Regarding Free/Cheat days

I think that I am going to enjoy everything, but not over do it like I have every other year. So, as long as you don't over do it I don't see it as a problem. *Especially if you don't have cheat days that often. :happy:

Personally, I don't have a regularly scheduled cheat day. I took off 4th of July and one weekend in October because I just needed a break. BUT I don't save these days to eat whatever I want. If I want something I figure out a way to work it into my calories. I usually take a day off because I'm frustrated with tracking and need a break from that. If I don't track for a day I still try to pay attention to what I'm eating and I don't just go all out.

Do you think it would be hard for you to get back to it after xmas? I did alright during thanksgiving, but when i came home from Texas to Arkansas, missing home & family, i went on a crazy binge for like 2 weeks.......it wasnt as bad as i felt i did, i ended up losing the 3lbs i put on over thanksgiving break.
So i say its really up to you, if you can have that ine cheat day & come back strong, i say do it, but if you feel that you cant come back after doin it then i would try sticking to your plan.
Sunday is my free day, i weigh in that morning & dont worry if i have an ice cream, just in moderation.

The question, as already stated,. is how hard will it be for you to get back at it. Cheat days, man I don't like that term, ok spike days, are a good thing for fat loss. One day of that will replenish various hormones especially Leptin which help you lose fat. However, if that day becomes a week, that is a problem, especially if you just started out. If you are confident you can get back at it after one day (or even two) by all means enjoy yourself. Christmas is only once a year, and a day like that is not harmful in the long run, just don't gorge yourself. If you feel it would result in a long term stretch of over eating, don't. Either way, try to log things even on a spike day.

enjoy, log it, repeat :happy:

I shall log NOTHING - no way.

It's going to be a 6 hour food binge, and it may take a whole week to recover - who cares?

Life is to be lived. I lost 64 lbs doing this in addition to my weekly free day - it works!

I do this food orgy 4 times a year, and I won't be denied or feel a shred of guilt.
BRING IT ON!

^ this

Just enjoy the log-free day. Take the opportunity to learn how to have a cheat day that DOESN'T turn into a cheat month!

Every Saturday is my cheat day, I don't binge but I just pick a few specific foods that I've been craving all week. Enjoy your Christmas and eat some good food, just not enough for 2 people LOL.

I'm starting to dislike the term cheat days or free days... simply because if this is truly going to be a lifestyle change and I am going to change the way I eat, I should hold myself accountable for everything! Please don't get me wrong, the past two days I have gone over my calories, but I still monitor what I eat because I HAVE to. If I don't, my "cheating" reverts back to my old habits and what is the point.

To me, just using the term cheat makes me feel like this is a strict diet that I have to follow and if I overeat I'm going behind someones back. If it's really going to work this time, I need to change my lifestyle... and personally there's no "taking a break" from that.

Before I did this...I was with Rob Nevins 'Skinny Switch Secret' - but I never followed the meals and such. One thing he had on the website was his inspirations - I wrote them down for those days I needed encouragement.

Here are the points that help me even now (since Oct 30th I've lost 15# - I don't have an appetite - ever - and my body went into store mode a LONG time ago).

"All of us have a bad day/week."
"No one is perfect! If you expect perfection, you set yourself up for failure."
"Holi-days - not holi-months."
"Years and years of bad habits = weight gain issues."
"Don't give up your goal for 52/365 days a year."
"Big picture is what to focus on - fewer bad days than good days = success in the big picture."

One thing I did for Thanksgiving is keep to a 5" plate. Yes I tried a few things - but no more than a couple bites of the really high calorie stuff. I am not a pie eater - so that saves me there. I however have a 'traditional' pumpkin bread recipe - made cupcakes instead of a cake pan - could control my portions easier that way. Plan on doing same - hubby's birthday is Christmas and I'm making cupcakes at his request.

Hope this helps

Well since I just finished scarfing down a Gigis cupcake, I say take the day off. Login and be honest. I worked the cupcaje calories into my daily allowance and was still under. Life is only one time around.

Make sure it is worth it, by that I mean if you cut off a small bite of something and it is not as good as it looks or you just don't care for it you don't have to finish it. As a word of warning, I once took Thanksgiving day off the problem was I NEVER went back to that very restrictive DIET. I love MFP so much better than that fad diet because I can eat it if it fits into the caloric intake and even if it doesn't I can still get back on track the next day or the next gym session--or ten sessions! UGH!

I log my foods every day but on Saturdays sometimes I will go over on my calories and it has never effected my weight or anything

I enjoy my day with my family but still log things to stay on track...I'll most likely go over but as long as I still with my routine then I'm ok with that

I personally have cheat day every week. I dont go crazy just may have something I crave like chinese food.I log those days it helps remind me why I log in the first place. Plus I still go to the gym every day no matter what I actually went Thanksgiving night. I will log xmas but will still enjoy in moderation.