rest days & cheat days

I'm also wondering the same thing. Also, on a "cheat day" do you just have one cheat meal on that day or do you treat yourself to goodies all day long?

Been doing this since March 4th and haven't head an honest-to-goodness cheat day yet. But since I rarely have a day off of exercising, I am sure I'll be working out on my cheat day whenever that comes. I think it will make me feel a little better about cheating.

I usually have them on separate days... Personally, I'm scared of going back for even a day because I feel like one day is going to turn into a week and I'm going to gain it all back, but If you feel you have the discipline to do it for one day, by all means have your day. I don't think it should be a problem as long as you are still conscious about what you're doing.

I don't like the concept of calling such times "cheat days" because it implies acknowledging how you feel is wrong and to be avoided. Most of that desire to "cheat" is psychological and the feel good factor of getting a particular food hit, like a drug. If you feel like having a cake, have it slowly and enjoy every moment of it. Chances are you won't find it as satisfying as you expected because you're used to less sweetness, but the psychological desire will have gone and you'll happy with the way you approached it rather than blindly cram food down to get that same hit.

Instead I stick to the MFP plan as much as I can, go over on cals / under on exercise when I feel I want to, and just be honest and happy with myself. As long as you stick generally to the plan - more so as you become leaner - then you can, and in my opinion should, eat and exercise according to how you feel, and be sensible about it as you go. That means the concept of cheat days disppears and instead you just have a newer, cleaner way of living which will include excercise and everything else.

Chris

My free day (food-wise) and rest day are both on Sunday. But due to the random events that can happen on the weekend, sometimes Saturday ends up being the free day. I usually play it by ear when deciding whether the whole day is a splurge or just splurging on 1 or 2 meals. In any event, I'm 100% pro rest-day and pro free-day.

This weekend is a bad example for me, indulged a bit last night and have some plans already made for today and tomorrow. This weekend is going to be a disaster, calorie-wise. This is not an example of a free day (or 3), but an example of going off-course. On top of that, I have an injury so cardio may be difficult-to-impossible. Not thrilled about it, but not going to beat myself up about it either. Need to spend some quality time with friends & food & drink after months of staying the course.

I like what chris said - that calling them cheat days makes it feel like we're doing something wrong. i say my weekend can have or not have cheat days - and by days that usually means my afternoon/nighttime meal because i can always, always start the day off right (for me) with a good breakfast and a good lunch and if i have time to exercise between mommy-duties and household duties then yay me, but if not, i dont freak out. i just remember that AT THE VERY LEAST i am aware now as i wasnt before february and this, in itself, is an amazing feat for anyone .. because when you are aware, you tend to make better choices, and if all hell gets loose and you go 182034802 calories over, hey, youre aweare of it and you work harder the next exercise session (or at least try to)

does ANY of that make sense?

in the end, do what is right for YOU, your body and your mind and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER feel guilty about it - this is LIFE. you are to ENJOY IT - not be guilty of it. this is not a diet. this is your life.

you got this. I REPEAT - you got this!!!