is it good or bad to have a cheat day?

I have found in the past that if I have a complete cheat day, it's the start of a downward spiral. I find, for me, if I'm truly wanting something just to have a small piece and move on.

Cheating, like everything, in moderation! I can usually handle one cheat day but won't go past that.

Today is my cheat day its my break from exercising and I can eat foods I don't normally eat.. but not too much.

Is it good to have a cheat day or not?

I think that if having a cheat day, and eating within reason, is a good idea if it helps you stay on track the rest of the week.

I think it depends on the type of person you are. If you can have restraint and maintain moderation throughout your cheat day, it's healthy and there isn't anything wrong with it. If you use this day to binge and make severely unhealthy choices, it could be detrimental to your emotional and physical health. I think as you continue on your journey, you'll have less and less "need" for a cheat day, as making different food choices and exercise will become more commonplace. What works for me is not having cheat days. I allow myself to eat what I WANT, whenever if I can fit it into my calorie and exercise goals. If I go a little over, it's not horrible, I just pick "it" up at the gym the next day. Good luck and it really depends on you, whether or not these days will work.

with christmas/my bday/new years all in the same week i had a cheat week haha so dont feel to bad...as long as you know you'll go back i think its okay

well it depends..do you still count ur calories? i feel that maybe 1 day everyone once in a while it maybe ok to go over but make sure you log it on here. so you know how often you do it. and like shoechick5 said that may make you start to downward spiral and you really dont want that

"there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"
-Hamlet

I do what some people would call 'cheating' every single day... only I call it 'eating in moderation'. :-)

Since joining MFP in April, not a single day has gone by that I have not had pizza or a cupcake or a cheeseburger or cookies or french fries - or some other food labeled 'bad' or 'a treat'. I just watch my portion sizes and total calories.

It's worked really well for me! I've lost 45 pounds and am just seven pounds from my ultimate goal weight.

I try to have 1 day where I dont worry about what I eat or eat things that I wouldnt normally within reason. But if I go over, I go over and dont fret about it:)

In my opinion, I believe that when you start a healthy diet the first two weeks is no cheating at all and after that once a week is good. If I fallow my routine, that is working out 6 days a week 1:30-2hrs a day and eat healthy then I get my free day. I eat my cake or ice cream....whatever I'm craving at the time but in moderation. Depriving yourself 100% in my opinion, I don't think is good, at least for me. Unless you are in a medical supervised diet like Optifast then you have to fallow it 100%.

I agree with some others who say a whole day of cheating can completely derail you. In one day you can undo the calorie deficit you've worked so hard for all week. I let myself have one cheat MEAL a week, and always out at a restaurant, I don't like to bring cheat foods into the house - too dangerous for me! Then I can look forward all week to knowing that I will allow myself pasta or a burger on Friday and not feel an ounce of guilt about it because I ate healthy and worked out all week. Then I leave the restaurant behind, and once at home, it's right back on track. Increasing your calories a little one day of the week also keeps your metabolism from going into starvation mode, where your body will desperately hold on to fat. Good luck!!

My trainer suggests one meal, instead of entire day, also make sure you log it, it really helps you stay on track. also, you need a rest day on exercise. i know it can be hard to take a break, myself i let myself do a walk instead of a run and call it a rest day if you feel tired or run down, you have to listen to your body.
sometimes if i let myself cheat too much i end up just trashing my efforts, so logging the meals or even just snapping a picture with the camera phone, helps me stay on track. this time of year is especially hard.

It's all about whether or not you can handle it. Personally I like cheat days-- they keep me on track and I don't feel deprived. But I don't cheat by thousands of calories; I'll just have one meal out where I don't worry about what I order. Or if I'm really cravings something and I've been really good the past few days, I'll indulge and not feel guilty. I don't have them often-- just on special occasions or every couple of weeks. If, however, one cheat leads to a downward spiral of cheating then it might be better not to. I know a lot of people just work the things they would normally "cheat" with into their daily goal so it's not really cheating. Like they plan 100 cals at the end of the day for a little bit of dark chocolate.

The bottom line is to figure out what works for you and do that.

Today is my cheat day its my break from exercising and I can eat foods I don't normally eat.. but not too much.

Is it good to have a cheat day or not?

I think it's good, or it sure is for me.
My results speak for itself, so there is no question in my mind.

I think there is a psychological and physiological advantage. A good pig out shocks the metabolism and also allows me to spurge on the foods I crave. Again, the proof is in the results, and I would not live any other way.

Free Days - YES!

I do what some people would call 'cheating' every single day... only I call it 'eating in moderation'. :-)

Since joining MFP in April, not a single day has gone by that I have not had pizza or a cupcake or a cheeseburger or cookies or french fries - or some other food labeled 'bad' or 'a treat'. I just watch my portion sizes and total calories.

It's worked really well for me! I've lost 45 pounds and am just seven pounds from my ultimate goal weight.

I do sometimes but i do the above mainly. I eat snacks that I like so I don't have to have a huge blowout every week. No way I am giving up things that I want. Have lost over 110 pounds this way and I am relatively fit, so i don't see why I should change..