What is a cheat day??????

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Replies

  • A cheat day is a plan to failure. I once plateaued for 6 months because my ex convinced me cheat days reset your metabolism... bs is what that is. It's better to go under one day and over the next making sure both days average out to your weekly deficit goal.

    I like you thinking
  • To me a “cheat day” implies that I’m on a diet, which I’m not. Yes, I’m reducing my calorie intake temporarily but it’s framed in my head as a lifestyle change. I don’t want to start something that requires cheat days since this is long term. There will always be special occasions and random days where I may eat food that’s not as good for me, or I may go over my calories for the day, and that’s completely okay! Those days aren’t cheat days, they’re just part of life.

    Very good points you have put forth. Most of us need to remember that the way to success is a life change not diet lifestyle.
  • CholeRoad
    CholeRoad Posts: 47 Member
    I use the weekly average calculator on mfp. As long as my week averages out to my desired calories, I'm happy. No cheat days required. Just "getting on with life" days.

    Thanks I did not know about the week average page just took a look and love it. I'm new to this whole thing and trying to figure stuff out. I find it very interesting the post about this subject and look forward to reading more. I just never understood what people are referring to when they say cheat day. I have used it a couple of times but should not have and I will phase it a better way. I just wanted to refer to wasted calories to me on foods that I'm trying to stay away from. Had nothing to do with intake for the day or week I have been doing good with that.

    Thanks again for everyone's input!!!!

    Where did you find that page?
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,884 Member
    CholeRoad wrote: »
    I use the weekly average calculator on mfp. As long as my week averages out to my desired calories, I'm happy. No cheat days required. Just "getting on with life" days.

    Thanks I did not know about the week average page just took a look and love it. I'm new to this whole thing and trying to figure stuff out. I find it very interesting the post about this subject and look forward to reading more. I just never understood what people are referring to when they say cheat day. I have used it a couple of times but should not have and I will phase it a better way. I just wanted to refer to wasted calories to me on foods that I'm trying to stay away from. Had nothing to do with intake for the day or week I have been doing good with that.

    Thanks again for everyone's input!!!!

    Where did you find that page?

    In your diary, go to Nutrition (the pie chart icon) and then switch from a daily view to a weekly view.

    kb58beochtg8.jpg


  • meeppeepneep
    meeppeepneep Posts: 56 Member
    @Lietchi Well this might be a lifechanger. Thank you for showing us!
  • Here is another view that we were talking about above.

    4dtwgg6z81by.png
  • crb426
    crb426 Posts: 661 Member
    Whatever you call it. I just remind myself that anything over maintenance calories is undoing my hard work from the day(s) before.
  • freda666
    freda666 Posts: 338 Member
    I have the occasional day or two when I do not count calories but I am not "cheating". It is simply a decision re what I choose to eat.
  • CholeRoad
    CholeRoad Posts: 47 Member
    Lietchi wrote: »
    CholeRoad wrote: »
    I use the weekly average calculator on mfp. As long as my week averages out to my desired calories, I'm happy. No cheat days required. Just "getting on with life" days.

    Thanks I did not know about the week average page just took a look and love it. I'm new to this whole thing and trying to figure stuff out. I find it very interesting the post about this subject and look forward to reading more. I just never understood what people are referring to when they say cheat day. I have used it a couple of times but should not have and I will phase it a better way. I just wanted to refer to wasted calories to me on foods that I'm trying to stay away from. Had nothing to do with intake for the day or week I have been doing good with that.

    Thanks again for everyone's input!!!!

    Where did you find that page?

    In your diary, go to Nutrition (the pie chart icon) and then switch from a daily view to a weekly view.

    kb58beochtg8.jpg


    Thank you.
  • CholeRoad
    CholeRoad Posts: 47 Member
    Here is another view that we were talking about above.

    4dtwgg6z81by.png

    Thanks.

    I don't seem to have the Weekly Digest. Do you have premium?
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    edited May 2021
    Cheat day for me is Sunday, I eat my regular calories + one fancy coffee at church, comes out to be maintenance calories for me. Basically, it means eating at maintenance 1 day a week, at a deficit all the others.

    H...h...how is that even cheating?

    It's one coffee one day a week and you're not even going over calories (whether logging it on here or in your head or else you wouldn't know that)...AT CHURCH! :)

    Cheating to me is lying to myself about how much I'm eating by not logging everything when I know I should so I don't gain the weight back.[/quote]

    Okay, we'll call it an "off diet" day.

    Unfortunately, I tried to convince my body that calories consumed on holy ground should not contribute to weight gain, but alas, it was not moved by my argument.

    Rolling ROFL's


    Cheat Day mentality can end up as just another permission slip for a binge. I'm not married to my food so I don't need to cheat on it. Lgfrie's approach works for me.
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    ^^^This. Truth. How much of your progress are you willing to give up.
  • tuckerrj wrote: »
    A cheat day is a great way to blow 6 days worth of sensible eating at a deficit. I wasted many weeks/months controlling myself Monday thru Saturday only to blow it on Sunday and wind up with a zero net loss for the week. Hey you asked. . .

    Good way of looking it this I agree
  • CholeRoad wrote: »
    Here is another view that we were talking about above.

    4dtwgg6z81by.png

    Thanks.

    I don't seem to have the Weekly Digest. Do you have premium?

    ipm4t17cl2p9.png



    No I do not have premium just try and look to see someone else pointed this out to me.
  • Ann262
    Ann262 Posts: 266 Member
    I learned long ago that it is impossible to cheat on your diet..program...or whatever you want to call it. There may be days where I make exceptions and eat or drink foods that I don't normally consume. I may not tell anyone I did so but there is no cheating. My body will react to what I took in no matter what.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,027 Member
    How did "cheat day" start? Basically competitive bodybuilders (male and female) lived on strict diets and had "cheat days" to just break a cycle and be able to enjoy "taboo" food occasionally.
    IMO, one DOESN'T have to have "cheat days" if you count your calories correctly and have some decent discipline in eating habits.
    Hence I "cheat" everyday.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • mlbrowninsc0508
    mlbrowninsc0508 Posts: 1 Member
    My "cheat" day is generally Saturday. I take the day off from structured excersise and don't long calories. Will generally go out to eat and may have a donut and an ice cream. If I go over on calories (always do) so be it. Have lost 58 lbs in 10 months this way, so works for me. Helps keep me motivated.
  • Vjmikesell
    Vjmikesell Posts: 36 Member
    I’m 5’0”- one “cheat day” can reverse an entire week of progress. Cheat day is no longer in my vocabulary. Instead, I will have one cheat treat- every Saturday after bootcamp, I will have one special treat- a churro or a bubble tea- something I don’t eat all week. I’m literally 1.5 pounds away from my goal weight, a weight I did t think was possible to reach at my age. Letting go of the “cheat day” mentality was a huge help.
  • ninerbuff wrote: »
    How did "cheat day" start? Basically competitive bodybuilders (male and female) lived on strict diets and had "cheat days" to just break a cycle and be able to enjoy "taboo" food occasionally.
    IMO, one DOESN'T have to have "cheat days" if you count your calories correctly and have some decent discipline in eating habits.
    Hence I "cheat" everyday.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    Very interesting thanks for the information.