Cheat Meals vs Cheat Days

sambustem · July 2011

I once had this super awesome sports nutritionist who always said have a "cheat day" once a week. I quit going because he was super awesome expensive too! Anyway. A lot of programs tell you to incorporate a cheat meal or a cheat day. Anyone doing this? Which? And do you feel like a failure when mfp broadcasts on your wall that you went OVER your calorie goal???

I'm thinking of doing the day - but instead of 3 meals in one day, maybe a meal a day on the weekend. Even when I lost over 100lbs, I NEVER did anything Fri. afternoon through Sunday. It was like a weird mental and physical vacation, and worked. But now, I'm scared. If I start off with 3, then I can back off once I get in the groove of this again - that's kinda what I'm thinking. Instead of going into major mental meltdown and TOTALLY craving stuff. Now, granted, I don't eat burgers and stuff like that in general - but maybe healthier versions of resturaunt meals.

Thoughts.....OH and I WON'T be taking of exercise

xraychick77 · July 2011

ugh..cheating.

if you are trying to lose weight. its best to stay away from the cheat days and meals. seriously because most of the time people end up going way over their calories for the week and end up ruining any work they've done that week..hence wont lose weight. plus lots of us dont have the will power to just stop at one meal or one day.

all in all its best to not cheat..and just fit in an indulgence here and there or every day, as long as you are still within your calorie goal.

brisondav · July 2011

I was thinking about doing the exact same thing, but like you only one meal. I don't think it would hurt. The Body for Life books say you should do it.

aehartley · July 2011

I just try and cheat smart... I eat relitivly low carb so when I cheat I try and do some kind of carb that my body does need. like thin crust pizza with a million veggies. or mac a cheese with whole wheat pasta and reduce fat cheese... it is like a small treat with health benifits

flowers4me · July 2011

I think a cheat day helps me, but I usually don't cheat all day. Maybe I just get something I really want or go out to eat with my husband. I still don't go too crazy, but the key is to get right back on your healthy eating the very next day and don't allow yourself to cheat until your actually cheat day. I've lost 14 lbs so far. Yey!

Frappuzzino · July 2011

If you have control, I see nothing wrong with a cheat day. I am a little more lenient on the weekends, but NEVER go over my calories.

rubyrenga · July 2011

I don't know...I did a cheat dinner and dessert last night, and it was nice not to worry (I still tried not to go totally overboard), but I didn't feel good about it. I have debated whether to do it one day per month, or just a cheat meal when we go out every so often, but it's scary for me, because I find that once I've had a taste of something I've been missing, I start wanting it more regularly. When I first started this, I didn't eat any bread or pasta. Now, I do, but I stay within my calories most days. However, I feel like since I've introduced these things, I have become a little more lax in general. I guess it depends on the person and their level of willpower, too.

Larius · July 2011

It's not quite cheating, but I'll let myself eat up to my maintenance Calories once per week. It's theorized to keep your BMR up.

tsaenz09 · July 2011

I don't do cheat days because if I did, then I would destroy all my hard work! However, on either Saturday or Sunday (Mostly Sunday because family day) I will have a cheat meal, but I don't go overboard and eat everything in site. If I do have a cheat meal I make sure first that I'm not going to go over my daily calorie goal first. Having a cheat meal is okay but if you are not a strong will person and you have a hard time saying no or knowing when to stop, then I wouldn't do it. Good Luck!

SarahofTwins · July 2011

I tried doing both and I learned that a whole weekend of taking off just made me almost want to quit lol....but having a cheat meal once in awhile has kept me on track. However eating the bad foods made me want to crave it that much more. I try my best to make better choices but also keeping it in moderation:happy:

icandothistrish85 · July 2011

I think of my Caloric Allowance as a Food Budget and I ALWAYS save for a treat at the end of my day, be it red wine, dark chocolate, whatever. I do NOT deprive myself in anyways and I am losing great weight and toning very well.

BabyDuchess · July 2011

I don't refer to it as a cheat......I have a day, Friday, and I eat a dessert of my choice but I do work it into my calories. I've been doing this for the last 7 months and it hasn't caused me to binge or lose focus. I don't think it's realistic to think you are never going to have something you really enjoy.....the key is to include it in your calories so you don't have to worry or feel guilty. :flowerforyou:

chevy88grl · July 2011

I don't cheat... period.

I eat what I want, when I want. I eat the serving size of whatever I want to eat, I log it and I move on. For me, being able to eat whatever I want - whenever I want it is FAR better than having to wait for a certain day or meal.

bgeer34 · July 2011

For me, I chose from day one to not do that and save "cheating" for special events/times. So from Jan 1 till Jun 17 I only hate good healthy food. I am not on a "diet"... I just changed to eating whole grains, more fruits and veggies, little to no sugar, more water... the "good stuff"... then we went on vacation and designated 2 meals that we could eat whatever we wanted... going so long without white pasta, heavy creams, etc.. and I actually got sick from a very small serving of fettucini alfredo. I guess my body was saying "Hey stop that!"

But with that said, there is a very unhealthy mexican place that we used to go to a lot... I decided that when I lose 100 pounds I am going to go there and choose wisely and try again to have a meal that isn't as healthy (don't like to call it cheating since it's not a diet). But honestly, I substitute and I am completely satisfied with eating healthy... I make homemade pizzas with fat free cheese and whole wheat pitas so I don't miss out on pizza... most things we crave can be made at home in a healthier way so we don't feel like we are doing without.

And if I want chocolate.. Dove makes a sugar free chocolate with creme in the middle... 38 calories but rich and fixes the craving without me going crazy on a pan of brownies.... and eating healthy and seeing my success makes me want the old type of food less and less

Good luck with whatever you decide to try... each person has to do what works for them

Cdcaldwe · July 2011

I have been on mf p since the first of may,i have now had two cheat meals and they were good. I am on vacation at the beach and couldn't resist some seafood. I woke up this morning and walked about eight mikes to make up for last nights fried shrimp. The other meal was clams and linguine in a white wine sauce. It bothers me that I did it but I figure if I burn a bunch of calories the next day it will be alright.. If I did it every day. I would be in trouble.

SheilaSisco · July 2011

I find myself less likely to go on an all-out BINGE if I have a cheat meal or not so healthy dessert once in a while. I only do a MEAL, because I feel like if I did a whole day it might be harder to get with the program the next day. Today, for instance, I had a chocolate chip ice cream sandwich after lunch. Not something I do anywhere near regularly, BUT... it fit into my calories and my lunch was pretty healthy (and I was having a serious sugar craving), so I figure it kind of balances out. I don't think a cheat meal will hinder anything, if fact, MANY people do it and praise it and it works for them. I've lost 36 pounds in 5 months with random cheat meals thrown in... it hasn't hindered me one bit. So... if that is what you want to do I say go for it!

VeganGal84 · July 2011

This is where the "diet vs. lifestyle change" thing comes in handy for me. If I'm truly changing the way that I eat, then there is no way to cheat.

That being said, I have started to have one day a week that I don't track. I don't go overboard or eat anything different on that day, I just take a mental break from tracking one day a week.

mohawk1971 · July 2011

I found once I started losing weight it became harder to want to do a cheat day. Seeing your body change and the pounds and inches come off is more rewarding to me than a cheat day. Now, I will on occasion eat something at one meal that is "bad" for me, but I limit the portion size of it.

bcattoes · July 2011

Since I'm not really on a 'diet' I don't consider the occasional bad food/meal a "cheat", instead it's a slurge. And yes MFP does tell me I'm over and "if every day were like today..." I'd be a big fat cow in no time. But I know that every day won't be like today, so it's no big deal. I don't schedule these splurges though. I may be good as gold for weeks, but then again I may go several weeks in a row where I've splurged at least one day. As long as I don't let the splurges become the norm, it'll all even out in the end.

lb7970 · July 2011

Back in 2003 I did the Body for Life diet and exercise program. They advocate for a cheat day where you don't exercise. The first few weeks I lived for those days. The key here was that after a week of totally clean eating when I did eat whatever I wanted like pizza or fast food, I literally felt physically ill the rest of the day. The next day I felt better eating healthy again. It really cut down how the amount of cheating I did on those days. I cut it back to small cheats on my cheat days instead of all out eat whatever I wanted. So I think the idea of a cheat meal on your day of rest is good. Then you won't overdo it and won't feel sick. Also you won't feel as deprived the rest of the week while you are maintaining a strict diet or calorie limit.

Chrysti3 · July 2011

I used to do low-carb; it worked really well, I lost 70something pounds in 6 months and didn't exercise ONCE. I was also still drinking (vodka and sugar-free red bull, rum and diet coke), and didn't have kids at the time so I could just go to bed at 5:30 when I got home from work and skip dinner. I am now low-cal-ing and exercising, and my lifestyle no longer permits the same unhealthy habits. BUT back to your question; when I was low-carbing, I would have a cookie for dessert, or save the usually discarded tortilla, or have a sandwich (GASP) *with bread* every 10th meal. It gave me something to work towards and it seemed to give my metabolism a kick. Now that I am exercising (which I didn't do when i was low-carbing; ), I almost have a mental block on cheating like that because I work really hard to gain that 500-1000 calorie deficit every day (what MFP displays as "calories remaining" - I shoot for about 700 per day after exercising to lose 1.5lbs per week) to blow it all on a 'bad' meal.

I do, however, have a light at the end of the tunnel.

I am getting married on 11-11-11 and I have promised myself that if I can be at my goal weight (130 - I was 211 when I gave birth to my daughter 5 months ago) on wedding day, I don't have to exercise or count a single calorie on our honeymoon. I did, however make sure that we registered for a nice bathroom scale, a food scale, and a salad spinner to make sure we don't fall into permanent unhealthy habits.

I would recommend setting a very particular period of cheat time once you reach a goal - be it one whole day for every 10 lbs (I didn't read your profile, so I don't know what your goals/progress are), or a weekend for every 30... do what feels right... don't torture yourself, and the BEST diet tool is a dieting friend to split a cookie with.

Best of luck!!!

sexandthecitygal · July 2011

When I started my weight loss I didn't do the cheat days. But mainly because of my self control, I didn't want to get started and then not be able to stop. And I've noticed this, when I eat any of the stuff I did before I started dieting that I get sick! Headaches and just feel awful! My birthday was last month and on the way home from vacation we stopped at this restaurant that is known for "country cookin" I ate fried okra, rolls and mollases, and a steak and baked potato and said to heck with it it's my birthday. I felt so sick before we even left. The worst headache ever! I had to lay down in the back seat the rest of the way home to keep from getting sick!! Anybody else ever done like that? Hubby said oh, it's a mental thing because your thinking about the calories but, I really think my body was like what is this and stop eating it!! So no more "cheat days" for me!

cassieko · July 2011

I don't think of it as a "cheat"... I figure one of the benefits of eating a healthy diet "most of the time" is the freedom to have a jumbo margarita or a slice of b-day cake or whatever, once in a while and not feel guilty.

(This is my mantra during vacations...

)

changeisgood55 · July 2011

There has been times when I had a cheat day and I actually lost weight. I think I must have mixed my system up a bit and it didn't know what to do. I've read that you really shouldn't deprive yourself if you really want something. Just don't eat a lot of it and make sure you exercise to work it off. If you deprive yourself totally, you will want it even more and go crazy when you eat it.

Punkedpoetess · July 2011

Personally for me I am better off tracking everyday and allowing indulgences into my menu. I think I would backslide trying to have cheat days or meals at this point. Instead I am focusing on choosing things I enjoy along with healthy foods I like. Keeping 80 to 90 percent of my foods healthy ones works for me.

harmonyaclayton · July 2011

I agree. We need to break the cycle of bad thoughts. By calling it 'cheating' we tell ourselves we're doing something bad. We should eat what we want (within reason) when we want. It shouldn't be a problem as long as you workout. As long as I'm burning calories I don't feel guilty. Break the cycle of the Self Punishment.

bookyeti · July 2011

I don't cheat... period.

I eat what I want, when I want. I eat the serving size of whatever I want to eat, I log it and I move on. For me, being able to eat whatever I want - whenever I want it is FAR better than having to wait for a certain day or meal.

That's my motto as well.
I will usually work-out a bit longer/harder, though, to make up for any extra calories.

aweigh2go · July 2011

First off, I recommend upping your meals to 6 a day. Maybe three meals and 3 snacks or 6 meals. Space them every three hours. The key is to eat frequently to keep your metabolism going.

I define a cheat meal as a deviation from your normal nutritional plan. So if you decide you are going to eat clean (food in it's most natural state or unprocessed) then your cheat meal may be a hamburger fries and a coke. That does not mean however, that you go over your daily calories. You may have to make adjustments earlier in the day. I would even using MFP to plan out your day the night before to include your cheat meal(s).

If you are just starting out, it will be hard to go cold turkey without cheat meals. Assuming you eat 6 meals a day for 7 days a week, that is 42 meals per week. You can go by the 90/10 rule when it comes to your diet. Of the 42 meals, make 90% of your meals clean. The other 10% (4 meals) you allow yourself that treat. But again, don't go over your daily calorie allotment!

Best of luck!

mummyflippers · July 2011

I don't think of it as a "cheat"... I figure one of the benefits of eating a healthy diet "most of the time" is the freedom to have a jumbo margarita or a slice of b-day cake or whatever, once in a while and not feel guilty.

(This is my mantra during vacations... )

This.

I don't see it as a 'cheat'. Having something a bit unhealthy - but enjoyable - is part of life, and I wouldnt be able to sustain a 'diet' where I knew I couldnt eat or drink those things ever again. I eat really well most of the time and therefore I blooming well deserve a slice of cake or a burger once in a while.

Most of the time I build those foods into my calorie allowance if possible, so I'll exercise a bit more if I know we're going out for a meal, and I'll eat a light lunch or breakfast. Food isn't the enemy any more for me.

gdortiz · July 2011

ugh..cheating.

if you are trying to lose weight. its best to stay away from the cheat days and meals

whoa, not sure if I agree. i've been counting calories for a month and these meals, not days, help keep you motivated. twice now, because of special events, i said i would "cheat" and the days leading up to these events/meals were super intense and super good. i eneded losing more weight the days right before and after the cheat meals, alot of weight.

i think the bigger deal you make over a cheat meal the better. that way you can prepare for them, and really, really, appreciate them.

tbisca1 · July 2011

Since I'm not really on a 'diet' I don't consider the occasional bad food/meal a "cheat", instead it's a slurge. And yes MFP does tell me I'm over and "if every day were like today..." I'd be a big fat cow in no time. But I know that every day won't be like today, so it's no big deal. I don't schedule these splurges though. I may be good as gold for weeks, but then again I may go several weeks in a row where I've splurged at least one day. As long as I don't let the splurges become the norm, it'll all even out in the end.

couldn't have said it better myself! You do need to do something to shake up your body every now and then. I did that a couple months ago and didn't lose anything for a little while but I didn't gain either. Then I went back to watching everything very closely and lost 25 additional lbs in 7 weeks!

Cheat Meals vs Cheat Days

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