How often to cheat?
GregPh67
Posts: 16 Member
Just wondering how often, and how hard should I cheat. I'm 19 and 285 in the process of losing weight, but it already seems pretty unrealistic for me to go straight forward without having something here and there. I'm also already on a 1,940 calorie diet so... Just wondering
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Replies
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Define "cheat"
In the end it's all going to come down to the numbers. You can call it "cheating", you can call it whatever you want. But if your "cheating" causes you to eat more calories than you burn over the long haul, it will be counterproductive. If you can "cheat" but still maintain a long-term calorie deficit, it will only slow down your rate of loss.
at your age, and size, 1940 is probably a pretty drastic deficit already, so a few small (500-ish calorie) "cheats" once or twice a month probably won't be too bad. A 6,000 calorie trip to the buffet "cheat" once a week is probably not going to be effective.0 -
I don't cheat. I just eat within my needs with whatever food I want.0
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No need to overly restrict your self unless you have medical reasons...
If it fits within your calorie goal for the day "cheat" as hard as you want. Just make sure to track everything accurately and honestly throughout the day.
I find eatting things in moderation daily prevents me from binging and delaying progress.
I personally, like to "cheat" every night before bed with 2 Coconut Dreams.0 -
It's all about learning to fit the foods you love into your daily calories. There is no need to deprive yourself of anything, it's about portion control. This way you lose the weight you want, with the foods that you love as well. It's not about suffering along the way of losing weight. :drinker:0
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So have something here and there. You can lose weight without cutting foods out of your day. That's not saying go all out and consume nothing but pizza/chips/beer every day, but work them into your goals in moderation while meeting your calorie and macro goals.0
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If you cut out the foods you love your lifestyle will he harder and more unrealistic to maintain. Keep within your calorie goal and make you diet 80% clean 20% whatever you want.
You are not on a diet, what you eat is your diet but is not a "diet" aka fad diet you will give up and get bored of.
Don't restrict but don't over indulge, a chocolate biscuit once a day won't make you fat, a whole chocolate fudge cake a day on the other hand will. It's about portion and control.
Hope this helped xxx0 -
I do a cheat meal once a week if I FEEL I need it. Sometimes you mentally need a break. But I don't force it.0
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It is important to play the long game. Don't be so strict that you give up. Don't beat yourself up if you do eat something you deem "unhealthy".
I have learned that I can eat whatever I want but just not always in the quantity that I did before. I have one cookie instead of three. I have five or six chips instead of the whole bag. I have one slice of pizza not four.
When I do eat these foods that many would say are "cheat" foods I log them and try to stay within my calorie budget.
Life is life is life. You might go over once in awhile. Log it and move on. (To give you very clear idea though - I personally only go over my calorie limit like two or three times a month and I try not to go over it more than 100-300 calories.)0 -
ceoverturf wrote: »Define "cheat"
In the end it's all going to come down to the numbers. You can call it "cheating", you can call it whatever you want. But if your "cheating" causes you to eat more calories than you burn over the long haul, it will be counterproductive. If you can "cheat" but still maintain a long-term calorie deficit, it will only slow down your rate of loss.
at your age, and size, 1940 is probably a pretty drastic deficit already, so a few small (500-ish calorie) "cheats" once or twice a month probably won't be too bad. A 6,000 calorie trip to the buffet "cheat" once a week is probably not going to be effective.
I see, understood thanks for the advice. Sorry for not elaborating. By cheat I meant actually eat foods that are enjoyable such as a cheeseburger. And if it went over my calorie goal by maybe 400 so be it. Not a 6,000 calorie trip to a buffet, that should probably be considered failing not cheating lol.0 -
Do what works for you. If you "cheat" a certain way and you're still losing weight, rock on. If you "cheat" and you start gaining, maybe that's not a good idea. There are (lots of) days that I go over my calories, but I don't designate a cheat day or meal...
My advice is to log everything, even when you cheat. That's the only way you're going to be able to accurately assess your progress.0 -
I don't intentionally cheat on my calories. I believe that I've only went over my calories once or twice. I followed that up with a hard exercise the following day though. Make sure that you are eating enough protein and fiber. Those will help you feel full longer.0
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Never0
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No need to overly restrict your self unless you have medical reasons...
If it fits within your calorie goal for the day "cheat" as hard as you want. Just make sure to track everything accurately and honestly throughout the day.
I find eatting things in moderation daily prevents me from binging and delaying progress.
I personally, like to "cheat" every night before bed with 2 Coconut Dreams.
Nope, no medical relation. I track every little thing as well, thank you for your input. I don't go over the calorie goal though I do eat mostly whatever as long as it's not chocolate all day as long as it's within the goal like you suggested0 -
ceoverturf wrote: »Define "cheat"
In the end it's all going to come down to the numbers. You can call it "cheating", you can call it whatever you want. But if your "cheating" causes you to eat more calories than you burn over the long haul, it will be counterproductive. If you can "cheat" but still maintain a long-term calorie deficit, it will only slow down your rate of loss.
at your age, and size, 1940 is probably a pretty drastic deficit already, so a few small (500-ish calorie) "cheats" once or twice a month probably won't be too bad. A 6,000 calorie trip to the buffet "cheat" once a week is probably not going to be effective.
I see, understood thanks for the advice. Sorry for not elaborating. By cheat I meant actually eat foods that are enjoyable such as a cheeseburger. And if it went over my calorie goal by maybe 400 so be it. Not a 6,000 calorie trip to a buffet, that should probably be considered failing not cheating lol.
Yeah in that case I wouldn't call a cheeseburger "cheating". I'd call it dinner and make it fit into my calories for the day. I might choose a 1/4 lb burger with veggies instead of a triple whopper, though (unless you've got the calories to spend...in which case go for the whopper!)0 -
ceoverturf wrote: »ceoverturf wrote: »Define "cheat"
In the end it's all going to come down to the numbers. You can call it "cheating", you can call it whatever you want. But if your "cheating" causes you to eat more calories than you burn over the long haul, it will be counterproductive. If you can "cheat" but still maintain a long-term calorie deficit, it will only slow down your rate of loss.
at your age, and size, 1940 is probably a pretty drastic deficit already, so a few small (500-ish calorie) "cheats" once or twice a month probably won't be too bad. A 6,000 calorie trip to the buffet "cheat" once a week is probably not going to be effective.
I see, understood thanks for the advice. Sorry for not elaborating. By cheat I meant actually eat foods that are enjoyable such as a cheeseburger. And if it went over my calorie goal by maybe 400 so be it. Not a 6,000 calorie trip to a buffet, that should probably be considered failing not cheating lol.
Yeah in that case I wouldn't call a cheeseburger "cheating". I'd call it dinner and make it fit into my calories for the day. I might choose a 1/4 lb burger with veggies instead of a triple whopper, though (unless you've got the calories to spend...in which case go for the whopper!)
Yep, veggies!
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Never. If it's a true lifestyle. Why would I "cheat hard" on my own life and goals? I splurge. I have treats. Life happens. Celebrations happen. No need for planned gluttony. There's lots of unplanned gluttony.0
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Liftng4Lis wrote: »ceoverturf wrote: »ceoverturf wrote: »Define "cheat"
In the end it's all going to come down to the numbers. You can call it "cheating", you can call it whatever you want. But if your "cheating" causes you to eat more calories than you burn over the long haul, it will be counterproductive. If you can "cheat" but still maintain a long-term calorie deficit, it will only slow down your rate of loss.
at your age, and size, 1940 is probably a pretty drastic deficit already, so a few small (500-ish calorie) "cheats" once or twice a month probably won't be too bad. A 6,000 calorie trip to the buffet "cheat" once a week is probably not going to be effective.
I see, understood thanks for the advice. Sorry for not elaborating. By cheat I meant actually eat foods that are enjoyable such as a cheeseburger. And if it went over my calorie goal by maybe 400 so be it. Not a 6,000 calorie trip to a buffet, that should probably be considered failing not cheating lol.
Yeah in that case I wouldn't call a cheeseburger "cheating". I'd call it dinner and make it fit into my calories for the day. I might choose a 1/4 lb burger with veggies instead of a triple whopper, though (unless you've got the calories to spend...in which case go for the whopper!)
Yep, veggies!
*drool*0 -
My advice is to structure your diet around most whole foods, get enough fat and protein, and then fit in a few treat foods here and there. I usually eat about 1500 calories worth of foods that meet my fat, calorie, macro, and micro goals. Then I usually have about 200-300 calories of ice cream or cookies or whatever.
If you feel like your diet makes you need to cheat, then I'd recommend rethinking it so that it feels a little less restrictive to you.0 -
Just wondering how often, and how hard should I cheat. I'm 19 and 285 in the process of losing weight, but it already seems pretty unrealistic for me to go straight forward without having something here and there. I'm also already on a 1,940 calorie diet so... Just wondering
Cheating is bad. One should never cheat. On their significant other or while counting calories. If you want to eat a few pieces of pizza or a whopper, put it in your calories for the day. Problem solved.0 -
Or wine. Great advice.ILiftHeavyAcrylics wrote: »My advice is to structure your diet around most whole foods, get enough fat and protein, and then fit in a few treat foods here and there. I usually eat about 1500 calories worth of foods that meet my fat, calorie, macro, and micro goals. Then I usually have about 200-300 calories of ice cream or cookies or whatever.
If you feel like your diet makes you need to cheat, then I'd recommend rethinking it so that it feels a little less restrictive to you.
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Personally, I have been eating a low-calorie diet (for my height/weight) and eating 1-2 cheat meals a week. For me it has worked. However, now that I'm almost at my goal weight the cheats put me in maintenance. I'm happy with that for now, and I know that when I'm ready to kick it up a notch I'll just have to cut back on my cheats.
Different methods work for different people, find something that suits you
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I think it would help to get rid of the word "cheat" from your vocabulary in regard to dieting. You can eat anything, but just keep it within your calories. Then you won't feel like you cheated or failed.
With burgers, it depends. A Ruby Tuesday bacon cheese pretzel burger has 1750 calories, and it comes with fries that have 450 calories. I don't order that meal, as it's more calories than the 1600 that I get in a day. But, a McDonald's double cheeseburger is 430 calories, and a small fries is 230 calories. I can fit that into my calories and still have the rest of my meals for the day. Or, if I'm really craving that Ruby Tuesday burger and fries, I could eat half and bring the rest home for the next day. I'd just have to eat lightly for my other meals those days. Chain restaurants all have calorie info online, so do your research, and you will find there are tasty things you can have.
It's all about fitting things into your calories.
If it's a special occasion, like your birthday, and you just want to eat what you want to eat, go for it, since you only get one birthday a year. Just do a little extra exercise, since we can eat back about half of our exercise calories.
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If you feel the need to have to cheat, you are doing it very wrong.0
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