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cheat day

liftandcycle
liftandcycle Posts: 209
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
so how bad is it for me to have a cheat day once a month? Im talking a fastfood day, calorie after calorie.. i did it last month. I still did pretty good.. im trying to lower my bodyfat % by eating broiled chicken, shrimp and whole grains, fruit..etc, I will not cheat at all except for one day out of the month.. so how bad is it?

Replies

  • msespresso
    msespresso Posts: 153 Member
    If knowing that day is coming will help you eat healthy the rest of the month, I don't think it's a bad thing at all. I think you will notice that you want the cheat day less, though... and you'll definitely notice how different the fast food makes you feel!
  • kleighsamboer
    kleighsamboer Posts: 250
    In my opinion it just keeps you craving the food that made you gain weight. Plus if you have detoxed your body from all those foods and toxins re-introducing them can make you feel very ill. I know that you will get comments from people who believe otherwise but this is my personal opinion on the matter.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    so how bad is it for me to have a cheat day once a month? Im talking a fastfood day, calorie after calorie.. i did it last month. I still did pretty good.. im trying to lower my bodyfat % by eating broiled chicken, shrimp and whole grains, fruit..etc, I will not cheat at all except for one day out of the month.. so how bad is it?
    It's not bad at all.
  • liftandcycle
    liftandcycle Posts: 209
    so you girls never cheat, with chocolate or fried stuff?
  • gregavila
    gregavila Posts: 723 Member
    I won't do a cheat day, but will do a cheat meal. It would be way to easy to eat 3,000+ calories I. A cheat day and that can undo progress. By limiting it to a cheat meal I find that I am generally still close to my daily TDEE goal anyway so it is almost like eating to maintenance that day.

    As for the benefits of cheat days, there is a lot written on it.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    It's fine. Just log it.
  • Sherbog
    Sherbog Posts: 1,075 Member
    Let your scales be the answer.
  • JAllen32
    JAllen32 Posts: 991 Member
    I do, but I don't really call it a cheat day. Its just a day that I don't log everything, or don't measure everything. And sometimes is a day where I decided to splurge on that cheeseburger I've been craving or something like that. It hasn't hindered my progrosses at all, infact its a great part of metibolic confusion which helps break through plateaus. Go ahead and have your day a month or a week, whatever you like! Good luck!
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    If you can stick to your eating goals all month long, and really only 'cheat' on that one day a month, and it works for your end results... then hey, go for it and have fun!


    I personally prefer to fit treats and splurges in to my calories throughout the month because too many days of all work and no play make kortney a grumpy girl.
  • Kissybiz
    Kissybiz Posts: 361 Member
    I don't think one day a month will totally de-rail your progress as long as it's planned and not just mindless binging. If it doesn't send you back into a negative cycle (if ever you had one), then I don't think it's a bad thing, as long as it's not a habit. I knew a guy on here that had a planned cheat day once a month and would gorge on fast food and chinese buffets, etc.. he worked out hard daily, but still, he looked forward to his cheat days and he lost a steady amount of weight (2 lbs) every week.
  • LPCoder
    LPCoder Posts: 404 Member
    I keep a few boxes of Girl Scout cookies in the freezer. When I want a treat I get fat free pudding and crush a couple cookies on top. I agree that sometimes a treat constitutes a "mental health" day. I think I started to become successful when I changed my eating schema. I no longer see food as "good" or "bad" as long as I eat only what is necessary for maintaining good health. If you are going to have a cheat day, I would suggest that you eat food that is not fast food (i.e. choose a good burrito at a restaurant over a big mac!) At least you will get some nutrition into your system that day. Also, don't gorge yourself on your cheat day.
  • gregavila
    gregavila Posts: 723 Member
    It hasn't hindered my progrosses at all, infact its a great part of metibolic confusion which helps break through plateaus. Go ahead and have your day a month or a week, whatever you like!

    I tend to have a cheat meal day one a week and it hasn't hindered my progress either. Very true about the metabolism aspects as well.
  • thepanttherlady
    thepanttherlady Posts: 258 Member
    I have a co-worker that has a free day once a month. She doesn't log anything and eats whatever she wants that whole day.

    She's lost 88 pounds. :)
  • CaseRat
    CaseRat Posts: 377 Member
    It's not bad at all.
  • liftandcycle
    liftandcycle Posts: 209
    thanks to everyone who replied... Imma take my cheat day :)
  • karliekins
    karliekins Posts: 27 Member
    so you girls never cheat, with chocolate or fried stuff?

    I have like a few pieces of chocolate, a cupcake, or a small order of fries once in a while, but only if I can still stay under my daily calorie limit and I eat healthy stuff the rest of the day.
  • thelassiemickyjames
    thelassiemickyjames Posts: 197
    In my opinion it just keeps you craving the food that made you gain weight. Plus if you have detoxed your body from all those foods and toxins re-introducing them can make you feel very ill. I know that you will get comments from people who believe otherwise but this is my personal opinion on the matter.

    I agree! the worse I eat the more I crave! deadly cycle. But everyone's different, and if it works for you then good job!
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    thanks to everyone who replied... Imma take my cheat day :)
    Just don't go too wild. Also don't weigh yourself afterward. You will have some bloat that will go away in a few days.
  • ovilma89
    ovilma89 Posts: 20 Member
    In my opinion, I dont think it is bad to cheat with small things like a small piece of chocolate, a cookie, or anything similar. I actually cheated yesterday after 2 1/2 weeks of pure non fat food by eating half of a burger, and man, i felt so sick to my stomach afterwards! So when it comes to fast food, I wouldnt really recommend it.. but small things, go right ahead! :) usually my cheat day consists of eating a small sweet snack.. best of luck! :)
  • TanyaCurtis
    TanyaCurtis Posts: 630
    Personally I would try my best to stay away from anything that was the cause of my problems in the first place. Once I start I can't always stop, plus it's just not healthy. But if u think u have to, and u know u can stop after that then go for it, otherwise I would totally avoid all that junk food!
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