Cheat Days

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Replies

  • derbygirl90
    derbygirl90 Posts: 38
    I think cheat days are a way to fall off the wagon. So I try to allow one cheat meal a week (i don't always adhere to it though!) Maybe I'd better think about upping it to two cheat meals a week....?
  • hedgertiger
    hedgertiger Posts: 51 Member
    I never believed in a cheat day but I do now. Last few weeks i was struggling to lose any weight despite being very disciplined. Last thurs I went out with the lads and had a total drinking session (about 15 beers!) and had a huge McDonalds at the end of the night. My weekly weigh-in was next morning and surprisingly I lost 2lbs (and remain lost so wasnt dehydration!)

    A cheat meal every week can really help!
  • karensoxfan
    karensoxfan Posts: 902 Member
    Allowing myself "Cheat days" (or meals) would be a real "slippery slope" problem for me. I already have enough challenges & hurdles that I face in this effort. What if I took a cheat day (or meal) and then the next day had an unexpected challenge pop up. The cheat day/meal would put me at a disadvantage facing the truly unexpected hurdle.

    For me, it would just be asking for trouble. To each his/her own though. If some people are structured enough to make it work for them, then more power to them, but it's not for me at all.
  • stuvb12
    stuvb12 Posts: 4 Member
    I'd say more of a cheat meal on a weekend day. That cheat meal ends up being as much as my whole normal day so having 2 cheat meals in a day would be way overboard. Depends on what a cheat meal or day is to each person though.
  • crystalDRA
    crystalDRA Posts: 28 Member
    I have a cheat "day" in which I'm over on my calories, but technically it is really only a cheat "meal." I pick one meal a week that I am going to just eat what I want without thinking about the consequences. Doing this almost always puts me over in calories within reason whereas a whole day of eating what I want puts me way over my calorie/fat beyond what is a reasonable overage (in my opinion). The cheat "meal" does help me stay on course through the week and it also gives me something to look forward to...similar to a reward for being so diligent.
  • amandapucheu
    amandapucheu Posts: 1
    I don't do cheat days. Instead, I do reward meals. For example, if I've made all my workouts and stuck to my calorie limit all week, then I'll celebrate by getting something that I really love but that is absolutely not good for me. My personal favorite is Chinese takeout, if you really want to know. I don't do reward meals if I haven't completed my workouts and eaten clean the remainder of the week, though. I like the reward mentality because I feel like I'm getting something I've earned rather than cheating.

    At the same time, listen to your body. If you're really craving a particular food or a glass of wine, then have it. But don't let that become a slippery slope into having a huge portion of it or having it on a regular basis.
  • GlutenFreeWench
    GlutenFreeWench Posts: 127
    Cheating days don't work for me. I'll do one meal a week that's out, 1 meal a week fast food.

    Otherwise, it turns into a free for all.

    500 calories extra a week to eat whenever has also done the trick:)
  • cnash81
    cnash81 Posts: 30
    I personally cannot do a cheat day because I am far too prone to just falling of the wagon completely. I would have too much trouble going back to eating healthy after an entire day of debauchery. I have historically had a problem with too easily falling back into my bad eating habits. Thus, I have to be pretty strict about it and only allow myself a cheat meal once a week.
  • kimmerroze
    kimmerroze Posts: 1,330 Member
    My whole thing is that I dont "cheat" persay. I "maintain" my maintainence level of calories is 1750 so I just try to stay under that on saturdays. THat is my hardest day to be good. If Im under I am good. I know that I wont lose any weight but I most certainly wont gain any.
  • sjdoman
    sjdoman Posts: 81 Member
    I don't have to cheat because my number one rule is I can eat anything I want. If I really want a doughnut, I'll eat one. But I make sure I stay within my calorie allowances. And 95% of the time I'm eating healthy, I just always know I can have a treat if I want to. So its not a temptation.
  • milehighcritic
    milehighcritic Posts: 199
    I can't trust myself with a cheat day. I am afraid I will fall back to bad habits. If I where to have a cheat day it would be maybe one a month.
  • jjjghoffert
    jjjghoffert Posts: 17
    I don't. There are days when friends come over or I go out to eat that throw me off so I just follow the diet as much as possible and then I don't stress over the occasional spontaneous meal out. If you go ahead and take a cheat day on Friday and then suddenly decide to go out on Saturday you've kind of thrown yourself off. I just take them when I need them for fun occasionally and try to stay in line the rest of the time.
  • jennymaree05
    jennymaree05 Posts: 25
    I like the way you think! This helped me a lot -thanks!
  • mattcoop
    mattcoop Posts: 30 Member
    I finally started having cheat days ... It was hard because I've been so good after having a heart attack last April 2010... I've lost 60 lbs... but I'm not a "ghost"... I can "touch" the naughty food once in a while.. : )
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