Cheat Day

onmywaytoskinny155
onmywaytoskinny155 Posts: 228 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
So I am thinking about having one day a month that I don't log or count calories. It would be the same day every month.

Replies

  • lor007
    lor007 Posts: 884 Member
    I am thinking I should do the dishes.
  • Charloo1990
    Charloo1990 Posts: 619 Member
    1 day a month, god i could not do that. I have 1 cheat day a week which is every Saturday lol x
  • jdworth
    jdworth Posts: 4 Member
    I also do the one day a week thing..on Sundays I weigh in...but that is about it..my Free day..I don't log..works for me...keeps me focused for the next week..:)
  • cassybubby
    cassybubby Posts: 37 Member
    I don't do a whole day, but one cheat meal a week where I have whatever I want. I still try to log it so I can keep track of my weekly calories and make sure I don't go over them :)
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I do one per week. I would recommend it (frequency would vary for individuals -- less often for people with more to lose IMO) to most people provided it's not a ridiculous binge (small surplus would be ideal IMO), and provided you can get back on your regular plan afterwards.

    I find value in it both physiologically and mentally.
  • CheleLynn44
    CheleLynn44 Posts: 339 Member
    I give me myself one day a week also. I weigh in on Thursdays so I use that day. If there is something I have been craving or I miss I have it then. We alos usually go out to eat on that nite. I still try to keep my portions in check. Where I used to eat a whole big bag of funyons, now I get a small grab bag. I still try to be sensible, but then I don't feel deprived.

    I have been here using this site a little over two weeks and I have found it to be fairly easy. I have still been eating things I enjoy, but logging everything I put in my mouth has made all the difference in the world.

    You have to do what works for you!!!! Good luck with whatever you decide!!
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,261 Member
    I eat about 1000 calories over maintenance once a week, and have lowered my body fat %.
  • julie204
    julie204 Posts: 130
    I THINK THATS A GREAT IDEA OVER HERE IN ENGLAND WE CALL IT A FLEXI DAY I USALLY HAVE ONE TWICE A MONTH BUT DONT GO OVER A BIG AMOUNT . :smile:
  • FairuzyAmanuzy
    FairuzyAmanuzy Posts: 221 Member
    I have a cheat day probably one a week or every two weeks, then I am extra good the next day and drinks lots of water, and doesn't really impact the weightloss over all, but keeps me SANE!
  • LillysGranny
    LillysGranny Posts: 431
    I usually have a cheat half-day every Saturday. That means healthy breakfast, so-so lunch, whatever I fancy for supper and dessert. I still try to log it all if I have time just so I'll know how my body responds. For instance, I've learned that pepperoni pizza and chips will pack on 5-6 pounds overnight due to the sodium! I usually workout on Saturday, too, but take my rest day on Sunday.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I don't do cheat meals/cheat days. I eat what I want, when I want it. I simply do it in moderation now. If I want a piece of cake, I'll have it. I will also account for it in my daily calories. I've tried many different things in this journey and find that eating everything in moderation works best for me. Everything else seemed to "diet-ish" for me. I don't want to wait for a special day or a special meal to eat whatever I want at that moment. Instead, I'd rather just eat it now - account for it and move on with my life. :)
  • lmelangley
    lmelangley Posts: 1,039 Member
    I don't give myself a regular cheat day because I'd rather have cheat events. Usually no more than one a week, but sometimes 2 in one week but none for a month. Basically, family gatherings and days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. That way, I have days to look forward to where I know I will go over but aren't scheduled. But, I think people need to do whatever works for them. We're all different.
  • gumigal82
    gumigal82 Posts: 350
    One day a month! wow-that is wild....I do one day a week (Saturday usually). I don't go crazy, but I allow myself to eat richer foods-have a surplus of calories.
    Also, everyday i allow myself a small (calorie wise) treat.
  • ChasingHaven
    ChasingHaven Posts: 126 Member
    I don't do a whole day, but one cheat meal a week where I have whatever I want. I still try to log it so I can keep track of my weekly calories and make sure I don't go over them :)

    Then to me, this is not cheating. This is being accountable for what you eat. Not going over your set calories is exactly the goal of weight loss!
  • charm_quark
    charm_quark Posts: 315 Member
    I don't do cheat meals/cheat days. I eat what I want, when I want it. I simply do it in moderation now. If I want a piece of cake, I'll have it. I will also account for it in my daily calories. I've tried many different things in this journey and find that eating everything in moderation works best for me. Everything else seemed to "diet-ish" for me. I don't want to wait for a special day or a special meal to eat whatever I want at that moment. Instead, I'd rather just eat it now - account for it and move on with my life. :)

    ++ from me too.

    I have not cheated even once, since I got here on MFP (although a broken kitchen scale did it for me for 2 months!! But it was calculating more than the normal weight)
    I eat whatever I want, sometimes I want to eat really big amounts of particular food (such as pasta) or candies/chocolates (I'm a girl and really need them some days in the month!). I just try that these days to go to the gym and burn the extra calories.
    I lose weight, in a slow pace although, but I don't feel that I'm dieting at all.
  • CashierCantin
    CashierCantin Posts: 206 Member
    After coming from low carb...every day for me is a 'cheat' meal LOL

    I am having so much fun having sandwiches again (on 12 grain fiber rich bread) and mashed potatoes (made with a tiny bit of sour cream and chicken broth, no butter) and cereal (cheerios-for the cholesterol you know) and my fave lucky charms (for dry snacking at night).

    I've lost 15 pounds and that is more than I was accomplishing on LC because I wasn't working the plan right. (I would be good for 3 days and then cheat...go back on for 3 days and cheat. It was a viscious cycle).

    The best part is....knowing I can have ANYTHING I want now...as long as I portion it out. Its finally sinking in a little bit!!!!!

    Thanksgiving was a success where as I was able to enjoy stuffing and cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes (items I always passed over....for YEARS) and I didn't gain one pound (whereas if I was LCing....cheating always lead to a 3 pound gain in water weight due to the carbs being introduced again!)
  • 2live4ever79
    2live4ever79 Posts: 79 Member
    Well yesterday was supposed to be my cheat day but probably only ate less than 2500 calories. Which is still over my daily goal since I'm trying to lose weight. I just didn't feel like eating so much. My biggest calories were on two slices of banana cream pie that ended up making wanna barf.
  • ChasingHaven
    ChasingHaven Posts: 126 Member
    I don't do cheat meals/cheat days. I eat what I want, when I want it. I simply do it in moderation now. If I want a piece of cake, I'll have it. I will also account for it in my daily calories. I've tried many different things in this journey and find that eating everything in moderation works best for me. Everything else seemed to "diet-ish" for me. I don't want to wait for a special day or a special meal to eat whatever I want at that moment. Instead, I'd rather just eat it now - account for it and move on with my life. :)

    This was the key for me right here, because this made it so much easier to stick to this journey. This is what makes it not become a diet but makes it a lifestyle. Because honestly you simply can't diet for the rest of your life, but you can learn to eat like all those people out there who are at a healthy, normal weight and never seem to have a major problem with weight in their life.

    I've lost the weight before and this is exactly what I did- and it turned out to be the easiest thing I ever did. You learn along the way to choose healthier food to get more "bang for your buck". You stick with the logging and measuring long enough and you will learn the proper portions and eventually won't need to constantly measure. I think it takes the sheer dedication of being accountable for whatever you eat to retrain your mind about food.

    For me, my "break" from doing this, my "cheating" on logging and watching the calories "for the holidays" turned into complete failure and a good 50 pound weight gain over the last 2 years. So I'm starting over with what worked before and hoping I can get my mind in the same place I had it before. This time I'd like to get to my goal weight and maintain- not halfway there to " take a short break". I just find it so much easier not to call it dieting or cheating. I hoping to call it accomplishment, a new lifestyle and something I can retrain my brain to do for the rest of my life.
  • ChasingHaven
    ChasingHaven Posts: 126 Member
    After coming from low carb...every day for me is a 'cheat' meal LOL

    I am having so much fun having sandwiches again (on 12 grain fiber rich bread) and mashed potatoes (made with a tiny bit of sour cream and chicken broth, no butter) and cereal (cheerios-for the cholesterol you know) and my fave lucky charms (for dry snacking at night).

    I've lost 15 pounds and that is more than I was accomplishing on LC because I wasn't working the plan right. (I would be good for 3 days and then cheat...go back on for 3 days and cheat. It was a viscious cycle).

    The best part is....knowing I can have ANYTHING I want now...as long as I portion it out. Its finally sinking in a little bit!!!!!

    Thanksgiving was a success where as I was able to enjoy stuffing and cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes (items I always passed over....for YEARS) and I didn't gain one pound (whereas if I was LCing....cheating always lead to a 3 pound gain in water weight due to the carbs being introduced again!)

    We so need a like button!
  • Galletakek
    Galletakek Posts: 285
    once a week :) for me
  • lalala06
    lalala06 Posts: 153
    last time i gave my self a cheat day it took me 6 days to lose the 1lb i gained weird but cheat days now scare me :noway:
  • firedragon064
    firedragon064 Posts: 1,082 Member
    once a month that's too strict for me.
    1 meal a week.
  • finchase
    finchase Posts: 174
    Usually once every couple of weeks for me, and sometimes not that often because the things I choose for cheat meals often still fit in under my daily calorie limit, especially with exercise calories figured in. Yesterday was definitely a cheat day for me, but it was ok because I'd planned for it.

    I don't know when I'll have my next one. Probably when I start really craving something or if I find my weight loss is slowing down because my body is becoming accustomed to the amount I'm feeding it.
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