Cheat day Yes or Just a little

lushunn32
lushunn32 Posts: 107
in Introduce Yourself
I have a cheat day on Satuday where I eat whatever I want drink whatever I want and then I'm back to business on Sunday. I was wondering if you have a cheat day and if so do eat whatever or do you just eat something you have wanted all week. Also do you think its a good idea to have a cheat day and go all out?
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Replies

  • fitnesspirateninja
    fitnesspirateninja Posts: 667 Member
    I don't personally do have an assigned cheat day, but I do take days off once in a while. I think you gotta do what works for you.
  • pigwidgeon82
    pigwidgeon82 Posts: 79 Member
    i never have a cheat day. i don't really feel the need to, because i eat something good every day.
  • ashley_bey
    ashley_bey Posts: 5 Member
    I've had cheat days but only on days like birthdays... when your going out to dinner. I don't give myself a cheat day during a normal week.
  • lschuttem
    lschuttem Posts: 82 Member
    ive been using MFP for about a month. Once in a while I would exercise a little extra, so that I could treat myself to something special (a bit of ice cream or big glass of chocolate milk). I did one full-out cheat day on Friday and ate whatever I wanted (a couple cookies, mozza sticks, panna cotta, huge salmon fillet, etc) . I think I was around 1400 calories over budget (I still logged it all on MFP). Personally, I wouldnt recommend doing a full cheat day, because I gained 2lbs overnight after that cheat day. So for me, it wasn't worth it in terms of weight/calories. Though I am glad I tried it once to see what the effects would be for me. Now I have absolutely no desire to try it again.
  • TrekkerCynthia
    TrekkerCynthia Posts: 155 Member
    I don't have official cheat days, but I do allow myself to go over my calorie goals every so often. But I still track.
  • irsleepy2
    irsleepy2 Posts: 47
    I don't have a 'cheat day', but I do have a 'cheat meal' (once a week). 'I' could do WAY too much damage in a whole day, lol
  • kahulabeth
    kahulabeth Posts: 8
    My mother used to say "Don't treat yourself with food, your not a dog." Its stuck with me over the years and I don't have cheat days or meals because of it. Instead I eat whatever I like but adjust my portions or exercise a little harder. Although I'm trying to lose weight I'm also changing my lifestyle. Do you want to be hanging out for a treat day for the rest of your life? If you eat oversized portions one day then switch to soups for the next day. If you want a sundae try splitting it with a friend or only eat 1/2. In the end it's only food. Why not try treating yourself to a new book, dress or outing instead of food.
  • ihateroses
    ihateroses Posts: 893 Member
    My cheat days consist mostly of.......erm.....beverages. If you catch my drift.... If you're smellin what I'm stepping in...If youre catchin' what I'm pitchin'.
  • craigers13
    craigers13 Posts: 241 Member
    I wouldn't recommend a cheat day but by all means feel free to treat yourself to something you crave once in a while. I've learned from this site that it is not about dieting, it's about making lifestyle changes. I never deprive myself of the things I like but I am much more aware of what/how much I put into my body. And if I'm going to treat myself it usually motivates me to put a little bit extra into my workout so that it balances things out a bit better.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    My cheat days consist mostly of.......erm.....beverages. If you catch my drift.... If you're smellin what I'm stepping in...If youre catchin' what I'm pitchin'.

    I'm diggin your ditch and pickin up what your throwin down. : )

    When I cheat (which is not often) I just eat up my deficit calories. My calorie deficit is set -750 so as long my calories dont go above that I wont gain anything but wont loose either.
  • Bonnieelizabeth
    Bonnieelizabeth Posts: 68 Member
    I just try to do moderation. If I feel like I am wanting to cheat I try to exercise or read a book or another ativity. If it is a social ocassion I explain to my friends what I am doing and ask them to excuse from eating desert or something that is not a right choice for me and then I try to remember why I wanted to get rid of the weight and become healthy . Summing it up I do try to keep under the calorie limit. I don't always succeed but I did not get fat unfit in one day so it will not come off in one day but I budget out my calories and carbs to keep me loosing a little every week. Even if it is only a half a pound a week!!
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    I don't do "cheat" days or meals. Who would i be cheating, myself?

    I definitely have days when I eat over my calorie allowance, but that's not cheating, it's life. It's called "going out to dinner for my husband's birthday" or "eating a big piece of cake with coffee yesterday morning" or "I just ate too much crap today".

    I just try to ensure that I have more days when I don't go over.

    This may seem like semantics, but to me, words are powerful - deliberately deciding to "cheat", doesn't sit well with me. It implies that what I'm doing is hard and not sustainable and that's not the way I plan to eat for the rest of my life.
  • lushunn32
    lushunn32 Posts: 107
    Thank you that might be why I gain some weeks. I will have to really think about this now.
  • lushunn32
    lushunn32 Posts: 107
    I agree with you on that. I'm glad I asked I sure don't want to be waiting on a cheat day for the rest of my life. I think if i do want that something that bad I will eat it just watch my portions.
  • kahulabeth
    kahulabeth Posts: 8
    I agree with you on that. I'm glad I asked I sure don't want to be waiting on a cheat day for the rest of my life. I think if i do want that something that bad I will eat it just watch my portions.

    I think thats a great mindset to have. Good Luck :smile:
  • missy492
    missy492 Posts: 1
    If you go "all out" on cheat days, then you lose everything you achieved during the week. If you feel the need for a taste, simply count it in your daily calories. Or journal your calories on your cheat days and see if you think its worth it...
  • Larry0445
    Larry0445 Posts: 204 Member
    I do have "cheat" dinners,when I go out to eat. I don't bother with counting calories,and just add some extra treadmill work,the next day,to help make up for it. :happy:
  • Kincar
    Kincar Posts: 601 Member
    I never have cheat days. That would make me feel like I'm in prison the other days and living for the cheat days. I pretty much eat what I want just in small amounts. I do allow myself a splurge now and then, but I never go crazy with the calories. I don't want to have to lose any weight again. No food is good enough to be worth that IMO. I get the munchies, but I remind myself I am working toward a goal and I can't let myself down.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    I do usually have a cheat day. Not a specific day. But, once a week I drink coors lite as many as I want. Oh so good.
  • pamary
    pamary Posts: 14 Member
    :smile: Used to have cheat days and could never understand why the weight was not coming off. It really is calories in and calories burned. So there is no cheating for me now - If I have a big event planned, I try to eat egg whites for breakfast, light lunch, fruit or vegetables for snacks, aerobics and then enjoy the night party. No guilt and still get results! Good Luck!
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I'm also not fond of the term "cheat" as it implies that you're doing something wrong or bad...

    Once a week I take a rest day. My calorie goal is set at 1400, which is actually a bit low for me (should be more like1550) but I like having the wiggle room, it's just how my mind works. Anyway, on the six days per week when I exercise, my consumed calories average around 2000 and the calories burned bring me closer to my goal. On my rest day, I get little to no exercise but will still consume 1800-2000 calories.

    Every couple of months I have a splurge meal when I go out with my friends or with my hubby for a special dinner and/or drinks. I'll try to make good choices but I'm a foodie so if I see something new and amazing, I'm going to go for it. I try to plan for it by being good the week before but sometimes life happens and you have to roll with the punches.
  • hellokitty1970
    hellokitty1970 Posts: 3
    Cheat day sounds amazing but my whole life has ben a cheat day. I think it's a good idea provided you aren't the type who has to be abstinent or will eat about 3000 on my cheat day. And that's just me!:noway:
  • skiiniii
    skiiniii Posts: 3
    i just finished my first week with MFP with a 'cheat' day.. lets just say i regretted it on the scales this morning, realised i didn't even really enjoy eating all the crap at all, and having read this very helpful forum, now understand i was cheating myself.. on purpose. why not just taste that caramel popcorn? did i feel any better for having huge handfulls of it??

    i wasn't just eating more for a treat or because i really wanted to, but because i was hungover and thought eating a heap of crap would actually make me feel better! it didn't!!

    from now on i'll eat over my allowance here and there and keep to small portions of the things i like, and not freak out if i go over, but won't be on a mission to eat as much as possible and go way over on purpose, either!
  • janet0513
    janet0513 Posts: 564 Member
    I don't have cheat days because I know if I did, it would spiral out of control. On days that I get cardio in I eat more freely and have extra calories to do so. This is not just weight loss for me, it is a lifestyle change. I don't deprive myself (esp on special occasions) but I do work it into my calories.
  • EBFNP
    EBFNP Posts: 529 Member
    Cheat days can wipe out a full week of work. Seriously! I think you should have a cheat meal instead that is within your calories for the day. I usually pick Friday or Saturday night for my cheat meal.
  • omen25th
    omen25th Posts: 5
    I have a cheat day its usually sundays i eat what evey i want, however the portions i eat are small and sensible :)
  • Il_DaniD_lI
    Il_DaniD_lI Posts: 1,593 Member
    I am so against cheat days because I have had bad experiences. When I stopped cheat days I saw better results. I would recommend a cheat meal instead of an entire day, even better if you can keep within your daily calories.
  • 10acity
    10acity Posts: 798 Member
    'I' could do WAY too much damage in a whole day, lol

    This is how I feel, too. I tend to let myself "off the hook" on Sundays, but only from logging every single thing. I don't look at it as an excuse to be self-destructive. I remain mindful of what I eat and keep a running tally of estimated calories in my head, I just like that I get to relax from the logging one day a week as it's somewhat stressful for me. So.. I'm still not going to eat all the pizza and french fries and doughnuts I'd like to eat just because it's Sunday, I just get to be a little more laid-back about everything for one day.

    Honestly, I think I tend to be BETTER on Sundays because I don't want to go way over. Yet I still feel some sense of freedom. (Psychoanalyze that!)
  • gunnar2112
    gunnar2112 Posts: 2 Member
    I totally have a cheat day!! I go by a modified eat healthy 80% of the time rule. I eat really well 6 days and let loose a little on my day off. I don't go overboard as I would tend to feel sick from eating junk food.
  • stacymama5
    stacymama5 Posts: 391 Member
    I DO NOT have a cheat day!! I would feel so guilty that I would be miserable. That doesn't mean that I haven't gone over. If there is something I really want I think its better to eat it than worry about not eating it.

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