Cheat day

Does it did anyone ever do a cheat day a week or a meal a week
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Replies

  • Panini911
    Panini911 Posts: 2,325 Member
    no i work things in, may take a day at maintenance to go out.

    a cheat day can easily wipe out a week of under eating so it also REALLY depends what one means by "cheat". Especially when on a small deficit.
  • lovelylosses
    lovelylosses Posts: 27 Member
    edited July 2019
    I don't do "cheat" days because I don't believe in them in theory. The idea that you'll be on a restrictive diet the rest of your life is a recipe for disaster. Instead, I calorie cycle. Four days a week, I eat less. The other three, I eat more, since I know I'll be eating at a restaurant, or may want to have a few glasses of wine. I can still have my beloved nachos (I love you, nachos). At the end of the week, my calories are the same as if I had eaten one set amount every day.

    Anyway, "cheating" sounds wrong. I prefer to treat myself occasionally, while still maintaining a healthy way of eating most of the time. :)
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    I don't believe in cheat days or meals. I think giving foods that title makes them dangerous.

    Eat it. Enjoy it. Log it. <3
  • kimondo666
    kimondo666 Posts: 194 Member
    edited July 2019
    cheat meal, incorporate into your calorie goal. Then i dont eat over it. Require some planning before hand as cheat meals are calorie dense. Ya eat what ya want in moderate amount basically. Maybe those kebap or hamburger that is coming sneakily after you for a week. Or 2-3 slices of pizza. I am lucky since i am a man, woman has it worse to keep a goal. You can also eat instead of deficit at maintenance level.
  • lauragreenbaum
    lauragreenbaum Posts: 1,017 Member
    About once every couple of weeks I splurge, but I don't consider it "cheating." I plan for it, and count the calories. Tomorrow, for example will be a splurge day- I'm going to my fav Thai restaurant and ordering the chicken fried rice and plan on eating all of it. But...it will be the only thing I eat that day and I'm ok with that.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    "Cheat day"? No. Intentional refeed? Yes. If you do a cheat day, who or what are you cheating?
  • lgfrie
    lgfrie Posts: 1,449 Member
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.
  • nighthawk584
    nighthawk584 Posts: 2,023 Member
    edited July 2019
    since I am not at my goal yet and I'm at a calorie deficit, no cheat days for me. I might have a small piece of hard candy here and there or low carb ice cream but that is it and I can control myself now with not over eating. Logging every single thing is a must for me and keeps me honest.
  • poisonesse
    poisonesse Posts: 573 Member
    Personally, I don't believe in "cheat" days, why in the world would I want to cheat myself??? I might have a high day, or a high meal, but they're not cheats... they're just life. Once it's done, it's back on plan.
  • nighthawk584
    nighthawk584 Posts: 2,023 Member
    mmapags wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    Lol! For me, that is a light dinner. I know that many eat fewer calories to achieve their goal though.

    haha..I used to do 1000 calories per meal of junk food..I ate at least 3500 calories a day of junk...that's why I ended up obese!
  • Panini911
    Panini911 Posts: 2,325 Member
    mmapags wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    Lol! For me, that is a light dinner. I know that many eat fewer calories to achieve their goal though.

    haha..I used to do 1000 calories per meal of junk food..I ate at least 3500 calories a day of junk...that's why I ended up obese!

    Oh I absolutely CAN eat over 1000 calories a meal/sitting. no problemo. Just not something I can really do more than 1-2x a year even on maintenance at 1500-1600 calories. unless i plan ahead and do a small cut on calories for a week before.
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    It sure is for me. I'm on 1340 calories a day.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Panini911 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    For those of us eating 1200-1400 calories it sure is! especially if one meal a day isn't satisfying (for some of us it isn't - i cannot do one big meal and little/no other food that day, i'll bite people's head off at some point).

    Eating a 1,000 calorie meal once per week and, say, eating to maintenance for the day isn't going to be a detriment in the long run...the poster I originally quoted said it wouldn't work...in the big picture, it's immaterial. I routinely had maintenance days when I was losing weight and still lost 40 Lbs pretty easily.
  • nighthawk584
    nighthawk584 Posts: 2,023 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Panini911 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    For those of us eating 1200-1400 calories it sure is! especially if one meal a day isn't satisfying (for some of us it isn't - i cannot do one big meal and little/no other food that day, i'll bite people's head off at some point).

    Eating a 1,000 calorie meal once per week and, say, eating to maintenance for the day isn't going to be a detriment in the long run...the poster I originally quoted said it wouldn't work...in the big picture, it's immaterial. I routinely had maintenance days when I was losing weight and still lost 40 Lbs pretty easily.

    I agree, but just curious, what were you eating on your 1000 calorie meal?
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    No.
    There’s not much point in cheating yourself. Working hard to lose, so it doesn’t make sense to give myself permission to cheat, and possibly slow down my progress. I prelog and stick to it, allowing all foods I like in moderation.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    mmapags wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    Lol! For me, that is a light dinner. I know that many eat fewer calories to achieve their goal though.

    Same that's my dinner every night, 1500 or more on refeeds
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    mmapags wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    Lol! For me, that is a light dinner. I know that many eat fewer calories to achieve their goal though.

    Same that's my dinner every night, 1500 or more on refeeds

    Yup, I like a nice dinner with my wife and eat about 2500 to maintain per day. So, I've got the room for it. Not all do. I'll eat less during the day to have the room in my calories.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Panini911 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    For those of us eating 1200-1400 calories it sure is! especially if one meal a day isn't satisfying (for some of us it isn't - i cannot do one big meal and little/no other food that day, i'll bite people's head off at some point).

    Eating a 1,000 calorie meal once per week and, say, eating to maintenance for the day isn't going to be a detriment in the long run...the poster I originally quoted said it wouldn't work...in the big picture, it's immaterial. I routinely had maintenance days when I was losing weight and still lost 40 Lbs pretty easily.

    I agree, but just curious, what were you eating on your 1000 calorie meal?

    Lost of different things...a typical meal out is going to be 1,000 calories or more. I don't really identify with "cheating", but I like to get some pub grub, or pizza, or a nice Italian meal, or a juicy burger from the bistro by my house here and there. Heck, the sushi I had for lunch the other day from the grocery deli was 850...
  • mcsega
    mcsega Posts: 19 Member
    Yea, most 1/4lb or larger pub burger and fries combo's are well over 1200 calories, that doesn't even count any liquid calories. Two cheeseburgers and small fries at mcdonalds with condiments is close to 1k.
  • nooboots
    nooboots Posts: 480 Member
    I seem to be eating much bigger calorie amounts for meals out than the rest of you! I am quite greedy though. I also like to overestimate, although perhaps its not over estimating.

    I had 5800 the other week on a day out. Terrible. Its not every week though.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    nooboots wrote: »
    I seem to be eating much bigger calorie amounts for meals out than the rest of you! I am quite greedy though. I also like to overestimate, although perhaps its not over estimating.

    I had 5800 the other week on a day out. Terrible. Its not every week though.

    I don't typically eat out more than once in a day.
  • lgfrie
    lgfrie Posts: 1,449 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    I meant 1,000 extra calories in one cheat meal. Like, say, if you're doing 1,500 cals a day and dinner is usually 600 of those, but you have a cheat meal that's 1600 calories - one dinner, 1,000 calories over budget. That's just too much. That's adding an average 140 calories to every day of the week, in one meal, but without the steady, satisfying satiety of actually eating 140 more calories every day.

    I don't personally like or do scheduled "cheat" meals. I try to make sure the foods available all week are satisfying and enjoyable such that there is no burning desire to go off plan. If one can't wait to get off the plan every week, the plan needs fixing. Maybe more calories are needed everyday. Maybe more satisfying foods, or more treats, or something. Having a scheduled time-out every week hints at a diet that is too restrictive and punishing. Maybe it works for some people, but I suspect not many. Cheat meals just lead to more cheat meals, until every day is a cheat meal and then you realize you're no longer on the diet. Been there, done that.
  • nooboots
    nooboots Posts: 480 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    nooboots wrote: »
    I seem to be eating much bigger calorie amounts for meals out than the rest of you! I am quite greedy though. I also like to overestimate, although perhaps its not over estimating.

    I had 5800 the other week on a day out. Terrible. Its not every week though.

    I don't typically eat out more than once in a day.

    No that particular day was sort of drinking and eating from mid afternoon drinks and nibbles then out to dinner with lots of cocktails, more nibbles and then the meal.
  • Terytha
    Terytha Posts: 2,097 Member
    edited July 2019
    I don't like cheating myself.

    But I do give myself allowances. Like, as long as I stay under maintenance, I'll have a big meal every now and then, maybe once a month. I gotta live my life, and a lot of socializing happens around food. Even if I'm at maintenance, at least I'm not gaining.

    This Saturday we're doing yakiniku. There's no way around it, I'll probably go over a bit. But I won't give up the fun of badly grilling delicious meats with friends while almost setting ourselves on fire.
  • donjtomasco
    donjtomasco Posts: 790 Member
    I try to eat under my calorie goal daily and add up the extra's each day during the week, giving me extra calories for if my wife and I go out to eat or go out with people. I don't like counting at a restaurant so I know that if I have accumulated 1,000 extra calories, I can eat light that day then just plug in a large number for the dinner and be done with it knowing I am still fine for the week
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    lgfrie wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    lgfrie wrote: »
    Weekly cheat "days" do not work. I speak from experience. You can easily and quickly wipe out an entire week of dieting with a cheat day. I've done it, and it isn't fun; in fact it's very demoralizing and can take you completely off a diet. Don't take cheat days. Or take them three times a year, on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and your birthday.

    As to the cheat "meal", I'm not a fan but it's probably workable, as long as it's a few hundred calories. If you're talking about a 1,000+ calorie blowout, no, that's not gonna work.

    A punishing, deprivational diet is gonna lead to cheating days. A moderate diet of foods you enjoy can leave you satisfied enough that you don't really feel the need to "cheat". The latter should be the goal.

    1,000 calories for a meal isn't exactly a lot...

    I meant 1,000 extra calories in one cheat meal. Like, say, if you're doing 1,500 cals a day and dinner is usually 600 of those, but you have a cheat meal that's 1600 calories - one dinner, 1,000 calories over budget. That's just too much. That's adding an average 140 calories to every day of the week, in one meal, but without the steady, satisfying satiety of actually eating 140 more calories every day.

    I don't personally like or do scheduled "cheat" meals. I try to make sure the foods available all week are satisfying and enjoyable such that there is no burning desire to go off plan. If one can't wait to get off the plan every week, the plan needs fixing. Maybe more calories are needed everyday. Maybe more satisfying foods, or more treats, or something. Having a scheduled time-out every week hints at a diet that is too restrictive and punishing. Maybe it works for some people, but I suspect not many. Cheat meals just lead to more cheat meals, until every day is a cheat meal and then you realize you're no longer on the diet. Been there, done that.

    When I was losing weight I ate out pretty much once per week somewhere indulgent that I really liked...New Mexican food, pub grub, pizza, whatever. I never considered that cheating...I considered it living life and it didn't lead to more and more. My diet overall is pretty good and I'm active...having some New Mexican food for brunch on a Sunday isn't really material to the big picture. I lost 40 Lbs fairly easily and I've been maintaining for over 6 years and I still eat out at least once per week...most of those meals are easily over 1,000 calories and most of them are probably more in the neighborhood of 1,500.

    I don't necessarily think wanting to enjoy an indulgent meal once a week or whatever occasion you decide means the plan needs fixing...it worked with my plan just fine.