What does "cheating" mean to you?

2»

Replies

  • rebeccaS85
    rebeccaS85 Posts: 141
    I have only been on MFP for a month and until this weekend I hadn't really had a cheat day. I had to go to a baby shower and thought I would do that as my cheat day - well I went over my calories and sort of felt like junk afterwords. I still ate lost of veggies and fruit but because I was running around trying to get last minute stuff done I ate a burger - NOT a good idea!!
    Mostly what I do is once or twice a week I let myself get a low fat/half sweet London Fog! My favourite drink. That way I don't feel like I am depriving myself.
  • chellekoren
    chellekoren Posts: 273 Member
    Cheating to me is somewhat like yours. I may end up over, sometimes a lot over, depending. What I cheat on depends on what I am in the mood for. I try to listen to my body. It may be salty or sweet cravings. If I have been thinking about one particular item (won't say b/c may tempt others) I will plan to eat that for dinner. What I will do, though is PLAN. I'm going to have a big dinner or a large dessert so I will eat a light lunch or even skip it, even though that is considered bad. It makes the difference between 1800 calories to 2500 calories for that day. (I am 5'2", so 2500 calories is a lot for my size)
  • westcoastSW
    westcoastSW Posts: 320 Member
    To me, "cheating" means hiding an ace in your sleeve, or having sex with a person who's not your spouse. I don't see food as "cheating." The only person it affects is the person doing the eating.

    That said, I don't have free days planned into my schedule. I occasionally go over my cals, and I'm ok with that. I don't plan them because I like having the freedom of knowing that if my husband is bringing home donuts for breakfast, I can have a couple even if it's not my "scheduled" free day. But if I were to plan a day to go over, I'd get pizza. Piled high with meat. :-P And eat half of it. In fact, sometimes I do it even though I don't plan it ahead of time. :laugh:
    Very well said! "Cheating" on calories makes it seem as though you're a split personality and one is cheating on the other. I prefer to think of it as the little angel and devil on my shoulders; neither of them IS me, but both influence me. MY responsibility is to reconcile both. Cheating implies doing something wrong, and I don't want to tell myself that I'm doing something wrong and feeling guilty. Either I eat something less healthy and more indulgent (and believe me, I eat!) and feel good about it, or I make a better decision and feel good about that.

    I'm a therapist-intern right now and I've been reading a lot about ambiguity and motivational interviewing lately -- look into it if you're interested further :)
  • Fattack
    Fattack Posts: 666 Member
    Cheating is cheating or fooling yourself.

    When I "cheat" it means I've eaten something and not tracked it, and that is extremely, extremely rare for me. So I feel like I've cheated myself in not being honest with myself and confronting it. (However, I don't ignore it entirely, I guesstimate and then try to work it off - it's only happened once so far since I joined).

    Cheating is also convincing yourself that you are making healthy choices when you aren't. I spent my first week on this site eating low-fat/low-cal ready meals, spending my extra calories on the odd chocolate bar, and yes, I lost weight, because I was in my calorie allowance. But I was not eating healthily, far from it. The same applies to exercise - if you *really* need to track those 10 minutes of vacuuming as exercise to justify that chocolate biscuit then the problem is twofold.

    I guess the closest thing to a "cheat day" for me would be to not eat Low-GI, which is rare (although I did have sushi on Saturday and I've heard mixed things about its GI content). Many of the things I eat happily and regularly, on my nutrition plan, are probably considered as "cheat day" foods to others - for example, steak, and (lean) bacon! I am genuinely a believer that if something is unprocessed (is identifiable as food - not cheetos!), and you count it in your calories, then it's fine. If I didn't eat low GI, I'd probably still bake (just different things), and eat the fruits of my labour - because it's natural and I'd be able to do the calorie content happily. I wouldn't need a "cheat day" for that.

    All in all, I believe we know when we are cheating ourselves.
  • dixedreg
    dixedreg Posts: 276 Member
    I can't do a cheat day, free for all. My lifestyle was that every day was a free for all that's what got me to come here in the first place.

    I totally agree. I don't do cheat days. I plan stuff out. If I am going to have something extra calorie laden I plan for it and make adjustments to exercise and food to make it all work.
  • Angierae75
    Angierae75 Posts: 417 Member
    I don't consider any day a cheat day, but only because I consider this a lifetime thing, not a diet. So if I want to go out to eat and have a restaurant meal, I do. I just make sure to not go over my maintenance calories for the day, and I don't worry about it. I couldn't let myself have a free-for all, but hitting 1900 calories for a day once in a while doesn't bother me because my maintenance calories are 2000.

    I wouldn't do it over and over, but I refuse to never have a cheeseburger or a few drinks. I have to do this for the rest of my life, what would be the point if I couldn't enjoy food once a while?
  • lillieme
    lillieme Posts: 15
    The wife and I have a cheat day on Sundays. We go and get that Item which we are craving. I think it is necessary to listen to the cravings of the body as it is the bodies way of telling us what it needs or desires. All things in moderation though -- we did go to Olive Garden two weeks ago and had a huge lunch because it was my birthday. I tell ya, I had a "Food Hangover" for the next two days and it was very hard to get back into my daily routine...Going hog wild on a cheat day will eventually knock a person off their eating regime.

    The key in all things is moderation. Go have what you want, but eat quality not quantity. Want that cheesecake, get it, I just say get a small slice of the best cheesecake around instead of a large slice of a rather pedestrian version of the same.
  • sbwood888
    sbwood888 Posts: 953 Member
    Everytime I do a cheat day, it sets me up for a food frenzy. It's like I am a foodaholic and once I start, I just cant stop. Like this past weekend, I had mexican food on Friday--complete with the basket of chips and guacamole, etc. I ended up binging all weekend and gaining weight. ugh. I just plan treats into my day to keep me from feeling deprived. When the true cravings start, I have learned that (for me) it is a mistake to give in. I end up going "buck wild" as my Granny used to say. :laugh: :devil:
  • Peanut1026
    Peanut1026 Posts: 85
    Saturday evenings are my cheat days! I don't exactly watch what foods I eat, but I still eat in moderation. Saturday nights we go to my father-in-laws for dinner, and its really my time to relax, the kids are usually occupied with their aunts and I can just sit and enjoy myself with a few drinks. Most of the time we have dessert, but lately I have been taking the weight watchers Smart Ones desserts for myself instead of eating sugary cake/frosting or cookies,or I will buy frozen yogurt instead of regular ice cream. I weigh myself on Saturday mornings, as long as I still lost something for the week, I "relax" and give myself a break on Saturdays. Even if I only lose a pound for the week, I am happy!!! If we end up going out to a restuarant, most places now have a low calorie meal, some places like applebees have the weight watchers menu, and that is what I will eat! I think as long as you are happy with the progress you are making, then it is ok to have a cheat day once a week! gl to you.
  • Lovemydounts
    Lovemydounts Posts: 199 Member
    fridays is my cheat day i eat pizza but only three pieces and im good.so yes a cheat day is worth the wait all week for..
  • army_cobra
    army_cobra Posts: 136 Member
    Your cheat day is just fine. Do not go all out like your friend does that is a no go. You should have a cheat day once a week it helps keep you from losing your mind.
  • tryinghard2012
    tryinghard2012 Posts: 419 Member
    I try not to label it 'cheat' days. I'm trying to create a lifestyle and some days that may mean chocolate and other days it may not. I think labeling it can give it a negative connotation. As long as you are honest with yourself then you aren't 'cheating'.

    I'm trying to create a habit I can live with for a lifetime. I hope your friend understands she's causing more detriment than not by overeating.

    How about calling it TREAT DAY! nothing negative about treats :laugh:

    Treat day sounds better :bigsmile:
  • fattymcgoo
    fattymcgoo Posts: 14
    thank you for all of your replies; it's been quite interesting to see how people indulge differently :)
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I don't see the point in "cheat" days. The only person you are cheating is yourself, so why bother? Same with guilt about eating bad food. You are your only victim, so guilt is pointless. Just shrug and tell yourself not to do it again and get on with life!
  • htimpaired
    htimpaired Posts: 1,404 Member
    I guess I have a "cheat" day but I've never called it that. On Sundays I have breakfast with my family at the local diner. Since it's a small family owned business they don't have things like egg beaters and light breakfasts, so I usually order something indulgent like pancakes or an omelet. But I still account for the calories, and I don't allow myself to take that day off from the gym.
    But like I said, I don't consider them cheat days per say. I try to accomdate my heavier days by adjusting another meal that day to be lighter, or I increase my activity.
    I also give myself treats throughout the week...my current fixation are skinny cows ice cream sandwiches....yummy!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories