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Am I really having cheat meals

Fashionista8818
Fashionista8818 Posts: 6
edited February 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I have a cheat day once a week. On these "cheat days" I still eat at a deficit but I eat what I typically ate before I started my weight loss journey. For example for dinner I now eat grilled chicken, sweet potato and green beans , which is about 550 cals.. On a cheat day I will maybe have a burger and small fry for about 600 cals. Or instead of eating 200 cals of fruit I'll have a 200 cal candy bar. If I go over, I'll exercise it off but I stay under 1500 cals on cheat days. Is this considered cheating? I want to fully use my cheat days lol, because I've been stuck at same weight for over a month and I think I need to zigzag my diet a little to start back losing.. Thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    I have a cheat day once a week. On these "cheat days" I still eat at a deficit but I eat what I typically ate before I started my weight loss journey. For example for dinner I now eat grilled chicken, sweet potato and green beans , which is about 550 cals.. On a cheat day I will maybe have a burger and small fry for about 600 cals. Or instead of eating 200 cals of fruit I'll have a 200 cal candy bar. If I go over, I'll exercise it off but I stay under 1500 cals on cheat days. Is this considered cheating? I want to fully use my cheat days lol, because I've been stuck at same weight for over a month and I think I need to zigzag my diet a little to start back losing.. Thanks in advance :)
    "cheating" is a relative term.

    My "cheat" days are a huge meal/dessert after a long fast and it is a huge meal and still under or at my TDEE for the day so it is a win win.

    but you can call a cheat whatever you want. I think many will say it is going way over their allotment that day.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    Cheating is a relative term. Matter of opinion. Kind of like asking do you like that painting? You can get a different answer from different people, or even the same person depending on lighting, shadows, etc.

    I can't cheat, personal opinion. Food is series of choices and decisions. For ~7 months I chose to eat at a deficit and I lost nearly 40 pound. For the next week, I choose to eat at maintenance, a test run if you will, then I intend to follow a slight deficit. I decide what to eat based on which goals are important to me at the time. I can't cheat with food, there is no commitment to food. My commitment is to myself.
  • marissanik
    marissanik Posts: 344 Member
    My cheat days are whatever I want as long as I'm maintaining a defecit. But sometimes I just have the maintenance calories instead so I don't really lose progress or gain progress. Like everyone else said - relative term.
  • xxharleyquinnxx
    xxharleyquinnxx Posts: 166 Member
    My cheat days are just where I eat whatever but only on special ocassions, for example going out drinking for a bday would equL drinking and a meal out but I would eat relatively healthy beforehand in the day :)
  • dekadai
    dekadai Posts: 47 Member
    I'm vegetarian so my cheat days are me eating at maintenance. And indulging in cheese. As long as you don't overdo it, I think you'll be fine. Though I wouldn't recommend going back to eating junk on your cheat days.
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