How often does everyone "cheat"?

I plan for one cheat meal every week, but I'd do two or even three--or none at all--depending on how I feel. Recently I didn't feel like treating myself to anything special, so I just stayed home and went with the same kinds of things I eat everyday on a day I planned to treat myself to something delicious.

Honestly, though, it doesn't really feel like a cheat to me. I think my favorite term for it (mentioned by thatsnumberwa earlier) was treat. Last week I did dinner with my in-laws (we ordered pizza and sides). The week before that, hubby and I went out for our one-year anniversary. I think it was Chipotle or something the week before that. It hasn't affected me at all.

I always enter everything into my food diary so I can go back and see what's happening if I hit a plateau or something.

Personally I don't consider it "cheating" nor do I consider it a "treat" either.

One cheats on their spouse- hardly the same thing as me eating a brownie. I'm fully aware that it's empty calories.

But I also have food issues, and "rewarding" myself with having a brownie because I've been "good" or "bad" is counterproductive.
Someone once reminded me that I'm NOT a dog- and I don't need to "reward" myself with "treats."


So, to answer your question- how often do I cheat?
Never. I didn't marry my refrigerator.

Going over my calories and "cheat" days are different in my book. Cheat days I don't log, and because of that, I end up eating a lot of crap food that I very much regret the next day. Like if I don't log it, that means it didn't happen. Because of this, I'm really trying to limit my no-log days.
If I am too ashamed to even admit to myself what I ate, maybe I shouldn't be eating it.
That said, I'm not swearing off burgers, pizza, chocolate, or french fries. And if I go over my calories, it's okay, tomorrow is a new day full of jogging and ellipticals. But I need to hold myself accountable for what I am putting in my body, or it spins out of control.

I do not think of any food as off limits. With that I don't feel that any day/time is a cheat as I can eat that food whenever I have the calories or carbs left to eat them.

I track every day without missing one bite of food. If I go over it is because of poor choices or planning and it rarely happens. To me losing weight is not a game or hobby, it is a new way of living and I need to know my boundaries and stay within them at all times.

I no longer use food as a reward as it got me this way. I have new non-food items for rewards now.

There's no such thing as "cheating" in my way of life. I don't deprive myself of anything I love so there is no way or reason to cheat. The best way to stick to this lifestyle change is to handle everything in moderation!

I cheat the whole weekend. I try to make up for it by exercising.

I'm loving these answers. My problem with food is that I am either "dieting" or eating everything in sight. I know if I'm going to be successful, I need to figure out a balanced attitude toard this. In the past, when I've had a bad day and gone off my "diet," I've said to myself, "Well, see you obviously can't stick with the plan, so you may as well give up and go eat that quart of ice cream in the freezer."

Good for you for getting back on the horse! I think being able to get back on when you fall off is just as important (maybe even more important in the long run) than staying on in the first place. There will always be days when you make unhealthy choices or eat too much or don't exercise or whatever -- the important thing is to keep it in perspective and keep working toward your goal.

^^ Thank you for this! I really needed to hear that today......

Stop saying the "d" word. Lifestyle. Change your outlook on food. I have lost about 60 pounds in 18 months. Not breaking any records in time, but it has all stayed off! I find the longer I eat healthier, the less I truly gorge myself. My "cheats" today would have been my proud choices then! Hang in there-don't deprive yourself totally, just reward yourself responsibly!

I'm loving these answers. My problem with food is that I am either "dieting" or eating everything in sight. I know if I'm going to be successful, I need to figure out a balanced attitude toard this. In the past, when I've had a bad day and gone off my "diet," I've said to myself, "Well, see you obviously can't stick with the plan, so you may as well give up and go eat that quart of ice cream in the freezer."

This is me. Exactly me. I lost 50 pounds in 2010, and put back on 30 when I gave myself permission to eat "normal" for a few weeks while moving. This of course led me to eating like I was starting a diet the next day for 6 months. "oh, well I'm starting my diet tomorrow, I'd better go out for wings and nachos tonight." And then failing the next weekend "oh well, guess I'll just restart my diet tomorrow. In the mean time, italian buffet!" On and on.

I'm working hard on gaining a new attitude about food. The world is not ending today because I went over on my calories. I just need to get back on track tomorrow. I did record all of my meals today, but I'm not going let it get to me. Moving on.............

A great approach. We are working on it, all of us, one day at a time. But we're here for each other. Keeps me motivated, and my friends keep me from falling into bad habits again. Way to go on recording, it's pretty hard some days. Tomorrow is a new day, and you are going to rock it. :drinker:

everyday :happy: but it's not really cheating because I always make room for it in my calorie budget and its usually healthy. Like today, I'd say I had TWO treats. 1 was nonfat plain greek yogurt + 1/2 packet of strawberry banana crystal light (that *kitten* is AMAZING) and for dessert, which I haven't actually had yet, I plan on blending some 2% cottage cheese to make it fluffy and smooth with 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/8tsp vanilla extract, and however much 0 cal sweetener it needs (and maybe some crushed up teddy grahams to give it an extra dessert feel It should be pudding-y! When I allow myself on a daily basis things that I LOVE, I don't have binges and go crazy with oreos. Its a VERY rare occasion that I go over my calorie limit, and I'm never hungry/craving:happy: OH YESSS

1 day a week out to dinner with no boundaries but I show restraint--1 night of drinking (usually) I record those now too.

I call them "Free Days", and I do this weekly which allows my cravings fulfilled. It's a great day psychologically and even physiologically in that a good feeding shocks a stifled metabolism.

I cant say that I call it cheating... Its more realistic to allow myself a few morsles of what Im craving as long as it falls within my alloted calorie intake for the day... Most days I make heathier choices but, some days I do choose foods from the not so healthy side... lol! Its all about balance. If I truly felt deprived then I would end up binging on something I shouldnt. And... Im not dieting... Im making permenant lifestyle changes.... Its a totally different concept & frame of mind!

your co-worker is dead on. You need to shock your body so that you wont plato. I lost 7 pounds my first week and if I continue doing the same thing all the time I will end up not loosing anything or even gain a little weight. I treat myselt once a week to keep my body in order as well as change my exercise every 2 weeks. Both go hand in hand and will give you better results.

One or two days a week I eat whatever I want...im not stuffing my face with twinkies and Ho hos but ill eat chips and guac, beer, cheese whatever I feel like