does anyone NOT have cheat days/meals?

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Replies

  • MexisMom
    MexisMom Posts: 249
    The point of a cheat meal, as it was explained to me by a close friend and fitness guru, is to jump start your metabolism. When you're dieting, if you're doing a low carb/fat meal plan, your metabolism is going to start to slow down. When you indulge once a week (usually in something very carb and fat rich - he'll go to Wendy's and eat whatever he wants - often two burgers! He's a big guy), you get your metabolism up again and you'll do better throughout the coming week.

    While I agree it may not be for everyone if having a "cheat" meal/day stirs up some cravings, it DOES have a point beyond "holding yourself accountable."
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    No matter what you decide to eat, log it!

    Not logging your food will cause distress when weigh-in time arrives...

    At least if you knew what you took in, there will be no surprise if you gained, or if you lost, then you know you're on track and can copy your successes and work on anything you need to work on (more protein, etc).

    Even if you eat out at a restaurant and order the Chicken Alfredo (1200 calories some places), log it. Remember, there is a weekly total (at least on the mobile app) and if you were good the rest of the week, everything can balance out and you will still lose. Or you can add more exercise that day or another day and even it out.

    No scale surprises!! Log everything, eat what you want (within reason), stay within your calorie goal (at least for the week), and enjoy your success. :)
  • elishabeish
    elishabeish Posts: 175 Member
    I think if you feel comfortable with eating clean then you should stick with that, if you crave the clean foods, that's awesome. I don't have a cheat day or meal. In my week and half with MFP I have learned that what I thought was bad wasn't and what I thought was good wasn't for me myself and I. Everyone is different. If I were you I wouldn't have a day set, seems like you have the right cravings without the cheat day and if you do indulge once in awhile just log it like everything else, I'm sure you will still get great results just from being aware of what your putting in versus what you are burning off. Good Luck!!
  • MojitoNatural
    MojitoNatural Posts: 21
    I try not to "diet" I do stay within my caloric allowance. Sometimes like yesterday I do eat a snack ex: a cupcake etc... but I usually try to make up for it by exercising harder...
  • IPAfan5
    IPAfan5 Posts: 27
    cheat meals....

    NOT EVEN ONCE
  • ATT949
    ATT949 Posts: 1,245 Member
    Hi all,

    I just started eating really clean couple of months ago. After a few days of eating clean I do not even crave it anymore but I end up having one cheat meal a week of junk food, (just because I was told I should) but after I eat the one meal I crave it so much more and give in. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them or people who do have them but cheat meals rather than fulfilling the desire only seems to make it worse.

    Is it okay for me to NOT have cheat meals? DOes anyone else not have cheat meals/days?

    If you think of "cheat days", you're not ready yet.

    Let's put aside the absurdity of the idea* that it's "cheating" for a moment and think about the mindset.


    "not ready yet" means that an individual has not made the transition to a point where food is fuel for the body and an important part of social "ritual" (family dinner and celebratory events). When you're still caught up in the mindset that food is a reward; where you eat because you're bored; or because of the hand to mouth action, then weight control is much, much harder.


    Best profile picture ever -

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/photos/view/13788702




    *When one cheats, one hides ones activities in hope of receiving a benefit. How does eating more calories than you planned on help you achieve your weight control and fitness goals?
  • rainbowroots
    rainbowroots Posts: 28
    I never cheat, however i do cheat on holidays/birthdays/events , but that doesn't happen to often.
  • drmattski
    drmattski Posts: 124 Member
    No cheating - only CHOICES

    You can eat whatever you want, but log it and know how it fits into your BALANCED diet before you stuff in you mouth.

    I am saying this a someone who has been a lifelong binger. If i don't track what I eat and make good choices, I will eat a box of cookies or a dozen donuts because they taste good. I am a food-aholic... "My name is Matt and I have an unhealthy obsession with food..." Alcohol is not a problem (prefer Root Beer), quit smoking decades ago, but put me in a bakery and I lose control!

    Anyway, i know my weakness, so I can eat whatever I want, but I MUST hold myself accountable for making good choices overall. You can't CHEAT your body, no way , no how! That said, the good news is you can eat cake or candy, just have a reasonable portion and then STOP (easier said than done - that is for sure!)

    My .02 cents :wink:

    Matt
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I don't *plan* cheat days/meals. I think there's a difference between planning to eat like crap one meal a week, and not making a big deal out of it if you eat like crap once in a blue moon. Last month I went to Chicago to visit a friend and ate a gigantic hamburger. I'll eat "clean" for weeks or months at a time without a "break" because I finally have control over my eating... I don't want to be driven by the idea of making it to the next "cheat meal".
  • melb2003
    melb2003 Posts: 198
    I really only do cheat day/meal when I've been craving something soooo bad that if I don't suffice that craving, I'll fall off the wagon completely and binge. It's happen to me before and that's what I'm most worried about during this weight loss. I don't plan them, but if it's been a while since I've had one, and I'm having trouble staying on track, I'll give in for one meal that I've been REALLY craving just to make it worth it. HOWEVER, even when I cheat, I go to the gym a little longer just to make up for some of what I ate.
  • shellsrenee01
    shellsrenee01 Posts: 357 Member
    I don't have cheat days, but then again I don't exactly restrict anything full out either. I'm learning portion control and moderation. What used to be 3-6 cans of soda a day have now been reduced to one can every other day or maybe even just once a week. I used to eat my full meal when I'd go to a restaurant. Now I type the meal into MFP first to see the calories, cut it in half to split between two or three days (and I opt for the healthy veggie side versus fries).

    Find what works for you and go for it. :) If you are unable to resist going crazy after a cheat day, then skip it and maintain focus 7 days a week...at least until you get a handle on the cravings.
  • Di3012
    Di3012 Posts: 2,247 Member
    Hi all,

    I just started eating really clean couple of months ago. After a few days of eating clean I do not even crave it anymore but I end up having one cheat meal a week of junk food, (just because I was told I should) but after I eat the one meal I crave it so much more and give in. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them or people who do have them but cheat meals rather than fulfilling the desire only seems to make it worse.

    Is it okay for me to NOT have cheat meals? DOes anyone else not have cheat meals/days?

    One here, I do not have cheat meal days. I had plenty of those before I started losing weight.
  • nicehormones
    nicehormones Posts: 503 Member
    I try to not consider myself on a diet. I am losing weight, but not restricting myself. So if I want something, I have it. I usually eat chocolate every day. Sure, I could eat healthier... but hey, this has been working for me for about 7ish months now... So I'm pretty sure I can do this the rest of my life. And happily. But what works for some, doesn't work for others.
  • littlelily613
    littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
    I don't do cheat days either. I work hard all week, I don't to screw that up with a cheat day where I WILL go overboard. What I do instead is allow myself one treat a day. This is usually somewhere between 100 and 200 calories. It makes me feel less deprived, and I am not cheating as it fits well within my calories. It also prevents me using up all my calories on treats. (While it is true that you can lose if you eat anything as long as you don't go over your calories, I want to be healthy, not just thin).

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