How often do you have a cheat day?

kmurphy798
kmurphy798 Posts: 26
in Food and Nutrition
I usually do one every other Friday. But today I'm going to eat pizza (not a lot, and it fits in my day) I'm thinking of having a weekly cheat day now that I'm almost to my final goal of 40-41 pounds down. I've lost 33. So how often is your cheat day?
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Replies

  • pinkpolkadots25
    pinkpolkadots25 Posts: 101 Member
    Maybe twice a year. I make what I want fit my goals --- "cheating" has never helped me lose or maintain.
  • emmabanks87
    emmabanks87 Posts: 86 Member
    I have one once a week :) x
  • hyg99
    hyg99 Posts: 354 Member
    Since I started Jan 1st.. never. I log everything. I make a decision that I need more calories for x so I change my day to fit in.
  • FeraFilia
    FeraFilia Posts: 4,664 Member
    I usually allow myself 2 per month, usually cheat "meals" vs cheat "days." I always know in advance when they are going to be, so I plan ahead.

    I generally will eat 100 or so below my calorie limit a couple days before and a couple days after, as well as eat light the rest of the day, to help my average out a bit.
  • lolly715
    lolly715 Posts: 106
    Not often. I try to just work small amounts into my calorie goals. Although I do "cheat" when I'm on holiday because I don't log. For the most part I eat similarly to at home but may have a treat (or two) that I wouldn't normally. As an example, going away soon and our hotel serves afternoon tea. Going to enjoy every bite of it too!
  • Atrocity108
    Atrocity108 Posts: 328 Member
    once a week. It keeps me sane.
  • LazyCatPame
    LazyCatPame Posts: 112 Member
    After my weekly weight in... If I loose weight, if not I leave it for next week
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    Just about never :x
    Whenever I want something, I work it into my diary, so I never feel deprived. If I'm going somewhere with lots of unhealthy food, I bring something of my own or just eat less of it. Even Thanksgiving, I try to stay within my goal and make healthier options. I found that "cheat days" just mess with my appetite and feeling of satiety, making dieting too hard.
  • nicolemtracy
    nicolemtracy Posts: 301 Member
    There's no such thing as a "cheat day" in my book. If I want something, I have it. I just tweak things a little to make room for it. No sense in depriving yourself. :)
  • 101810191020
    101810191020 Posts: 51 Member
    Never a cheat day, more like a cheat meal and I make it work into my macros :)
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    As long as pizza fits into your daily calorie goal, you're not cheating.
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    Never- I just work out extra if I want to eat something extra. I can't be strict for 6 days and then go nuts on the 7th day like some people do.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    How is that cheating if it fits in your day?

    To answer your question - I cheat twice a month or something... meaning by that going 500+ over my maintenance calories.
  • Fitteacherc
    Fitteacherc Posts: 38 Member
    I find that cheat days and meals throw me off. I plan my eating with macros/calories in-mind and leave room for the treats I want to eat. Trying to figure out a plan for Thanksgiving, haha.
  • loulamb7
    loulamb7 Posts: 801 Member
    During my weight loss I had one cheat day per week. I still logged what I ate but didn't worry about a calorie limit. Since I've always eaten what I wanted I no longer have cheat days, just make it work within my weekly/monthly calories. I have days when I'm slightly under or over and days when I am way over. As long as it balances out over time I've been able to maintain within a 5 lbs range for 9 months.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I do my best to fit things into my daily calories. I decided on my bday I'm going to eat what I want in amounts I want (or until I'm physically satisfied) which is a definition of "cheat" day, except I'm going to log it.
  • joepage612
    joepage612 Posts: 179 Member
    I don't believe in cheat days. I had one last month and I binged on velvetta nachos for 3 days and gained 2 pounds back.
    However I do semi-cheat doing this:
    I wait until sunday night when the Mobil MFP app changes its weekly nutritional profile and starts a new period.
    Sunday night at 11:pm I eat a bunch of stuff that I normally wouldnt like pizza, and then keep eating it past midnight. and count it as two meals. Sunday dinner and Monday breakfast. I know thats absurd but it works for me!
  • abbeyjones1994
    abbeyjones1994 Posts: 188 Member
    Yesterday I had a day where I ate whatever I wanted without portions or calories or macros being considered. It was my first since I started here, so my first in 70 days. I'm glad I waited that long to do something like that because this morning, although I had a blast yesterday (I was visiting a friend at her school and she basically took me on a food tour of her town, lol), I realized that I much prefer the way I feel physically after a normal day than a "cheat" day, so they probably will only happen about every 70 days, if even that consistently. Like a lot of people have said, if you make the effort to plan accordingly, you can eat whatever you want and stay within your goals. My obsession with a Mexican restaurant in my hometown and the fact that that restaurant hasn't caused me to go off the deep end are proof.
  • AmigaMaria001
    AmigaMaria001 Posts: 489 Member
    NEVER! I don't need to cheat when I eat anything I want (Just making sure I stay within my calorie deficit) I never feel deprived when I eat the foods I love every day. Moderation is the key!
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  • ukaryote
    ukaryote Posts: 860 Member
    This is all a head game - *your* thinking rules *your* behavior. If a regular cheat day will psychologically keep you on track, then that is the way to go. (Thinking about it, most religions have at least one "go crazy" day per year for the same reasons.)

    I am working towards building habits of healthy eating. For me, a cheat day breaks that.
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    Never.....don't need one (a day, a meal, a cheat anything):noway:

    I work what I want into my diary (I pre plan/pre log) and plan meals around what I want to have. If by some screw up I end up over, I burn it off.

    I don't feel deprived as I'm having the cake, or ice cream, pizza or whatever. It's just planned out very carefully.:bigsmile:

    YMMV & best to you if "cheating" works for you.
  • pleasurelittletreasure
    pleasurelittletreasure Posts: 236 Member
    I cheated on my body every day for so many years that I don't think I have earned one yet. That being said, I do have treats that I work into my calories and will at some time in the future indulge at a fine restaurant of my choosing. I did bank calories for a nice anniversary dinner at a Mexican restaurant, but didn't spend as many calories as I initially thought I would. Success is a hard habit to break.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    I don't "cheat", I have an "open" relationship with my diet.

    Food isn't a bad thing, its excessive eating that is out of control that is the problem for most I would hazard.

    **Off to the store...I'm out of ice cream.
  • WVprankster
    WVprankster Posts: 430 Member
    I schedule a cheat day and a week off every six weeks. It keeps me sane.
  • pamcris
    pamcris Posts: 47 Member
    In theory once a week (every Tuesday) but I try to burn a couple of extra hundred of calories that day as well. I don't cheat if I don't go to the gym beforehand and get those calories burned. For example: I had McDonalds last Tuesday and I knew the full meal was going to be 1000 calories with condiments, so I made sure to burn close to 1000 calories at the gym, maybe a little less. The rest of the day I ate like I normally do at home :)
  • 30PoundsToDonate
    30PoundsToDonate Posts: 12
    Rarely ever these days. I am an all or nothing person, so cheat days/meals kind of just ruin me. I'll give up for the rest of the week, and binge every day. I don't think that's very healthy...
  • CdnRower
    CdnRower Posts: 28 Member
    Once a week for me as well. On Friday nights after I have done my rowing training in the morning, weight lifting session in the afternoon and 60 minutes of hockey at night, I wolf down 2 lbs of chicken wings with some hot sauce on the side. My exercise alone that day totals 2000-2400 calories burned on top of my BMR. So, not only do I need the extra calories, I can do it guilt free since i've deserved them and i'm still at a deficit :)
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    hearthwood wrote: »
    As long as pizza fits into your daily calorie goal, you're not cheating.

    only when I get under goal by five or six pounds. then it's a free for all for three days. Lotsa lifting and unclean eating:)
  • scorpiophoenix
    scorpiophoenix Posts: 222 Member
    I could say "never" or "always" depending on how you look at it. I eat what I want, when I want. Just smaller portions to stay under my calorie goal. If I go over I do more cardio. I've already lost the weight once by drastically changing my diet and gained it all back. This time I'm learning how much I can eat of the foods I'm going to be eating anyway.
  • vegasgyrl79971
    vegasgyrl79971 Posts: 56
    I dont know if mine quantifies as a cheat day, but every 30 days I eat what I want but I still log it. I just had one on Monday and I didn't even go over my calories lol and on my off days Im a bit more lenient on if I go over by a 100 calories or so. (thats my wine budget lol)

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