Cheat day? or Cheat meal

tlaustin71
tlaustin71 Posts: 5
edited September 27 in Food and Nutrition
I was wondering if anyone has a cheat meal or a cheat day? What works best for you in terms of getting better weekly results?

Any tips or advice is what I need at this point. Thanks so much.

Replies

  • chellekoren
    chellekoren Posts: 273 Member
    Interesting question. I end up with cheat meals scattered throughout two days, the weekend, most of the time. I try to stay at my calorie goal, though.
  • SarahofTwins
    SarahofTwins Posts: 1,169 Member
    I've had 1-2 cheat meals in the past 3 months...but nothing too crazy. I make sure to drink plenty of water and excercise for that day.
  • aamb
    aamb Posts: 377 Member
    i don't call them cheat meals.. i call them treat meals... maybe once every two weeks or so i will have a takeway chinese or indian meal.. then i don't feel like i have been denied anything. have managed to stay within my calorie goals (almost) and if not i work a little harder the next day
  • poustotah
    poustotah Posts: 1,121 Member
    I started out with a cheat day once a week. Then as I got further along in my weight loss that became a cheat meal once a week. Then it dropped off to once every two weeks and so on and finally I just got to where I would cheat and I would feel completely sick the entire next day so I stopped doing it all together and just focused on eating right all the time.
  • lynnmarie60
    lynnmarie60 Posts: 325
    I use to have days I would eat whatever without counting while on Weight Watchers but I didn't see the results as quickly so I only do this when I REALLY have the urge and only in moderation and that helps extremely. So, I stick with my daily calorie intake but if I really want something I will but only in a small portion and it satisfys me.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    I usually have a pre-planned cheat meal every week and I do mini rewards through out the week if I'm doing well. I still try to stay in my calorie goal.
  • nancymmorris
    nancymmorris Posts: 310
    I try to have a cheat meal or day weekly. To me it is adding a few extra healthy carbs and a couple of treats that I don't eat the rest of the week. I do high protein low carb eating so one day a week I change it up with the extra carbs.
  • Teemo
    Teemo Posts: 338
    Don't really have "cheat days", but my diet isn't so strict that I can't enjoy myself every now and then. I increase my calories and carbs on the weekends because I also have the biggest/hardest workouts on the weekends. That means I can accommodate the carb increase with things like 3-4 garlic knots on top of what I normally eat.
  • Newkell
    Newkell Posts: 379 Member
    I allow myself a cheat meal. I look forward to it and plan ahead for it. I would be afraid that a cheat day would be too much.
  • beesareyellow
    beesareyellow Posts: 335 Member
    I don't have "official " cheat days, but I sometimes eat more on the weekend. If I am really craving something sweet or a little heavy, I add it into my weekend meals. So,that way, I never feel deprived. This practice has not affected my weight-loss at all, and in fact, I think it really helps keep me on track.
  • dawnw30
    dawnw30 Posts: 270
    I do what I call a "free" day on Sunday. I don't exercise and eat whatever I want in moderation. It helps me because if I am having a rough day during the week I just tell myself - you can make it till Sunday! The further I go the better I do at behaving on that free day too. I have noticed I don't crave the bad stuff as much as I did in the beginning. But if I want something I eat it on Sunday...just not tons of stuff and small portions though. Free day doesn't mean free for all, lol! Alot of people are doing zig zag dieting. I have heard of it and I am thinking a free day is almost like that. You eat a bit more calories and it helps to confuse your metabolism?!? Atleast I think that's how it goes after reading a bunch of stuff on it. I'm no expert by any means. It's been working fine for me so I am sticking with it. Even if it doesn't do any of that it helps me to not binge eat so that is a huge plus! I say you do whatever works for you as everyone is different. Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • OnionCookie
    OnionCookie Posts: 272 Member
    I don't ever have any cheat anythings. I eat anything in moderation. I limit the bad stuff of course but I don't consider it a cheat when I have it.
  • ElizabethRN59
    ElizabethRN59 Posts: 168 Member
    I don't usually have a whole day- it typically is just a meal or a snack for me. I generally stay within my calories but every now and then (about once a month is seems), i get in a slump and have a few things that day that i want vs what i should have. Then i usually weight myself the next day and see how hard i need to work to get back on track before weigh in... I think it is ok every now and then to have a little indulgence so i don't feel like i am denying myself too much. I just drink lots, lots, LOTS, of water and get back on track the next day with a little more exercise. Good luck- hope this helps!
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    I absolutely have cheat days. I have to have something to look forward to. I do this every 3 or so weeks. I put it on my calendar. And I eat whatever I want all day. It helps me b/c I know I'm not cheating out of a moment of weakness, so there's less guilt. Then I get right back on the diet the next day.
  • ElizabethRN59
    ElizabethRN59 Posts: 168 Member
    I started out with a cheat day once a week. Then as I got further along in my weight loss that became a cheat meal once a week. Then it dropped off to once every two weeks and so on and finally I just got to where I would cheat and I would feel completely sick the entire next day so I stopped doing it all together and just focused on eating right all the time.

    awesome idea! I like this!!!
  • Mkleder
    Mkleder Posts: 289
    How do you "cheat" on a new lifestyle? Cheating implies a rigid diet that you will eventually stop. I try to stay focused on a healthy life from here on out, and that includes accomodating celebrations and going with the flow. * Not a lecture, just an observation about a mindset I had to work hard to break since it was the source of my yoyo dieting.

    On the days when I'm out of my routine, I just stay extra careful about portion sizes, keep track of the calories, and make up any excess calories with extra workouts and lower calorie consumption over the following days --if not before like I do for holiday meals. Just use the law of averages.
  • javarushed
    javarushed Posts: 218 Member
    I feel its good to treat yourself from time to time. When I was in heavy weigh loss mode, I'd go to my favorite place to eat every 10 lbs. I'd stick with a cheat meal and not a cheat day because its easy to fall off track when you get too "lax".
  • javarushed
    javarushed Posts: 218 Member
    I started out with a cheat day once a week. Then as I got further along in my weight loss that became a cheat meal once a week. Then it dropped off to once every two weeks and so on and finally I just got to where I would cheat and I would feel completely sick the entire next day so I stopped doing it all together and just focused on eating right all the time.

    I know exactly what you mean about feeling sick the next day after a cheat "meal". That is a nice pacing suggestion though :D
  • shreddin_mama
    shreddin_mama Posts: 1,076 Member
    I started out with a cheat day once a week. Then as I got further along in my weight loss that became a cheat meal once a week. Then it dropped off to once every two weeks and so on and finally I just got to where I would cheat and I would feel completely sick the entire next day so I stopped doing it all together and just focused on eating right all the time.

    i think I'm at that point. If i go out to eat i can't handle the huge portions and the next day my body is yelling at me for it. so now the cheating has not been scheduled just when the time presents itself. Like at work if someone bring something in or my husband decides on Italian night.
  • patattheshire
    patattheshire Posts: 123 Member
    I can tell you tomorrow going out for my first cheat meal with my wife tonight
    pat
  • SLaw4215
    SLaw4215 Posts: 596 Member
    My daughter and I are both dieting and have a planned cheat day/treat day about every 2 weeks (usually a Friday or Saturday). It might just be grabbing an icecream cone or a whole Chinese Dinner but we typically know when we are going out and that helps us not cave in and go to a drive-thru on other days.
  • deathtaco
    deathtaco Posts: 237
    If you're in a lower carb state most of the week, and you exercise intensely. A "re-feed" day every 14 days is actually optimal in losing weight. Keep fat as low as possible, eat roughly +50% more than your maintenance calories, and keep protein about 1g/lb bodyweight and fill the rest in with complex carbs.

    That way it's not cheating, it's simply refueling. Now don't take this as going out and eating whatever the hell you want. Still gotta keep clean, but eating that many carbs curbs cravings for a while.
  • dbower18
    dbower18 Posts: 40 Member
    Gotta ask yourself: Just who is cheating who?
  • eviltwinkie
    eviltwinkie Posts: 153
    I don't cheat. No offense, but I don't really like that mentality. It reminds me of someone I know who binges and refers often to how 'good or bad' she's been during the week on her dieting (and seems to like to dig for support by going on about how bad she's been.) Look, no one shoved that fried chicken in your mouth under duress...

    So admittedly, 'cheating' and 'bad' are pet peeves for me.

    If I REALLY want something, however, I adjust for it and accept the consequences. I try to be cognizent of 'is it really worth it?' to me, set cheat days and cheat meals create the emotional mindset that what I'm doing is enforced and only by cheating am I free to have 'what I really want.'

    It's not cheating. It's your life and your body, not a school exam that you're required to do.

    If I'm PMSing and I absolutely have to make a KFC run for my sanity (and those around me), I keep it small, enjoy the heck out of it, write it down, and move on.

    Because I'm the one that put myself on this road and I'm in control of where I go.
  • smareeh
    smareeh Posts: 117 Member
    How do you "cheat" on a new lifestyle? Cheating implies a rigid diet that you will eventually stop. I try to stay focused on a healthy life from here on out, and that includes accomodating celebrations and going with the flow. * Not a lecture, just an observation about a mindset I had to work hard to break since it was the source of my yoyo dieting.

    On the days when I'm out of my routine, I just stay extra careful about portion sizes, keep track of the calories, and make up any excess calories with extra workouts and lower calorie consumption over the following days --if not before like I do for holiday meals. Just use the law of averages.


    Agree'd to me calling it cheat insist I am doing something wrong. What I have tried to do is really look into nutrtion of fast food and sit down restaurants to prepare myself with what I use to eat and what would be a better choice. And if I really want what I use to have or like today my hubby wanted pizza and for us it does not make since money wise to order several different pizzas to please everyone but I will dramatically eat less then what I normally would. And I just snacked on some fiber one cereal so that I feel fuller and not deprived. In short it is OK to eat "crap" now and then just change the way you eat it and be aware ahead of time of calorie and fat content. Normally knowing that makes me look at the menu completely different.
  • fangirly
    fangirly Posts: 4
    I'm doing the 4-Hour Body and it almost requires a cheat day once a week. The rationale is if you keep eating the same things over and over again then your body over time will adjust your metabolism because it has gotten used to living on less calories. It is one of the reasons people on diets for long periods of time end up plateauing. By throwing in a cheat day, your system can't find a pattern and therefore can't adjust. I try to do different things on my cheat days for that reason. Sometimes it is hard because you're being so good, it feels weird.

    Plus it is a mental thing. I can tell myself not to slip up the other 6 days because I have a cheat day coming. I usually do Saturdays since that is when I usually hang out with friends and don't have to worry. Plus if you are craving something on your diet, you can indulge guilt free. Dieting is as much mental as it is physical.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories