Tracking on cheat days?

nikkipoooo
nikkipoooo Posts: 33 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I don't really do "cheat days", as a rule because I tend to have little treats whenever I can fit them in without screwing up my macros. I don't really look at weekly numbers, just daily. That said, there are days when I know my log is going to be a trainwreck (within reason... I still tend to eat smaller portions and have activity), like this weekend when I knew I was going to a cider mill and a wedding/pig roast in the same day or when I went to the Food & Wine festival at Epcot.

When you have days like that do you still track everything, or do you just do what you do and move on without needing to know exactly how bad it was?

Replies

  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    I try to track everything...some of it is just 'best guess' if you are eating food prepared by someone else...but I try to at least assess the damage...the only time I don't bother tracking is if I'm super busy and hardly eat and know I'm going to be way under.
  • RachsLosses
    RachsLosses Posts: 103 Member
    I track and think about everything, this weekend was terrible, Friday drinking (Didn't track alcohol, I lost count) like 2000 calories (I was hung over) the next day then like 1500 the day after, Its better to track it then you're in the mind set, I feel bad for it after and when I'm logging but entices me to go harder the following week.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    It's pretty rare that I don't at least attempt to log - I spent several months getting into the habit before I even tried to get into a deficit, so at this point it's really second nature. I did use the "quick add" function once recently after a pri fixe tasting meal recently, because that just seemed like way too much effort to be worth it. Honestly, I've found that even a "best guess" can be really helpful.
  • Heather4448
    Heather4448 Posts: 908 Member
    Yep, track everything.
  • Timorous_Beastie
    Timorous_Beastie Posts: 595 Member
    I don't log on days like that. As long as they're infrequent, I know they're not going to have any major impact on my progress, no more than one day of a stomach flu is going to give me lasting weight loss. Logging everything, especially when it's food I don't prepare and know what's in it, takes some of the enjoyment out of special occasions for me.

    I tried that already... trying to keep track of every drink, snack, meal and piece of cake at a bachelorette party. And when I logged it all, the "If everyday was like today" message said that in 5 weeks, I'd gain five pounds. Meanwhile, I'm thinking, "If everyday was like today, I'd need a new liver!" ;) But seriously, I thought, "THAT'S IT?!" Every day is not like that day, so I stopped worrying about those days.

    In fact, I stopped logging on weekends and holidays entirely, but that might not work for everyone. I don't go crazy on no-log days, but I might grab a handful of nuts or pretzels and nibble on them, instead of weighing out and logging the exact grams and calories. It gives my brain a break from obsessing about it. Sometimes I even take a week or so off from logging when I feel overwhelmed by it.
  • jaci66
    jaci66 Posts: 139 Member
    I track everything throughout the day -- If I really want something, I'll have it, but I'll still track it. If I don't know the numbers, I'll use best guess from database if it's there.

    I understand how this might detract from enjoying something, but I'm a geek when it comes to some things like logging numbers. I actually enjoy doing it.

    And to be honest, there are few occasions where I will have something - a bite of, or a taste of something - and it doesn't get logged.
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
    if its a blowout i dont bother, its kindof fun to try and guess but i dont get too hung up.
  • prdrivas
    prdrivas Posts: 47 Member
    Nope, I have one cheat day a week and only make an entry on MFP to keep my streak going :) I understand it doesn't work for everyone, but it does for me. Successfully maintaining for about two years.
  • kristen8000
    kristen8000 Posts: 747 Member
    This weekend was a cheat weekend and I didn't log anything for 2 days. A road trip to Ohio Wine Country (where you can pretty much trip over wine there are so many wineries). When I started logging on July 31st, I decided that this would be the ONLY weekend I could go "losey goosey" until I left for Cancun Nov. 11th. I'm currently 3lbs away from goal.

    I gained 1lb (thinking most of it's water since Monday I felt like I ate a lead weight). In the scheme of things, it's fine, but just know that you might not like the scale. I got right back to it Monday morning...

    Now, if you are doing this multiple times it may erase your deficient. You'll need to be ok with that.
  • Pamshebamm181
    Pamshebamm181 Posts: 92 Member
    My "cheat days" aka non-logging days are reserved for things like weddings and holidays. As long as they're infrequent and you're not intentionally shoving every single thing in your mouth, one day of overeating or overdrinking isn't going to set you back terribly. Just get back to normal the next day.
  • nikkipoooo
    nikkipoooo Posts: 33 Member
    Pamshebamm181 wrote: »
    My "cheat days" aka non-logging days are reserved for things like weddings and holidays. As long as they're infrequent and you're not intentionally shoving every single thing in your mouth, one day of overeating or overdrinking isn't going to set you back terribly. Just get back to normal the next day.

    This is pretty much the way I operate. I usually do tend to over-compensate for a day or two after (or the week before, if I know it's coming like the Disney trip), just out of guilt. Like, I knew that I'd be eating literally a bite or a swallow of everything we bought all day long on our Epcot day, because they're tasting portions and we'd be sharing but at the same time I'd be walking around 25,000-30,000 steps a day (about double my usual) for 3 days in a row so for the couple pf weeks before I tried (successfully :) ) to lose extra, just in case I gained over the trip week. We didn't end up going (Irma got in the way), so I guess those are just bonus pounds now!

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