Cheat days and weight loss

I have always has a cheat' day on weigh day doing slimming world but it never helped me lose weight. I have just started calories counting and might still have a little treat on the weekend but will still track it and try and keep near my daily allowance

I sometimes have cheat meals, and I try to limit them to twice a week. However, I usually eat dessert every day. A small cupcake, fun sized m&ms.. Satisfies my sweet tooth and I haven't had a cheat meal in a couple weeks. Works for me. 24 pounds down since mid January.

I have cheated before and have regretted it every single time. I have poor self-control and allowing myself a cheat day turns into a cheat week. I just cannot do it. Nor do I want to anymore.

Maybe if I hit a plateau in my weight-loss, but it wouldn’t be overly carby things. Maybe go to 50g net carbs instead of 10g net carbs in that day.

So, if you are like me and cannot handle a cheat without a slip then I’d recommend not doing it. If you can handle it, go for it. But don’t go extreme with it. You’ll gain water weight back, but after about a week you will see progress again.

It's more a psychological thing, and that only really applies if you are on some sort of strict elimination diet.

Look at how many calories over maintenance you would need to eat to gain even one pound in a day, the worst you are likely to do is slow your loss or stall it out for a day or two.

Eat what you like and meet your calorie goals on a daily basis and cheat days won't be that important. Rather think about free days. Those times when you are taken out or there is a party and you can't count so accurately or plan ahead. If you are in deficit more often than not an occasional indulgence won't amount to anything.

I don't have cheat days but I have a treat every Saturday night, something like a chow mein and a chocolate bar or pizza and ice cream.
Last weekend I went out drinking, drank ridiculous amounts of wine and ate pizza AND a huge burger and chips I was dreading getting on the scale but thankfully I didn't gain I just stayed the same. Just goes to show its what you do most of the time that makes all the difference

i dont do cheat days or meals.

i eat what i want and make it work with my daily calories. if i need more calories, i do more exercise.

i earn my food! LOL

Ok, here's one for the experienced mfp participant...I have been counting calories on mfp for quite a while now and my wife and I have got it where we consume only slightly more than the very minimum calories per day required for men and women. So, on a typical day my total caloric intake may be 300-800 calories under the goal for the day to lose .5 to 1 kg per week( I have tried varying amounts of goal loss.) I have felt a bit more tired and sore in the upper arms and shoulders and sometimes don't do my upper body workout during the week. I walk just over 2 miles each day all workweek. But, I seem to have a lingering subtle soreness and almost a bit of weakness somewhat regularly now. Am I not consuming enough calories, or, could it be that I need more protein in my diet? Would appreciate all feedback...

I haven't eaten many exactly nutritious foods today, but I've kept it in my calories. I started the day with a filled donut - which I never do anymore LOL. It's the first time since logging that I've successfully started the day with sugar and not kept eating sugar - yay goal! But anyway, I also had a not so nutritious breakfast sandwich and then this afternoon had chicken selects from mcd's - no fries though.

I did eat some roasted asparagus for a snack and a few boiled eggs so the day isn't a total loss (macros are taking a hit though lol)

I made it fit without going over my calories.

I'm at day 81 I think and I've only had one day that was a total blowout. I still logged it all and it was last week. I didn't binge, I just ate very high calorie items (ribs). I still lost weight. I don't know if I would lose doing that often though. I've had a couple days where I got near maintenance calories, but still not in the gain zone.

eta: most days I eat tons of veggies and better choices overall.

Like others have said, I do cheat meals rather than cheat days. I still am in a caloric deficit by the end of the day most of the time.

I generally reserve them for nice restaurants or really good home-cooked meals.

I have a cheat day every Saturday and I have consistently lost for the past month and a half. I still stay under maintenance for the day but, I eat what I want without regards to how nutritious it is.