Who else has a “Free Day”?

ma66ie72
ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
edited October 1 in Food and Nutrition
Before I started this diet I went to my Doctor and we talked about nutrition, how much to eat, how often to eat, what I should avoid and what combinations of food I should eat together for best results. He also told me to take a free day every week and allow myself to have the foods I love for one day... I modified that and I allow myself a "free meal” once a week and when I am more accustomed to eating healthier and I am not craving my favorite foods as much I plan to have a free meal once every two weeks and extend the time between free meals to at least once a month. Does anyone else do this? Does it affect your weight loss for that week or are you able to continue to lose without a problem by exercising more or cutting back on calories throughout the remaining week?

My first week with a free day I went a little over board and had Sushi ( Lawdy, I love Sushi) AND Pizza ( Lawdy!! I adore pizza) .. I gained four pounds of the eight I lost the week before... now I am much more careful and I moved my “free meal” to the same day I get weighed (so I have the whole week to work off the free meal). I just eat what I want AFTER I weigh in the morning, usually saving as many calories until I eat the free meal in the evening. I also bust my as* the day after my freebie meal too... I learned my lesson the first time! I was SO upset to have gained after doing SO good the week before.

Anyway, my free meal is TOMORROW and I don’t know what I want more!!! Pizza or Sushi???? or Mexican..... or Pasta OHHHHH Shrimp Scampi linguini..... :)
«1

Replies

  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    nope i dont do it.
    it sets people up to ruin everything they've worked for the entire week.
    you can ruin a whole week in one meal, let alone one day.

    instead i do the eat smart everyday route. meaning i eat what i want. if i want an ice cream cone, i have it. if i want a cherry turnover i have it..i just make sure i fit it into my daily calories. that way i dont feel deprived

    ps..also as you stated..you save your cals till your free meal..which is another set up to fail. you'll starve yourself all day and the binge and end up eating too much. it happens.
  • msmith5251s
    msmith5251s Posts: 80
    I do this too... a 'free meal' once a week, and I agree about doing it on your weigh-in day as well.
    Unfortunately, I have had a 'free meal' every day for the past four days.
    Time to jump back on the weight-loss horse and start eating healthier.

    I don't think it would do too much to your weight-loss progression as long as you remain at your daily calorie limit meal included.
    And I also think it is rather necessary to give yourself a free meal once a week at least until you get used to this life style change- because, in my opinion, it keeps you on track.
    Looking at my experience, if I go into this cold turkey I will ended up eating all of my favorite meals (like I have done the past four days). And that definitely messes up weight-loss progression.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    Right on! It's how I've been doing it all along and recommend it to pretty much everybody.

    LOL @ the person above who thinks you can ruin a week with one meal or one day. By that logic, you can eat like a pig every day, but "fix" it by eating well one day.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I don't "free" days or "free" meals. I eat what I want, when I want it. I've learned to eat the things I love in moderation, fit them into my daily calories and move on with life.

    I feel like doing it this way has helped to get my binge eating under control because I know if I want something - I can have it right THEN. I don't have to eat 1000 calories of other "Stuff" while trying to satisfy a craving I may be having. I think it makes this less of a "diet" and more of a lifestyle change. I don't feel guilty for what I eat either because I'm not depriving myself of ANYTHING.
  • rachellosesitall85
    rachellosesitall85 Posts: 497 Member
    If you're weak in this area, I wouldn't do it. But someone did mention, why not just add it into your daily calories? That way, you stay in the range, and treat yourself without binging. You can also go by the 80/20 rule. Eat healthy 80% of the time and occasionally spoil yourself with 20%. You can also just eat what you want, just in moderation or substitute it for something healthier. If I tell myself "no" too many times, one day I'll most likely binge and we wouldn't want that. You can tell yourself "yes" and not go overboard. I don't believe in depriving yourself of the things you enjoy for the rest of your life.
  • bhagavatilad1
    bhagavatilad1 Posts: 277
    This is a lifestyle change so I think it is a very good idea to give yourself a little bit of lifes pleasures, Pizza anyone.
  • pmmarshall
    pmmarshall Posts: 9
    My husband has always suggested that I have a free day when dieting. It stops the cravings (and I think it makes you realise how bad your body feels after eating the junk).

    I listen to this advice as he played football for years and was quite the health fanatic :)
  • change_happens
    change_happens Posts: 491
    I eat what I want, when I want.
  • Michelle_H
    Michelle_H Posts: 24
    I don't have a Free Day; would that be a day where you just ate whatever you wanted and in whatever portion size you wanted? If so, that's something I couldn't see myself doing as I'd probably make up the week's deficit in that one day, lol. On Saturday I tend to eat a little more of my calories for a brunch and that sees me through to the evening where I've saved my snack calories to add into my evening meal... but all this equates to is perhaps a couple of pieces of garlic bread with dinner or a bit more pasta/rice than usual, or a larger steak. I still add it into my calories for the day and try not to go over.

    A Free Day sounds like a slippery slope to right back where I was 12 weeks ago and that's somewhere I don't need to be again.
  • lunglady
    lunglady Posts: 526 Member
    Right on! It's how I've been doing it all along and recommend it to pretty much everybody.

    LOL @ the person above who thinks you can ruin a week with one meal or one day. By that logic, you can eat like a pig every day, but "fix" it by eating well one day.

    Agreed!
  • ma66ie72
    ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
    LOL! I can’t eat what I want when I want it....that’s how I got here. My free meal gives me something to work hard for... if I have that one meal to look forward to as a reward for busting my butt with exercise and staying under calories everyday it makes it easier for me. I eat really healthy the rest of the week and since I’ve continued to lose lbs and tighten up ... for now I think it’s OK....but, I could change my mind at any time.

    Thanks for replying!
  • msmith5251s
    msmith5251s Posts: 80
    LOL! I can’t eat what I want when I want it....that’s how I got here. My free meal gives me something to work hard for... if I have that one meal to look forward to as a reward for busting my butt with exercise and staying under calories everyday it makes it easier for me. I eat really healthy the rest of the week and since I’ve continued to lose lbs and tighten up ... for now I think it’s OK....but, I could change my mind at any time.

    Thanks for replying!

    I definitely agree! :D
  • Dave351
    Dave351 Posts: 45 Member
    I do the free meal once a week!! Mmmmmm, cheat meal night!!! However, I'm not so much concerned about weight as I am bodyfat.
  • TrishJimenez
    TrishJimenez Posts: 561 Member
    Before I started this diet I went to my Doctor and we talked about nutrition, how much to eat, how often to eat, what I should avoid and what combinations of food I should eat together for best results. He also told me to take a free day every week and allow myself to have the foods I love for one day... I modified that and I allow myself a "free meal” once a week and when I am more accustomed to eating healthier and I am not craving my favorite foods as much I plan to have a free meal once every two weeks and extend the time between free meals to at least once a month. Does anyone else do this? Does it affect your weight loss for that week or are you able to continue to lose without a problem by exercising more or cutting back on calories throughout the remaining week?

    My first week with a free day I went a little over board and had Sushi ( Lawdy, I love Sushi) AND Pizza ( Lawdy!! I adore pizza) .. I gained four pounds of the eight I lost the week before... now I am much more careful and I moved my “free meal” to the same day I get weighed (so I have the whole week to work off the free meal). I just eat what I want AFTER I weigh in the morning, usually saving as many calories until I eat the free meal in the evening. I also bust my as* the day after my freebie meal too... I learned my lesson the first time! I was SO upset to have gained after doing SO good the week before.

    Anyway, my free meal is TOMORROW and I don’t know what I want more!!! Pizza or Sushi???? or Mexican..... or Pasta OHHHHH Shrimp Scampi linguini..... :)

    I have a day once a week where I eat maintenance and the pattern seems to be once a month during my pms i also have almost a whole week where I dont have much of a deficit and eat more maintenance. I am sure it is slowing me down but I am not loosing ground. Even with the slip up this past week. I didnt regain any of the weight I have lost so far. I stayed steady cuz I made sure I didnt go crazy. I was just a little depressed and couldnt restrict myself. And I cheered myself up a little today by telling myself that I revved up my metabolism for another round of loosing weight for the next 3 weeks. Now I am refreshed and ready to kick but again. But yes I have a cheat day every once in awhile. I figure i am in this for the long haul. It is a marathon not a sprint.
  • ma66ie72
    ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
    I just realized that tomorrow will be the first time I log what I eat on my free day in my food diary. This changes things. Now I don’t feel I can eat whatever I choose with wild abandon...

    Damn you, Food Diary... damn you, Accountability!
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    LOL! I can’t eat what I want when I want it....that’s how I got here. My free meal gives me something to work hard for... if I have that one meal to look forward to as a reward for busting my butt with exercise and staying under calories everyday it makes it easier for me. I eat really healthy the rest of the week and since I’ve continued to lose lbs and tighten up ... for now I think it’s OK....but, I could change my mind at any time.

    Thanks for replying!

    Oh I have no doubt that just about everyone on this site will say eating what they want, when they want it is how they got here. But, I also think what got a lot of us here was the size of the portions we were eating. Eating one donut is okay - eating an entire dozen is not. The key is learning to manage portions. I read labels. I used to measure out portions - but as I've gotten more comfortable with it - I've learned to eye ball portion sizes (and am proud to say I am NEVER over - almost always right on the dot or even slightly UNDER!).

    For me, portion control has been a HUGE key to my success. I think Americans as a rule have a very distorted view of what is a true portion size of food.
  • autumnbreeze89
    autumnbreeze89 Posts: 38
    I actually hate free days. For one for me it seems like i have no control over what i eat. Or the portion sizes.
    I have nothing against them and I do have them every once in awhile. I try for at least once or twice a month.
    But it being summer its a little more difficult. Each to their own
  • ma66ie72
    ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
    You’re absolutely right, Chevy88grl... portion control is key.


    @Trisharrell... I like what you said “it is a marathon not a sprint”
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    I just realized that tomorrow will be the first time I log what I eat on my free day in my food diary. This changes things. Now I don’t feel I can eat whatever I choose with wild abandon...

    Damn you, Food Diary... damn you, Accountability!

    "Technically", you shouldn't worry about logging the free day, but we all know, it's hard to not-log once you have a good trend going. Just have fun with it. I get a weird sense of accomplishment from logging a massive free day sometimes. (other times, i don't bother logging it).

    Let the doubters doubt, and keep on doing your thing :)
  • Dave351
    Dave351 Posts: 45 Member
    If you do a no/low carb diet then carb load on cheat days you'll actually catch a buzz...carb rage!
  • ma66ie72
    ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
    I just realized that tomorrow will be the first time I log what I eat on my free day in my food diary. This changes things. Now I don’t feel I can eat whatever I choose with wild abandon...

    Damn you, Food Diary... damn you, Accountability!

    "Technically", you shouldn't worry about logging the free day, but we all know, it's hard to not-log once you have a good trend going. Just have fun with it. I get a weird sense of accomplishment from logging a massive free day sometimes. (other times, i don't bother logging it).

    Let the doubters doubt, and keep on doing your thing :)

    Thanks. You don’t feel like you’re cheating if you don’t log?
  • ma66ie72
    ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
    If you do a no/low carb diet then carb load on cheat days you'll actually catch a buzz...carb rage!


    No kidding? I am on low carb ( I guess) no refined sugars, no refined flours, I eat Ezekiel bread occasionally, no potatoes, no rice. Hmm, tell me more of the carb buzz/ rage because usually I just get extra sleepy .. Kinda like Kevin James after he eats a Whopper....
  • JoelleMonique
    JoelleMonique Posts: 107
    Sushi is not that bad if you can control how much of it you eat. Opt for half a pizza with mostly veg toppings and ask for half the cheese. You wont even know the difference.
  • ma66ie72
    ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
    Thanks, Joelle... I’m actually getting better with the control part...that includes sushi and pizza. I guess it all comes with making better choices the rest of the time. I notice that I just can’t pack it away like I did even two weeks ago! Our sushi bill has gone down considerably.
  • Macka123
    Macka123 Posts: 45
    I am reading a Timothy Ferrise's book---A 4 hour Body---and he definitely encourages people to have a cheat day once a week, every week and they still will be able to lose weight.
    I am going to have a go at this diet and will see. Will keep you posted..
  • ma66ie72
    ma66ie72 Posts: 75 Member
    Please do, Macka123. Good Luck!
  • mowu
    mowu Posts: 245 Member
    I have a free day every week and it's Saturday- for the following reasons:

    - It acts like a re-feed day and will in my experience keep my metabolism revved up (your mileage may vary depending on how your motor functions)

    - It helps me to NOT do something stupid (no - don't eat the pint of Ben & Jerrys today....wait 'till saturday - and come saturday I find I don't actually want/need the stuff anyway)

    - It prepares me for when I am done losing weight and just need to maintain (Saturdays are usually when we lose control anyways due to friends/family dinners and I don't want to be a social hermit)

    - As already mentioned this is a marathon not a sprint, to "Undo" the good I've done over a week would mean that I should consume at least 3500 calories more on free day than on another day (which means I should consume 5400 calories on that day and do nothing but lie on the couch.....not gonna happen).

    But while I do have the day free I also log my calories - being accountable for what I do makes me think twice about getting that second beer....eating the whole bag of potato chips......eating the whole pint of ice cream.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I guess certain holidays fall into a 'free day'. I do keep certain things out of my diet most of the time right now, but that is because they are still too much of an issue for me to stop eating. I do think that during certain parts of your diet, it is beneficial to limit certain foods, but long term, you should strive to fit in your loves as part of your balanced diet. You seem to be taking the 'free' day to openly here. Have a reasonable portion size of the foods you love. If you eat 6000 calories on your 'free' day, you just ruined everything you worked hard for.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    I don't know if I'd recommend it every week. That's kind of frequent. Maybe limit yourself to one cheat day once or twice a month. Put it on the calendar and look forward to it. I don't understand cheat meals. If it puts you over in calories for the whole day, then that's a cheat day, even though there was only one bad meal in there. If you're NOT over in calories for the day from that cheat meal, then you really didn't cheat at all. So for me, there are only cheat days.
  • fatgirlslove
    fatgirlslove Posts: 614 Member
    I couldn't trust myself with a free day...it would turn into a free week! :laugh:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories