Treat days once a week?!

Never a cheat day, only a weekly cheat meal.

Most weeks, I bank some calories during the week so I can loosen up on weekends, just ensuring that my total calories for the week stay where MFP says I should be for 7 days worth of calories. I like this approach because it's not all decided by one day - it's the ebbs and flows over time, which is more realistic to life, I think. But, you should still record everything on your cheat meal or day - otherwise, you don't really know how many calories you ate and how you should adjust the rest of the week to account for the excess. I lost 150 lbs using this approach and have used the same method for the year and a half since I met my goal, so I'm convinced it can't be but so bad!

I have a 'cheat' day but i make sure i don't go over 2,000 calories. Its more of less when i have family get togethers and i don't feel like trying to under eat.


Everyone always say: you cant lose weight in a day. And therefore you cant gain weight in a day. Splurge a little, but be mindfull and don't go too overboard!

xtina315 wrote: »

I've been eating whatever I want, within my 1400 cal allotment, and still losing

Yep, just eating what I love within my calorie limit is how I've lost 34 kg (75 lbs) since April.

cdcjensen wrote: »

Most weeks, I bank some calories during the week so I can loosen up on weekends, just ensuring that my total calories for the week stay where MFP says I should be for 7 days worth of calories. I like this approach because it's not all decided by one day - it's the ebbs and flows over time, which is more realistic to life, I think. But, you should still record everything on your cheat meal or day - otherwise, you don't really know how many calories you ate and how you should adjust the rest of the week to account for the excess. I lost 150 lbs using this approach and have used the same method for the year and a half since I met my goal, so I'm convinced it can't be but so bad!

^^ This. I use the same approach, because if I stuck rigidly to my calories each day some days when i've exercised a lot, like gone for a long run, i'd be scrabbling around in the cupboard trying to find things to eat to hit my calorie goal when i'm not even hungry, but other days (mainly weekends) i'd go over my goal easily, so I just make sure that I stay within my weekly goal. I work a 'treat' into every day, I can't live without chocolate, so I eat some every single day, it's just about finding the right balance and what works for you personally.

xtina315 wrote: »

I've been eating whatever I want, within my 1400 cal allotment, and still losing

This, but I'm allowed 1700 calories. Have lost 18 pounds in 2 1/2 months so far.

I used to do those cheat days where I didn't log all day and I think since I've stopped doing that and am actually logging at maintenance (i tend to do this on saturdays only) I noticed I am still losing at a consistent rate rather then slower then I'd like.

cdcjensen wrote: »

Most weeks, I bank some calories during the week so I can loosen up on weekends, just ensuring that my total calories for the week stay where MFP says I should be for 7 days worth of calories. I like this approach because it's not all decided by one day - it's the ebbs and flows over time, which is more realistic to life, I think. But, you should still record everything on your cheat meal or day - otherwise, you don't really know how many calories you ate and how you should adjust the rest of the week to account for the excess. I lost 150 lbs using this approach and have used the same method for the year and a half since I met my goal, so I'm convinced it can't be but so bad!

This is my approach as well, and it works very well for me. I don't have cheat days or treat days, but I tend to eat more on the weekends and prefer to have the calorie flexibility then instead of during the week. I still eat whatever I want to eat during the week, including making room for treats like ice cream, but I am very careful about portions and moderation.

Just make sure that your treat/cheat day still fits within your weekly calories. Keep in mind that one day of eating whatever you want in whatever quantities you want may stall weight loss or even cause weight gain, especially if your weekly deficit is relatively conservative. If your MFP is set to lose 0.5 lbs/week, your weekly deficit should be approximately 1750 calories. You can very easily wipe out an entire weeks deficit in one meal at an italian restaurant.