ever had a cheat day? how much calories did you eat?
r1ker
Posts: 5 Member
hey guys,
after a year of dedication, diet and hard workouts I had my first real cheat day today. to this point I ate 4000kcal (mostly chocolate) and I'm planning to even go up to 5000kcal. maybe I'm doing another cheat day tomorrow, just for the lulz. so, if I keep my daily income at 2000kcal for the rest of the week, how much weight would I gain? 3500kcal = 0,5 pounds, right?
am I the only sinner on this board today? tell me!
after a year of dedication, diet and hard workouts I had my first real cheat day today. to this point I ate 4000kcal (mostly chocolate) and I'm planning to even go up to 5000kcal. maybe I'm doing another cheat day tomorrow, just for the lulz. so, if I keep my daily income at 2000kcal for the rest of the week, how much weight would I gain? 3500kcal = 0,5 pounds, right?
am I the only sinner on this board today? tell me!
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Replies
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I regularly have cheat days but don't go that high.
I just have some treats that take me above my calorie goals but not way over maintenance.
For example, yesterday was Friday and I had a few treats - a small piece of cake in the staffroom, a peanut butter creme doughnut after work, a glass of wine in the evening. But I'd had a light lunch and a pretty healthy dinner so it only took me just over my calorie goal.
Last weekend I went out drinking on Friday night and have no idea how many calories I consumed but estimated 1,500 because I had a lot of cocktails. The rest of the day I ate normally, so I estimate my calories for the day at about 2,900 (my maintenance calories are just over 2,000 so this was a serious cheat day!).
The following day I went to a wedding and estimate I went over my calorie goal by 460 calories but not significantly over maintenance.
I wouldn't do 2 cheat days in a row "just for the lulz". It's a different matter if social events mean that's going to happen (I'll probably have about 5 cheat days in a row over Christmas!) but I wouldn't just randomly do it as it will probably cause you to gain weight (especially with how high your calories are going).
One cheat day every few days won't cause you to gain weight (it might just slow your loss, but hey, it's worth it to stay sane and eat nice things). But the rate you're talking about probably will. 3,500 calories over maintenance = 1 lb fat gained (approximately).0 -
The word "cheat", to me implies I've done something wrong. I make room for treats everyday, with most days them fitting into my allotment.0
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Lol yeah I try to have a few treats everyday within my goals, but I have been having a few too many cheat days this week!
Highest was 2482cals the other day meh 0 -
A couple weeks ago I went to Fudruckers, had a huge burger and fries and soda, then at ice cream and cookies. And that's not even all of it.
I had about 3,800cals under my belt that day.0 -
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My cheating would be WHAT I ate not how much.0
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No I have gone over calorie goal and maintenance but very rarely and when I have I have made it up over the days following. Id struggle to eat 2000 calories so how you manage 4000-5000 is beyond me.
I have no problem with people going over but an actual "cheat day" to me seems unhealthy especially as you have done so well for a whole year why would you want to sabotage your hard work and efforts?0 -
Lifting4Liz is absolutely right I too eat chocolate most days and crisps but I make it fit0
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I have no need to cheat. I cycle my calories from 1300 to 5000. Gym days higher calories, rest days lower. Once in a month I eat up to that 5k, normally 2200-3500.0
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If I know I'll be going somewhere where I cannot accurately measure my portions or how much I'll eat, I over estimate, hoping I'm accurate enough. I call that a "cheat day" because normally it's high calorie at certain restaurants.
Aside from, if I want a treat, I work it into my daily allotted calories if I can. Going over 100 or 200 calories is okay if I must and I don't mind. But I'd try to stay under other days if possible or make up for it with exercise.
To each other own. Depends on what you're comfortable with.0 -
I've had my "cheat" days. I do get into trouble when I extend it to 2 days. I have been able to limit it to 2 days before, but more often then not a 2 day cheat fest turns into a week long binge.
Just got over one that limped on for most of the month![:\](https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\")
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I do eat treats on a regular basis but make them fit. Ones I start eating mindlessly (cheat) I get into trouble. I don't count calories on true cheat days.0 -
I never cheat because cheat is not a word I apply to eating. I eat food within my calories and to hit my macros (or at least protein and fat minimums), and I'll reach this goal with whatever food I feel like eating.
Because I do not look at food as being good/bad or "diet-safe" I do not have this problem.
Now, having a high-calorie day, that is different. This is done either unstructured by eating at or above maintenance in order to have a mental and physical break (can extend to a week if you'd like, or longer), and it is still not cheating. You eat exactly as you do while at a deficit, which is exactly as you'll eat when maintaining, the only difference being you change how much food you eat. Or you can structure it as a refeed, eating your protein target and then just eating carbs until you reach above maintenance.
In either case, this is not cheating, and cheating is not a word that should be part of one's vocabulary when it comes to eating.0 -
Once I ate 15000 calories because I work out so hard.0
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I hate the words "cheat day" I always eat whatever I want within my calorie goal. If you do that you really don't need a "cheat day" as there is no deprivation going on.0
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I find that cheat days, for me, lead to binges, so I try to avoid them. Just have whatever you want in moderation and trying to stay close to your macros everyday, and you won't need to cheat.0
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I declared yesterday a cheat day - huge project at the office; boss provided a deli sandwich tray; co-workers took me for granted.
So when I got home, I had a (bar style) White Russian.
Then I had eggs and crackers for dessert, because I actually like poached eggs and crackers and it was an easy dinner.
End result? 158 calories below the guideline (adjusted for exercise).
I would <headdesk> but it's actually kind of reassuring that I can do that.
Now that I know how many calories are in what size portions of things, I don't actually go off plan very often.
I had four days where it wasn't practical to record what I ate, and I ate a small serving of cake a couple of those nights, so I don't know my calorie count for those days, but the 1.5 pound weight gain over the weekend was more water weight than calories.
I think 500 calories is the most I have gone beyond the recommended calorie limit since I started tracking. More likely, I've gone over by 250 or fewer calories.
I know what choices are best for me; I know what choices are really bad for me. And some of my indulgences carry a "penalty" of 300 calories or fewer.
Heck, the night I had filet mignon at Ruth's Chris, and a drink, and dessert, I went over by only 347 calories.
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Liftng4Lis wrote: »The word "cheat", to me implies I've done something wrong. I make room for treats everyday, with most days them fitting into my allotment.
I completely agree. I don’t cheat. I plan “treats” into most days (Fiber brownie, popcorn, frozen yogurt – it varies). Once a week I allow/plan for myself a fried haddock (4 oz.)on a New England roll. I do still avoid a couple “trigger” foods. It is all worked into my daily targets.
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I do "cheat" days. i try to stay as clean as possible most of the time but probably once a month or so, there is some type of holiday or event that I let myself go all out. i can no problem knock out 25,000 to 50,000 calories in one day. I don't do little "treats" all the time because once I eat a treat, I usually very difficult for me to stop so I have to keep myself under control usually by not having treats unless it's that special occasion.0
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I dont cheat, but I do have the occasional high calorie day. Im in maintenance, and the occasion gut buster day keeps my weight steady.0
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I never cheat because cheat is not a word I apply to eating. I eat food within my calories and to hit my macros (or at least protein and fat minimums), and I'll reach this goal with whatever food I feel like eating.
Because I do not look at food as being good/bad or "diet-safe" I do not have this problem.
Now, having a high-calorie day, that is different. This is done either unstructured by eating at or above maintenance in order to have a mental and physical break (can extend to a week if you'd like, or longer), and it is still not cheating. You eat exactly as you do while at a deficit, which is exactly as you'll eat when maintaining, the only difference being you change how much food you eat. Or you can structure it as a refeed, eating your protein target and then just eating carbs until you reach above maintenance.
In either case, this is not cheating, and cheating is not a word that should be part of one's vocabulary when it comes to eating.
you're absolutely right ofc, shouldn't have used it. 0 -
I do "cheat" days. i try to stay as clean as possible most of the time but probably once a month or so, there is some type of holiday or event that I let myself go all out. i can no problem knock out 25,000 to 50,000 calories in one day. I don't do little "treats" all the time because once I eat a treat, I usually very difficult for me to stop so I have to keep myself under control usually by not having treats unless it's that special occasion.
25 THOUSAND to 50 THOUSAND? Did I read this correctly?0 -
my "cheat days" usually consist of less healthy choices and going to about 2500 cals max. Nothing terrible really. I do it once a week or fortnight0
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I know we all do this differently but for me I don't "cheat" as cheating isn't in my worldview. My view i that I am doing this for the rest of my life not until I get to my goal. There is nothing to cheat from i you know what I mean. I just apply a deficit as often as I feel I can and my weight reduces when I do. If I eat too much my weight goes up a bit but it comes back off when I am in deficit again :-)0
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Like many here I don't call them "cheat" days, more like "treat" or "splurge" days. I absolutely have them - about once a week where I log everything but let myself go over some, about once a month where I don't bother logging the calories at all (like a huge party or buffet or something). My worst day this year, calorie-wise, was close to 4,000 calories (last month actually) and it made me feel sick for quite a while. I probably used to eat that many all the time! These days I try to stick between about 1,500 and 2,000.0
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Wow, there are some professional grade eaters here. 25,000 cals? I've got to figure there were some serious liquid calories in there! :drinker:0
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missiontofitness wrote: »I do "cheat" days. i try to stay as clean as possible most of the time but probably once a month or so, there is some type of holiday or event that I let myself go all out. i can no problem knock out 25,000 to 50,000 calories in one day. I don't do little "treats" all the time because once I eat a treat, I usually very difficult for me to stop so I have to keep myself under control usually by not having treats unless it's that special occasion.
25 THOUSAND to 50 THOUSAND? Did I read this correctly?
LOl I thought the same thing ..that is like two weeks of food in one day????????0 -
OP - I do not do "cheat" days…I have days that I eat what I want and try to fit it into my daily macro and calorie allowance. If I go over it is no big deal, but I do not consider it a "cheat" day. I guess the only issue with cheat days, for beginners, is that it is easy to fall back into old habits. You say that you had a 5000 calorie cheat day and are going to follow it up with another 5000 calories day; why do you need two back to back 5000 calories days? I would think one 5000 calorie day every few months would be enough ….0
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I think whether or not people have cheat days/meals depends on their relationship with food. I haven't had a cheat day and don't expect to have one. On October 4th, I ate pizza and birthday cake at my son's party. That lunch was just over 1,000 calories, but I only went over my daily allowance by 3 calories, before even deducting exercise calories. But I agonized over what I would eat that day, then ate more than I had planned, felt way too full, then stressed over how it would affect my week. All that stress wasn't worth a little pizza and cake. But that's just how I roll.0
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