Cheat days! Are they really worth it?

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Replies

  • Cahgetsfit
    Cahgetsfit Posts: 1,912 Member
    I havent read all the posts so maybe someone has already said this, but a "refeed" day or days is so so important. It's not "cheating" you can still track it. One day at maintenance every couple of weeks (or more often, depends) is just a lifesaver. For me anyway.

    I usually will eat "normal" diet the whole day then splurge on a nice gigantic dinner of whatever. I don't care so much about the macros as long as protein is hit, but enjoy whatever nice juicy burger and chips or whatever that i want.

    makes me feel full and happy and ready to get back onto poverty macros the day after.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    edited February 2019
    Before joining myfitnesspal, I didn't even know what a "cheat day" was. I had one every week. I was maintaining at about 272 lb. Days of higher than usual calorie intake aren't bad. They're just days. If you want to lose weight you have to decide if the pause in your plan imposed by a high calorie day is within your set of goals.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Wanted to add since I don't think anyone has said this, that a little bit of extra exercise can go a long way. Not everyone wants to handle it this way, and that's okay, but what I like to do is go out for a good long run and earn some extra calories and then eat fries.

    It's very easy to eat more fast food than you could possibly earn through any amount of exercise, so you can't completely go hog wild, but an hourlong 10k run (usually about 600 - 800 calories for me) will let you eat a hamburger (not the 1350 calorie giant triple baconator, but a normal sized hamburger) and some fries (not the 1310 calorie large fries at Five Guys, but a reasonable portion of fries.)
  • whatalazyidiot
    whatalazyidiot Posts: 343 Member
    Cahgetsfit wrote: »
    I havent read all the posts so maybe someone has already said this, but a "refeed" day or days is so so important. It's not "cheating" you can still track it. One day at maintenance every couple of weeks (or more often, depends) is just a lifesaver. For me anyway.

    I usually will eat "normal" diet the whole day then splurge on a nice gigantic dinner of whatever. I don't care so much about the macros as long as protein is hit, but enjoy whatever nice juicy burger and chips or whatever that i want.

    makes me feel full and happy and ready to get back onto poverty macros the day after.

    I have heard this term a few times, but honestly never knew what it meant. So is it basically just eating at maintenance for a day?
  • Kiyomoo
    Kiyomoo Posts: 354 Member
    edited February 2019
    I say it is "worth it", so long as you don't overdo it or do it too frequently. You can't expect to never have junk food again for the rest of your life. I think it's okay to allow yourself a little freedom.

    Personally, I don't devote a single day to cheating. If I want something unhealthy, I'll have it, I'll just make sure I still stay within my calorie limit for the day. If it would put me over my calorie limit, then I'll either wait to eat it the next day, or I'll make sure I have less calories than usual the next day.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    As long as you are eating within your weekly calorie goal, you can eat whatever you want in whatever quantities you want and still lose weight at the expected pace. That means you can save up calories for a bigger meal, and still lose weight as long as you're within your calories for the week. It also means you can have dessert every day as long as it fits your into your calories, and still lose weight.

    If you go over your weekly calorie goal, you will lose more slowly, gain, or maintain, depending on the amount you exceeded your calorie goal.

    Only you can decide whether you think that is worth it.
  • guil0095
    guil0095 Posts: 327 Member
    edited February 2019
    Thanks everyone. Definitely some great advice. Spoiler alert, my cheat lunch was not worth it. I'm trying to drop the pounds, but I also want to feel good, and I was sluggish for a good portion of my day. Having said that, having a cheat day/meal was a good reminder that sometimes these "bad" foods don't give me the energy that I require to get through my day. I think I will stick to "healthier" splurges for the next little while.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    guil0095 wrote: »
    Thanks everyone. Definitely some great advice. Spoiler alert, my cheat lunch was not worth it. I'm trying to drop the pounds, but I also want to feel good, and I was sluggish for a good portion of my day. Having said that, having a cheat day/meal was a good reminder that sometimes these "bad" foods don't give me the energy that I require to get through my day. I think I will stick to "healthier" splurges for the next little while.

    I remember doing something similar with chocolate cake - made my skin break out, felt cruddy, didn't taste as good as I expected. Next time you will know this didn't do it for you and hopefully can find something that satisfies!
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    angelsja wrote: »
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    guil0095 wrote: »
    dawnbgethealthy wrote: »
    There is some belief that a cheat day/meal revs up your body to burn the extra calories, so that the next day at the usual weight loss calorie range your body furnace is still expecting higher calories and burning hotter.

    I love this!! Thank you for your insight.

    Unfortunately it isn't true.

    The 10k calorie challenge women report that her calorie burn when up after consuming the 10k as well as her body temperature etc she still had 1lb of fat hanging around a few weeks later but her calorie burn did increase due to the extra food in her system

    You Tube Challengers are definitely the scientifically reliable source we’ve all been looking for...
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,855 Member
    edited February 2019
    I powered steak frittes, a hazelnut mocha and Chinese takeout (dumplings, sweet and sour chicken Sam's rice and chicken Lo mein) into last Saturday. I exceeded maintenance cals by a little bit, but overall kept an ongoing deficit. I'm still down in weight this week, though Sunday/Monday was up a few lbs, due to food volume and sodium I am sure.

    It's not cheating, it's eating.
  • fergusonjamillah
    fergusonjamillah Posts: 83 Member
    I believe a cheat day its not the end of the world, but in my past experiences i was regretful of the cheat day because i over did it and ate way too much.
    Its all about controlling your appetite and dont be upset if you do eat too much think of it as proteins lol.
  • Ninkasi
    Ninkasi Posts: 173 Member
    guil0095 wrote: »
    Are cheat days worth it?

    Not for me, I find it easier to just do the math up front and any special meals get worked into my total calorie allotment for the day or week.

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