Cheat Day, yay or nay?
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I don't believe in cheat days, in the same sense that (as an adult) I don't believe in Santa Claus.
Sometimes I eat within my deficit goal, sometimes I eat at maintenance, sometimes I eat over maintenance (occasionally way over). I call it "a decision".
While I was losing, I always logged it, even if I had to estimate. That way, I knew the impact, and could look back and decide whether the impact had been worth it. Sometimes it was, sometimes it wasn't. In the latter case, I'd think how I wanted to better handle similar scenarios in future. Either way, it was usually only a few hours delay in reaching ultimate goal weight, a day or two at most.
Now, starting into year 3 of maintenance, I don't always log, but I have a pretty clear understanding at this point of what my decisions mean for my weight management.
All of that's happening within a context where I strive to eat nutritiously overall, but include some extra-tasty but less nutrient dense foods routinely, within my calorie goal, just for happiness.2 -
It isn't cheating because the CICO rule applies. You gain on any day you overeat. You lose on any day you undereat.
For myself, I'm losing a lot of weight by changing my eating behaviors. If I go back to eating cake with my breakfast cereal one day it would be like smoking just one cigarette after quitting and not end well. I do have a tablespoon of cake and tablespoon of ice cream at birthday parties, the portion size and frequency is my new behavior. What I've discovered is that I enjoy that tablespoon more than sitting down with a carton of ice cream.2 -
I don't have cheat days or meals but I allow myself to have treats. I just make sure I still hit my weekly calorie goal.
Right now im in a competition so im super strict right now. But before i would have some of the kids ice cream or a cookie. But honestly i dont crave things anymore. Eating healthy is such a habit now. I usually feel sick after i eat something not good and thats not worth it to me.
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I'm mixed. The other day I had a slice of pizza for lunch. So that was definitely a cheat day. I have lunch with two friends once a week and depending where we go, I might eat a little more than I would otherwise. But it worries me that it will knock me off my healthy routine now.0
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How is that a cheat? Count the pizza slice as 350 calories and work it into your daily goal.3
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I don't refer to them as cheat days. I do allow myself to eat a little more on weekends.0
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Who would I be cheating? This is my journey and my plan. If I eat over my calorie goal and don’t enter it in my log that just means inaccurate data. My body still knows what happened. If I want wine with a friend or pizza with the kids I expect to be over my calorie goal. I enter it. The world does not end. I just keep swimming along....2
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