How often do you "cheat"?

Gerkenstein
Gerkenstein Posts: 315 Member
edited September 27 in Food and Nutrition
How many treats, indulgences, whatever, do you allow yourself each week? And how big are they (snack, meal, beverage, etc.)?

I make my treats fit into my calorie allowance, but am wondering if maybe I'm doing it too often or with too much food even though I'm not "stuffed" afterward. Would love others' perspectives on what they've found works for them without feeling deprived of anything or overindulgent.
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Replies

  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    Stick with in the calories you are allowed and you shouldnt gain anything. make sure you are taking vitamins if you are eating unhealthy. Hey that guy did the junk food diet and lost weight, he just made sure he was watching his calories.
  • dawnw30
    dawnw30 Posts: 270
    I am not an expert and I am not saying this is the best way - (phew - had to add that so I don't get hollered at by anyone...LOL) but I do a whole day off. On Sunday I do not exercise and I eat whatever I want - IN MODERATION ofcourse. It helps me to not cheat during the week and gives me something to look forward to. It has been working well for me. Everyone is different, ofcourse, so I'm sure that alot of people handle this issue differently :happy:
  • rgutie1
    rgutie1 Posts: 84 Member
    One in 45 days and it haunts me. I dont consider it cheating if I stay under my calorie goals.

    Its not exactly in the spirit of things but here are my two cheat stories.

    1) After not siing my firends for a while I went out with them and we eventually ended up at a bar downtown. I continued to log my calories when around 11:45 I ran out calories. I waited till midnight and than started drinking again. It reduced my lunch the next day but it was worth it.

    2) Ribfest is coming up in a few weeks. I plan on only working a half day so I can go on extended bike ride to create a calorie buffer.
  • aquababy
    aquababy Posts: 8
    Sometimes I go all out and don't log anything in (usually on weekends), other times I input EVERYTHING I eat because if I don't I might as well not be using MFP at all.
  • strapple
    strapple Posts: 353 Member
    i always stay within my calories (which still usually satisfies me) and give myself three cheat days a month. then after my cheat day i double my work out if it was a really bad day.
  • I found what works for me is that I allow myself one "cheat" day. Now I'm not saying go out and have McDonald's for all three meals, I do allow myself to eat the pizza and wings.

    I've learned that if I deprive my body from its cravings, then it will start hanging onto every calorie I eat! Allowing myself to eat what I love most once a week (and not overdo it either), I take care of the craving and I feel like it gives my body the boost to burn calories and shed the pounds.

    Good luck!
  • lkewlness
    lkewlness Posts: 1
    Yea you have to burn more than you eat for the day.
    <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/797/9868/7979868.png&quot; /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Nutrition Facts</a> For Foods</small></p>
  • meemo88
    meemo88 Posts: 436 Member
    usually its a snack. i always fit something sweet to my day .. something like:

    sugar free mousse pudding
    sugar free candy
    sugar free popsicles
    rice cakes - flavors
    skinny cow ice creams

    everyday. or ill go insane lol... as long as u log it!!
  • beverlyl64
    beverlyl64 Posts: 381
    Usually a cheat meal is ok, but everyday I don't believe is a good ideal. The added empty calories is such a waist when you could be getting the calories from more nutritious based foods. Everyone has to do what works best for them, so these are just my thoughts and what works for me.

    Good luck!
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    I messed up my meals on Saturday. Woke up at noon went out at 2pm to eat sushi. all you can eat :S had a scope of ice cream, fried tempura shrimp and deep fried eggplant with it. afterwards i was full and didnt eat dinner. went to the movies at 10 and shared a popcorn without added butter. when i counted all my calories at the end of the night i was still under 1200 calories... and i lost 4 lbs that week. :) If only everyday was like that. lol
  • sammys1girly
    sammys1girly Posts: 1,045 Member
    I typically allow myself one "splurge" day to not count calories but try not to wayyy over-do it, just if I'm going out to eat, which is pretty rare, or having a big family thing. I haven't taken a non counting splurge day for awhile but plan to for a big family picnic on Memorial day.
  • luvmy2babies
    luvmy2babies Posts: 94 Member
    My cheat days are normally on the weekend. I don't eat the greatest but for the most part I still stay within my calorie budget.
  • devenwarvel
    devenwarvel Posts: 26 Member
    I cheat all weekend. After reading these posts, I feel a little guilty about that! I do try and work out on Saturdays though, so I guess that offsets it. I don't think I would stick to any sort of healthy diet if I didn't give myself those days.
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    I don't consider it "cheating". This is how I plan to eat for the rest of my life. I eat things in moderation and plan for special events. If I'm going out to dinner, I'll get a big workout in to make room for the extra calories and then I enjoy myself. It's working so far for me.
  • sweetiepie31612
    sweetiepie31612 Posts: 240 Member
    I don't have designated cheat days or cheat snacks. I try to stay w/in my calories every day. That being said though, if there is a special occassion, like visitors from out of town, or a brithday or graduation, I'll cheat the whole day. You see a lot of talk on here about zig zagging calories...thats kind of what I do. I don't like telling ppl I'm on a diet, because they then just tell me I don't need to be. So...I just "cheat" and allow myself whatever i want when there are a bunch of other people around. If its just one or 2 girlfriends out for drinks or dinner or something though, I make sure I save enough calories. The way I figure, being under my calories 90% of the time allows me to cheat 10% of the time. It shocks my body so I don't fall into a rut.
  • Scentlessapprentice
    Scentlessapprentice Posts: 170 Member
    I NEED to have chocolate everyday, so as long as I have been good all day I reward myself and usually have calories left over. if not I do an extra 30 mins on the exercise bike. I also have take away at a weekend.
  • whouwannab
    whouwannab Posts: 350 Member
    One in 45 days and it haunts me. I dont consider it cheating if I stay under my calorie goals.

    Its not exactly in the spirit of things but here are my two cheat stories.

    1) After not siing my firends for a while I went out with them and we eventually ended up at a bar downtown. I continued to log my calories when around 11:45 I ran out calories. I waited till midnight and than started drinking again. It reduced my lunch the next day but it was worth it.

    2) Ribfest is coming up in a few weeks. I plan on only working a half day so I can go on extended bike ride to create a calorie buffer.

    You are smart. I like the way you make it work!! lol
  • Lori07
    Lori07 Posts: 136
    I cheat almost every weekend. I can't stand sitting next to my husband on the couch and he is eating an ice cream sandwich and I am not. lol Or chips or a chocolate bar or something very tasty. I will not go over my calories if I can help it but to me you can't just eat half of an ice cream sandwich.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I have yet to go over my calorie goal, but I would say I indulge every single day. I don't even consider it cheating. Whether it's a bowl of ice cream, a cupcake, a small order of french fries, a donut or waffles and bacon on a weekend morning, I have something that I see as decadent and delicious every single day. Eating like that makes it really easy for me to stay on track without ever feeling deprived.
  • DaniJeanine
    DaniJeanine Posts: 473 Member
    I allow myself to cheat 1 day per week. That means I eat whatever I want without counting it. I'm not all-out binging, but I don't hold back.

    As far as day-to-day, I eat natural peanut butter, some form of dark chocolate, and a glass of wine everyday. As long as it fits into your calorie goal then it's totally fine. That being said, peanut butter, dark chocolate, and wine are not classic "junk food". I wouldn't recommend anyone eat processed junk everyday--purely for health reasons. But if you have a food or drink you love, make it work :-)
  • mjemerson
    mjemerson Posts: 141
    I guess it depends on what you consider a cheat. Find a way to fit my creamer, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, and Hoffman sharp cheddar cheese into my days. You can take a look at my diary but I always stay in my goals. I will not cut things out completely because I think it is foolish to do that, no offense to anyone!!!!!! I have found though that I don't need as much anymore which helps.

    A true cheat day for me would be to order a large, meat pizza with extra cheese, chocolate eggs and a chocolate bunny, lol that is what I did last Friday. The only thing I do along with it is pound the water and I mean really really drink a lot!!! Then when you dont think you can drink anymore have another glass. The next morning I hadn't gained any weight, and I got right back on the band wagon. As for adding to your diary I usually do a quick calories add because I have NO idea how much I ate. Usually adding around 1500-2000. This is above and beyond whatever else I ate that day.

    I think a day like that is ok no more then once a week and I think there needs to be a true week, 7 days between, cheat days!
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    No such thing as cheating in my world. Once a week, on Saturday or Sunday, I splurge and eat whatever I want (cheeseburgers, pizza, cake, all of the above or none of the above, depending on desire). And yes, I go over on calories. WAY over. That's been an integral part of my system since the beginning, and it will be till the end (unless I ever do something crazy like enroll in some sort of body building competition, years down the road - not likely).

    Other than that, I don't "cheat", but sometimes circumstances (or lack of discipline) occur and I end up eating something outside of my regular "authorized" food. That's life. It happens once in a while. No need to obsess over it. And I never try to "make up" for it by eating less the next day or "exercising it off".
  • Micheller1210
    Micheller1210 Posts: 460 Member
    It depends on the paramiters you have put up in place to what you would call cheating, An eye opener for me was learning the difference between "indulgence". And "gorging", so I try to enjoy my indulgence withen my alloted calories. I don't have the guilt factor.
  • DaniJeanine
    DaniJeanine Posts: 473 Member
    It depends on the paramiters you have put up in place to what you would call cheating, An eye opener for me was learning the difference between "indulgence". And "gorging", so I try to enjoy my indulgence withen my alloted calories. I don't have the guilt factor.

    This is very true! There's 3500 calories in gaining a pound of weight, so if you "cheat" SO much that you're going 3500 calories over your daily allowance (which would be a definite binge) then you're crossing the line from indulgence to gorging. Make sure you don't go totally buck wild and you should be fine once per week lol
  • stacsir
    stacsir Posts: 9 Member
    I don't call my indulgences cheating. I eat what I want when I want. But here is the kicker, I search myfitnesspal for the caloric info prior to letting it slide past my lips. and then I make my choice if I think I really need whatever it may be or just want it. 90% of the time I pass after seeing the nutrition information.
  • MissAnjy
    MissAnjy Posts: 2,480 Member
    Not often enough, let's just say that lol
  • Brandicaloriecountess
    Brandicaloriecountess Posts: 2,126 Member
    About once every other week I eat something I normally would not, but I still stay within my calories.
  • pnieuw
    pnieuw Posts: 473
    I'm pretty good during the week, mostly because I stick to the food I bring to work, and my routine in the evenings. It's Saturday and Sunday, when I'm home during the day and have access to the fridge and snacks that get me in trouble. I'll indulge in a bowl of chips, and a cold beer, but ensure I have a balanced nutrition day, too. Once a week for me is great, and it keeps me from ripping open a bag of Doritos at 2 in the afternoon and feeling like crap later.

    Cheat - but count the calories!
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    Lately TOO often. I try to only have a "treat" night once a week and it ranges from just a few snacks to an entire day depending on the occasion (like wedding vs going to a movie)
  • amandavictoria80
    amandavictoria80 Posts: 734 Member
    Yea you have to burn more than you eat for the day.
    <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/797/9868/7979868.png&quot; /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Nutrition Facts</a> For Foods</small></p>

    I am so confused when I hear this! This concept means I would either have to burn more than 1300 calories per day or practically starve myself.

    Can someone please clarify this for me! :)
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