Are cheat days ok?

midwesterner85 wrote: »

Merkavar wrote: »

midwesterner85 wrote: »

SingRunTing wrote: »

Why not fit pizza and ice cream into your calorie goal? You might not be able to eat everything you want in one day, but you should be able to fit stuff in once in a while.

Heck I have ice cream every day. 1 serving is usually 150-170 calories. It's really not that hard to fit that in.

It depends on what you consider a "serving." Some of us struggle with hunger, so a calorie dense "serving" of 1 cup of ice cream is going to do nothing but leave us wanting more. If you are talking about pizza... I can easily scarf down a large pizza with 2,600 calories and still want to eat another.

My point: It depends on the individual. Some people can "fit" pizza and ice cream into their calories and be satisfied. Others are better off staying away from it entirely. Just figure out what works for you.

Doesn't everyone want more pizza? That just seems like a lesson you need to learn. Learn to stop your self, self control, that feeling hungry isn't going to kill you. If you know you have had enough calories, ignore the feeling.

You missed the point:

midwesterner85 wrote: »

a calorie dense "serving" of 1 cup of ice cream is going to do nothing but leave us wanting more.

Eating a small quantity does not satisfy the craving. My point is that some of us cannot "fit it into our calories" because the amount that fits our calories fails to accomplish the primary goal of satisfying a craving for that particular calorie-dense food.

Yes, I have to avoid Ben & Jerry's S'Mores because I wouldn't stop at the putative one serving of 310 calories - a serving for me is the whole container, which is 1,240 calories, and I can't budget that in.

Low fat ice cream doesn't do it for me either.

No cheat days. I had one day where I ate maintenance. I'd thought I'd do that once a week but I have to say, I like the progress I'm making and don't want to slow it. I want to have sustainable, forever weight loss, which for me means finding ways to enjoy life without wrecking my own goals and without thinking of excess food as a source of joy (I'm of the "find a way to fit it into my weekly calorie allowance" philosophy ).

Strangely enough, I've been wrestling with this question today and I've done a lot of reading on the subject today - this thread really helped.

In October I have a wedding to go to (sit down meal and evening food too, oh and alcohol), my eldest son's birthday (pizza night), my youngest son's birthday (all you can eat buffet treat for him and the family) and my birthday (you guessed it - pizza night) and they all fall within two weeks.

I loved the idea of a 'cheat meal' or a 'free meal' or a 'reward meal' or whatever you like to call it but the thought that all my work and effort over the month could be wiped out really upsets me.

I have decided I am going to take part in the pizza nights but cut back my portions drastically.

As for the wedding, I have to learn that not clearing my plates is not a sin during the daytime meal and the evening food I will be last to the buffet table rather than the first and I'm sure all the worst foods will have been taken and I can pick the healthier options from the scraps left behind. Sounds sad putting it that way but not as sad as I feel about being fat.

As for the all you can eat buffet for my son's birthday, I know I will be hitting the fresh water hard as well as the salad bar and perhaps the sushi. But I think the barbecue meats and oriental dishes with their sticky, rich sauces will have to be a very small part of my meal this time rather than the bulk of it and the desserts may be a more human size this time around.

I plan to try and keep within my daily allowances but know it will be difficult. On the positive side I KNOW it will be a lot less than I usually eat.

If this really is a new way of life for me rather than simply a diet I just have to accept it and learn how to incorporate these events into my weight loss plans without wiping out my hard work and effort completely (these events are the exception rather than the rule after all) - this is where the fight between the new me and the greedy pig of yesterday really begins in earnest. I'm in it for the long haul after all.

queenliz99 wrote: »

I eat a little less all week so I can have a lovely night out with my hubby. Try banking your calories, track them weekly not daily.

This! I do this too, works great

Yes.

Start managing calories of a week instead of days and you will be amazed at how much easier it is.

threadmad wrote: »

"Merkavar
Doesn't everyone want more pizza? That just seems like a lesson you need to learn. Learn to stop your self, self control, that feeling hungry isn't going to kill you. If you know you have had enough calories, ignore the feeling. "

Waaah! I have no self control! I've been thinking about Kettle Salt & Cracked Pepper potato chips for several days. Bought a bag today thinking I would limit myself to one serving. After eating half a bag, the only thing I can have for dinner is a protein shake. The lesson I learned is no cheat days for me.

Those are my favorite chips. I have learned to eat them in moderation. This takes practice. Maybe you shouldn't buy them for awhile. When you do buy them again, take a bowl full and roll the edge up and put them away for tomorrow.

My father used to LOVE having a cheat day. He theorized that even God took a day off when creating the universe! LOL

Unfortunately, that's not something I've been able to really get a hold of. I would go to the EXTREME and there'd be no looking back. It's too much "free license" for me.

Know thyself. If you can do it and it helps you survive this journey, by all means, go for it. If it would be the binge of the universe (like it would be for me), then rethink it. It's whatever works best for you.

queenliz99 wrote: »

threadmad wrote: »

"Merkavar
Doesn't everyone want more pizza? That just seems like a lesson you need to learn. Learn to stop your self, self control, that feeling hungry isn't going to kill you. If you know you have had enough calories, ignore the feeling. "

Waaah! I have no self control! I've been thinking about Kettle Salt & Cracked Pepper potato chips for several days. Bought a bag today thinking I would limit myself to one serving. After eating half a bag, the only thing I can have for dinner is a protein shake. The lesson I learned is no cheat days for me.

Those are my favorite chips. I have learned to eat them in moderation. This takes practice. Maybe you shouldn't buy them for awhile. When you do buy them again, take a bowl full and roll the edge up and put them away for tomorrow.

Well, the rest of the bag is rolled and clipped, sitting by my keyboard. I will not touch. I will not touch.
But I don't think I dare tempt myself again. I will finish the bag later this week after saving up for them. Maybe they'll be stale by then.

threadmad wrote: »

queenliz99 wrote: »

threadmad wrote: »

"Merkavar
Doesn't everyone want more pizza? That just seems like a lesson you need to learn. Learn to stop your self, self control, that feeling hungry isn't going to kill you. If you know you have had enough calories, ignore the feeling. "

Waaah! I have no self control! I've been thinking about Kettle Salt & Cracked Pepper potato chips for several days. Bought a bag today thinking I would limit myself to one serving. After eating half a bag, the only thing I can have for dinner is a protein shake. The lesson I learned is no cheat days for me.

Those are my favorite chips. I have learned to eat them in moderation. This takes practice. Maybe you shouldn't buy them for awhile. When you do buy them again, take a bowl full and roll the edge up and put them away for tomorrow.

Well, the rest of the bag is rolled and clipped, sitting by my keyboard. I will not touch. I will not touch.
But I don't think I dare tempt myself again. I will finish the bag later this week after saving up for them. Maybe they'll be stale by then.

Why is it sitting by your keyboard? Every time you see it, you have to make a decision whether or not to eat it. Your poor brain...

Next time, if there is a next time, try weighing out a serving and putting the bag out of site.

I do not have "cheat days". I lose weight slowly as it is, about 2-4 pounds a month. I log everything I eat and stay within 1000-1300 calories. There are a few foods I will not allow in the house, but aside from those, I will eat just about anything I want, just small quantities of higher calorie things I like.

For example, I love ice cream and there are so many good tasting flavors. I do often measure out 2/3 of a cup and eat that for a snack, but rarely more. I tell myself I can have some more tomorrow if I want to, that is enough. Yes, sometimes I even tell myself this out loud. And, yes, I do have another 2/3 of a cup the next evening if I want to.

That works for me!

I do 1-2 meals a week that I consider a treat, usually with my husband or a friend. I try to log it whenever possible but it's not perfect. It's been good enough for me. I don't think I would have lasted as long on this journey without them. It's taught me that it's okay to go "off script" sometimes and that I can just jump back on. My biggest boundary before was feelings of failure that would prevent me from trying again.

Like others here, I also try to pre-plan certain items during the week such as alcohol or snacks. Similar to the "banking" calories idea that others have posted here. Counting on a weekly basis. Nice way to have some items you like. Moderation is key. I could never just swear off foods. I found it best to just make things fit that were important for me, and just make sure I'm nutritionally balanced. If I end up having a very heavy day or two, I try to just balance it out with an extra work out or a lighter day the next day.

I don't have 'cheat days' - although I used to refer to them as such. I decided to stop seeing certain foods as 'cheating' because it was generally an unhealthy way to look at things. Food is food, some has more calories than others and absolutely nothing about that equals cheating for me. I very occasionally have 'non tracking' days - if I'm in a position where I literally can't track, I tend to use my common sense. There are times where I have 'eating at maintenance' days - because I feel like eating a substantial amount more than usual. All of this is totally okay. Just be aware of what you are eating - that's the key.