11 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I have a goal of losing 40 pounds. I am not on a diet, I have a lifestlye change. I have heard people say they have "cheat days". I do not exactly understand this tactic. I get that people use it so they dont eat bad on all week. I am struggling to stay on my allotted calories per day but I feel that a cheat day would completely derail me from my lifestyle change.

Opinions?
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Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I don't do cheat days or meals.

    I log it all and stay as close to goal as possible.

    If I want pizza I fit it in, if I want a beer I fit it in.
  • LaneB89
    LaneB89 Posts: 93 Member
    It's a personal thing. If you feel it would derail you from your lifestyle change, don't do it. If you can make it happen and still hit your desired weight loss, go nuts.
  • Annesoucy1957
    Annesoucy1957 Posts: 125
    No need to do a cheat day if it would derail your weight loss. I dont have one since I feel that allowing myself to eat the food that put me where I am now makes no sense to me.
  • Clarehc
    Clarehc Posts: 15 Member
    I don't, I eat treats daily tbh but within my calorie limit. I exercise to earn more cals and that gives me some leeway.
  • amgreenwell
    amgreenwell Posts: 1,267 Member
    I don't do cheat days or meals.

    I log it all and stay as close to goal as possible.

    If I want pizza I fit it in, if I want a beer I fit it in.

    Yes, this, and it works!!
  • MagicalGiraffe
    MagicalGiraffe Posts: 102 Member
    I had a whoooooole 12in pizza yesterday and it fit within my calorie limits. If I want to treat myself often I'll get some exercise in to give me a slightly bigger calorie allowance. The key is portion control, that way you don't deprive yourself of your favourite foods and you learn to appreciate them a lot more. Also helps deter you from the temptation of binging on them! I think portion control is the biggest and hardest thing people need to learn concerning weightloss.
  • kinkyslinky16
    kinkyslinky16 Posts: 1,469 Member
    I don't do cheat days or meals.

    I log it all and stay as close to goal as possible.

    If I want pizza I fit it in, if I want a beer I fit it in.

    Same for me. I don't have cheat days.
  • ninav1980
    ninav1980 Posts: 514 Member
    all about trial and error. I personally enjoy a cheat dinner every Saturday night. When I initialy started out, I had a cheat weekend. Clearly that did not work, so I switched it up to only a cheat day. Saw better results, but still not at the rate I wanted, so now I switched to a cheat meal which works great and still losing just fine.
  • Debbie043087
    Debbie043087 Posts: 3
    I have cheat days on Thursdays and Fridays (Husbands home). I try to eat within my calorie limit but if i go over a little bit I dont beat myself up. I think It helps me to not completely derail.
  • dantanjah
    dantanjah Posts: 100 Member
    I do not do cheat days or meals. This is a lifestyle and I cannot cheat my life. I log everything and if I eat more calories I add more exercise.
  • lolalament
    lolalament Posts: 73 Member
    I don't specifically say "I have a cheat day every Friday" or whatever. but I do have a very small number of days (about 1 a month on average, but so far it's been 2 this month and none last month, so it's dictated by circumstances) where logging is pretty much impossible, so I don't concentrate on that and just have healthier choices.
  • tedrickp
    tedrickp Posts: 1,229 Member
    So I have a goal of losing 40 pounds. I am not on a diet, I have a lifestlye change. I have heard people say they have "cheat days". I do not exactly understand this tactic. I get that people use it so they dont eat bad on all week. I am struggling to stay on my allotted calories per day but I feel that a cheat day would completely derail me from my lifestyle change.

    Opinions?

    Purely personal preference.

    Do whatever helps you best stay within a caloric deficit long term.

    For me personally - I can't fathom a life in which every single day I am counting my calories and sticking to them. So I don't. Once in awhile I just "have at er" (usually in a social/party situation) and then get back at it the next day. So far, so good.
  • kk_140
    kk_140 Posts: 518 Member
    I don't have a day each week that I say "oooh it's cheat day!" But I do tend to go over on Saturdays because my family normally goes out to lunch on Saturdays and I like to be able to order whatever I want. But I log it and try to stay as close to my goal as possible.
  • hoosiermom777
    hoosiermom777 Posts: 3
    Yes, there really are "cheat days," but be careful. I have mine on Sundays because I host a big family dinner every week on Sundays, but just be careful. Even on your cheat days to not go overboard. I seem to find that when you get in the habit of the so-called cheat days you will be more apt to cheat, more often. So my only advice is not to say "oh well, I will just use this as my cheat day" whenever you feel like it. Make yourself a set day to cheat.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    So I have a goal of losing 40 pounds. I am not on a diet, I have a lifestlye change. I have heard people say they have "cheat days". I do not exactly understand this tactic. I get that people use it so they dont eat bad on all week. I am struggling to stay on my allotted calories per day but I feel that a cheat day would completely derail me from my lifestyle change.

    Opinions?

    If you're not on a diet, then there's nothing to cheat on. Yes, some people do have what they call "cheat days" where they eat whatever they want, logging or not logging. I don't cheat or binge; I eat. I stay around 1650 Monday-Friday and eat about 2000-2200 on weekends. This averages out to about 1810 calories per day for the week, which is my TDEE - 10%. I eat burgers, pizza, frozen yogurt, Chinese, Mexican, fast food, you name it. I don't cook on weekends, so it's much easier sticking to 1650 on weekdays than it would be on weekends. I'm still losing weight. I don't call it cheating, though - it's just how my life has always been. I still log everything and make sure I stay under my weekly calorie goal. If it fits into my calories, it's fair game. Some people opt to fit "treats" into their daily goals, but that doesn't really work for me because I have no need/desire for eating out or snacking on high calorie sweets during the work week. I do have what I call a "fat weekend" or "*kitten* it weekend" once a month. I still log everything, but I'll end up way over my weekly goal. I usually see a small increase in weight the next week, which is mostly water, but it all evens out in the end. Still, it's not cheating. It's living.

    If you don't want to have a "cheat day", then don't! It's certainly not a requirement. But it won't derail your weight loss unless you're going over your weekly goal.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    I don't have cheat days. I eat as I please and work my calories into my limit for the day or week. I don't live in a box and neither will my calories.
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  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I don't have cheat days but I do pause my weight loss efforts from time to time and go into maintenance.
  • _KitKat_
    _KitKat_ Posts: 1,066 Member
    I don't do cheat days or meals.

    I log it all and stay as close to goal as possible.

    If I want pizza I fit it in, if I want a beer I fit it in.

    ^^^This is what I do also. I also watch my weekly. Meaning some days I come in under and the I know if I come in slightly over the next, it causes no harm. I never come near maintenance though.
  • sunnywendt
    sunnywendt Posts: 39
    I do not have cheat days, meals or snacks. If I would like to have something that does not fit into the healthy meal plan I am eating than I work it in. I only do this from time to time, but I work for it. If I would like a candy bar from time to time then I will do more physical activity on that day before having a sweet treat. I never eat the treat first and tell myself, "I will work it off later" because then later never comes. I only use it as a reward from time to time not every day.
    :smile: :wink:
  • systemlayers
    systemlayers Posts: 12
    Personally I cheat sometimes but recently if I have something I used to love (like a slice of pizza) afterwards I just feel really bad/sluggish. Whatever you do make sure it fits your caloric goals but if all you eat is 2000 calories of sugar don't expect to lose weight fast. Keep 95% healthy and save the other 5% for social obligations.
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    yes they do but the ones who use the cheat days really think of them as reefed days instead of "cheating". Most nutritionists and trainers will tell you its a good idea to add them in here and there. Just track no matter what
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    So I have a goal of losing 40 pounds. I am not on a diet, I have a lifestlye change. I have heard people say they have "cheat days". I do not exactly understand this tactic. I get that people use it so they dont eat bad on all week. I am struggling to stay on my allotted calories per day but I feel that a cheat day would completely derail me from my lifestyle change.

    Opinions?

    Some good advice is to stay on track no matter what in your first few months of eating at a deficit then when you feel confident enough to trust yourself on a reefed day, that is when you can do it. The first few weeks/months are your adjustment period.

    A quick note: if you are struggling now, try to add in more filling foods and tweek what you are eating now to add more vegies and fiber, etc. This will help you stay on track better and reduce the struggling
  • rebalee8
    rebalee8 Posts: 161 Member
    I don't have cheat days but I do pause my weight loss efforts from time to time and go into maintenance.

    I do this too, especially in the winter or over holidays or heavy travel times. It's just like, okay, I'm not going to worry about losing right now, I'm just going to hold on to what I've accomplished for a a couple weeks or a month (or two).
  • chaoticdreams
    chaoticdreams Posts: 447 Member
    I let myself have a treat on Saturday and usually one bad meal. Seems to be working out okay for me, so not really worried about it. During the week if something comes up, I'll work it in my calories, but on Saturday if I go over, I just go over.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    IMO, people who have "cheat days" pretty much haven't figured out this little thing called moderation and they still view various foods as "good" and "bad". They are generally wrapped up in the minutia of individual food items rather than being able to look at their diet as a whole.

    I always had a reasonable calorie deficit when I was losing weight and hit on my nutrition, but otherwise allowed myself whatever so long as I was hitting my calories and nutrition...it was easy and I never saw any reason to have "cheat days."
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    I don't normally do cheat days. I burn a lot of calories, so I usually don't have a need for a cheat day. Once in a while I will say screw it and have an unplanned one if someone invites me out to dinner or something late in the day after I have eaten most of my calories, but that only happens once a month or so.
  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    I don't do "cheat" meals/days. I think those that do perhaps (and this is my opinion only, from the outside looking in) do so because for a couple of different reasons:

    1. They are overly restricting calories (the "default" 1200 cal/day, no eating back exercise, based on old "standards")
    2. They are restricting entire food groups or macros based on fads or "shaky" research (low carb, low fat, low protein, no white bread, vegan for "diet" reasons as opposed to very valid ethical reasons, etc.)
    3. They view the whole process of weight loss as "dieting" (i.e. short term goals vs. long term lifestyle)

    All three of those things can lead to sabotage and failures. For some, the solution is allowing for one meal of "whatever" to satisfy unmet fuel needs (macro, micro, and/or caloric) caused by above dietary restrictions. For some, this method does work very well. For others, it is a recipe for disappointment and eventual stalls and bumps in the road.

    What to *I* do? Well, I don't ever call it "cheat." I do prefer to keep to "healthy" foods 80% of the time or more. For me, that means striving to meet my macros daily (+/-5%) and get the most micro nutrients I can from food alone. That means produce, whole foods, and lean meats and a good mix of dairy products.

    But I'm human (and American), so I still desire pizzas and take-outs and the occasional alcoholic beverage or ice cream treat, so I consume those in moderation, and pick yummy things that work for my macros as best as I can. I good compromise for me, I don't assign it a day or designate it as "cheating".
  • mooglysmom
    mooglysmom Posts: 319 Member
    I used to, but not anymore. I log everyday (even if I'm sitting down at 10 pm to finish it), and even if I go over, I try not to worry about it. I also look at my caloric intake as a weekly goal, rather than purely a daily goal. So, I might go over a bit one day, but I'll make it up throughout the week - and lead to an overall caloric deficit at the end of the week (Mon - Sun).
  • tedrickp
    tedrickp Posts: 1,229 Member
    IMO, people who have "cheat days" pretty much haven't figured out this little thing called moderation and they still view various foods as "good" and "bad". They are generally wrapped up in the minutia of individual food items rather than being able to look at their diet as a whole.
    I don't do "cheat" meals/days. I think those that do perhaps (and this is my opinion only, from the outside looking in) do so because for a couple of different reasons:

    1. They are overly restricting calories (the "default" 1200 cal/day, no eating back exercise, based on old "standards")
    2. They are restricting entire food groups or macros based on fads or "shaky" research (low carb, low fat, low protein, no white bread, vegan for "diet" reasons as opposed to very valid ethical reasons, etc.)
    3. They view the whole process of weight loss as "dieting" (i.e. short term goals vs. long term lifestyle)

    Strong assumptions...

    Maybe some people just aren't wrapped up in the idea of being "within their calories" every single day and sometimes just want to throw caution to the wind to enjoy a care free day. As long as it isn't sabotaging their goals I don't see any danger with a "cheat day" (regardless of whatever you want to call it).

    The idea of "cheat days" and IIFYM or moderation aren't mutually exclusive.

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