Letting yourself cheat (how much)
Justjoshin
Posts: 999 Member
I let myself have one cheat meal a week. I was curious what everyone else does.
Tonight, is my cheat meal. It's an important meal, with my in-laws, at a higher end restaurant with great food.
Just being curious, I tracked the calories I would normally eat by going there.
If I eat like I normally would, this is what tonight's meal would look like.
Martinis x 2 - 480 Calories.
Steamed Mussels- 145 Calories
Bread Roll- 170 Calories
Ribeye Steak- 1200 Calories
Potatoes- 400 Carloes
Veggies- 200 Calories
Soup- 150 Calories (high sodium)
Ceasar Salad- 200 Calories
(probably skip dessert)
Port or Cognac after dinner- 100 Calories
So, as you can see, that is a huge chunk of calories.
My plan tonight is to enjoy myself, but try to eat less of each course, therefore cutting my calories down by maybe 20-30%
Obviously this isn't a normal cheat day for me, just curious what you folks think, and how you "cheat"
Tonight, is my cheat meal. It's an important meal, with my in-laws, at a higher end restaurant with great food.
Just being curious, I tracked the calories I would normally eat by going there.
If I eat like I normally would, this is what tonight's meal would look like.
Martinis x 2 - 480 Calories.
Steamed Mussels- 145 Calories
Bread Roll- 170 Calories
Ribeye Steak- 1200 Calories
Potatoes- 400 Carloes
Veggies- 200 Calories
Soup- 150 Calories (high sodium)
Ceasar Salad- 200 Calories
(probably skip dessert)
Port or Cognac after dinner- 100 Calories
So, as you can see, that is a huge chunk of calories.
My plan tonight is to enjoy myself, but try to eat less of each course, therefore cutting my calories down by maybe 20-30%
Obviously this isn't a normal cheat day for me, just curious what you folks think, and how you "cheat"
0
Replies
-
I go to a dinner buffet every couple of weeks. I generally try to keep my portions in control but I sample a lot of different foods that aren't in my usual daily meals. On opposite weeks, I try to stay somewhere under my maintenance calories and usually cook whatever I'm currently craving.0
-
for me its usually like 5 spoonfuls of peanut butter0
-
I don't have cheat meals or days on purpose, but I surely eat the wrong stuff from time to time. Life happens, food is good, enjoy it sometimes!
0 -
My cheat meal would be: We are going to dinner with some family, at their house, and the dessert we are having is like 450 calories for just a small piece!!! Now thats my cheat lol0
-
Mexican will be my cheat meals but I will just eat less chips and watch a little more closely to what I choose to eat. I love chicken fajita quesadillas and the chips and salsa are my weakness!0
-
I do not do cheat meals. If I did that then I would feel deprived. I eat whatever I want in moderation.0
-
I kind of have a plan that works for me. I have one cheat DAY a week. It's usually Saturday where I eat whatever I want. This way I satisfy my cravings. If I REALLY want something say, on a Wednesday, I'll say "You can have it on Saturday" and forgo it until then. That way, I stay on track and am able to talk myself out of my cravings. Doing this I have still had great success on the scale! I think it almost jump starts my metabolism after being super careful all week suddenly it's like "Hey, where'd all this food come from?" lol0
-
I eat what I want in moderation, and keepn with in my calorie goal!0
-
I believe that most of us need the freedom to enjoy a wonderful meal without guilt. I usually limit myself to one alcoholic beverage on these occasions.....and no bread. I would rather split a dessert with someone.0
-
I cheat every weekend pretty much. It's usually just on beer though. 12 beers every weekend, although I'm cutting back to every other weekend now that I'm working again. I'm pretty good at keeping my food in check for the most part.0
-
I have a day off every week, I don't go mad I just don't count the calories. When I hit my target weight I obviously want to maintain it without feeling like I'm dieting so trying to eat well and exercise without counting once a week is helping me change my lifestyle and hopefully I'll be able to maintain a healthier lifestyle without having to think about it in the future.0
-
I generally eat one "cheat" meal per week, but I don't necessarily plan it out. Usually though it ends up being Mexican food on Friday night. I think as long as it's one MEAL per week, you are fine. I personally wouldn't do an entire DAY per week. If I know I'm going to be going out or having a big meal - I try to get in a good long workout that day also and drink lots of water. Then, go, enjoy yourself - don't binge, but enjoy yourself - then get back to good the next day. Sounds like a wonderful meal - have a good time with the family! 0
-
hmmm... I think your cheat day is a little much... I believe in a cheat meal for sure... but idk about that many calories... Your not off by much but how bout cutting out some potatoes? or a smaller ribeye? just a suggestion...0
-
hmmm... I think your cheat day is a little much... I believe in a cheat meal for sure... but idk about that many calories... Your not off by much but how bout cutting out some potatoes? or a smaller ribeye? just a suggestion...
I agree...I don't know if I could have eaten that many calories in one sitting! LOL!0 -
I had a cheat meal this past week with my sister. It was sensible and I nibbled on it and drank a lot of water. I hardly cheat but I haven't seen my sister in a month.0
-
My goal is to log my food 6 days a week. For some reason Monday has kinda become my "day off". On that day, I don't really worry too much about how much or what I am eating. I am sure I am not eating as many calories as I did when I was heavier.
My weakness has always been sweets. I love baking! Unfortunately, I also love to taste test my baking. It is hard but I always make sure that I log those calories and try to make up for it in exercise or eating a salad for dinner.0 -
I eat what I want in moderation, and keepn with in my calorie goal!
Ditto! Cheat days just seem so counter productive to me. But everyone is different and what works for me, may not work for someone else.0 -
I like the idea of a meal (maybe one a week or so) where you allow yourself to eat a bit more than usual and have a drink. I don't like the idea of calling it a "cheat meal." To me, cheating sounds like something you do when you hope you won't get caught. Your body knows that it's getting these calories. They still count. I have a friend who is seeing a nutritionist and is on an extremely strict eating plan. When she goes off it, she calls it "being bad," not cheating. I guess that also has its problems, but I like the sound of it better.
I try to work in my "cheat meal" (which is not really cheating...) into my calories. i zigzag my calories, so I save that one meal for a higher caloric day. Last night was my one big meal that I saved up for since it was a family dinner at a restaurant. It included one glass of wine, a living sprouts and avocado salad, halibut with snap peas and potatoes, and a couple bites of dessert that the entire table shared. I guess the "cheating" part was the wine and bite of dessert. But like I said, I don't consider it cheating.0 -
Another issue you may want to consider: Your body has adjusted to eating healthy. It might not be happy with all the fat and calories:)0
-
hmmm... I think your cheat day is a little much... I believe in a cheat meal for sure... but idk about that many calories... Your not off by much but how bout cutting out some potatoes? or a smaller ribeye? just a suggestion...
I agree here, I don't generally eat the entire steak, and definitely didn't plan to tonight. But I wanted to be honest about the calories so I could see them written down.
I will also mention, that on an average workout day, my calorie intake (if I were to eat back my burned cals) would be around 2,600.
I don't normally eat anywhere near that, but I just wanted to point out that my recommended calories are not 1200-1500 like a lot of folks I see.0 -
Another issue you may want to consider: Your body has adjusted to eating healthy. It might not be happy with all the fat and calories:)
I would assume you are correct here. Moderation will likely be the only way to get through the night. (Though the martinis will probably help)0 -
I feel much less guilty calling it a "free-day" than a "cheat day". Like some of you, I tend to keep it to one meal as opposed to the entire day (although for Thanksgiving, or Christmas I'll probably make an exception).
Like the rest of you, I don't feel I should deprive myself, so I allow myself to eat whatever I want within my allotted calories for the day. If I want to eat more, I just exercise more.
My "free-days" are usually on Fridays as it coincides with "date-night". My weigh and measure days are Thursdays, which gives me all week to work off any excess indiscretions. However, I sometimes find that it's Wednesday again and I didn't avail myself of my previous "free-day".
One final note:
Unlike rollover minutes, unused "free days" don't accumulate. LOL0 -
I ate 3000 calories on Tuesday (yes you read right!) as it was my wedding anniversary - we went for a HUGE picnic + I drank champagne, Pimms the works.
I FULLY expected to have put on weight yesterday (Friday- weigh in day) and amazingly I hadn't. It must have been because it was a one off.
I definitely wouldn't condone it on a regular basis but it just goes to show that the damage was very little at all.0 -
Once a week I get a calorie loaded Starbucks drink.... A soy frappucino or a chai latte.0
-
I don't know if I have what I call a "cheat" meal or not. I eat what I want in moderation and try to make good choices - and if I feel like having ONE donut, I'm going to eat it and not feel bad. On days when I swim - I know I'm going to burn well over 1000 calories so I eat a little more than normal when I take my kids out to eat afterwards. I think it's important to LIVE life...enjoying a nice meal once in a while is awesome, even if it is high caloric. It's one meal, one day of your life. Obsessing about it is how people fail. After I had my kids - I lost almost 100 pounds and obsessed about every single thing that went into my mouth to the point that I would only eat raw fruits and vegetables for 18 months. 10 years later I am right back to the weight I was after I had them, needing to lose a significant amount of weight again. I will be smarter this time. Best of luck!!0
-
I have cheat days that I plan in advance. It gives me something to look forward to. And I can eat whatever I want without guilt. I usually allow myself 1-2 per month. I get the logic people have in not having them. But for me, this works best.0
-
every 10 days or so I let myself have a meal of whatever the hell i want. If i know there is family thing coming up i save it for that. i'm changing my lifestyle, but that doesnt mean i cant enoy a burger, fries and a shake every now and then.0
-
I don't cheat. I find healthy alternatives and have them instead. Like instead of having an Indian takeout last night we made Chicken Tikka Kebabs for under 400cals including basmati rice and salad. & They were sooo tasty.
If it came to eating out I would plan ahead. I would make sure I ate within my calorie goal and probably do a workout during the day.
I'm very strict, to me I'd rather do it properly or not at all.0 -
I eat what I want in moderation, and keepn with in my calorie goal!
Ditto! Cheat days just seem so counter productive to me. But everyone is different and what works for me, may not work for someone else.
The only problem with moderation is Bacon Cheese Burgers and French Fries are hard to moderate. I usually have a cheat day where I don't track but I still know how I'm doing. I go over my calorie goal but usually it's just about where I would be with out the calorie deficit. I hardly have cravings for the unhealthy food but a burger or all meat pizza does still sound good once in a while. Having this day where I have it planed to eat these things stops me from not following the plan 6 days a week.0 -
I made it through the weekend, ate what I wanted, and balanced it out decently with exercise.
Although I felt like crap today until after my workout, the meals and company all weekend were fantastic!!0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions