Cheat days

I think this is individual.

I believe some people NEED the cheat day--so they do not feel deprived and know that in another 7 days...they can have what they desire again.

Others can not handle a cheat day and fall off long term.

Do what works for you.

When I started losing weight and lost a good deal YEARS ago, I had one cheat day per week. I would eat til I almost felt sick. However, it kept me on the rest of the week. It worked for me and as my relationship with food changed, so did my cheat days--I wanted less when I did cheat and some times did not want to.

I personally don't allow a 'cheat' day for myself..If I did that, I know that I would lose all sense of self-control.....If I want something special (like ice cream), I make sure that I save calories for it and I log everything that I put into my mouth....I do allow myself one day off per week from exercise, though....Good luck on your journey...

I've heard both sides from having a cheat day once a week to a cheat meal. I think it is ultimately up to you but I've had a cheat meal once every few weeks. It can jump start your metabolism and also help you get over plateaus. However the only down side to eating those cheat meals is your body might start craving for those foods. It depends on what types of foods...meaning if you are going to go all out and have like a hamburger, fries, soda, etc. or would you have a burger with a side of veggies. Just depends. See how it works best overall. Good luck to you

I prefer cheat items throughout the week/month myself, but either way you need to indulge every once in a while. Healthy eating is all about shifting your focus from food as pure enjoyment to food as fuel, but that shouldn't mean denying ourselves things we love (so long as they are kept in moderation).

I use to be one those people who would deprive myself all week and allow myself a cheat day a week where I eat ridiculously unhealthy. I've recently discovered that if you allow yourself a little of whatever you want once a day, or a couple times a week even, you don't crave it as much. If you don't deprive yourself of anything and eat only in moderation, you become less stressed and also eat less. That is just my experience.

I always give myself a cheat meal, but not an entire day. Tonight is my cheat meal and I am looking forward to it . We will usually go out to eat as a family and on that one meal I don't have to pay attention to calories and I am usually full well before I finish but having the freedom is very important to help me stay on track the rest of the week. I've been on MFP since January and that cheat meal has not hindered my progress at all, so I am all for it!

I don't allow myself any cheat days. I know that my weakness is sweets...once I have one, I know that I will somehow justify another one and another one. I solve my sweet craves in other ways...fruit, protein milkshakes, Greek yogurt, protein bars.....these I can control. Everyone has to find what is right for them, but I know that I can't have a cheat day or meal.

Pam aka Cherubcrnp

I try to think of MFP as a complete lifestyle change. I know that sounds cliche, but I try not to deprive myself and some days are better than others. If I want pizza, I have one slice instead of five, like I used to. It's all about moderation for me.

I wrote a topic on this, well here it is below...

I feel that one the biggest causes of failure on a "eating plan" is because deprivation gets to us, we're on a low calorie diet which can make us hungry at times. Sometimes we reach for that food that we don't want to eat that is so tempting. Then we feel unsuccessful with our diet, we feel we have no self control. This can lead to frustration, and even to the point an class="strong">ofan> just giving up on eating better for yourself.

I am a very strong believer in stress and recovery. I feel that everything in our world works on this principal, our heart beat contracts, then it relaxes, we eat(recovery) then we use that energy(stress), we sleep, we awaken, life, death. There is nothing constant, if it is... then it's not alive. How do we get stronger, emotionally, and physically? Stress and recovery. When something is stressed to much, it will give. How long can you go with out food, sleep, high intense exercise non stop... it just won't happen. All these are forms of stress.

You know what a reduce caloric diet is? It's stress on the body. Everything I have mentioned is about recovering energy, and expending energy. We need cycles of stress and cycles of recovery. So how do you recover from a low calorie diet, you eat those foods you want, maybe one day a week, free of guilt.

I don't know any other way to say it but it "replenishes the soul" you kill that desire for it... the next day you go back to your normal eating plan with no urges anymore. One of my friends from this site, made a book about a similar eating plan. He was over weight, and now he's ripped, 6 pack and all. Some of the best body building diet's are based around this principal, so is zigzagging your calories.

The better you get at it, the longer you can go with out this "free day." Keep in mind, this doesn't mean be a glutton. Eat what you want, but eat at your "maintenance calories" not your "restricted calories." A persons's metabolism slows down within 72hrs of a reduce caloric diet. This "free day" will speed your metabolism back up.

You know what happens when you go on a low caloric diet for a long time? You get impaired thyroid functions which will result in a slower metabolism. This free day would offset that effect. Maybe some of you have heard of leptin, leptin keeps track an of how much you ate, and how fat you are. Once you start to reduce calories, leptin goes down, pretty much telling you to eat. From my understanding leptin is linked to hunger, to insulin, to glucagon, to pretty much every biochemical that regulates your weight. It's job is to protect you and make sure you weigh the same. Once leptin is down, the urges get stronger, and the harder it is to stick to your diet, you know how to increase leptin? just eat those foods you want... It will increase, with out putting on bodyfat. It "thinks" you gained some weight because you're eating more, and it will be satisfied and not bug you for a little while. Some people just eat completely freely on this "cheat day" they go over their caloric limit big time, and still get good results. So if you're interested in this, experiment and see what works best for you.

Personally I believe this journey is a life style change so why only have a cheat day? If you want a cupcake have a cupcake any day you want and balance it out with a little less of something else that day or an extra workout. No one wants to spend the rest of their life only allowing themself to have what they want one day a week. I'd rather eat what I want (in the proper portions) and enjoy it when I want it.

@drmomm - yup. I don't see it as a diet - so there is no cheating. This is a lifelong change for me so I don't forego anything - I just allow for it. That's not to say I don't mess up sometimes but all in all I stick to a plan.

I normally have a cheat meal on weekends. I'm normally on the go during the week and must keep my meals light and as healthy as possible, so a cheat meal or snack on the weekends is not really an issue and if anything it motivates my workouts even more during the week. ! Its all a personal thing really. What do YOU want? Yea you may crave it, but its a mind over matter thing. Just try your hardest not to make a habit of the cheat meal or snack, a habitual thing. !!!!!!

I try to think of MFP as a complete lifestyle change. I know that sounds cliche, but I try not to deprive myself and some days are better than others. If I want pizza, I have one slice instead of five, like I used to. It's all about moderation for me.

I agree, moderation is key!

When I do have a 'cheat' meal I still log it. Sometimes I will go over my calories sometimes I wont [I am finding that I make better choices now anyway as it's just part of my lifestyle]

I don't view it as cheat meal either - it is just a meal that I haven't prepared myself LOL!

I don't take or need cheat days because I am not on a diet. If I want fast food or an evening cocktail, I make sure to log it and work it into my daily calories. For me, this is a lifestyle, not a diet and I do not deprive myself of any food I really crave. Sometimes I may have to really bust some calories for that small slice of cake with ice cream- but if I want it- I do it without a 'cheat' day.

You summed up my thoughts beautifully. If you look at your eating activities as "good" or "bad"...or "correct" vs. "cheating", you're just inserting morality into what is a basic human process, and it's going to cause you unnecessary stress when you "behave wrong". And how healthy is that? Moderation, exercise, and staying aware of my consumption over the long-term is the approach I'm taking.