Cheat days. Yay or nay?

In the past when I've tried to lose weight (and did) I used this site/app to count my calories. I would allow myself a weekly "cheat" day where I would eat whatever I wanted. I found that, over time, combined with being too concerned with numbers on the scale and in my diary, it led me to an unhealthy relationship with food. I started to think of foods as either good or bad and would feel guilty if I indulged during the week. I would feel like a failure if I gave in to a craving and then think, well, I already ****ed up today, why even try to eat better?

This time around, I've ditched the scale and the cheat day. I'm more focused on just making better choices and going based on how I feel. Do I want an ice cream cone? Sure, sometimes. But being lactose intolerant, is it really worth feeling like crap after? In the morning I always crave something sweet. So instead of my usual donut or sugary cereal, which don't provide me with anything but a short burst of energy followed by a crash, I make myself a smoothie with lots of yummy fruit and combine it with a couple scrambled eggs for protein. I don't feel like I'm depriving myself of sugar, but my body feels more energetic and not as "weighed down" and sluggish after. I definitely still have something if I really want it, I just cut down on the portion I'd normally have. Last night I wanted Chinese food, so we ordered some and I ate half of what I normally would. My craving was satisfied and so was my hunger without eating too much.

So for me, I suppose I would say nay. If I really, really want something, I have it. If I crave something like sugar, I reach for fruit instead of candy. Cheat days are a bad idea for me, but do whatever works for you, as long as it doesn't become an unhealthy relationship.

amandajpiper wrote: »

Thanks again all! I did cheat yesterday but was cautious with breakfast and lunch so, even though I ate greasy pizza and sweets in the eve, I stayed within my plan! Yay!

You realize that it isn't "cheating" if you stayed within your calorie plan, right? It's just eating some food that might not be nutritionally optimal. Which is fine and won't affect your weight loss, although as a regular habit it might have nutritional consequences (pizza for dinner every single night would make it a challenge to hit protein goals for most people, for instance).

But you don't have to have a special day for that, and it's not "cheating" on your weight loss.

I don't plan any cheat days. However, I don't beat myself up if I have a day (or week) of slip ups. So, although I don't plan for cheat days I guess you could say that I accept that there will be the odd 'oh sh**' day, heh.

As long as it doesn't turn into a cheat-weekend, then cheat-week.
I would say Cheat Meal and walk your 10,000 steps that day.

No. I can't do cheat days. It makes it too hard to stay focused. It makes me feel like I'm starting all over again. I do have days where I go over because no one is perfect. I guess, it's more like a cheat meal than a day. I know I'll likely go over Friday because hubby and I are going out early to celebrate Valentine's day. I will log it and move on.

cityruss wrote: »

All that matters is energy balance.

Consume less calories than you use, over a sustained period, lose weight.
Consume more calories than you use, over a sustained period, gain weight.

How you come about this is totally up to you.

If you wish to term something a cheat meal, go for it, but it really is just like everything else, calories and macronutrients.

Nothing 'resets' your metabolism. As human beings we simply do not function that way. Unless you have a metabolic disorder, there is little point in even passing a thought to your metabolism, and certainly not to effecting it in any significant manner.

I'd personally drop the whole cheat/good/bad/crap/healthy/unhealthy view of foods in isolation, and develop a balanced dietary intake that encompasses the foods you like.

THIS.

I agree with those who say... it depends on the person. For some, it works great, they can lose and maintain. For others it doesn't, and it leads to the infamous downward spiral. Neither way is wrong or right.... but maybe just wrong or right for each individual.

For me, I can do both. I require about 2100-2300 cal per day to maintain. Some weeks, (special events, vacations, etc.) I have cheat days/meals.... with an adjustment of lower calories for the rest of the week. And other weeks I have 2100-2300 cal/day each day. As long as I average about 16000 calories per week, I'm good.

I don't lock myself into one way of eating. Life usually dictates my needs, and I have figured out how to maintain using either method. It's not any one day that will make or break you, but how many calories you eat week after week, month after month, year after year.

I'm actually a nay, just because naturally stuff comes up and becomes my cheat meal. (NEVER a day, usually a meal.)

Business lunches, birthdays, family dinners prepped by someone else, life has enough cheat meals in it that you don't need to plan extras in!