Does anyone believe in cheat days?
Gorgeous84me
Posts: 6 Member
I've found that having a cheat day works for me especially on the weekends what do you guys think
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Replies
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I don't need cheat days, since I didn't cut out any foods. I have Oreos and gelato in my diary today within my calorie and macro goals.
Some days I do eat up to maintenance, though. So I guess maybe that's a "cheat" day? I don't know.5 -
Alyssa_Is_LosingIt wrote: »I don't need cheat days, since I didn't cut out any foods.
Pretty much same here, I don't try to deprive myself and if I go over my target occasionally I don't lose any sleep over it.
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I don't call them cheat days...I have days when I'm definitely probably over and other days when I'm probably under...I don't log so I don't really know exactly, but I just roll with life and live it good for the most part...train hard and eat well for the most part...and hit up some pizza now and then.1
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I am usually good Monday-Friday when I am eating my meal prep. I do the best I can on the weekend, but I usually do have some unofficial cheat meals that take me to about maintenance. It's not official and when I can I try to stick to a good diet over the weekend, but life happens! Will I hit my goals as fast, no. But I knocked off the first 15 pounds and only have about 10 more to go, so I can ease up a bit. I did find that the first few weeks I eased up (i.e. the first few cheat days) were really bad. So now I try to be a lot better over the weekend, instead of doing a full out cheat day. It is really up to you and what will help you stick to your goals!2
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I follow #iifym so I don't need a cheat day. I eat what I want and when I want it.0
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I think it's good mentally so you don't go insane if your trying to 'eat clean' all the time1
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I'm with the others - as long as I stay within my calorie allotment every day, I can eat what I want...
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I don't really believe in cheat days. What I believe in is planning ahead. For instance, if I have date night with hubby and we decide to eat out, I KNOW that something I order is going to be fried because I don't fry things in my house. Therefore, I will eat lightly that day, perhaps eating a big salad (low cal) with some protein so I can fit that fried thing in ...
For those unplanned moments like a lunch with a friend that breezed through town ... I just make sure that I eat lightly the rest of the day as well as the next. As long as my overall average for the week balances out for me, I call it good enough.5 -
I have a free day I can have whatever I want up to 2500 Val's for the day. Usually a sat or Sunday so if we go out I can eat with the family1
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Yes, cheat days help psychologically. The only problem is how much I eat. My appetite is enormous, so I feel like I'm starving if I'm at a deficit or at maintenance or at a small surplus. At first, I was at a small surplus for months and would allow a cheat day when I reached weight goals. Looking forward to not starving for a day was helpful mentally.
Lately, I've struggled with what to do... I have done more and more frequent cheat days over the past several months. I'm down to the last 5-10 lbs. and just can't seem to eat at a deficit long enough to avoid losing all of it in a cheat day.
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My next cheat day is Christmas Day. That turkey ain't gonna know what's hitting it!6
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It can be disturbingly easy to wipe out a week's worth of effort with one cheat day/cheat meal depending on how large your daily deficit is. If I have something coming up, or something I want to enjoy I usually compensate by creating larger deficits throughout the week or that day.. I don't know if that counts as a cheat day in that case though.2
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I think they are helpful but very sparingly. I try to cap it at once every two weeks.0
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It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".3 -
It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".
Cheat days are not just about what I eat. They are primarily about how much I eat.0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".
Cheat days are not just about what I eat. They are primarily about how much I eat.
Ok... why not level out those calories throughout the week...?0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".
Cheat days are not just about what I eat. They are primarily about how much I eat.
Ok... why not level out those calories throughout the week...?
My cheat days are often large enough to contain 1.5-2 weeks of calories. That is why doing it more than once every several months sets me back so much. What are you suggesting... cheat day and then fast for 2 weeks?!0 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".
Cheat days are not just about what I eat. They are primarily about how much I eat.
Ok... why not level out those calories throughout the week...?
My cheat days are often large enough to contain 1.5-2 weeks of calories. That is why doing it more than once every several months sets me back so much. What are you suggesting... cheat day and then fast for 2 weeks?!
Yep. That's exactly what I'm saying. Fast for 2 weeks, eat as much food as you can pack down for one day and then starve for 2 more weeks.
C'mon, man.0 -
Not me. Not formally. I know "life happens". I let it.1
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midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".
Cheat days are not just about what I eat. They are primarily about how much I eat.
Ok... why not level out those calories throughout the week...?
My cheat days are often large enough to contain 1.5-2 weeks of calories. That is why doing it more than once every several months sets me back so much. What are you suggesting... cheat day and then fast for 2 weeks?!
You can eat 20,000-30,000 calories in a single day?!?!?!1 -
I dont do cheat days as such - I also look at my calorie allowance as a weekly thing - so some days are under,some are over - if I know an over day is ahead - eg going to a party or something - then I go under for several days ahead to bank up calories for that day.
VERY occasionally I have a day where I dont log or try to count at all - eg Christmas day.
But these only happen once or twice a year.
although If I am on holiday for a week or so I take a complete break from logging at all.2 -
paperpudding wrote: »I dont do cheat days as such - I also look at my calorie allowance as a weekly thing - so some days are under,some are over - if I know an over day is ahead - eg going to a party or something - then I go under for several days ahead to bank up calories for that day.
VERY occasionally I have a day where I dont log or try to count at all - eg Christmas day.
But these only happen once or twice a year.
although If I am on holiday for a week or so I take a complete break from logging at all.
Also exactly what I do, weekly averaging and banking for planned days where calories might be more than normal.0 -
SusanMFindlay wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".
Cheat days are not just about what I eat. They are primarily about how much I eat.
Ok... why not level out those calories throughout the week...?
My cheat days are often large enough to contain 1.5-2 weeks of calories. That is why doing it more than once every several months sets me back so much. What are you suggesting... cheat day and then fast for 2 weeks?!
You can eat 20,000-30,000 calories in a single day?!?!?!
It really isn't that hard.1 -
SusanMFindlay wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »midwesterner85 wrote: »It can definitely help, lots of people do it- and if it works for you... fantastico!
That said, sustainability appreciates putting "cheat foods" into your daily caloric allowances and makes food "fun" rather than "endured".
Cheat days are not just about what I eat. They are primarily about how much I eat.
Ok... why not level out those calories throughout the week...?
My cheat days are often large enough to contain 1.5-2 weeks of calories. That is why doing it more than once every several months sets me back so much. What are you suggesting... cheat day and then fast for 2 weeks?!
You can eat 20,000-30,000 calories in a single day?!?!?!
Yes, but if I do that very often, then it derails my progress too much. So by only allowing a cheat day at certain weight milestones, I can at least have a day a few times each year where I can finally eat what I want and as much as I want.0 -
Great info guys! Thanks so much0
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If you guys can please add me as your friend it will greatly be appreciated I need as much help as possible0
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Gorgeous84me wrote: »I've found that having a cheat day works for me especially on the weekends what do you guys think
I don't really limit myself entirely. If it fits my macros, I eat it. I pre-log, so that helps a lot. My only "cheat" is alcohol. I don't pre-log and I don't usually accurately log (not purposefully). But I have found that if I eat well enough during the week it really doesn't affect me, I still maintain just fine and now that I'm in bulk I'm even allowed some extra treats while drinking (because beer, wings and pizza are the ultimate football Sunday meal)0 -
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I find cheat days help tremendously. I do it once a week normally on the weekend. I find it's nice to have a day I can go out and not worry about how much butter was used in my veggies or substituting the fries for salad. I eat at a 700 calorie deficit all week and generally find I barely hit maintenance on cheat days...smaller appetite I guess.
Everyone is different you have to do what works for you and keep in mind that it can derail your entire week if you're not careful.0 -
I think it's good mentally so you don't go insane if your trying to 'eat clean' all the time
Or you could just eat how you like to eat every day and have your calories correct for loss or maintenance. Seriously, haven't gone insane yet and I've lost an entire human's worth of weight.1
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