does anyone have a cheat day?

Yep! Every Saturday. I stay within my calories but eat whatever I like. (within reason! - I've noticed even on "cheat" days I feel guilty indulging too much. And I pick and choose what I really want. That tiny McDonald's hamburger and fries is so not going to win when I can eat a large meal of ribs and cornbread instead!)

I usually do an extra half hour of cardio that day, too so I can eat without feeling too restricted.

I lost over 45 pounds and I've had this "cheat" day/meal since the beginning.

I give myself a few extra calories on my weigh-in day. I set a limit...usually 2,000 calories...and I try to stick to it. It's not always on my weigh-in day...if I have something special coming up that I know will cause me to want to consume more calories, I use my extra calories on that day. I have had "cheat days" in the past and not kept track of what I was eating. Once I started keeping track, I was shocked and embarrassed how much I had consumed! Since my weigh-in is Thursday, it is real easy for that one "cheat day" to roll into the whole weekend and before I know it...it is Sunday or Monday and I have to starve myself to make up for all the damage I had done. I'm a big time procrastinator and there's always tomorrow....lol. So, now I am trying to break my binge habit and eat more consistently. A few extras one day a week, but not over the limit I set for myself...then right back on track the next day. This is not a diet...I am trying to learn to eat in a way that I can live with for the rest of my life....while losing weight as I go. I can't imagine living the rest of my life without some of my favorite foods, and without eating or drinking, a little more than I should now and then. I'm learning portion control...self control...self discipline. So, if you can handle letting go a little bit without losing complete control....I think it's fine to have a day of a little extra. Hopefully, once I am confident in my portion control and self control...I will be able to just have whatever I'd like whenever I'd like...not just one special "cheat day" a week.

Honestly, putting it in perspective, ONE DAY of bad eating, even if it is way over the calorie deficit, cannot make a hugley detrimental difference...you didn't gain weight overnight, and you didn't lose it overnight, thus oen day of indulgence won't stall it badly. I normally keep my calories very low during the week anyway - I'm good, which means the odd indulgence normally doesn't hinder it. Mathematically, by the end of the week, I am still in an overall deficit.

Yes, I will have a cheat meal once a week, normally during the weekend. Tonight, for example, was my first cheat meal and I enjoyed some delicious barbecue food. I was still under my calorie goal for today, so I'm not stressing out. Usually, when I plan a "cheat" meal, I try to do some extra cardio.

I don't have 'cheat days'. That doesn't mean that I don't allow myself to eat some delicious meals or go out to dinner with friends every once in a while. I just accommodate that meal within my calorie goal intake for the day. So I might have a lower calorie lunch to accommodate for a high-calorie dinner or I might do a big gym/exercise session and burn off lots of calories to accommodate a night out with friends. Someone said to me once - "I exercise so I can eat & drink!" And she was a fit woman and it made sense to me. And even when I eat out I try to choose a better choice, or eat only half of the meal (as some meals come out and they are absolutely huge) and I barely drink anymore so I don't need to worry about those extra calories. If I am having take out I opt for chinese food and also try to make better choices then too - 100 grams / 1 cup of white rice tops and lots of vegetables in those delicious sauces! :-)

Just read a few of the "skinny rules" from bob harpers new book (coming out in May ) on Amazon.com. One of them was to have an indulgence once a week. Just FYI. Bob rocks!!!

I totally had a cheat day today...while out running errands, we stopped at some mom & pop burger joint and now tonight, I am too tired and a bit sore from my workout this morning so I ordered the kids pizza and ended up eating a piece. As of right now, I am still under my calorie goal for today (because I burnt nearly 400 cal at the gym) but not sure if I'll make it another 5 hours till bed. I have found that if I don't allow myself a cheat meal or day, I end up binge eating all the foods I'm not allowing myself to eat, and usually in secret, grab a chocolate bar at the checkout and eat before I get home, stuff like that. So allow yourself a treat so you don't sabotage yourself

I have done spike days in the past and started them again. Saturday is my spike day. I have whatever I want and I keep it around 2800 calories.

I probably have a cheat day every 5th or 6th day. For me, it means that I'm going over my calories by a few hundred but I'm also eating stuff that I like such as maybe pizza or red meat of some sort.

The reason for this is because it's like zigzagging. It keeps your body guessing on how much you are going to give it which avoids a plateau.

I'm only trying to lose 4 or 5 pounds a month so it's a complete lifestyle change that I'm working on. I don't like being fat, but I also don't like depriving myself of my favourite foods.