Do you believe in having a weekly cheat meal? what's your reason?

As my heading states, what are your opinions on a weekly cheat meal?

I'm kinda leaning towards being pro, perhaps a nice idea for a sunday eve to end off a successful week of hard training and clean eating.

Where do you draw the line though?

What do you classify as too much of a cheat meal?

Replies

cwolfman13

I just eat food...my diet is overwhelmingly healthy...but sometimes I have pizza...sometimes I have cake...sometimes I have a cookie...sometimes I over eat, etc. I don't see that as cheating...cheating implies that I'm doing something wrong and I don't give my food moral values like that.

Sharon009

I do my own version of a cheat meal/day. Cheating used to be eating very unhealthy and over the calorie limit at one meal. Now if I want to cheat, I make a healthy version of the 'bad' stuff. Like homemade ice cream, apple crisp, the biggest peanut cookie I can fit in the toaster over, my own pizza made with whole food ingredients. This weekend I'm trying a recipe for a healthy version of Baskin Robbins Pumpkin Ice Cream cake that I found online.
I'm trying to be very mindful of everything I put in my body. If my cheat meal is ultra healthy, it keeps me from going completely off the rails.

notcrazychef

I have been having a cheat day regularly Once a week over a weekend I do not count calories it really helped me to get a grip with calorie counting, I read a good chapter in the 4 hour body book that goes into having a cheat day weekly and a pre set things to do before it and during, this really helps.

lulucitron

I overindulge the odd time but don't schedule it. It usually involves a pub burger, fries and a chocolate sundae and always results in one kick *kitten* workout the next day. I have the energy of 20 grinches plus two haha

Lorleee

Sure. On the weekend we'll go out for dinner and I'll have something I don't normally eat during the week -like pasta or pizza, and share dessert with the hubby. That's usually when I'll have some wine or cider, too. I realize I can eat all of these things whenever I want if I work them into my daily calories, but it's not worth it to me to do so - I'd rather see some of these foods as a "treat" as opposed to these foods being my norm. But that's what works for me, personally and helps me to stay on track.

J72FIT

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I just eat food...my diet is overwhelmingly healthy...but sometimes I have pizza...sometimes I have cake...sometimes I have a cookie...sometimes I over eat, etc. I don't see that as cheating...cheating implies that I'm doing something wrong and I don't give my food moral values like that.

Love that!

robertw486

If I've earned it I eat whatever I want certain days. Rather then view each day as a "make it or break it" event, I look at my entire week and the long term goal.

As time progresses, my big eating days are usually healthier than they used to be. But eating a piece of cake or a nice meal out isn't going to break me and long term progress.

Personally I say do what works for you.

pennypuffkin

I like the idea of a cheat meal / cheat day, but I find myself unable to just indulge in one treat. I tend to go overboard and eat until I'm sick.

I'm trying to be better about saving my "cheating" for upcoming events (camping, visiting family, weddings, etc) so that my occasional binge doesn't derail my weight loss efforts.

Fitness_WonderWoman

Honestly I never understood the reason why people have cheat days. Because let's be honest.. Meals are something you shouldn't regret. We need to eat. It's how we eat that makes the difference. I think of it this way. You have a party and cake is being served.. Have a slice.. But decide how much cake you want.. And don't regret it. I feel like too many people get tripped up on cheat days and when that happens.. They then in turn want to diet and diet and diet more to hopefully get rid of the cake or "bad" food they had. You have to make a smart decision. If you want wings for dinner, eat wings but decide before hand how much you believe is reasonable to eat. If you believe eating 5 slices of cake is going to make you hard on yourself afterwards.. Then eat one slice and see how you feel. Some people don't realize.. You can and should eat whatever you like. Just make sure you take in account how much of it you really need.. Or want. It will help you better decide how to handle your "cheat days"

sngglebune

I'm carb cycling so I don't cheat but I have a free day, which means I stay within a calorie limit but my meals are not pre-planned and I'm not rigid about my nutrition. The idea of cheating implies your doing something wrong whereas a free day means you can choose what you want and not feel guilty. Good nutrition is a mindset so I don't even call it a diet.

OneHundredToLose

Basically the way I've been dealing with cravings for terrible food is just eating less throughout the day, then having whatever I want for dinner. I'm lucky enough to have a high calorie goal even for weight loss right now (~2600 calories), so I can easily sustain myself off of 1000 calories throughout the day and have a big elaborate meal for dinner if I want to, and still be within my goal.

The other day I ate almost nothing throughout the day, then pigged out on Carl's JR for dinner. It was awesome.

bhoward59

I'm on Jenny Craig and my weight-in day is Thursday. I give myself a cheat day friday with just dinner. I eat pizza. I will eat the 4 corners and one regular square size slice. Then the next couple of days I drank an extra bottle of water. I've weighted myself the next day just to see the damage. It's usually just a 1/2 lb. By the following week I still lose 1 - 1 1/2 lbs. I'm satisfied that I ate my favorite food and still lost weight. I've done it now like 8 weeks. Weather I'll be sorry later I don't know. I have 15 lbs to get to my half way point. I haven't hit any plateaus yet and I'm hoping I don't hit one.

skeeblue8

I have heard people say oh I am having a cheat day. A whole day. Not for me. I feel a small cheat is okay. I love burgers and pizza two bad foods for dieting. So a cheat for me may be a hamburger but not weekly. You can treat yourself with snack and still stay in your calorie goals by altering ur other meals or working out.

tecobb1

kirzz92 wrote: »

As my heading states, what are your opinions on a weekly cheat meal?

I'm kinda leaning towards being pro, perhaps a nice idea for a sunday eve to end off a successful week of hard training and clean eating.

Where do you draw the line though?

What do you classify as too much of a cheat meal?

tecobb1

I have cheat meal all the time.

TamLam99

A cheat meal could easily undo an entire week of calorie deficit for me.

If I want something special I find a way to fit it in, either by exercising more or eating lighter for a day or two.

Mezzie1024

I have regular maintenance days and occasional maintenance weeks. That's all part of my plan, and I don't consider that cheating. Even a day I eat everything in sight (some months it's inevitable; thank you, hormones) isn't cheating as far as I'm concerned. It's a day I was extra hungry so I ate more. I log it and move on. I haven't suffered a single negative consequence from any of this, and I never, ever feel guilty about food.