Cheat day

ninjasmith1986
ninjasmith1986 Posts: 35 Member
edited February 2015 in Food and Nutrition
I want to do a cheat day...yes a full day of whatever meals. I was inspired by some Youtube vids (10k cheat days...hodge twins.. ect) However..my cheat day won't be as exorbitant...lame I know. I'm not going to keep track of calories but will keep my eye on macros specifically. I want to plan it strategically and do it on a day that I have some time to train as well. I'm getting excited for it! Still don't know when I'll launch this thing but it will be soon. Does anyone else find these cheat day vids entertaining?! I love them :#

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    ok
  • redrose129
    redrose129 Posts: 57 Member
    Hi! I'm not sure, I'm usually not on the forums. I think it's a great idea if that's what you need to remain successful. Personally, cheat days do not work for me....rock on!
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Why, though? To me that just sounds like disordered thinking about food. I think the whole point of losing weight is to find, along the way, a sustainable relationship with food so that the weight stays off once it's all off.

    It's obvious from the dismal rate of failure that most people don't figure out how to keep weight off. I don't know that we really know the reason for this, but it seems logical to me that the idea of gorging yourself and seeing anything as a "cheat" isn't helpful.

    I remember reading once on here that naturally slim people moderated their intake around indulgent meals. In other words, if they had a calorie dense meal one day, they ate very lightly the next day or two instinctively. I notice that my daughter (who is naturally slender) tends to do this. This means that they learn to incorporate indulgent things into their overall diet and maintain their weights.

    To me, a "cheat" meal implies not incorporating. If it's just a small indulgence that doesn't wipe out your deficit, that's cool and all, and pardon my rant. I just have issues with the whole concept of "cheating". To me, it should all be about "planning".
  • ninjasmith1986
    ninjasmith1986 Posts: 35 Member
    From what I understand if you have been eating at a calorie deficit for a period of time, your metabolism will gradually begin to slow. You won't burn calories as efficiently. Enter the calorie surplus...AKA cheat day ect and you will spike your metabolism, have more energy to train and yield great results. Everyone is different with their strategy but it makes sense to me! The body is like a furnace...you feed it good fuel and you burn efficiently. Less fuel....you will slow it down. Throw some fuel into that baby and bam.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    ninjasmith1986 wrote: »
    From what I understand if you have been eating at a calorie deficit for a period of time, your metabolism will gradually begin to slow. You won't burn calories as efficiently. Enter the calorie surplus...AKA cheat day ect and you will spike your metabolism, have more energy to train and yield great results. Everyone is different with their strategy but it makes sense to me! The body is like a furnace...you feed it good fuel and you burn efficiently. Less fuel....you will slow it down. Throw some fuel into that baby and bam.

    You can just eat at maintenance to accomplish that. Again, it's all about planning. I think the psychology of the words you use is important, though. I'm funny that way. It influences your thinking, however subtly.

  • ninjasmith1986
    ninjasmith1986 Posts: 35 Member
    Oh, I should have mentioned that I'm not trying to lose weight. I want to gain muscle mass and lift heavier weights.
  • ninjasmith1986
    ninjasmith1986 Posts: 35 Member

    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    Why, though? To me that just sounds like disordered thinking about food. I think the whole point of losing weight is to find, along the way, a sustainable relationship with food so that the weight stays off once it's all off.

    It's obvious from the dismal rate of failure that most people don't figure out how to keep weight off. I don't know that we really know the reason for this, but it seems logical to me that the idea of gorging yourself and seeing anything as a "cheat" isn't helpful.

    I remember reading once on here that naturally slim people moderated their intake around indulgent meals. In other words, if they had a calorie dense meal one day, they ate very lightly the next day or two instinctively. I notice that my daughter (who is naturally slender) tends to do this. This means that they learn to incorporate indulgent things into their overall diet and maintain their weights.

    To me, a "cheat" meal implies not incorporating. If it's just a small indulgence that doesn't wipe out your deficit, that's cool and all, and pardon my rant. I just have issues with the whole concept of "cheating". To me, it should all be about "planning".

    Why? Because why not..and it sounds like fun! If my goal is to become stronger, gain weight and have a little fun doing it seems like it would be a positive experience to me. I like to try different things and this is something I have not yet tried. I've taken up powerlifing, endurance racing, crossfit, old school bodybuilding.....ect. I thought the concept was more popular....at least it is among some bodybuilders. The videos are entertaining though.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    ninjasmith1986 wrote: »
    mamapeach910 wrote: »
    Why, though? To me that just sounds like disordered thinking about food. I think the whole point of losing weight is to find, along the way, a sustainable relationship with food so that the weight stays off once it's all off.

    It's obvious from the dismal rate of failure that most people don't figure out how to keep weight off. I don't know that we really know the reason for this, but it seems logical to me that the idea of gorging yourself and seeing anything as a "cheat" isn't helpful.

    I remember reading once on here that naturally slim people moderated their intake around indulgent meals. In other words, if they had a calorie dense meal one day, they ate very lightly the next day or two instinctively. I notice that my daughter (who is naturally slender) tends to do this. This means that they learn to incorporate indulgent things into their overall diet and maintain their weights.

    To me, a "cheat" meal implies not incorporating. If it's just a small indulgence that doesn't wipe out your deficit, that's cool and all, and pardon my rant. I just have issues with the whole concept of "cheating". To me, it should all be about "planning".

    Why? Because why not..and it sounds like fun! If my goal is to become stronger, gain weight and have a little fun doing it seems like it would be a positive experience to me. I like to try different things and this is something I have not yet tried. I've taken up powerlifing, endurance racing, crossfit, old school bodybuilding.....ect. I thought the concept was more popular....at least it is among some bodybuilders. The videos are entertaining though.

    so what exactly are you doing thats 'cheating' on your normal way of eating?
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    I never cheat, but I have been known to splurge on occasion. Who would you be cheating?
  • HeySwoleSister
    HeySwoleSister Posts: 1,938 Member
    ninjasmith1986 wrote: »
    Oh, I should have mentioned that I'm not trying to lose weight. I want to gain muscle mass and lift heavier weights.

    So, you want to do a mini-bulk? Visit the "gaining weight" forum, there are underweight folks there, but also people with the same goal as you. They'll know more about it.

  • ninjasmith1986
    ninjasmith1986 Posts: 35 Member
    Everyone has a different definition of 'cheating' but for me personally it would be to eat food for a day I wouldn't normally eat which are essentially junk foods. I 'eat clean' about 80% of the time year round. By eating clean I mean eating as naturally as possible, unprocessed foods including lean meat sources, veggies ect I eat it all as long as its nutrient dense. I've done so consciously for a couple of years. I try to eat about 2200 cals a day to maintain. I'll eat close to 3000 on heavy lifting days. I'm beginning to find it more difficult to keep my muscle on as I am getting older and other factors I won't bore you with. I need a change in my strategy, something a little out of routine and I think this will help. Again....it sounds fun!
  • ninjasmith1986
    ninjasmith1986 Posts: 35 Member
    EWJLang wrote: »
    ninjasmith1986 wrote: »
    Oh, I should have mentioned that I'm not trying to lose weight. I want to gain muscle mass and lift heavier weights.

    So, you want to do a mini-bulk? Visit the "gaining weight" forum, there are underweight folks there, but also people with the same goal as you. They'll know more about it.
    Thanks I'll do that.

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