Cheat Days?

24

Replies

  • manoahula
    manoahula Posts: 6
    Whenever I maintain a food/calorie diary, I look the whole picture, not just what's happening on just one given day. Weight loss isn't an exact science...some days are going to be high calorie days and some days are going to be low calorie days. Personally, I don't stress out when I significantly go over for one day so long my calorie average for the week works out to what it should should be to maintain my weight loss goal.

    The best course of action is to continue logging your food (even your"cheats")...don't just give up and blow off your diary for the day because you went over your calorie max. No matter how bad and depressing it gets, keep that diary up to date! First, you don't want to get into the bad habit of not logging your food whenever you have a "bad" day. Second, that information will come in handy! Not only will you be able to determine exactly how your average daily caloric intake shakes out for the week (the situation might not be as dire as you think), but also the data you gather will come in handy for planning future food outings (if you gain weight and/or your average calories for the week goes over your max, you'll be able to adjust your intake accordingly the next time you dine out).
  • amandanzgirl
    amandanzgirl Posts: 79 Member
    Yep, I do. Once a week. I started out with cheat "days" during the early stages of my weight loss, but now I limit myself to a cheat dinner instead. I only allow it as long as I've lost at least one pound over the previous week. The catch is, you must have the willpower to limit it because a cheat dinner can easily snowball into a cheat day, week, etc. And before you know it you're making backwards progress.

    I've heard that a regular, moderate increase of caloric intake can actually help boost your overall metabolism. Also, it gives me an outlet for all those cravings I had the previous week. I've not had the chance to read up on it but I average a 2.5 pound weekly loss and 109 pounds later... it seems to work. But I'm sure this approach isn't for everyone, but it worked fabulously for me. I also exercise religiously 6 times a week, though.

    I agree with all of this - try and stick to a cheat meal once a week. I know if I have a 'cheat day' it turns ugly and I seriously eat everything in sight which, for me, can undo a weeks worth of hard work!!!
  • _Kitten_Kate
    _Kitten_Kate Posts: 520 Member
    Whenever I maintain a food/calorie diary, I look the whole picture, not just what's happening on just one given day. Weight loss isn't an exact science...some days are going to be high calorie days and some days are going to be low calorie days. Personally, I don't stress out when I significantly go over for one day so long my calorie average for the week works out to what it should should be to maintain my weight loss goal.

    The best course of action is to continue logging your food (even your"cheats")...don't just give up and blow off your diary for the day because you went over your calorie max. No matter how bad and depressing it gets, keep that diary up to date! First, you don't want to get into the bad habit of not logging your food whenever you have a "bad" day. Second, that information will come in handy! Not only will you be able to determine exactly how your average daily caloric intake shakes out for the week (the situation might not be as dire as you think), but also the data you gather will come in handy for planning future food outings (if you gain weight and/or your average calories for the week goes over your max, you'll be able to adjust your intake accordingly the next time you dine out).

    `Like` :bigsmile:
  • Thriceshy
    Thriceshy Posts: 708 Member
    I don't "cheat" because the mindset or idea behind it doesn't work for me. In the past, I've allowed "cheat days" and it didn't take long for those days to become the norm for me. This time, I've worked hard to view every day as the NORM rather than as the thing I have to suffer through to get to a day where I can "cheat" and eat like I used to. Does that make sense?

    If I want Chinese food, I have it. However, I plan for it a day or so in advance and then make the swaps and deals I have to make to allow for it. If that means 30 minutes on the bike or an hour's walk, then that's what I do. If it means skipping my nightly hot chocolate or going with the diet drink instead of my usual, that's fine. That way, I don't find myself thinking of my diet as awful and restrictive and days I blow it as rewards, cheats, or something "earned."

    Others are different. But for me, cheat days sabotage my efforts and drag me down every time.

    Kris
  • kessalove
    kessalove Posts: 27 Member
    Usually cheat meals, but lately I've been having cheat days and paying for it with the weight creeping back up!!! So I'm buckling down and only going to try and do cheat meals and not stress over it...
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I never plan to cheat because that would set me up for failure because I love food so much. So I just eat what I like within reason and do my best to stay close to my calorie goals!
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

    cheating is for the weak
    BULL!
    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.

    For the weak...come on!
    The lady doth protest too much....:sad:
  • MelsieK
    MelsieK Posts: 72
    Cheat days for me, might be 2 squares of dark chocolate once every couple of weeks. But don't have a specific cheat day or time. My PT and I have fine tuned my eating plan and it's going to be 100% clean eating, not worth de-railing my goals and plans for one meal that really, most times isn't giving you anything worthwhile anyway.

    Mel
  • jessicajoy87
    jessicajoy87 Posts: 905
    I think it depends what kind of person you are. Some people have to be strict and not cheat. Some people are able to eat in moderation and others have a certain day when they can splurge, get it out of their system until the next "cheat" day. I have a cheat day every other weekend. I want to be able to go out and do whatever and not feel like a failure or weak. I don't think its weakness, I think its human. It also boost my weightloss. Yes it can sometimes turn on you and the cheat day turns into a cheat week or month. You have to be very careful with cheat days and know that you will be able to go back on track the next day.
  • triciaj66
    triciaj66 Posts: 253 Member
    :ohwell: Why is it called cheating???
    MFP isn't a meal plan or "diet". It's a tool for tracking what you eat and setting goals for your calories and exercise.
    I haven't eliminated any of my favorite foods, but I have changed how much of it I eat and how often I eat them. I also log every carlorie and then try to exercise more to work them off.:laugh:

    There's no MFP punishment for going over your calories-- the issues is, it will take longer to reach your goals.
    If you have too many days of calorie overage, then you'll either not lose weight or possibly gain weight. :sad:
    I think most on this site will agree-- don't deprive yourself, but decide what means more-- the extra calories, or reaching your goal. :flowerforyou:
    Well said !!!!
  • jessicajoy87
    jessicajoy87 Posts: 905
    cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

    cheating is for the weak
    BULL!
    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.

    For the weak...come on!
    The lady doth protest too much....:sad:

    LOL! LIKE!
  • Elzecat
    Elzecat Posts: 2,916 Member
    :ohwell: Why is it called cheating???
    MFP isn't a meal plan or "diet". It's a tool for tracking what you eat and setting goals for your calories and exercise.
    I haven't eliminated any of my favorite foods, but I have changed how much of it I eat and how often I eat them. I also log every carlorie and then try to exercise more to work them off.:laugh:

    There's no MFP punishment for going over your calories-- the issues is, it will take longer to reach your goals.
    If you have too many days of calorie overage, then you'll either not lose weight or possibly gain weight. :sad:
    I think most on this site will agree-- don't deprive yourself, but decide what means more-- the extra calories, or reaching your goal. :flowerforyou:

    I agree with this.
  • Bsloop45
    Bsloop45 Posts: 28 Member
    bump
  • jaybird951
    jaybird951 Posts: 53 Member
    I am cheating myself out of not drinking anymore beer....damn, but it actually feels good..especially now after a week, my mountain biking power and endurance is much better after a week of no beer rather than after 12 beers the day before...
  • SteveHunt113
    SteveHunt113 Posts: 648 Member
    First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

    I've lost about 13 pounds since mid December through increased calories burned at the gym and decreasing my caloric intake. I got to a point where the scale stopped moving, which is why I joined this site: to monitor my exact caloric intake. Now that I better understand how many calories I consume, I will allow myself a cheat now and again.

    On Valentines day, I intend to enjoy some chocolate and will probably go well over what I should ... and that's ok. It'll set me back a day or 2, and as long as I can accept that, it's ok.
  • smketchum
    smketchum Posts: 94 Member
    I allow myself one splurge meal per week. It's not a cheat meal, I call it a splurge meal. My family goes out to dinner on Friday nights (although this week it will be Thursday for my birthday) and I order whatever I want from the menu, regardless of the calories. I eat my normal calories for the other two meals of the day and stay on track for the remainder of the week, as well as work out 4 days/week. I am now below my goal and have kept the weight off. I can't speak for everyone, but for me that splurge meal has not prohibited my weight loss, but rather psychologically helps me stay on track for the rest of the week. I know that meal is coming up, so when I'm craving some fries for lunch one day, I refrain and eat them during my splurge meal if that's what I feel like. Honestly, the cravings pass but if I deprived myself all together and NEVER splurged, the cravings would not pass and I cold not continue this lifestyle.

    Call me weak if you wish, but I can fit into my size six jeans, and have nice muscles on my arms so I'm going to continue what I'm doing :)
  • ccmccoy09
    ccmccoy09 Posts: 284 Member
    My squishy midsection and jiggly thighs don't know that I'm not counting calories on a "cheat day," so I make sure to get in some extra exercise before, or at worst the day after, I have a big, high calorie meal. Like the first responder said, you're only cheating yourself.

    I do, however, allow for small treats a couple times a week: popcorn and dark chocolate are my favorites. It definitely keeps me from binge eating to know that I can have a little treat if I want.
  • BlondeLisa1
    BlondeLisa1 Posts: 106 Member
    I don't "cheat" because the mindset or idea behind it doesn't work for me. In the past, I've allowed "cheat days" and it didn't take long for those days to become the norm for me. This time, I've worked hard to view every day as the NORM rather than as the thing I have to suffer through to get to a day where I can "cheat" and eat like I used to. Does that make sense?

    If I want Chinese food, I have it. However, I plan for it a day or so in advance and then make the swaps and deals I have to make to allow for it. If that means 30 minutes on the bike or an hour's walk, then that's what I do. If it means skipping my nightly hot chocolate or going with the diet drink instead of my usual, that's fine. That way, I don't find myself thinking of my diet as awful and restrictive and days I blow it as rewards, cheats, or something "earned."

    Others are different. But for me, cheat days sabotage my efforts and drag me down every time.

    Kris

    THIS! I won't deprive myself but choose smaller portions and amp up exercise to fit it in. I may not eat completely clean, but I won't belly up to a trough anymore. I've done that and it doesn't help me or my goals.
  • twanthe1
    twanthe1 Posts: 407
    When I cheat it throws me off completely and I feel sluggish for at least three days.
  • rdzilla
    rdzilla Posts: 113 Member
    I set days in which I know I'm going to cheat and when I cheat I go big. For example, I know next Monday morning, when we're on public holiday for Chinese New Year, my buddies and I will get together to drink beer and eat horribly and watch football live at 4AM. This whole week I am making sure I get in the gym, stay under my intake levels and keep the blinders on. To cap it off we're going on a 3 hour hike Sunday after training legs in the gym! Net burn for the week will still be very much negative so I don't feel all that guilty.

    The day after I do cheat is an absolute horrible experience and really inspires me to stay on the straight and narrow. I'll allow myself one of these days every 3 to 4 weeks because, let's be honest, sometimes it feels good to be bad.
  • Russellb97
    Russellb97 Posts: 1,057 Member
    cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

    cheating is for the weak

    I think you meant, cheating is to be done every week.
  • asmithson19
    asmithson19 Posts: 59
    cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

    cheating is for the weak

    I find this very discouraging - I thought we were all here for the same reason and here to support each other?!?
    The poor lady obviously feels bad about her 'cheat meal' and doesn't need to hear she is weak... We all have bad/off days.

    In terms of cheat days/meals - I try not to schedule them in weekly or anything like that but I certainly have them! I once read in a magazine to remember that every MEAL is a new start - I used to think of new starts in days... and start again the next day, but if you start again next meal - you're already ahead! - Don't be too hard on yourself!
  • jody664
    jody664 Posts: 397 Member
    First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

    Thanks! Sadly some folks can't feel good about themselves without putting others down.
  • dobenjam
    dobenjam Posts: 232 Member
    cheating is cheating. unless you plan for it and exercise to account for it, you are just fooling yourself. who are you cheating? only yourself

    cheating is for the weak

    I'm going to go out on a limb and say I thought he meant that those who cheat regularly are weak and that's why they do it, not necessarily you. I could be off base but hope that makes you feel better. I honestly use to do "cheat" days and it was because I couldn't resist temptation so maybe that is why I read it that way.

    If you mess up, life goes on. I did this past week (I'm a huge NY Giants fan and they had a big game) and I went over my calories. I worked out twice as hard earlier that day and tried to give myself room but I still went over. No biggie. I knew that the 4lbs I "gained" the next morning wasn't fat and I'll keep losing. We're all human, just do the best you can and as long as you are heading in the right direction in general one bad day will never keep you down.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

    Thanks! Sadly some folks can't feel good about themselves without putting others down.

    I wasnt putting YOU down. You asked a general question about doing cheat days. My full answer said that unless you plan for it and exercise for it, you are only cheating yourself. If people want to have a "cheat" day, but plan for it, then it really isnt a "cheat" day. Some call it a spike day or whatever. Taking "cheat" days , imo, sets up a negative mentality as the word cheat is negative. So....my answer did not say you were weak...my answer said those who cheat are weak. There is a difference.
  • LindaCWy
    LindaCWy Posts: 463 Member
    AS long as it's good quality food and you aren't gorging all day on McDonalds I say it's good to high cal every now and then. But eventually you don't even want to anymore. My cheat day was friday and I had sushi, alot of sushi. Felt like crap after.
  • jenielee
    jenielee Posts: 21 Member
    Since our "monthly visitor" is a dreaded evil, I let myself eat whatever I want on the first day. I log it all and typically don't go too over board but it's a once a month completely guilt free day.
  • Taratweedy
    Taratweedy Posts: 4
    Not true. Cheating when your trying to change habit that has been a bad habit for a long time is normal unless you're super-human (and you very well may be). None of us are perfect. If you fall off, get back on.
  • pgpeacock
    pgpeacock Posts: 12
    It's actually proven that you are supposed to have 1 meal a week that is 1500 cals... It helps keep your metabolism in check ( it's worked for me, I'm not a doctor or nutrionist or dietician, but I read it in a health magazine) I typically don't eat a meal so high in cal, but I allow myself a cheat meal as opposed to a whole day. Eat right the rest of the day, workout, or don't ( I typically don't because I make that day my off day)

    Utimately it's up to you. You risk binging if you cut out everything you love that isn't healthy. I'm a firm believer that you can eat anything in moderation. Change your lifestyle to eating better and overall being a better person to your body, but don't deny yourself things that you like. It's ok to be "bad" once in a while.


    ...... sounds good to me :wink:
  • Taratweedy
    Taratweedy Posts: 4
    First off, please don't listen to those who say you are weak. They don't know anything about you.

    Thanks! Sadly some folks can't feel good about themselves without putting others down.

    I agree with all of this. We are all human and we are not perfect; if we were, we wouldn't be here now right?
This discussion has been closed.

Categories