what is the point of cheat meals and/or cheat day?

skyhowl
skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
edited December 2 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, i was wondering why people eat cheat meals? does it serve any purpose other than eating something that isn't healthy that you like? I've read somewhere that when you're in a calorie deficit, cheat meals may trick your body into thinking "we're saved" so it can bring up your metabolic rate... is it just a myth? or is there any real science behind this?

also, as cheat meals are considered unhealthy... what is your definition of healthy food?
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Replies

  • MissusMoon
    MissusMoon Posts: 1,900 Member
    edited June 2016
    Cheat meals/days do not do anything for your metabolism.

    People have a lot of reasons. Some people can enjoy them from time to time and are successful. I see a lot of people take them as a free for all and then complain when they don't lose weight.

    For me personally, I don't do them.
  • fishy145
    fishy145 Posts: 11 Member
    For me, my "cheat days" are when I go out to eat with friends. These days I don't log because generally I overeat when I go out. Though because it's more expensive to eat out, I tend not too. Maybe once a month or so.
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    genpopadopolous wrote: »
    I eat occasional cheat meals because pretty much no amount of planning allows for a big bowl of queso and a margarita the size of my face.

    For me it's just a little reprieve from the grind.

    I only have one or two a month.

    I'm pretty sure the metabolism stuff is not a thing.

    i am wondering, do you still log your cheat meals?
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    Cheat meals/days do not do anything for your metabolism.

    People have a lot of reasons. Some people can enjoy them from time to time and are successful. I see a lot of people take them as a free for all and then complain when they don't lose weight.

    For me personally, I don't do them.

    i don't think i had a cheat day since i started logging here -though i only started logging 42 days ago- but i was wondering what do you usually eat in a day? do you have any treats or desserts -chocolate, cake, ...etc- ? do you count these as "unhealthy"?
  • SassyMommasaurus
    SassyMommasaurus Posts: 380 Member
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    genpopadopolous wrote: »
    I eat occasional cheat meals because pretty much no amount of planning allows for a big bowl of queso and a margarita the size of my face.

    For me it's just a little reprieve from the grind.

    I only have one or two a month.

    I'm pretty sure the metabolism stuff is not a thing.

    i am wondering, do you still log your cheat meals?

    yes, at least I do
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    jillianleigh1988 wrote: »
    Because if I had to give up everything I loved to eat forever i'd be pretty damn depressed lol.

    :D so what kind of food are you restricting on a regular day?
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    edited June 2016
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    Cheat meals/days do not do anything for your metabolism.

    People have a lot of reasons. Some people can enjoy them from time to time and are successful. I see a lot of people take them as a free for all and then complain when they don't lose weight.

    For me personally, I don't do them.

    i don't think i had a cheat day since i started logging here -though i only started logging 42 days ago- but i was wondering what do you usually eat in a day? do you have any treats or desserts -chocolate, cake, ...etc- ? do you count these as "unhealthy"?

    Oh yes! I eat pizza once per week. Steak. My freezer is full of single serve cups of ice cream! And I love my wine. I don't leave anything off limits. I make them fit when I want them. That does take some planning. I manage pretty well when I eat out, too.

    No, I don't count them as unhealthy. I eat lots of food that would be typically called "healthy". And I enjoy stuff that is pure indulgence, too. Even my ice cream has nutrients that are useful.

    well, i baked myself a cake and cut it into tiny pieces, about 142 calories per serving. i still log it and keep under my calorie limit. so i was wondering if i should consider this a cheat meal :) -i.e. i shouldn't do it regularly-
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    edited June 2016
    I have little to lose and since my TDEE is low I can't fit everything I want to in my daily goal so sometimes (very rarely for me) I have those things. Like a piece of cheesecake which is 400 calories and is impossible to fit in a normal day if I want to eat 3-4 times a day. I don't consider cheesecake unhealthy at all. I just can't normally afford it, especially on days where my TDEE is around 1500cals.

    I never call these "cheat" meals/days. I call them maintenance days.

    ETA: To answer your question: since I've been on this calorie counting plan for 4 months and plan to stay for another year or so the point of these days for me is to still enjoy some foods which I can't have every day.
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    edited June 2016
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    Cheat meals/days do not do anything for your metabolism.

    People have a lot of reasons. Some people can enjoy them from time to time and are successful. I see a lot of people take them as a free for all and then complain when they don't lose weight.

    For me personally, I don't do them.

    i don't think i had a cheat day since i started logging here -though i only started logging 42 days ago- but i was wondering what do you usually eat in a day? do you have any treats or desserts -chocolate, cake, ...etc- ? do you count these as "unhealthy"?

    Oh yes! I eat pizza once per week. Steak. My freezer is full of single serve cups of ice cream! And I love my wine. I don't leave anything off limits. I make them fit when I want them. That does take some planning. I manage pretty well when I eat out, too.

    No, I don't count them as unhealthy. I eat lots of food that would be typically called "healthy". And I enjoy stuff that is pure indulgence, too. Even my ice cream has nutrients that are useful.

    @MissusMoon do you make your pizza or order one? and if you make yours, can you recommend any recipe -i love pizza- :)
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    Cheat meals/days do not do anything for your metabolism.

    People have a lot of reasons. Some people can enjoy them from time to time and are successful. I see a lot of people take them as a free for all and then complain when they don't lose weight.

    For me personally, I don't do them.

    i don't think i had a cheat day since i started logging here -though i only started logging 42 days ago- but i was wondering what do you usually eat in a day? do you have any treats or desserts -chocolate, cake, ...etc- ? do you count these as "unhealthy"?

    Oh yes! I eat pizza once per week. Steak. My freezer is full of single serve cups of ice cream! And I love my wine. I don't leave anything off limits. I make them fit when I want them. That does take some planning. I manage pretty well when I eat out, too.

    No, I don't count them as unhealthy. I eat lots of food that would be typically called "healthy". And I enjoy stuff that is pure indulgence, too. Even my ice cream has nutrients that are useful.

    well, i baked myself a cake and cut it into tiny pieces, about 142 calories per serving. i still log it and keep under my calorie limit. so i was wondering if i should consider this a cheat meal :) -i.e. i shouldn't do it regularly-

    Since you're the one in charge of your life, you're the one setting the rules. You get to decide what's "cheating" and what's not, and what you can do regularly and what you can't. Unless you're a tiny, sedentary person, I can't see why you couldn't regularly work a 142-calorie treat into your day--but your life, your rules.
  • SassyMommasaurus
    SassyMommasaurus Posts: 380 Member
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    jillianleigh1988 wrote: »
    Because if I had to give up everything I loved to eat forever i'd be pretty damn depressed lol.

    :D so what kind of food are you restricting on a regular day?

    Pasta and Sweets, I could happily eat those two things every day but that's what got me here lol.
  • genpopadopolous
    genpopadopolous Posts: 411 Member
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    genpopadopolous wrote: »
    I eat occasional cheat meals because pretty much no amount of planning allows for a big bowl of queso and a margarita the size of my face.

    For me it's just a little reprieve from the grind.

    I only have one or two a month.

    I'm pretty sure the metabolism stuff is not a thing.

    i am wondering, do you still log your cheat meals?

    I do.

    The sticker shock seeing all those calories keeps me from wanting it too often!
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    TinklesOdd wrote: »

    i am wondering, do you still log your cheat meals?

    Oh yes, most definitely.
  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    I think that would be planning for treats and enjoying them in moderation...unless you go over your goal to have them
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    Cheat meals/days do not do anything for your metabolism.

    People have a lot of reasons. Some people can enjoy them from time to time and are successful. I see a lot of people take them as a free for all and then complain when they don't lose weight.

    For me personally, I don't do them.

    i don't think i had a cheat day since i started logging here -though i only started logging 42 days ago- but i was wondering what do you usually eat in a day? do you have any treats or desserts -chocolate, cake, ...etc- ? do you count these as "unhealthy"?

    Oh yes! I eat pizza once per week. Steak. My freezer is full of single serve cups of ice cream! And I love my wine. I don't leave anything off limits. I make them fit when I want them. That does take some planning. I manage pretty well when I eat out, too.

    No, I don't count them as unhealthy. I eat lots of food that would be typically called "healthy". And I enjoy stuff that is pure indulgence, too. Even my ice cream has nutrients that are useful.

    well, i baked myself a cake and cut it into tiny pieces, about 142 calories per serving. i still log it and keep under my calorie limit. so i was wondering if i should consider this a cheat meal :) -i.e. i shouldn't do it regularly-

    Since you're the one in charge of your life, you're the one setting the rules. You get to decide what's "cheating" and what's not, and what you can do regularly and what you can't. Unless you're a tiny, sedentary person, I can't see why you couldn't regularly work a 142-calorie treat into your day--but your life, your rules.

    i can fit them into my calorie limit, but i always think that in days when i get more sugar -in a cup of coffee or tea, fruits- i shouldn't eat more sugar. that's the main reason why i think i shouldn't eat it regularly.
    also sometimes when i eat sugar early in the day, i feel more hungry during the day.
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    MissusMoon wrote: »
    Cheat meals/days do not do anything for your metabolism.

    People have a lot of reasons. Some people can enjoy them from time to time and are successful. I see a lot of people take them as a free for all and then complain when they don't lose weight.

    For me personally, I don't do them.

    i don't think i had a cheat day since i started logging here -though i only started logging 42 days ago- but i was wondering what do you usually eat in a day? do you have any treats or desserts -chocolate, cake, ...etc- ? do you count these as "unhealthy"?

    Oh yes! I eat pizza once per week. Steak. My freezer is full of single serve cups of ice cream! And I love my wine. I don't leave anything off limits. I make them fit when I want them. That does take some planning. I manage pretty well when I eat out, too.

    No, I don't count them as unhealthy. I eat lots of food that would be typically called "healthy". And I enjoy stuff that is pure indulgence, too. Even my ice cream has nutrients that are useful.

    well, i baked myself a cake and cut it into tiny pieces, about 142 calories per serving. i still log it and keep under my calorie limit. so i was wondering if i should consider this a cheat meal :) -i.e. i shouldn't do it regularly-

    Since you're the one in charge of your life, you're the one setting the rules. You get to decide what's "cheating" and what's not, and what you can do regularly and what you can't. Unless you're a tiny, sedentary person, I can't see why you couldn't regularly work a 142-calorie treat into your day--but your life, your rules.

    i can fit them into my calorie limit, but i always think that in days when i get more sugar -in a cup of coffee or tea, fruits- i shouldn't eat more sugar. that's the main reason why i think i shouldn't eat it regularly.
    also sometimes when i eat sugar early in the day, i feel more hungry during the day.

    Sugar makes me craving more too so that is why I avoid eating alot of it. But apart from appetite and obviously the calorie content, sugar in general is not bad for you unless you have diabetes.
  • Jpat0
    Jpat0 Posts: 201 Member
    edited June 2016
    It means something different for everyone.

    First, what is a cheat meal/day?
    • It's basically when you go above your maintenance. This could be comprised of large portions of "healthy foods" or treating yourself to a 600 cal cake or 2-3 slices of pizza.

    What is healthy food?
    • For me, it's something with a lot of nutrition value (most important: may it be protein powder, garden salad, egg white-avocado-black bean sandwich etc.)
    • Something that fills you up without using too many of your daily calories
    • Something that makes you feel good and not groggy

    Some people avoid it completely due to the possibility of relapsing. By this I mean going back to old eating habits and eventually gaining everything back. Cutting back calories is a difficult task for many, especially if you were eating almost double what you were supposed to. As a result, avoiding tempting foods is a way for many to cope and prefer being very strict with their diet.

    Many enjoy rewarding their progress by eating over their maintenance at a given time. This could be eating out, it could be taking seconds of a "healthy" dish or "unhealthy" dish, it could be not burning calories a certain day. There are many ways people can choose to interpret their cheat day or meal.

    Lastly, there are people who include all sorts of meals, healthy or unhealthy into their diets. For many it may seem like many cheat meals but they include it into their daily calories. If their daily goal is 1200 and they choose to eat a 600 cal cake, they'll carefully balance out the remaining 600 throughout the day. These individuals don't deprive themselves of any treats and work hard to fight temptation.

    So, there isn't one meaning behind it. It's different for everyone. I personally eat whatever I want as long as I hit my target everyday. However, I've noticed if I eat calorie packed meals just to satisfy my tastes, it's not worth the starving feeling for rest of the day. Over the years, I've found many recipes that are low in calories and fill me up. My tastes have also changed, as I prefer fresh greens over anything fried.
  • Wetcoaster
    Wetcoaster Posts: 1,788 Member
    http://scoopempire.com/cheat-win-why-cheat-diet-right/#.V1SlDjUYE4c


    Final Thoughts

    Life doesn’t only revolve around your diet’s success – you have several battles to fight, whether at work or at home. Your willpower is a finite source, and you can’t rely on your willpower for eternity, so be strategic and learn how to expend it. Reload your willpower with the infrequent extra calories, if they help.

    However, never build your week around that meal because when your main goal is to be ripped/toned, your first thought can’t be the cheat meal.

    Never let a cheat meal turn into a cheat month, because no matter how long you spend climbing out of a hole, you can still fall down in an instant and the higher you climb, the harder you fall. If you give up to the voice in your head of: “I’ve been too good, a cheat week won’t ruin anything”, you’ll regret it in no time. This may sound harsh, but based on personal experience, it’s true. Indulging ourselves with food is one of the fastest regrets in life.

    Avoid extreme and hard diets to steer clear from developing food disorders. A balanced diet is the way to go.
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    Wetcoaster wrote: »
    http://scoopempire.com/cheat-win-why-cheat-diet-right/#.V1SlDjUYE4c


    Final Thoughts

    Life doesn’t only revolve around your diet’s success – you have several battles to fight, whether at work or at home. Your willpower is a finite source, and you can’t rely on your willpower for eternity, so be strategic and learn how to expend it. Reload your willpower with the infrequent extra calories, if they help.

    However, never build your week around that meal because when your main goal is to be ripped/toned, your first thought can’t be the cheat meal.

    Never let a cheat meal turn into a cheat month, because no matter how long you spend climbing out of a hole, you can still fall down in an instant and the higher you climb, the harder you fall. If you give up to the voice in your head of: “I’ve been too good, a cheat week won’t ruin anything”, you’ll regret it in no time. This may sound harsh, but based on personal experience, it’s true. Indulging ourselves with food is one of the fastest regrets in life.

    Avoid extreme and hard diets to steer clear from developing food disorders. A balanced diet is the way to go.

    thank you :)
  • emmylootwo
    emmylootwo Posts: 172 Member
    I do "free" days (I don't like calling it a cheat) because there are foods that I like that are hard for me to log accurately on a regular basis. I like to go out and eat dinner with my family and go see a movie. There's not really a health reason for doing it. :P I will say, in the past, I have broken through plateaus by having these free days/meals. Not sure if it was a coincidence or whatever, but it works for me.
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
    emmylootwo wrote: »
    I do "free" days (I don't like calling it a cheat) because there are foods that I like that are hard for me to log accurately on a regular basis. I like to go out and eat dinner with my family and go see a movie. There's not really a health reason for doing it. :P I will say, in the past, I have broken through plateaus by having these free days/meals. Not sure if it was a coincidence or whatever, but it works for me.

    well yeah, that's what i was told as their only benefit "plateaus", which i haven't reached yet. not sure about it but since i am still starting this, i will see on the long run if it does help or not. thank you :)
  • ElizabethOakes2
    ElizabethOakes2 Posts: 1,038 Member
    I don't have 'cheat' days. I'm not cheating anyone by eating a little more on one day rather than another. I have treat days, where I don't stress myself about weighing every last gram and counting every last calorie. For example, lst night, my husband and I went out for a gourmet meal. I drank a glass of wine AND we shared a dessert. I knocked over my daily calorie allowance by about 300 calories, and that's only a rough estimate since I can't exactly go in the kitchen demand the chef to tell me recipes! :) But it was worth every bite. Plus, I know I'd already done four 5-mile power walks this week, and not eaten back the calories, so I know I had the 'spares' to do that.

    If you're going all out binging and eating twice your TDEE, then no, you're not going to lose weight.
  • fatty2sixpack
    fatty2sixpack Posts: 67 Member
    Cheat meals or days are for people who mostly their whole lives were eating junk food or unhealthy food but are trying to create a healthy lifestyle. It helps them commit to eating healthy cuz every once in awhile they will want a treat.
  • geneticsteacher
    geneticsteacher Posts: 623 Member
    No cheat days, but life tends to happen - holidays, birthdays, guests, etc. I may eat over on these occasions, but usually don't go too crazy and ALWAYS log.
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