Should we have a cheat day? I am on vacation and I find it hard to stick to the regimen.
Ruby2020A
Posts: 9 Member
If so , how often should we have a cheat day without feeling guilty? Please comment below
Should we have a cheat day? I am on vacation and I find it hard to stick to the regimen. 31 votes
Yes , cheat days are okay.
90%
28 votes
No, you must have discipline and Will power.
9%
3 votes
0
Replies
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You should have as many days you eat in an overage as you want to.
Feeling guilty is optional.
If you're trying to lose weight eating more than you spend, often, will lead to lack of success.
Occasionally? I doubt I can tell you how many times I overrate while losing weight. It was way more than once or twice or three times. But it wasn't every day either!
A goal of maintenance during a trip? Allow a lb or two? Sure.
Free for all? Maybe not the best idea.5 -
Regiment? I tried to discover ways of eating that I could continue to employ long term while I was losing weight. 🤷🏻♂️4
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Do what is right for yourself. Personally, I have no planned cheat days. Seems counterproductive for me, and leads to the slippery slope I was on for too many years. “I’ll start over tomorrow”.4
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Have a search on the forums for "cheat day", you will find lots of threads about it which show many different approaches. You will find ideas on ways to look at balancing your calories that don't need to make you feel guilty or like you have failed to stick to something. For me, it's about finding an approach that works for your lifestyle and that you can sustain long term.2
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It depends on what you consider cheating. It is likely no one can record food accurately when eating on vacation with others doing the cooking so we are all probably inaccurate or stop vigilantly recording, but it is probably useful to make some effort to keep in the habit of paying attention to what you are eating and why. it is also silly to deny yourself the opportunity to experience local culture and cuisine, but you can do that while still making better choices like sticking with exercise, not cheating at every meal, eating the healthier options for many meals, eating an appetizer instead of an entree, or splitting a dish with someone/ordering a half portion if available. Not drinking alcohol, sugary drinks or cream and sugar in coffee and tea. Not ordering desserts unless you have calories to spare. All the usual stuff you do when you go out to eat but for a week or two at a time.
Depending on the kind of vacations you take, you might actually be able to pack in more daily activity than your normal routine so it might not be so bad.6 -
No surprise you are finding it hard to stick to when you have such negative language and emotion in your dieting regimen.
Maybe considering how to make your diet tactics easier would be a better idea?5 -
Guilt doesn't burn calories.
So why feel guilty?
Re cheat days: Personally I don't like the concept of cheat days. Because it implies that somehow the food that I eat on that day would be "bad" and "wrong" and the food that I eat normally is "good and "right". I'm not sure that attributing moral values to food is particularly healthy or helpful. I might have days when I'm over calories, and that is fine. As long as my weight trend is generally downwards, then I'm happy (as that aligns with my goals).
And as an aside: I didn't vote on your poll because of what I described above and also that relying on willpower sucks. Because there will be a day when you can't fight it and you can't keep going on it because mentally it's just not happening that day. And if you're just relying on willpower you'll fail, and then you'll feel like a failure and it's horrible. Habit, routine, and the ability to just keep going when you stray from your path, that's what you need.
And my thoughts on vacations? This is a time to relax and enjoy yourself. Give yourself a break. Put your process on pause, eat at maintenance, don't feel bad if you overeat, and then start back up when you get home.9 -
Yes , cheat days are okay.
And my thoughts on vacations? This is a time to relax and enjoy yourself. Give yourself a break. Put your process on pause, eat at maintenance, don't feel bad if you overeat, and then start back up when you get home.
This says it all. Good and different foods are part of enjoying a vacation. Life is to be enjoyed. Don't stress about it. When you get back home, you'll lose any weight you gained, as long as you don't allow your vacation eating to become your normal eating.
Plus, many vacations can include lots of physical activity.....walking, hiking, swimming, biking, etc. 4 -
I find it humorous for people to try to validate cheat days as something enjoyable. There are so many other things to feel happy/accomplished about. Cheat days are not one of them.4
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I find it humorous for people to try to validate cheat days as something enjoyable. There are so many other things to feel happy/accomplished about. Cheat days are not one of them.
Who's talking about cheat days? People are talking about a varied, healthy diet that makes TO happy. Losing weight doesn't include the need to feel miserable, to follow a strict regime that might even be counter to how you'd normally eat, and to deny yourself everything you enjoy. It's about moderation, and learning to moderate. Losing weight can totally include pizza or similar things, either such that it fits the calorie allowance, or as a one-off, provided not every day is a one-off. And yeah, food SHOULD BE enjoyable.
Dammit, I want the disagree back!14 -
Why connote negative? All foods in moderation, staying in your calorie budget. Find positive words, no bad foods, no cheating, maybe become just food and occasionally going over calorie budget. Building habits for a lifetime healthy weight, with positive results. We’re all human, allow yourself to not be perfect.2
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It's not an epic battle between good and evil, or the ultimate test of your human character, it's just food. You need to eat some. It's good not to eat too much.
Drama or guilt about it doesn't burn extra calories, feels icky, so why go there?
Personally, on vacation, I try to enjoy myself, including enjoying food. If I have a boring hotel breakfast, I might keep that light, eat more at lunch or dinner at some special place. I usually stay active on vacation, because of the kinds of vacation I like, but even with a sedentary vacation I'm going to enjoy some special food/drink, and just try not to be insane with it, like it was the last time in life I'd ever be able to eat freely.
I don't have cheat days. Who or what would I be cheating?
Sometimes I eat under goal, if not very hungry, or under a little for a few days o purpose to "bank" some calories for an upcoming indulgence. Sometimes I eat over goal, and sometimes (quite rarely) way over goal, like up to two to three times my maintenance calories, so maybe 4000-5000+ calories (holidays, birthdays, special meals, even once in a while just because I feel like it).
None of that is cheating. It's having an approach for eating that works for me, long-term; having reasonable plans that create enjoyable life balance; and taking responsibility for my decisions. (I'm in year 6+ of maintaining a healthy weight, after a previous 3 decades of overweight/obesity.)
Enjoy your vacation, keep it reasonable, you'll be fine. If you get back home, have a couple of pounds to re-lose, so be it - bet you know how. You may well see a big scale jump immediately on return home, because a lot of travel and vacation things cause water retention.
If you do see a big jump, don't panic. Just get back to a sensible normal daily routine when you're home from vacation, see where you are in a couple of weeks. Betting it'll be OK.6 -
Yes , cheat days are okay.You’re a normal human who’s going to go on vacation, birthday parties, restaurants, etc, right? There’s no “cheating”. You’re living your life, and that will include the occasional splurge meal or dessert. Everything and anything in moderation. Unless you’re never going to eat carbs, sweets, whatever for life, it’s unrealistic to completely omit them from your diet. We are trying to learn how to be these people forever! That includes living your life to the fullest! 😁 So, obviously, it vote HECK YEAH! You’re on vacation! C’mon!1
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Yes , cheat days are okay.I feel like this question depends on the person. I personally do not have cheat meals when I am on prep or trying to lose weight. I will reward myself with a cheat meal once the hard work is done.
For someone who would rather have a cheat day or cheat meal during their weight lose, I would suggest having a cheat MEAL once a week. Doing this is perfectly fine and you will not feel guilt after consuming the cheat meal (depending on what your relationship with food is). I wouldn't have a cheat DAY though, as you may go way over your calorie count that day! Since you're on vacation, I believe it is good to enjoy the food and eat what you want in moderation!0 -
I seriously cannot get past this part: If so , how often should we have a cheat day without feeling guilty?
Like it's a requirement.
And what constitutes cheating anyway? Some people think it's not logging every little morsel. Some think it's eating a cookie you bought from the store when the rest of your diet is whole foods. Some think it's just plain going past your allotted daily calorie goal.
"Cheating" on your diet is NOT a federal crime. There are people out there who murder others and not feel guilty about it. You're going to feel guilty over whatever food you said you'd never ever ever eat again? While on vacation? Really?
And has anyone asked where this vacation is taking place? Is the food even worth it?
OP, relax. Have fun. Don't be so stringent but don't go so crazy that whatever weight you may or may not gain isn't just water weight plus one or two real pounds.3 -
Perhaps your regimen is too regimented. There is no rule book that says you have to be miserable to lose weight. When I was dieting I ate in a way that was sustainable for both losing weight as well as maintaining weight. Occasions like vacations, holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations are a part of life and should be enjoyed...they are also OCCASIONS and in the big picture pretty meaningless to the whole unless you're treating everyday like an occasion.
The vast majority of people I know who are healthy and fit and maintain a healthy weight don't have strictly regimented diets...they are balanced. I would include myself in that. I have pizza and movie night most Friday nights with the fam...I don't consider it cheating...it's a fun family tradition to celebrate the weeks end and it doesn't magically undo the rest of my nutrition during the week. I treat vacations, holidays, birthdays, and other occasions the same way and I'm certainly not going to carry around guilt over food.
Hell, a big part of a good vacation is sampling the local fare...finding out where the locals eat and stuff like that. My vacations also tend to be pretty active by way of either just being out and about seeing and doing or on many occasions our vacations are centered around activities like hiking or biking or scuba, etc. I have never gained actual weight (fat) on a vacation. If I fly, I tend to get bloated and retain water, but that's gone in a matter of days.5 -
Yes , cheat days are okay.
"Cheating" on your diet is NOT a federal crime. There are people out there who murder others and not feel guilty about it. You're going to feel guilty over whatever food you said you'd never ever ever eat again? While on vacation? Really?
That's a damn relief. I don't look good in stripes! 0 -
"Cheating" on your diet is NOT a federal crime. There are people out there who murder others and not feel guilty about it. You're going to feel guilty over whatever food you said you'd never ever ever eat again? While on vacation? Really?
That's a damn relief. I don't look good in stripes!
How do you look in orange? Cuz orange is the new black.
Or was before it ended. 1 -
Yes , cheat days are okay.I work long rotating shifts: 2 days, 3 nights, 5 off. It's a struggle to keep with my goals during my workday but using a "cheat" day helps me keep some sanity and take the pressure off when I'm the most stressed and fatigued. On my last night shift my cheat day starts at midnight, often I treat myself to a choclate bar to get through the last few hours. My dinner after I wake up is usually whatever I feel like on the day and a glass of wine or a beer or two.
I still track all of my calories (even if it's really bad) and I started off feeling guilty but what I have found on my journey is that more often then not I end up staying inside my goals as I'm making more sensible choices every day.
10.8kg down so far and the impact of a cheat day is minimal across the 10 day "week"2 -
we adjust our foods and eating for various legitimate reasons, so it is reasonable to consider alternatives, plan an approach then practice the approach.
f. ex, we change how we eat when we are sick.
former approach ~ chicken noodle soup stuffed with saltines
trying alternative ~ stuffed/loaded with non-starchy veggies.
feast days
former approach ~ graze all day, lots and lots of extra food at meals (multiple plates and multiple dessrts.)
trying alternative ~ skip in-between grazing. for meals, 1 plate not 6 platefuls; a nice spoonful of dishes I want to sample, and sample 1 or 2 or 3 desserts instead of some/1 of each.
personally, vacations are special/rare occasions. I don't want to spend it sleepy from over-eating, so I try to enjoy something I would like to try at each meal, but regular sized breakfast/lunches or a special snack, and at dinner use my feast approach of a nice plateful of something I really want to enjoy as I would a special holiday feast meal.2 -
No, you must have discipline and Will power.Thank you all for responding to my poll. I appreciate each and every respond , I respect all opinions.
When I questioned a “cheat day” I was referring to consuming more calories, eating and drinking unhealthily meals that I normally try my best to avoid.
In my current regiment I try to make heathy choices, avoid sodas , avoid high sugary snacks, consume high nutritional meals. However, during my vacation I found my self eating high calories food, eating and consuming high sugary meals and drinking alcohol and sodas.0 -
I’ve lost 50lbs over the last 6 months. I’ve had about 4 or 5 planned “cheat days” in that time and I’ve always lost weight, even on those “cheat day” weeks. I factor them in by reducing calories by 100/200 in the run up and after. It’s all in the planning and to mentally prepare yourself to NOT feel guilty afterwards. You just need to get straight back in the game xx1
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And yet you are still back here, staying healthy, logging calories with the rest of us and likely making progress!! So here is hoping that you didn’t lose too much sleep over it on vacation becuse I hear adequate sleep is good for weight loss too!Thank you all for responding to my poll. I appreciate each and every respond , I respect all opinions.
When I questioned a “cheat day” I was referring to consuming more calories, eating and drinking unhealthily meals that I normally try my best to avoid.
In my current regiment I try to make heathy choices, avoid sodas , avoid high sugary snacks, consume high nutritional meals. However, during my vacation I found my self eating high calories food, eating and consuming high sugary meals and drinking alcohol and sodas.
BTW, where did you go? Hope it was fun!
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Thinking about food in terms of cheating and guilt can be very harmful and does nothing to foster a healthy relationship with food. Enjoy yourself!4
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I call them re fuel meals and during my competition prep I’m very strict every meal of week besides my re fuel meal I allow myself basically anything I want for only that meal, it helps me physically and mentally a lot to get through the next week of diet!0
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Yes , cheat days are okay.I'm planning on cheat MEALS not days. I have an anniversary trip this coming weekend at a B&B and their stuffed French toast is heavenly. That will be my cheat meal. The rest of my meals will be smart and planned. I've let cheat days lead to quitting altogether in the past so I am allowing myself this small treat this weekend.1
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Yes , cheat days are okay.
No, you must have discipline and Will power.
I did not vote.
Because you are presenting the options as a false dichotomy - ie the choices have to be one or the other of these.
I would vote None of the above.
I would say you can have planned - or even unplanned - variations to your intake - both in terms of calorie intake and nutritional intake - and still lose weight and be healthy
Using the weekly calorie feature really helps. Knowing you dont have to get every day on target - as long as your weekly calories are right - ie your average intake is on target, not every individual day.
Thats how I do it, rather than cheat days - and I try to have a system that requires the least amount of discipline and will power.
have a system that works well for you rather than one you have to white knuckle yourself into2
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