Do you guys believe in cheat day?!

I do a weekly average of my calories... So sometimes on the weekend I allow myself a, "cheat day," where I can go over my suggested calories for the day as long as it fits into my weekly average.

Well for me there are always unexpected surprises with food. One of the challenges is just making it work into your day. Count as accurately as you can, and still enjoy the foods you want to have. It gets easier over time, just keep doing your best. There's no reason to deprive yourself of the foods you REALLY want to have during the week, unless you have some kind of medical condition. Exercising can help give you extra calories to work with in your day. I don't do cheat days, but if I want a "cheat" meal (something I know that will put me over my calories and can't/don't want to avoid it) then I do it once a week.

If I meet up with friends and we eat out then that's my 'cheat' meal thing and I'll make sure to eat light later/earlier. I don't think restriction should be placed on a certain type of food. Like with birthday cake, have a small slice of cake it wont destroy all you hard work, one meal didn't make anyone overweight, the same way one workout doesn't make you fit and healthy. For me, a lot of it is going in there with a mind frame of making conscious decisions. If you know there's gonna be a buffet of food, make conscious choices of what goes on your plate - and how many plates you have. If you don't have any, you may end up overeating later on from restriction.

I believe that some days, I'll be eating more. I also believe that they will slow down my weight loss or make me gain, so I try to eat what I want within my calories as much as possible. But I let myself enjoy the special days when I really want to (the last one was my birthday).

I have a cheat day every 2 weeks but it never comes out to more than 2000 calories so its not THAT much of a cheat.

alexacb92 wrote: »

I've come to realize after a few years of TRYING to diet that I would eat very healthy during the week and then on Saturdays particularly I would "cheat". However that one day of cheating turns out to be one weekend of cheating and then all the progress I've made that week goes down the toilet! I think I rather not have a cheat day, but then I don't know if it's recommended when you're dieting.

Sometimes I can't help it, like today. Today is mother's day and I'm taking my mom and sisters out to eat. My fear is eating something I shouldn't and ruining my diet! Next week is my mom's birthday which means more unhealthy food and cake will be thrown my way.

I wonder if I just don't have any of it at all if it would be easier on me. Then having to deal with the consequences of eating a unhealthy meal.

I have a cheat meal every 5 days including a pudding rather than a cheat day

Can't think of things as cheat days. Nevative terms. Focus on eating clean and when out think moderation or choose something healthy and flavorful. Just do not go nuts with it. Even if you have a bad day. Just move on and get back on track. It gets easier as you go eating clean.

I don't consider myself to "cheat" and, honestly, I hate that term. Food should never make you feel guilty. If I want a treat, I fit it in my macros. If there is a special occasion, such as a birthday, I focus on enjoying myself. Building a good relationship with food is so important. I feel like if you allow yourself smaller treats often that fit your macros, you are less likely to full on binge when you don't track.

alexacb92 wrote: »

I've come to realize after a few years of TRYING to diet that I would eat very healthy during the week and then on Saturdays particularly I would "cheat". However that one day of cheating turns out to be one weekend of cheating and then all the progress I've made that week goes down the toilet! I think I rather not have a cheat day, but then I don't know if it's recommended when you're dieting.

Sometimes I can't help it, like today. Today is mother's day and I'm taking my mom and sisters out to eat. My fear is eating something I shouldn't and ruining my diet! Next week is my mom's birthday which means more unhealthy food and cake will be thrown my way.

I wonder if I just don't have any of it at all if it would be easier on me. Then having to deal with the consequences of eating a unhealthy meal.

For the weight loss phase I did alternate day intermittent fasting, which means I alternated between maintenance calorie days and then very low calorie days. Every other day I ate pretty much as I pleased and there was never any need for 'cheat' days-I only 'dieted' every other day. Loved this method and it made things pretty easy for me I lost at a steady pace and never had any plateaus.

Not really. If i choose to eat more calories one day, then I just log it and accept the consequences. I dont believe im entitled to one and recognise how it affects my calorie balance. I dont mind exercising, which gives me some back up and flexibility.

Honestly this topic comes up every day! I don't get why some ppl get so bent out of shape over a word. I call it a cheat day but, my brain and body knows it is just getting a couple hundred cals more than it does every other day. I am under no illusion that I am rewarding myself for good behavior or demonizing food the rest of the week. I alway makes room for a small treat every day but, sometimes I want that huge bowl of cheesy pasta or more than 1 pc of fried chicken. I realize this does not work for everyone. I prelog so far in advance I know what I have to dO to make up a cheat day. I log everything no matter how ugly. I don't binge and I don't over restrict through the week. I just do what works for me. I have lost 30 lbs in 3 months cheating once a week every week but, 2. This works for me!

I don't have a cheat day but if I want something whether I'm going out with friends or somewhere to eat,I have whatever I'm craving and am more aware of the consequences and what I will have to do to work it off.I don't ban any foods from my life because I know from previous experiences that you crash and burn so much else if you deny yourself certain foods. So every so often,I will have a little bit of what I like but won't let it ruin my weight loss.

Peloton73 wrote: »

I stopped putting a prize on food.

This, and other related comments from recent posters about the negativity of the word "cheat", resonate with me the most. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who feels they cheated on their own selves throughout their weight gain period. Basically I was 'buying my own BS', the ultimate cheat.

I like the attitude Molly (and others) has here too:

MollyBradford wrote: »

I don't consider myself to "cheat" and, honestly, I hate that term. Food should never make you feel guilty. If I want a treat, I fit it in my macros. If there is a special occasion, such as a birthday, I focus on enjoying myself. Building a good relationship with food is so important. I feel like if you allow yourself smaller treats often that fit your macros, you are less likely to full on binge when you don't track.

That's healthy.