Cheat Meal Yes or No?

I guess it depends on what you mean by a cheat meal. I would rather eat what I want, when I want. For the most part I stay within my calorie allowance and I haven't felt deprived. I've lost about 30 lbs in not quite 8 months and I feel like I can do this forever. What is your plan when you reach your goal weight?

Lean59man wrote: »

Just fit your cheat meal into your daily calories.

And call it a meal? (not sure how that would be considered "cheating") - taking weekly calories in to consideration may make this easier. I eat lower cal on rest days to compensate for a higher cal day (or two) on the weekend. Everything fits my goals...

Bechler77 wrote: »

Just wanted to hear some different opinions on cheat meals.

From the official MFP-blog:

The 7 biggest Weight-Loss mistakes, according to dietitians (07/24/17)

Here esp. top. 2

I normally eat a particular way and occasionally have meals that are different (or days that are different, like Christmas probably will be). I don't think of them as "cheat meals" and don't see the point of doing so.

For example, I rarely have a burger and fries at a restaurant (I make burgers at home, usually without a bun so I guess it's not really a burger, and have it with vegetables and roasted potatoes). MOST of the time a restaurant burger is not worth the calories, and fries are something I just choose to have rarely. However, occasionally I am at a place that does a worth-it-to-me burger and fries and just want that, so I have it. Don't see the point in calling that a cheat meal.

On Thanksgiving I won't worry about calories and will have much more pie than normal. Not a cheat, a special occasion.

I agree with J72FIT! Who am I cheating? I never understood why it's called a cheat meal, day, week or whatever. If I plan to cut that food or meal out forever then I am not living. I eat whatever I want just fit it into your daily calories.

I dont agree in cheat meals, As have been said your only cheating yourself. To me if i call it a cheat meal/day im WAY more likely to just eat more thn i normally would have because theres the word cheat in there, And feel bad afterwards because again negative language. I have special occasions, Hell i have days where i eat everything without moderation. Its being human.

Cheat also for me mentally separates the food and the calories. Sort of like if no one can see me eat it, It didnt happen. But my body knows it happened. The calories count. I like to hold myself accountable.

Basically- Yes i overeat (sometimes alot more often thn id like hah) But no i dont use the term cheat anything. IT all still counts, And negative language has a big impact on me. Its simply being human. Just find a balance between being human and eating in stupid abundance because its your "cheat meal"

aeloine wrote: »

I don't "cheat" in a BIG way. I "cheat" by eating to maintenance (which is sometimes an extra 1,000 calories, depending on your deficit).

Maintenance really does feel like cheating hah. Feels like a constant feast doing a diet break for 2 weeks. Super eye opening

Bechler77 wrote: »

maryannprt wrote: »

I guess it depends on what you mean by a cheat meal. I would rather eat what I want, when I want. For the most part I stay within my calorie allowance and I haven't felt deprived. I've lost about 30 lbs in not quite 8 months and I feel like I can do this forever. What is your plan when you reach your goal weight?

A cheat meal to me is a meal that includes foods that are normally not part of your daily meal plan such as a burger with fries and a milkshake or a half a pizza and a six-pack of beer. Something that you normally wouldn't eat on a daily or even weekly basis. Once I hit my goal weight I will enter my maintenance phase. I will probably increase my calorie intake to 2,000 per day and try that for a month to see if I'm maintaining weight or gaining weight.

If that's our definition, then I suppose I have an occasional "cheat" meal. Every now and then, I want a big sloppy hamburger and fries. I know it's going to put me over, but I just don't care. I guess I don't like the term "cheat meal" because it implies some sort of moral judgement to me. At 57, I've had enough of feeling bad about my food choices. I'm a long way yet from my goal weight, but I'm trying to eat in a way I can sustain for the rest of my life. It it takes me another 2 years to get there, I'm ok with that.

maryannprt wrote: »

Bechler77 wrote: »

maryannprt wrote: »

I guess it depends on what you mean by a cheat meal. I would rather eat what I want, when I want. For the most part I stay within my calorie allowance and I haven't felt deprived. I've lost about 30 lbs in not quite 8 months and I feel like I can do this forever. What is your plan when you reach your goal weight?

A cheat meal to me is a meal that includes foods that are normally not part of your daily meal plan such as a burger with fries and a milkshake or a half a pizza and a six-pack of beer. Something that you normally wouldn't eat on a daily or even weekly basis. Once I hit my goal weight I will enter my maintenance phase. I will probably increase my calorie intake to 2,000 per day and try that for a month to see if I'm maintaining weight or gaining weight.

If that's our definition, then I suppose I have an occasional "cheat" meal. Every now and then, I want a big sloppy hamburger and fries. I know it's going to put me over, but I just don't care. I guess I don't like the term "cheat meal" because it implies some sort of moral judgement to me. At 57, I've had enough of feeling bad about my food choices. I'm a long way yet from my goal weight, but I'm trying to eat in a way I can sustain for the rest of my life. It it takes me another 2 years to get there, I'm ok with that.

I don't really like the idea of calling it "cheating" either. There's the moral implication and also the fact that cheating implies that it's possible to "get away with" something or taking something you didn't actually earn. If "cheating" on your diet (by eating way more than you log or eating alone so nobody knows how much you ate, for example) actually allowed us to "get away" with great results we didn't earn (like if you cheated on a test in school) I think everyone would do it. But unfortunately that just doesn't work.
As far as indulging from time to time, yes I agree with that. Most people can't stick to "diets" that make them miserable.

In the beginning I had "cheat" meals. Once every three weeks or so I would eat an extra 200 or 300 calories in my day. It helped me immensely. Now I am so close to goal weight that I can't afford that extra. I say to each his/her own. If it works for you go for it. If not leave it alone.