When you say "cheat day", what *exactly* do you mean?

24

Replies

  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Personally, I don't see the point in "cheating", that's not what this is about for me. Who would I be cheating, me??

    If I eat a big, gooey, delicious piece of cake, I log it. If I go out to dinner and eat more calories that I usually would I log it.
    If I eat over my calories one day, then I just make an effort to keep to my net cals for the next few days.

    I don't think the odd day going over or under will hurt me, I'm not planing to withdraw from life and special occasions for the sake of a "diet". What I am doing, is working on retraining my eating habits to learn about healthy portions and a healthy attitude to food, exercise and me.
  • suzooz
    suzooz Posts: 720 Member
    I have "cheat" days only once in a while (like yesterday!) I do try to log what I eat so that I know approximately how much I went over. I try to put in extra exercise sometime during the week to compensate for the extra calories. For example, I mowed lawn for 2 1/2 hours Saturday, and didn't eat back my calories until Sunday. I hope that my body remembered that I did exercise!

    If I know that there's going to be a family meal or if I'm going out, I try to plan my other meals ahead of time so that I can enjoy the day without freaking out too much.
  • amysj303
    amysj303 Posts: 5,086 Member
    I used to think cheat days were going over on calories but I didn't give much thought to the source of those calories. Now, I think of cheat meals as those things that I should consume on a limited basis, like alcoholic beverages, sugars and refined carbs. I think 2 cheat "meals" per week is ok, but I need to get back on track.
  • hush7hush
    hush7hush Posts: 2,273 Member
    I don't have those.
    Ever.
    Maybe I should.
    :(
    I have a day once in a while where I'll go out to eat.
    But I always make sure to pick something off the healthy-choice menu.
    No dessert.
  • Jillatha
    Jillatha Posts: 85 Member
    to me a cheat day was where I had saved enough calories/points from the week for have a high calorie high fat meal like pizza or fish and chips with a nice dessert or chocolate bar. I did it once a week and tracked it and budgeted it in but still felt like I was getting something extra though technically it wasn't
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
    I think "cheat days" are different for every person, and really, I don't think any one way is wrong.

    Mine is Sunday, and it's not a day that I don't log my calories or go hog-wild with everything. I still log them, but I will allow myself things that normally I wouldn't, and in a moderated amount. Like this part Sunday, I had a small slice of cake with ice cream, which put me over my calories for the day, but I didn't worry about it. It was my treat to myself. I also had an extra portion of my pulled pork sandwich, but I didn't pig out. I've found pigging out, for me, ends up negating all the work I've done, not physically, but mentally, because then it's hard to bounce back the next week.

    I just allow myself enough to feel like I'm not completely deprived all the time, so I can stay sane. ;)
  • vdaniela3
    vdaniela3 Posts: 22 Member
    I usually have one meal a week (typically Saturday night dinner) where I know I'm going to go over. I still try to make good choices and keep my portions under control, and I always log it, but I don't sweat it when it puts me over for the day. It's often because I'm at a restaurant, having some wine, etc. I will never deny myself the pleasure of good food and good company - otherwise what's it all about? But I try to be reasonably sensible because I'm trying to make a lifestyle change. :o)

    I read on someone else's blog that Weight Watchers gives you a certain amount of "extra" calories per week. Does anyone know what that's about?

    WW changes their plans around ever so often. I believe when I started years ago it was 123 Success? Anyways say you got 29 points a day. Well with the new point plan,can't remember the name, but you got 24 points a day and were given maybe 30-35? extra a week to do what you wanted with them. So some people would save those points and use them for a cheat or whatever they wanted. They just took 5 off a day what you were allowed years ago, and made it seem like you were getting something extra, when in reality its all in your allowance based off the older plan. I hope that makes sense.

    And I have "cheat" meals about once a week or every 2 weeks. Something I really want for Saturday dinner.
  • Kolohe71
    Kolohe71 Posts: 613 Member
    I don't schedule a cheat day... I just occasionally decide to take one (though, not more than 1 every 3 weeks). On those days I will get up and do a VERY strenuous workout in the AM, and then I will eat and drink whatever I want for the rest of the day. I don't log anything and I do my best to not keep a "Mental Count" of what I am eating. Then the next day I resume as if the previous day had never happened.
  • ImperfektAngel
    ImperfektAngel Posts: 811 Member
    I have tried cheat days, as in I cheated the whole day, stuffed myself, resulting in me getting sick at the end of the day lol but I would still lose weight! Now I am doing a cheat meal a week with a dessert and seems to be working for me fine as well
  • sammys1girly
    sammys1girly Posts: 1,045 Member
    I have one day a week I don't log, usually either Sat or Sun, when I am going to be eating with friends or have to easy way to track what I'm eating. And usually I don't go too overboard but definitely go over the number of calories I should have, but don't stress about it.
  • spidertheman
    spidertheman Posts: 38 Member
    It's suppose to be an all day, all out, binge! honestly, if your having under 8,000 calories then your doing it WRONG! I have around 12 calories every Saturday and three days later, I weigh about 1lb less than what I weighed before the cheat day. The point is to put your body into shock and make it work overtime. One little meal wont boost your metabolism at all! in my personal experience i've lost more weight doing cheat DAYS over cheat meals. Just go all out. It really helps curve my cravings during the 6 days of healthy eating knowing in the back of my head "Just a few more days"
  • MissGeorgiaPeachy
    MissGeorgiaPeachy Posts: 315 Member
    It's suppose to be an all day, all out, binge! honestly, if your having under 8,000 calories then your doing it WRONG! I have around 12 calories every Saturday and three days later, I weigh about 1lb less than what I weighed before the cheat day. The point is to put your body into shock and make it work overtime. One little meal wont boost your metabolism at all! in my personal experience i've lost more weight doing cheat DAYS over cheat meals. Just go all out. It really helps curve my cravings during the 6 days of healthy eating knowing in the back of my head "Just a few more days"

    I hope you mean 1200 calories? 12,000 calories? I'm pretty sure you probably eat more than 12 calories on Saturday, haha. Good though.. I don't feel so bad about the 3 donuts I ate today... or the Taco Salad... or whatever I end up eating for dinner. I needed a cheat day today.
  • spidertheman
    spidertheman Posts: 38 Member
    It's suppose to be an all day, all out, binge! honestly, if your having under 8,000 calories then your doing it WRONG! I have around 12 calories every Saturday and three days later, I weigh about 1lb less than what I weighed before the cheat day. The point is to put your body into shock and make it work overtime. One little meal wont boost your metabolism at all! in my personal experience i've lost more weight doing cheat DAYS over cheat meals. Just go all out. It really helps curve my cravings during the 6 days of healthy eating knowing in the back of my head "Just a few more days"

    I hope you mean 1200 calories? 12,000 calories? I'm pretty sure you probably eat more than 12 calories on Saturday, haha. Good though.. I don't feel so bad about the 3 donuts I ate today... or the Taco Salad... or whatever I end up eating for dinner. I needed a cheat day today.

    Definitely meant 12000, haha. I call my cheat day faturday
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    depends on the person, some people have whole days once a week, some have one meal, some have one thing.
  • MsMuniz
    MsMuniz Posts: 399 Member
    We go out to dinner one night a week, usually Friday and I make that my cheat meal, as in I order whatever I want and not worry about it. But I eat as I normally would the rest of the day.
  • thistimeismytime
    thistimeismytime Posts: 711 Member
    "Cheat day" for me means I eat at least 3500 calories of whatever I want. I plan it ahead of time so it's guilt-free. It generally involves a sizable restaurant meal and a pint of cookie dough ice cream. :drinker:

    And yeah I still log it.....
  • raeleek
    raeleek Posts: 414 Member
    I've been working really hard the last few months to eat better and be physically active daily. One surprising but pleasant side effect of this is that the foods that I crave have somewhat changed.

    I used to eat fast food a lot and I don't anymore. From a health stand point yes but way above that is that eating that kind of food makes me feel like CRAP. I've gotten to the point where I avoid foods that I know will make me feel gross. The only things I've flat out stopped consuming are trans fats, sodas, and highly processed foods. Again this cuts are mainly because these foods make me feel terrible. I'm now of the mind set that food should make you feel great!

    I do have "cheat days" but they don't consist of eating a ton of fast food or anything like that. When I have a cheat day I just eat what I want that is healthy and good without counting.

    A good "cheat" meal for me would be grilled chicken with avocados, a great pasta salad, a great salad with olive oil and vinegar, and some kind of chocolate dessert.

    I've also started cooking for myself a lot so the food I make doesn't contain preservatives or trans fat. Homemade desserts are the best!

    I will tell you that some days I just eat more and some days I just eat less but a cheat day here and there hasn't derailed me.
  • MissGeorgiaPeachy
    MissGeorgiaPeachy Posts: 315 Member
    "Cheat day" for me means I eat at least 3500 calories of whatever I want. I plan it ahead of time so it's guilt-free. It generally involves a sizable restaurant meal and a pint of cookie dough ice cream. :drinker:

    And yeah I still log it.....

    Ok, I definitely feel pretty good about today then. I haven't eaten badly in a very long time.. well, badly as in fatty and going over my calories. My main struggle lately has been to eat enough every day because I'm always under 1200. Ice cream sounds amazing right now... I think I might go into sugar shock by the end of the day!
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    My cheat days are whenever I need one, usually every two or three weeks. I go over calories by about 500. My main thing is I dont log foods, I just quick add the calories. So it kind of breaks up the monotony of entering every. single. thing. But my calories are still counted.
  • heddy90
    heddy90 Posts: 144 Member
    I don't really call them cheat days, but.. On saturdays, or very special occasions, I eat my favorite snacks, which is usually a bag of crisps, and sometimes also some sweets. I don't go totally crazy and eat 4000+ calories though, I just enjoy some extra snacks. I still log it on MFP, as that has become a routine for me.

    I don't really have cheat meals, as I eat the meals I like and want anyway. It's just that I have that one day where I don't refrain from snacks :)
  • MissGeorgiaPeachy
    MissGeorgiaPeachy Posts: 315 Member
    I've been working really hard the last few months to eat better and be physically active daily. One surprising but pleasant side effect of this is that the foods that I crave have somewhat changed.

    I used to eat fast food a lot and I don't anymore. From a health stand point yes but way above that is that eating that kind of food makes me feel like CRAP. I've gotten to the point where I avoid foods that I know will make me feel gross. The only things I've flat out stopped consuming are trans fats, sodas, and highly processed foods. Again this cuts are mainly because these foods make me feel terrible. I'm now of the mind set that food should make you feel great!

    I do have "cheat days" but they don't consist of eating a ton of fast food or anything like that. When I have a cheat day I just eat what I want that is healthy and good without counting.

    A good "cheat" meal for me would be grilled chicken with avocados, a great pasta salad, a great salad with olive oil and vinegar, and some kind of chocolate dessert.

    I've also started cooking for myself a lot so the food I make doesn't contain preservatives or trans fat. Homemade desserts are the best!

    I will tell you that some days I just eat more and some days I just eat less but a cheat day here and there hasn't derailed me.

    I made a similar status update the other day. I started to notice lately that the foods I crave the most often are healthy now that I've been conscious of what I have been eating for the past two months. I don't get the fast food cravings for the exact same reason.. they make me feel like crud. Today I gave in to Krispy Kreme as a show of support for my community (long story) and I feel terrible.. not even guilty terrible, but physically terrible. I want to crawl under my desk and sleep it off. I hate this feeling.

    I've done pretty well so far not giving in to cheat days. This is probably my first REAL cheat day in two months and I don't see another one in my immediate future.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    My cheat day is just a cheat MEAL. I pick one meal once or twice a month where I let myself have a major splurge meal that I don't log and is full of stuff I don't eat on a regular basis: homemade mac-and-cheese, pizza from the local pizza shop, hotdish, and a luscious dessert.

    This. If I "cheat," I usually am eating out for ONE meal maybe once or twice a week, and I always make sure to do a more intensive workout. It's worked in that I don't feel deprived, and I rarely go over my calories for the day.

    Jumping off other people's comments: I had a "cheat" meal by eating pizza from one of my all-time fav places I rarely go to, but a family member had ordered it when I was at their house.

    I was SO tired after eating 2.5 slices (even with strong work out), I feel like I'm done with pizza for awhile ;)
  • Nefetete
    Nefetete Posts: 343 Member
    My 'cheat' day is probably every other week when I go out with friends for food/drinks and laughs ... That means I have my regular breakfast & lunch and eat anything I want for dinner. I will log it if I can actually guess how much dinner was but won't stress over it. 

    I want to be able to maintain this lifestyle and that's not going to be possible if I stress over it all the time. 
  • MissGeorgiaPeachy
    MissGeorgiaPeachy Posts: 315 Member
    My cheat days are whenever I need one, usually every two or three weeks. I go over calories by about 500. My main thing is I dont log foods, I just quick add the calories. So it kind of breaks up the monotony of entering every. single. thing. But my calories are still counted.

    I ended up logging today anyway just for the fact that it was bothering me not knowing. It's funny that I made this post over a year ago and it mysteriously showed up under My Topics on the one day I chose to cheat recently, haha. I guess I needed to be reminded.
  • sgall123
    sgall123 Posts: 133 Member
    my cheat day is easily in excess of 4000 calories as id have 2 bottles of wine which is about 1000 calories then easily 3000 if not more on food its amazing how much more you eat and drink when in a big group of people.. hasnt done me any harm though still lose every week
  • fatboypup
    fatboypup Posts: 1,873 Member
    on my cheat days I start the day with a dozen donuts, then for lunch have a rack of ribs with all the sides, and for dinner an entire large pizza
  • MissGeorgiaPeachy
    MissGeorgiaPeachy Posts: 315 Member
    I don't really call them cheat days, but.. On saturdays, or very special occasions, I eat my favorite snacks, which is usually a bag of crisps, and sometimes also some sweets. I don't go totally crazy and eat 4000+ calories though, I just enjoy some extra snacks. I still log it on MFP, as that has become a routine for me.

    <b>I don't really have cheat meals, as I eat the meals I like and want anyway.</b> It's just that I have that one day where I don't refrain from snacks :)

    I pretty much feel the same way about cheat meals... I'm not eating things I don't like and cooking at home has allowed me to control ingredients to the point where nearly everything I consume is healthy. I have to stay away from snacks or eating too much though because the next day I want to eat the same amount and it's hard for me to get back on track. -_-
  • alexis831
    alexis831 Posts: 469 Member
    I eat whatever the heck I want to and I have 2 of everything!!! Usually I go way overboard, hah! This Sunday though I wasn't very hungry and busy so I didn't actually eat much at all which is unusual for me. Kinda had my cheat day last Wednesday.
  • TravisBurns
    TravisBurns Posts: 353 Member
    I dont use the term cheat day. I think it's stupid to call it that (no offense if you do) . I use the term free day. Im not cheating anyone or anything.
    Free day...meaning free for all. Not necessarily watching my caloric intake or any macros.
  • MissGeorgiaPeachy
    MissGeorgiaPeachy Posts: 315 Member
    My cheat day is just a cheat MEAL. I pick one meal once or twice a month where I let myself have a major splurge meal that I don't log and is full of stuff I don't eat on a regular basis: homemade mac-and-cheese, pizza from the local pizza shop, hotdish, and a luscious dessert.

    This. If I "cheat," I usually am eating out for ONE meal maybe once or twice a week, and I always make sure to do a more intensive workout. It's worked in that I don't feel deprived, and I rarely go over my calories for the day.

    Jumping off other people's comments: I had a "cheat" meal by eating pizza from one of my all-time fav places I rarely go to, but a family member had ordered it when I was at their house.

    I was SO tired after eating 2.5 slices (even with strong work out), I feel like I'm done with pizza for awhile ;)

    That's how I feel after the donuts today. x.x I feel tired and sluggish and just want to go home and take a nap, but I know I'll hate myself in the morning if I don't squeeze some kind of work-out in. It's amazing how your body changes and adapts to the good foods and wants to reject the bad.
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