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'Cheat' day or 'Treat' day?

Minoesh
Minoesh Posts: 105 Member
edited October 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Hi All,

If your current eating regime is part of a lifestyle change and not merely a diet, you may find this helpful. I find it really beneficial as part of my regime to have a day where I would allow myself a couple of treats, that way I don't feel I have to deprive myself for the rest of my life. However, I found it psychologically helpful to call it a Treat day rather than a Cheat day. To some of you this may not make any difference but to someone like me who used to struggle with feelings of guilt after a 'cheat' and then feel there was no point in continuing with the diet, it made a HUGE difference. My treat day is a way of rewarding myself for continuing on a path that can be quite difficult at times.

It's much better to view a nice meal in a restaurant as a treat rather than a cheat! I hope this makes sense and good luck to everyone on their journey to good health! :smile:

Replies

  • LilChickPea
    LilChickPea Posts: 122 Member
    Everything is psychological and I totally agree with you! Treat Day is what i will call it now :happy:
  • ranewell
    ranewell Posts: 621 Member
    It DOES make a difference. If I have a CHEAT day, I have let myself lose control!!! Everything in moderation....Treat days are awesome!
  • mynameiscarrie
    mynameiscarrie Posts: 963 Member
    that's an awesome idea! treat day it is!
  • xcmom
    xcmom Posts: 33 Member
    I agree with you about allowing ourselves to have treats vs cheats. Knowing it's ok to have a treat every so often is what keeps me on track.
  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
    I don't do cheat days, cheat meals or anything like that. If I am going out and want to have dessert, I plan for it. I budget my calories so that I can have it without going over. Cheat day or treat day to me sounds like something forbidden or special in a way that I no longer want food to be. This is true whether it's dessert or a slice of pizza. I no longer want those foods to have that sort of power. I want to clearly see how I can safely incorporate those foods into my regular eating habit.
  • sweettoothfairy
    sweettoothfairy Posts: 212 Member
    Hi All,

    If your current eating regime is part of a lifestyle change and not merely a diet, you may find this helpful. I find it really beneficial as part of my regime to have a day where I would allow myself a couple of treats, that way I don't feel I have to deprive myself for the rest of my life. However, I found it psychologically helpful to call it a Treat day rather than a Cheat day. To some of you this may not make any difference but to someone like me who used to struggle with feelings of guilt after a 'cheat' and then feel there was no point in continuing with the diet, it made a HUGE difference. My treat day is a way of rewarding myself for continuing on a path that can be quite difficult at times.

    It's much better to view a nice meal in a restaurant as a treat rather than a cheat! I hope this makes sense and good luck to everyone on their journey to good health! :smile:


    Thank you so much, this is what i needed. I was feeling so guilty after i ate 400 cals extra today, feeling much better after reading this. I am gonna consider it as treat day and start a fresh tommorow.
  • bethdris
    bethdris Posts: 1,090 Member
    I don't do cheat days, cheat meals or anything like that. If I am going out and want to have dessert, I plan for it. I budget my calories so that I can have it without going over. Cheat day or treat day to me sounds like something forbidden or special in a way that I no longer want food to be. This is true whether it's dessert or a slice of pizza. I no longer want those foods to have that sort of power. I want to clearly see how I can safely incorporate those foods into my regular eating habit.

    This is what I've done from the start, and am SO glad I did! :)
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I don't do cheat days, cheat meals or anything like that. If I am going out and want to have dessert, I plan for it. I budget my calories so that I can have it without going over. Cheat day or treat day to me sounds like something forbidden or special in a way that I no longer want food to be. This is true whether it's dessert or a slice of pizza. I no longer want those foods to have that sort of power. I want to clearly see how I can safely incorporate those foods into my regular eating habit.

    I totally agree with this.

    No cheat meals, days, etc here. I eat what I want, when I want it. I've learned all about portion control - so I eat the serving size of whatever it is I want, I log it and I move on. If I want some rich, calorie laden dessert - I work it into my calories for the day. If I want a piece of pizza - I work it into my calories for the day. This isn't a diet, it's my life. :) I plan to enjoy my life -- but, I plan to enjoy it while wearing size 8 pants. ;) LOL
  • bhagavatilad1
    bhagavatilad1 Posts: 277
    MFP is merely a tool as long as you record everything you don't have to worry about a treat day or cheat day. So what if sometimes you splurge.
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    I call it "a day of increased calorie intake" because, well...that's what it is. Call it what you will, be it a spike day, cycling calories up, free day, treat day, cheat day, me day, whatever...just as long as it's with purpose and without remorse or guilt.
  • futurefitgirl88
    futurefitgirl88 Posts: 284
    cant do cheat or treat days!! For me that's a recipe for disaster!! I cheat enough of non-cheat days :{
  • hiemerapril
    hiemerapril Posts: 69 Member
    So happy I found this topic. I was wanting Arby's so badly and I knew I would HAVE to eat curly fries with my sandwich, but WHOA! Lots of calories. So I decided to have a "cheat" day and do it anyway. Then I started to feel badly about ruining the progress I have made, and thinking what I did wasn't right. Glad to see that others do this too, and your right, "treat" day feels more guilt free! Thank you so much!
  • redpj1
    redpj1 Posts: 7
    Its ok for a cheat or treat day. You will just have to workout hard for the next two days if you don't want it to mess up your progress. :wink: that's what I do and it hasn't cause me any hardship. So go have that slice of cake, cookies, pasta etc. Just think of it like this every meal you eat its just a chance to workout!!! Best of luck to everyone on there weighloss journey or lifestyle change.
  • westcoastSW
    westcoastSW Posts: 320 Member
    Bump -- I fully agree! No "cheating" here, just realistic goals.
  • had3nuf
    had3nuf Posts: 59
    Treat(s) Day
This discussion has been closed.

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