Cheat Day?
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What is considered a "cheat day?" If you plan to eat like an *kitten* and give no *kitten*, I guarantee that's not the way to look at it and it will completely derail any idea of progress you have in your head.
If you mean eating at a planned surplus that doesn't disrupt your net calorie intake that still puts you in a caloric deficit, then yes, by all means take the day.
Here's the thing, if you completely eliminate your favorite food(s), it only makes the temptation that much greater to cave in. Granted, some people do better via restriction instead of moderation, but make the restricted food something you have to work for. Say ice cream for example.
Don't keep it in the house and if you need to have some, go out and get a serving of it from your preferred ice cream spot, not a gallon from the grocery that you can take home. Chances are the thought of having to get dressed, get into the car, drive in the heat, walk into the store, wait in line, order, pay, wait for it to be made and served are all going to feel like more of a pain in the *kitten* than just staying home in the air conditioning.
Basically, don't make it easily available and if you want it, go get it, but on conditions, because if you could easily moderate your favorite food, this thread wouldn't exist.
Yeah I definitely make sure to keep my "favorite foods - mostly sweets) out of the house. Better yet I always take account to not eat alot of it. Like instead of eating a whole package of oreos, I buy the packs with just 6 cookies in it to help with my crave and to not overeat. Baby steps go a long way!
I find it INTERESTING that you did not mention these packs of Oreos, and these cheat days, on your thread about how you only eat tiny amounts of fruit, vegetables, yoghurt and lean meat and yet aren’t aren’t losing weight.
Its logged into my food diary.
The food diary that the people you asked for advice can't see, and who you actively lied to when you claimed you only eat a short list of restricted foods.
I have literally no idea what you thought that would achieve.
Well tell me then how your weight loss journey is going? Did you accomplish your dreams and goals?
Yes, I did, thankyou.
I went from 385 lb (UK size 26) to 150 lb (UK size 10), and from completely sedentary (I had problems with my ankles that meant it hurt just to walk 200 yards) to being able to hike 18 miles on consecutive days. It took me 2 1/2 years of rigorous weighing, logging, and holding myself utterly accountable; but the payoff is even better than I had ever dreamed (I've never been normal weight before in my life).
I have now been maintaining for 9 months. Sometimes it's a struggle, as I suffer from binge eating disorder (not officially diagnosed, because I never have the time to get to my GP, but I have basically every single symptom), but I try to log my binges with absolute honesty. I mean, I can lie to myself and other people, but my body's gonna count it regardless.
Why do you ask?
Just curious. Making conversation and congrats on your weight loss too.
If you're similarly curious about all the other people who have given you advice, many of them have also achieved their dreams and goals. They hang around on here because maintenance is for life, and to use their experience to help other people get to where they are.13 -
What is considered a "cheat day?" If you plan to eat like an *kitten* and give no *kitten*, I guarantee that's not the way to look at it and it will completely derail any idea of progress you have in your head.
If you mean eating at a planned surplus that doesn't disrupt your net calorie intake that still puts you in a caloric deficit, then yes, by all means take the day.
Here's the thing, if you completely eliminate your favorite food(s), it only makes the temptation that much greater to cave in. Granted, some people do better via restriction instead of moderation, but make the restricted food something you have to work for. Say ice cream for example.
Don't keep it in the house and if you need to have some, go out and get a serving of it from your preferred ice cream spot, not a gallon from the grocery that you can take home. Chances are the thought of having to get dressed, get into the car, drive in the heat, walk into the store, wait in line, order, pay, wait for it to be made and served are all going to feel like more of a pain in the *kitten* than just staying home in the air conditioning.
Basically, don't make it easily available and if you want it, go get it, but on conditions, because if you could easily moderate your favorite food, this thread wouldn't exist.
Yeah I definitely make sure to keep my "favorite foods - mostly sweets) out of the house. Better yet I always take account to not eat alot of it. Like instead of eating a whole package of oreos, I buy the packs with just 6 cookies in it to help with my crave and to not overeat. Baby steps go a long way!
I find it INTERESTING that you did not mention these packs of Oreos, and these cheat days, on your thread about how you only eat tiny amounts of fruit, vegetables, yoghurt and lean meat and yet aren’t aren’t losing weight.
Its logged into my food diary.
The food diary that the people you asked for advice can't see, and who you actively lied to when you claimed you only eat a short list of restricted foods.
I have literally no idea what you thought that would achieve.
Well tell me then how your weight loss journey is going? Did you accomplish your dreams and goals?
Yes, I did, thankyou.
I went from 385 lb (UK size 26) to 150 lb (UK size 10), and from completely sedentary (I had problems with my ankles that meant it hurt just to walk 200 yards) to being able to hike 18 miles on consecutive days. It took me 2 1/2 years of rigorous weighing, logging, and holding myself utterly accountable; but the payoff is even better than I had ever dreamed (I've never been normal weight before in my life).
I have now been maintaining for 9 months. Sometimes it's a struggle, as I suffer from binge eating disorder (not officially diagnosed, because I never have the time to get to my GP, but I have basically every single symptom), but I try to log my binges with absolute honesty. I mean, I can lie to myself and other people, but my body's gonna count it regardless.
Why do you ask?
Just curious. Making conversation and congrats on your weight loss too.
If you're similarly curious about all the other people who have given you advice, many of them have also achieved their dreams and goals. They hang around on here because maintenance is for life, and to use their experience to help other people get to where they are.
Yup, I understand. Duly noted.0 -
I don't have cheat days. I include my favorite food into my diet.3
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I wouldnt call it a cheat day but I try to have one day a week that I eat a bit more to try to refill my glycogen. I have no idea if it works lite that tho
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Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.4 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.8 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol0 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)13 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)
And Oreos.
8 -
I loosely live by the 80/20 rule, where I eat according to plan 80% of the time and the other 20% doesn't matter. So for a full week (21 meals and 14 snacks), I have roughly 4 meals and 3 snacks that are considered "cheat" each week. I just don't see the point in trying to go on some streak of eating "perfectly" when it doesn't make you happy and it isn't really necessary to practice that degree of discipline in order to be successful.6
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BasedGawd412 wrote: »I cheat once a week. Yesterday I ate 5,000 calories. 😋😋😋
but but, you just told us in another thread you lost weight eating 1200 cals/day.. I guess saving up for the cheat days so your weekly average is 1800 ish calories?7 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)
Because pizza is processed grains. Processed foods dont affect me like natural foods do. Which I'm working on with my allergy doctor on foods I can and should eat and ones to stay away from.5 -
WholeFoods4Lyfe wrote: »Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)
And Oreos.
Cause oreos are processed.3 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)
Because pizza is processed grains. Processed foods dont affect me like natural foods do. Which I'm working on with my allergy doctor on foods I can and should eat and ones to stay away from.
If you're fine with processed grains, then that shouldn't restrict you very much; it's not as if you need to avoid bread or pasta. And if you can eat yoghurt then I assume you can eat cheese and other dairy products.
None of the above foods are 'junk', so why are you avoiding them? Why create a false division between 'healthy' and 'junk'? Why restrict an already restrictive diet further?8 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)
Because pizza is processed grains. Processed foods dont affect me like natural foods do. Which I'm working on with my allergy doctor on foods I can and should eat and ones to stay away from.
Thats quite unusual.1 -
Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)
Because pizza is processed grains. Processed foods dont affect me like natural foods do. Which I'm working on with my allergy doctor on foods I can and should eat and ones to stay away from.
Thats quite unusual.
Some people have problems with fiber, so it's possible, but what I don't understand is why limit an already limited diet even more?3 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »Hey everyone so I found out the helpful solution for cheat meals (not cheat days). And I decided to schedule mine every 10 to 12 days leading to only have a cheat meal twice or three times a month.
This may help with my over indulgent weekend of bad food and then me eating great 5 days (or 4) days a week.
Eating healthier for longer extended periods no matter how boring the food is or bland but it will be beneficial.
You do know that eating healthily doesn't have to be boring or bland, don't you?
If by 'eating healthier' you mean the highly restrictive list of nutritionally inadequate foods you listed in one of your other threads, then I strongly recommend you rethink completely. 'Healthy' means a balance of all nutrients in moderation, including fat. 'Healthy' means psychologically healthy, as well as physically healthy, and frankly trying to live on only vegetables, fruits, and a few low-fat protein sources is neither.
I have alot of allergies especially towards fruits and vegetables and not to mention grains and lentils too making it harder for me. And I cant eat nuts and other stuff. So my list is very strict. But if course I'm not allergic to junk food - go figure lol
What foods do you think of as 'junk'? And if allergies make your diet restrictive to start off with, why would you restrict it further by cutting out foods unnecessarily?
(And how come you're allergic to grains but not to pizza?)
Because pizza is processed grains. Processed foods dont affect me like natural foods do. Which I'm working on with my allergy doctor on foods I can and should eat and ones to stay away from.
Thats quite unusual.
Some people have problems with fiber, so it's possible, but what I don't understand is why limit an already limited diet even more?
Like I said, allergies. If you have other foods I should incorporate in my diet please tell me. That would be great cause I know I'm pretty limited but I would like to be more open with healthier options.0 -
Problems with fibre I can understand, as I suffer with that myself. But thats not an allergy. Its about digestion.3
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Like I said, allergies. If you have other foods I should incorporate in my diet please tell me. That would be great cause I know I'm pretty limited but I would like to be more open with healthier options.
You might want to ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian, to help you figure out what you can and can't eat. But I'd agree with the others about not restricting yourself unnecessarily - if you already have many foods that you can't eat, don't limit yourself even more by labelling food as "bad" or "junk". Figure out what you CAN eat, then look for ways to make it slightly healthier if that's what you want to do.4 -
Eat it. Log it. Own it. 😌4
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