Cheat meals. Do you plan yours out?

mbethune123
mbethune123 Posts: 5 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Hello community!! I'm planning on having a cheat meal this weekend because I think I deserve it since I've been doing so well!

Do you still track your cheat meal even though it will take you over your calorie intake for the day? Do you save calories throughout the week to compensate? Do you just not track that day at all to avoid seeing a potentially high *kitten* number?!

I'm trying to plan and I don't know what route to take! Suggestions/personal experiences would be appreciated!

Replies

  • sashayoung72
    sashayoung72 Posts: 441 Member
    always track it! bite it write it! but i try to avoid cheat meals because i've done well, they seem to happen to often then. i chose celebrations such as birthday or family reunion. I'm 483 days in and nearly 80 lbs lighter, so this is what has been working for me.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    I track everything. Even the meals where I allow myself unlimited calories.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Actually, I'm planning a lunch out tomorrow and I've already selected the little bit they have on their menu that I can fit into my plan, so it's not a cheat meal. Cheating is when I go off my plan without planning to. That's unplanned. I don't plan for it. Is that plain?
  • Scamd83
    Scamd83 Posts: 808 Member
    If you track it for the purpose of making it fit into your daily/weekly calories, it isn't a cheat meal.
  • Troutrouter1968
    Troutrouter1968 Posts: 122 Member
    I eat at maintenance every Saturday and resume my deficit on Sunday.
  • nixxthirteen
    nixxthirteen Posts: 280 Member
    I don't "cheat". I prefer to fit treats into my every day diet.

    I save "over-indulging on purpose" for birthday parties, holiday dinners, getting a few drinks with friends. These all happen rarely these days anyway (hard on money as well as weight loss). Sometimes I plan ahead (tonight I'm going to a bar with friends, and pre-logged 2 cocktails and a cobb salad), sometimes I just decide on the fly but eat within reason.
  • mbethune123
    mbethune123 Posts: 5 Member
    nixxthirteen wrote: »
    I don't "cheat". I prefer to fit treats into my every day diet.

    I save "over-indulging on purpose" for birthday parties, holiday dinners, getting a few drinks with friends. These all happen rarely these days anyway (hard on money as well as weight loss). Sometimes I plan ahead (tonight I'm going to a bar with friends, and pre-logged 2 cocktails and a cobb salad), sometimes I just decide on the fly but eat within reason.


    That's actually a really good idea. Im going to pre log what I want to eat and go from there! Thank you for the helpful suggestion!
  • mbethune123
    mbethune123 Posts: 5 Member
    Asher_Ethan wrote: »
    I track everything. Even the meals where I allow myself unlimited calories.

    Okay. I'm going to do that! Thank you!
  • ericatoday
    ericatoday Posts: 454 Member
    I dont track it because i dont like to see it. I usually have 1 cheat meal a week never a whole cheat day. But ibtend to eat better during the day if i know im going to have my cheat meal which is always dinner for me or a dessert. But some track it. Its all what you want. Just remember 1 cheat meal wont hurt all your progress. But i noticed if my cheat meal is breakfast i tend to ruin my whole day
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
    My only concern is that you're calling it a cheat meal. By calling it a cheat meal you're implying you're doing something wrong. Same thing as applying this website is a diet app it's not a diet it's a lifestyle app.
    For our own personal reasons we've all decided to go on this journey of change. There's nothing wrong with going out with friends or family once in a while and enjoying yourself. If you make the journey miserable you're going to want it leave the journey.

    When I go out I log my calories. Don't lie to yourself it's a reality check it's a reminder of where you don't want to go on a daily basis.


  • fernnose
    fernnose Posts: 7 Member
    I say track it all. Even if you go over.
  • CandehMandeh
    CandehMandeh Posts: 66 Member
    I used to D:
  • MsBuzzkillington
    MsBuzzkillington Posts: 171 Member
    You're allowed to go over your calories sometimes, it's not a huge deal. But there's no reason not to track it. Just because you didn't track it or log it doesn't mean the calories didn't count. Your body is still counting those calories. Just log them and move on, or don't log them and still eat it. Either way it doesn't matter. But there's no real good reason to not log it.
  • donjtomasco
    donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
    I ran across this in the MFP Blog section on the first page on the right hand side. It addresses cheat meals and really makes sense. This is the link, or go to the blog section and you will see the article.

    http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-problem-with-cheat-days/
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
    if i have a day then i usually dont log. The next day back on it.
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