Cheat days ?
Replies
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I like the idea that the use of the word 'cheat' isn't really a good way to frame it. I wouldn't want to call it a 'fun' day either though, because I find looking at food as entertainment is a terrible idea for me. What would it be called if not a cheat meal or cheat day?
Nothing, it doesn't need to be named, as it's not a thing.
How about a "Today I ate a dietary intake that resulted in a calorie surplus because I chose to eat foods that resulted in that surplus"
Or a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day.
Obviously a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day, can be a TDIAADITRIACDBICTEFTRITS day, if a deficit is achieved.
Or a TDIAADITRIACMLBICTEFTRITS, if a maintenance level of calories is achieved.
You, I like.0 -
I like the idea that the use of the word 'cheat' isn't really a good way to frame it. I wouldn't want to call it a 'fun' day either though, because I find looking at food as entertainment is a terrible idea for me. What would it be called if not a cheat meal or cheat day?
Nothing, it doesn't need to be named, as it's not a thing.
How about a "Today I ate a dietary intake that resulted in a calorie surplus because I chose to eat foods that resulted in that surplus"
Or a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day.
Obviously a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day, can be a TDIAADITRIACDBICTEFTRITS day, if a deficit is achieved.
Or a TDIAADITRIACMLBICTEFTRITS, if a maintenance level of calories is achieved.
I'm just going to have to call it a sabotage day now, because that's what it is for me. I guess there are a few things I miss about being obese.
Warm in all weather.
Never needed to pad a chair because I had my own on me.
Burned more than double the calories I do now for the same workout.
And I could have a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS once in awhile and not have to pay for it for weeks.0 -
I do "no tracking days" a few times a year. Vacation and special holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc) and my birthday.
I might be eating over maintenance on those days, I might not. It's just a chance for me to relax and enjoy the day. These are pre-planned and few.
Other than that, I work my treats into my calorie allowance.0 -
My "cheat" AKA don't count calories days: Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.0
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SingRunTing wrote: »I do "no tracking days" a few times a year. Vacation and special holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc) and my birthday.
I might be eating over maintenance on those days, I might not. It's just a chance for me to relax and enjoy the day. These are pre-planned and few.
Other than that, I work my treats into my calorie allowance.
This. I do the very occasional 'no tracking day'. I refer to it as that too. I don't go overboard, I just... eat as a normal human being would without logging. Doesn't usually make a difference in the weight loss at the end of the week so I can't be going wrong!
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When I was obese I could have a cheat day. Now it takes blood sweat, tears, whining, sobbing, and sweating to lose anything because my BMR is less than 1500 cal a day. No way can I have a cheat meal, much less a day, because my idea of a cheat is a stupid amount of food anyway. One cheat meal equals bye bye all my hard work for at least a week. A cheat day and I'd knock out a month.
Right there with you!0 -
thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
having somthing i wouldnt usually have like chilli or a chicken dinner or pizza
why would those foods be cheating? They can be part of an overall healthy diet….
Maybe the type of pizza or chicken doesn't work with their calorie limits on a regular day. Or the amount they want to eat is higher than usual
again that does not make them "bad" or "cheats"....
food = food, assigning moral values to it is useless and counterproductive0 -
thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
having somthing i wouldnt usually have like chilli or a chicken dinner or pizza
why would those foods be cheating? They can be part of an overall healthy diet….
Maybe the type of pizza or chicken doesn't work with their calorie limits on a regular day. Or the amount they want to eat is higher than usual
again that does not make them "bad" or "cheats"....
food = food, assigning moral values to it is useless and counterproductive
^^ that.
food is food. it fits in your calories or it doesn't. going over your calories isn't the end of the world. i do it all the time and have managed to lose 70 pounds and am still losing. i eat what i want.0 -
thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
having somthing i wouldnt usually have like chilli or a chicken dinner or pizza
why would those foods be cheating? They can be part of an overall healthy diet….
Maybe the type of pizza or chicken doesn't work with their calorie limits on a regular day. Or the amount they want to eat is higher than usual
again that does not make them "bad" or "cheats"....
food = food, assigning moral values to it is useless and counterproductive
Co-signed.0 -
thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
having somthing i wouldnt usually have like chilli or a chicken dinner or pizza
why would those foods be cheating? They can be part of an overall healthy diet….
Maybe the type of pizza or chicken doesn't work with their calorie limits on a regular day. Or the amount they want to eat is higher than usual
again that does not make them "bad" or "cheats"....
food = food, assigning moral values to it is useless and counterproductivecallsitlikeiseeit wrote: »thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
having somthing i wouldnt usually have like chilli or a chicken dinner or pizza
why would those foods be cheating? They can be part of an overall healthy diet….
Maybe the type of pizza or chicken doesn't work with their calorie limits on a regular day. Or the amount they want to eat is higher than usual
again that does not make them "bad" or "cheats"....
food = food, assigning moral values to it is useless and counterproductive
^^ that.
food is food. it fits in your calories or it doesn't. going over your calories isn't the end of the world. i do it all the time and have managed to lose 70 pounds and am still losing. i eat what i want.
yh maybe it shouldn't be called a cheat more like a reward it may be within my goals but its not the food that i should be eating all week.
also food = food no. on that bases i could eat sweets and chocolate all day and keep within my goals. if you want to tone up then you need to reduce carbs and increase protein its not all in the calories.0 -
I like the idea that the use of the word 'cheat' isn't really a good way to frame it. I wouldn't want to call it a 'fun' day either though, because I find looking at food as entertainment is a terrible idea for me. What would it be called if not a cheat meal or cheat day?
Nothing, it doesn't need to be named, as it's not a thing.
How about a "Today I ate a dietary intake that resulted in a calorie surplus because I chose to eat foods that resulted in that surplus"
Or a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day.
Obviously a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day, can be a TDIAADITRIACDBICTEFTRITS day, if a deficit is achieved.
Or a TDIAADITRIACMLBICTEFTRITS, if a maintenance level of calories is achieved.
We did need another acronym around here
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thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
having somthing i wouldnt usually have like chilli or a chicken dinner or pizza
why would those foods be cheating? They can be part of an overall healthy diet….
Maybe the type of pizza or chicken doesn't work with their calorie limits on a regular day. Or the amount they want to eat is higher than usual
again that does not make them "bad" or "cheats"....
food = food, assigning moral values to it is useless and counterproductivecallsitlikeiseeit wrote: »thebrandnewdiva wrote: »
having somthing i wouldnt usually have like chilli or a chicken dinner or pizza
why would those foods be cheating? They can be part of an overall healthy diet….
Maybe the type of pizza or chicken doesn't work with their calorie limits on a regular day. Or the amount they want to eat is higher than usual
again that does not make them "bad" or "cheats"....
food = food, assigning moral values to it is useless and counterproductive
^^ that.
food is food. it fits in your calories or it doesn't. going over your calories isn't the end of the world. i do it all the time and have managed to lose 70 pounds and am still losing. i eat what i want.
yh maybe it shouldn't be called a cheat more like a reward it may be within my goals but its not the food that i should be eating all week.
also food = food no. on that bases i could eat sweets and chocolate all day and keep within my goals. if you want to tone up then you need to reduce carbs and increase protein its not all in the calories.
nice straw man argument about eating chocolate all day, absolutely no one is advocating that.
when I sad food = food I meant that it is just food, and is not good, bad, satan, heavenly, etc.
from an energy perspective 100 calories of chocolate = 100 calories of green beans; however, they are not nutritionally the same.0 -
Food is food. My mindset about certain foods, however, matters. If I'm eating for entertainment that is a problem for me. Except on extremely rare occasions like major holidays (shut up brain, Halloween doesn't count!).
It might not be a problem for others, however, either because a small amount is entertainment enough for them or because they have the calories to spare. And I'm fine with that. They're not being bad people for having some cake on a weekend!0 -
No no no. I won't cheat myself. Its a game im not willing to try. Staying within my calories. There is a sense of pride with that and it keeps me motivated.0
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I just eat...my diet overall is very healthy...but sometimes I overeat because it's a party or a BBQ or holiday or whatever...I don't really consider it cheating and for the most part, occasions like this are pretty irrelevant to the whole of my diet throughout the year.0
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sunandmoons wrote: »No no no. I won't cheat myself. Its a game im not willing to try. Staying within my calories. There is a sense of pride with that and it keeps me motivated.
This I like!!0 -
I only cheat when I really really want something. I get it out of my system and I'm good to go again. It's typically every 4 or 5 weeks but everyone is different.0
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I have a cheat day on special occasions such as my birthday, thanksgiving, and Christmas. I usually just go nuts and eat all the things I don't normally get to have like cake, pie, candy, bread, chips. Doing this once in a while has no negative affects on long term trends.0
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I eat whatever I want as long it's within my calories, so when it comes time for a cheat meal I just allow myself 200-300 more calories for that day. Usually no more than my maintenance level.0
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I quite like one particular effect of a higher calorie day (not gonna call it a cheat because that just sounds silly to me, and plus I'm in maintenance, so there is no finite 'diet' to 'cheat' on taking place anymore) - the day after, my runs are always longer/I swim faster/I can lift heavier things or complete more sets with a bit more energy in the tank.0
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thebrandnewdiva wrote: »brianpperkins wrote: »Why the false equation between a cheat day and binging (disordered behavior)?
Most ppl go all out on cheat days and binge to make up for the restriction. I'm simply saying that I don't feel comfortable doing that and look at cheat days as more of a break from counting
This is the only way to cheat yourself. Binge, overeat, eat chocolate all day if you want. But log it. If you don't, why are you logging any day? What good is 6 days worth of data to go on if the 7th day could have negated any deficit you've created the other 6? Without logging day 7, you won't know what your overall deficit is when you come back here in 2 months complaining you're not losing.
Log every day. If you're out or travelling, still log. Do your best. That's what's going to help you figure out how to make this whole calorie thing work for you.0 -
thebrandnewdiva wrote: »brianpperkins wrote: »Why the false equation between a cheat day and binging (disordered behavior)?
Most ppl go all out on cheat days and binge to make up for the restriction. I'm simply saying that I don't feel comfortable doing that and look at cheat days as more of a break from counting
This is the only way to cheat yourself. Binge, overeat, eat chocolate all day if you want. But log it. If you don't, why are you logging any day? What good is 6 days worth of data to go on if the 7th day could have negated any deficit you've created the other 6? Without logging day 7, you won't know what your overall deficit is when you come back here in 2 months complaining you're not losing.
Log every day. If you're out or travelling, still log. Do your best. That's what's going to help you figure out how to make this whole calorie thing work for you.
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No but I just get 1200 cals and have 9 lbs. To go.0
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I don't do cheat days. It's not my jam.
I eat within my calorie goals and if by some chance I do not, I still log it. Logging is information....that I can learn from. Hiding information from myself doesn't change the calories I put in my face.
^This. Plus I have things I like when I want them anyway. I'm not moved to have huge quantities of them at all.
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I like the idea that the use of the word 'cheat' isn't really a good way to frame it. I wouldn't want to call it a 'fun' day either though, because I find looking at food as entertainment is a terrible idea for me. What would it be called if not a cheat meal or cheat day?
Nothing, it doesn't need to be named, as it's not a thing.
How about a "Today I ate a dietary intake that resulted in a calorie surplus because I chose to eat foods that resulted in that surplus"
Or a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day.
Obviously a TDIAADITRIACSBICTEFTRITS day, can be a TDIAADITRIACDBICTEFTRITS day, if a deficit is achieved.
Or a TDIAADITRIACMLBICTEFTRITS, if a maintenance level of calories is achieved.
Love this0 -
thebrandnewdiva wrote: »brianpperkins wrote: »Why the false equation between a cheat day and binging (disordered behavior)?
Most ppl go all out on cheat days and binge to make up for the restriction. I'm simply saying that I don't feel comfortable doing that and look at cheat days as more of a break from counting
I don't take breaks from counting because I want to be able to look back at what I ate, what I exercised, and what I lost, and figure out my (approximate) true, real-life deficit and true TDEE, not a statistically average one that may not be correct for me. But I'm a data geek, and that may not be an issue for everyone.
You do see posts on here occasionally from people who newly started logging their so-called "cheat days" and found those days were why they weren't losing weight as expected. They were wiping out most or all of the rest of the week's deficit.
I sometimes eat more than my calorie goal, but I try only to do this if it's a special occasion: Party, celebration, special (not routine) dinner out with friends, etc. I still try to be reasonable, but not super-restrictive. Then I log it, and go on. I figure I'm trying to establish a new way of running my life, a better relationship with food. There is *no way* I'm willing to go my whole life without eating birthday cake, drinking a beer or two on a special occasion, etc. It's not cheating, it's life. Sometimes I plan for it by eating a little less in advance of special days, sometimes not.I like the idea that the use of the word 'cheat' isn't really a good way to frame it. I wouldn't want to call it a 'fun' day either though, because I find looking at food as entertainment is a terrible idea for me. What would it be called if not a cheat meal or cheat day?
Um, I think I call it "eating food". If necessary to distinguish, "eating food over my calorie goal".0 -
Excellent answer @PinkPixiexox and a great diet/fitness ethic. I used to have a 'cheat', or as I preferred it, a reward day (not just a reward meal) once a week on Sundays and while I could still lose weight it was more difficult because I would be looking forward to the next reward day from Monday. I will look at incorporating more of the things I like and fit it around logging my food intake and any exercise I (try to) do during the week.PinkPixiexox wrote: »I don't have them because since joining MFP, I've come to learn a lot about my relationship with food and calling any high calorie food 'cheating' just enforces that I'm doing something I shouldn't be - eating. I take issue with this kind of attitude towards my food. I don't cheat, I work damm hard for that pizza to equal me being a cheater! I eat what I like in moderation - be it pizza, chocolate, crisps. I'll have it. But I'm still winning!
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So you lose a few pounds through extreme caloric restriction then do something you equate with a binge?0
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