Cheat/Reward Meals

I tried to avoid, because I try not to deprive now. So if I want Mexican I eat Mexican, I just make wise choices: More veggies fewer tortilla chips, Pico de Gallo instead of queso, etc. If I want a dessert I only order one and split it with my husband and daughter. Now I've set different reward systems for myself: a pair of shoes, a pedicure, a get-away trip, My end goal weight will be rewarded by a tattoo I've been wanting for awhile now. Hope this helps.

I don't plan cheat days but if I want something that is not the greatest, once in a while, I eat it.
As long as I don't do it too often I'm ok with it.

I don't eat cheat meals. I know if I start I'll never stop. And I'd feel sluggish and bloated.

I don't eat the healthiest diet in the world right now, I just watch my calories. So I don't feel I'm depriving myself anything. And my rewards will be non-food related things. New clothes, a night out (sticking to low cal drinks!), cinema....something like that.

My downfall was always take aways (take outs for those of you in the US). Now I'd prefer to cook a healthier version myself.

Most of the time I just tell myself that "I don't need that" , but sometimes I allow myself to have a meal that is not as healthy as normal. By doing this I find that I am able to eat healthier 99% of the time. Not speaking for anyone else, but for myself, I feel that by constantly denying myself a meal of my favorite food, I am setting myself up for failure. I find that when I continually deny myself that I eventually give in to temptation and when I do I eat badly for an entire day if not more and completely fall off the wagon. So I eat a meal every once in a while that will allow me to curb those cravings and jump right back on my wagon for a few weeks. Although, I do count everything into my daily calorie count!!

I tend to be one of those people who if you let yourself have the odd 'cheat' i dont stop! But at the same time if you have a massive craving and you cant shift it not matter how much you try, just eat the damn thing as you will spend more time (and probably calories) trying to fill the void rather than just have what you wanted in the first place. Ideally pick the healthier option or less of it (i always split my takaways in half to eat next day) or just accept the odd treat and get back on the wagon again

If I want those things I eat them provided I have the cals and such. For me, if I deny eating certain things (chips, chocolate, pizza, etc) I will at some point binge on them so i have learned to allow myself things in moderation. For things like pizza, I will make a lower calorie version. Mexican - if I want tacos I'll have some or make myself a taco salad. If I want chips, I'll have some or I'll make my own healthier version.

If I know I'm going out for a meal I look on the restaurants website first and see what the nutritional information is for their meals. I make my choice based on that. If I know I'm going to go for a few drinks I don't deny myself, I will try to make better choices or plan to have a certain amount and go from there.

I don't allow myself cheat meals or cheat days as I know once I start I won't stop until it's out of hand. For me, I won't deny myself things for reasons above and also because I am changing my lifestyle and I know I can't say I'll never have pizza and chips etc forever so I make sure I make them fit and make better choices.

I'm vegan. My burgers are either marinated portobello mushrooms or homemade veggie burgers and are low fat, lower in calories than the meat based alternative, and I don't consider them cheats. Same with pizza (no cheese, topped with veggies and a garlicky vinaigrette). Dinner starts, though, with a large salad. Same with Mexican - veggie fajitas made with grilled portobellos, eggplant, squash, asparagus, onions, bell pepper; homemade low fat refried black beans; homemade guacamole. Again, no cheese. Every now and then for a special occasion I'll make a dessert that I can eat. If I don't want to be tempted, then I make a dessert with butter/eggs/milk. It truly holds no temptation for me.

But even if you aren't vegan, you can use some of the same tricks. My family eats meat, but absolutely loves a portobello mushroom burger. You could make a lower fat burger with turkey. Make the patties smaller. Use low-fat cheese or cut it out altogether. There are lots of healthy Mexican dishes. Mexican doesn't mean "covered in cheese and sour cream." Make pizza with a whole wheat crust. I made veggie pizzas (with cheese) years ago when I was eating meat. I'd cover them in sauteed onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms, then add other ingredients - marinated roma tomato slices, artichoke hearts, whatever your favorite veggies happen to be. I'd make them for guests and they would eat quite a few slices before realizing there was no meat on the pizza. Just use a reduced fat cheese and use a small quantity.