Should I consider it a "cheat" day if I'm still within 1200 cals?

Bloopers123
Bloopers123 Posts: 18
in Health and Weight Loss
Really craving wings today and was going to get some. 8 wings for 440 calories. I still have 800 calories left to eat for the rest of the day but I really want these wings. Do I consider it a cheat day?

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    If you're under your calories, it's not a cheat day
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    You wouldn't be cheating if you work the food into your calories budget.
  • Boccellin
    Boccellin Posts: 137 Member
    Nope. I don't consider it a cheat unless you go over on your calories (and even then, it's not a cheat if you exercise to make it up). If it's part of an otherwise healthy, well-balanced diet, then no food is forbidden if it's only on occasion.
  • Bloopers123
    Bloopers123 Posts: 18
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I don't know! I've just been eating really really clean. Guess it just feels weird to eat stuff I consider "bad" and not call it a cheat day!

  • iheartinsanity
    iheartinsanity Posts: 205 Member
    If you're watching your macros and they fit...eat them. I wouldn't consider it a cheat day. Not nessesarily healthy, but it's protein, and as long as the fat/carbs fit...why not?!
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I consider things that put me over my sodium or fat limits to be a cheat, but your calories are so low that it would be hard not to go over these limits.

    Have you considered taking a not so aggressive approach?
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    eating 440cals of delicious protein is hardly cheating.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Bloopers123 wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I don't know! I've just been eating really really clean. Guess it just feels weird to eat stuff I consider "bad" and not call it a cheat day!

    That's where your problem lies...don't put foods into "good" or "bad" categories. Calorie deficit is all that matters when it comes to weight loss.
  • 50sFit
    50sFit Posts: 712 Member
    Bloopers123 wrote: »
    Really craving wings today and was going to get some. 8 wings for 440 calories. I still have 800 calories left to eat for the rest of the day but I really want these wings. Do I consider it a cheat day?
    ABSURD!
    My cheat days are over 6000 calories... o:)
    That's a lot of wingless chickens!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Bloopers123
    Bloopers123 Posts: 18
    giggitygoo wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I consider things that put me over my sodium or fat limits to be a cheat, but your calories are so low that it would be hard not to go over these limits.

    Have you considered taking a not so aggressive approach?

    I've been doing really well on 1200 cals. I don't eat back my exercise calories either unless I'm hungry and just really need something, then it's usually a fruit. I don't feel deprived at all because I still eat out once a week.. sometimes I do just crave for certain things and today it's hot wings!
  • Boccellin
    Boccellin Posts: 137 Member
    Bloopers123 wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I don't know! I've just been eating really really clean. Guess it just feels weird to eat stuff I consider "bad" and not call it a cheat day!

    I find that instead of thinking of foods as "good" or "bad" I think of them as "daily" or "anytime" foods vs. "sometimes" foods and "rarely" foods. And of course, with the "sometimes" foods or "rarely" foods, I practice moderation. Since my day to day diet is jam packed with very healthy foods, I do not blink at the occasional "sometimes" food if it fits my calories.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Bloopers123 wrote: »
    giggitygoo wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I consider things that put me over my sodium or fat limits to be a cheat, but your calories are so low that it would be hard not to go over these limits.

    Have you considered taking a not so aggressive approach?

    I've been doing really well on 1200 cals. I don't eat back my exercise calories either unless I'm hungry and just really need something, then it's usually a fruit. I don't feel deprived at all because I still eat out once a week.. sometimes I do just crave for certain things and today it's hot wings!

    You've been doing really well for how long? Because that's the kicker with undereating, especially when you're exercising. Everything is going great - and then it's not. Your workouts suffer, you start binging; it's just a bad situation all around.
  • Bloopers123
    Bloopers123 Posts: 18
    Boccellin wrote: »
    Bloopers123 wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I don't know! I've just been eating really really clean. Guess it just feels weird to eat stuff I consider "bad" and not call it a cheat day!

    I find that instead of thinking of foods as "good" or "bad" I think of them as "daily" or "anytime" foods vs. "sometimes" foods and "rarely" foods. And of course, with the "sometimes" foods or "rarely" foods, I practice moderation. Since my day to day diet is jam packed with very healthy foods, I do not blink at the occasional "sometimes" food if it fits my calories.

    thanks!! I will try to think of it like that instead!!
  • Bloopers123
    Bloopers123 Posts: 18
    kgeyser wrote: »
    Bloopers123 wrote: »
    giggitygoo wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I consider things that put me over my sodium or fat limits to be a cheat, but your calories are so low that it would be hard not to go over these limits.

    Have you considered taking a not so aggressive approach?

    I've been doing really well on 1200 cals. I don't eat back my exercise calories either unless I'm hungry and just really need something, then it's usually a fruit. I don't feel deprived at all because I still eat out once a week.. sometimes I do just crave for certain things and today it's hot wings!

    You've been doing really well for how long? Because that's the kicker with undereating, especially when you're exercising. Everything is going great - and then it's not. Your workouts suffer, you start binging; it's just a bad situation all around.

    For about 2 months now.. my last binge session was probably a little over 2 months ago. I still fit in a "cheat meal" every now and then so that I don't go crazy. I do feel satisfied on 1200 calories though.
  • SteveMFP123
    SteveMFP123 Posts: 298 Member
    That's why I love calorie counting, every day is a cheat day, if I want some pizza I work it in. The best thing I ever did was decide to calorie count instead of doing some fad diet I would have never stuck to.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Bloopers123 wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I don't know! I've just been eating really really clean. Guess it just feels weird to eat stuff I consider "bad" and not call it a cheat day!

    you need to change your mind set…there are no "bad" foods..just food that you use for energy …and no eating 440 calories with 800 left over is NOT a cheat day….
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I don't believe in "cheat" days. I'm not doing anything wrong. If you're wanting them, eat um, log um and move on.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    giggitygoo wrote: »
    ChunkeeeMonkeee48 wrote: »
    why would you consider it a "cheat" day if you're within your calories?

    I consider things that put me over my sodium or fat limits to be a cheat, but your calories are so low that it would be hard not to go over these limits.

    Have you considered taking a not so aggressive approach?

    why is going over on sodium a cheat day…????
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    If it doesn't put you over your calories it is not a cheat day. This is the problem with the whole clean eating thing. It is not a specific food that is the problem, but how much of it a person eats. Eating wings on a day when you have calories to use once in a while is not cheating, it is helping you to maintain your calorie deficit by not depriving yourself of what you enjoy.
  • pamcris
    pamcris Posts: 47 Member
    Anything that is not "healthy" I consider a cheat. I eat out once a week (or if Im craving something) and always stay under my goal, but I still consider it a cheat day since there is much more fat, carbs, sugars, etc... that there would be in the food if I had made it myself.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    OP, the typical definition of a "cheat day" when calorie counting is a day you decide to go over your calorie goal. Now if you have set up some other rules for yourself, then you have to decide whether you are cheating on them or not. But it would be sad to have to feel guilty just for eating a reasonable portion of wings! Especially since you are probably restricting more than you need to. Eat those wings, bask in their magnificence, and go about your day...
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    edited October 2014
    pamcris wrote: »
    Anything that is not "healthy" I consider a cheat. I eat out once a week (or if Im craving something) and always stay under my goal, but I still consider it a cheat day since there is much more fat, carbs, sugars, etc... that there would be in the food if I had made it myself.

    thats not a cheat day …

    oh and define "not healthy" ….
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    No matter what you call it, the effect of the food on your body will not change. It will be what it is, how ever you look at it. So, call it whatever you want. :)

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