Cheat days necessary???

michaelsvance wrote: »

Okay, so my diet isn't perfect, but I do pretty good at staying within my calories. I have been getting really bad cravings lately. Things like cheeseburgers, fries, pizza and such are really driving me crazy. Would if be okay if I take one day a week to splurge a little? Or will this form bad habits and ruin everything? I see people who have been doing this for years have cheat days, but since I'm just starting, I don't know if a cheat day will turn into cheat days and eventually eating bad again...

Cheat meals are essential when I'm deep into a cut. I save cheat "days" for vacation or holidays and tend to keep them much more rare. I think that incorporating cheat meals into your diet once a week or even once ever other week is a great way to keep yourself sane. Otherwise, the lack of flexibility can quickly get old and even lead to just giving up all together. Just my opinion though, everyone is different.

michaelsvance wrote: »

Okay, so my diet isn't perfect, but I do pretty good at staying within my calories. I have been getting really bad cravings lately. Things like cheeseburgers, fries, pizza and such are really driving me crazy. Would if be okay if I take one day a week to splurge a little? Or will this form bad habits and ruin everything? I see people who have been doing this for years have cheat days, but since I'm just starting, I don't know if a cheat day will turn into cheat days and eventually eating bad again...

Eat in moderation? Check out burger kings website or whatever place you like.... But burger king's value menu bacon cheeseburger is only 300 calories. That shouldn't be much at all. You could have one for lunch with something low calorie... Or even go for a small fry (320 calories) for a total of 620 calories if you can skip a drink. Also, have a couple slices of pizza for dinner. For example, little caesars is about 560 calories for two slices of pepperoni. That's a total of only 1180 calories. You're male so I'm assuming your maintenance will be on the higher end for whatever your weight is. I lose quickly and maintain around 2500 (I'm 180lbs though). But I also exercise. But anyway you most likely can eat another meal on top of the burger + small fry from burger king plus two slices of pepperoni pizza and still even have a snack. If you aimed for 1600 calories youd still have 420 left... have a low calorie third meal like tuna salad (160? calories per can) with 1 tbsp mayo (90-100 calories) plus low-calorie bread (healthy life is 35-45 calories per slice) or regular bread even for a total of 350-440 calories. or a grilled chicken breast with salad (chicken is about 250 calories plus lettuce + tomato + cucumber is under 100 calories even if you eat the entire cucumber) so about 350 calories plus you could have a yogurt or something for a snack or a can of soda. If you eat more than 1600 calories it would be even easier this is just an example on the low end (most people who work out eat over 1600 calories). Skip the bacon and it's 250 for the value cheeseburger by the way.

I don't eat burgers ( only because I dont like them much, not because they are 'forbidden food' ) but I certainly eat pizza and fries on a fairly regular basis, did when I was losing too and my calorie allowance was only 1460.

Every day doesn't have to be under goal, as long as your weekly total is.

I don't see it as a cheat to fit these things you crave into your week, in appropriate portions.