Why a Cheat Day is a misnomer

Yeah, I was calling them 'cheat days' until I realized that I was using that as an excuse. Then I decided there would be no more excuses. So the cheat days went away.

It all depends upon what the person wants in their lifestyle change. I don't get too hung up on what others want to do as far as their diet goes or what they want to call it when they splurge on calories for a day. For me, it is a lapse. That is all, but that is because I know what I am capable of doing. If I don't do it, if I don't stick to my healthy eating style and go over my calories, I call it what it is - a LAPSE. No shame about it. That is called being accountable for what I have done.

I just feel that if I am not accountable - not willing to call it what it is - those days will occur more and more often. It would become an excuse for me to eat over my calorie allowance. So I no longer have 'cheat days'.

I am speaking for myself here, so don't go jumping all over me. What I do is what I do. What you want to do is what you want to do. What works for me might not work for you and vice-versa. I don't judge those who have cheat days; I just no longer have them. :happy:

What I call a 'day off' is what many others call their 'cheat day' as far as I can tell. It is the day I am more lax, which for me means I make sure I eat back all the calories I exercise off. Usually I don't. For example, this week I will make a yummy shrimp stir-fry for dinner and something with strawberries for dessert. I watch my salt, keeping it under 1500 and don't eat pre-packaged or processed foods. Next month I plan to go out to eat..I have until then to browse their menu and nutrition info but really I am only concerned that I don't go over my salt intake.

Yes, all this considered, 'day off' and 'cheat day' are misnomers.

I don't believe people are actually boasting about gorging or backsliding. Then again, perhaps I simply haven't seen it.

So funny....

Start a thread to voice your opinion which is written as law not an opinion...

spend rest of thread trying to belittle everyone into agreeing with you...

and if they arent buying it...point out that your vocabulary and comprehension is better than theirs..

gotta love the forums

I've been here since 2010 and it's pretty much the same *kitten*, different day lol.

Love this!!!!! Everybody loses a few pounds & then want to beat everybody up cuz they want to have a "cheat day"! I thought MFP was a learning tool to help us realize what the heck we putting in our mouths? I didn't know it turned every successful loser into rocket scientist!

I don't pretend to be a rocket scientist or try to preach to anyone on here. After seeing tons of people and fads come and go, I've come to the realization that everyone is different and what will work for them is based on their food and exercise preferences. Live and let live

I wasn't referring to you momma I was referring to the person who started the post.

I suddenly feel the need to go make a big tub of buttery popcorn and cheat on my diet while re-reading this thread.

Does losing a sense of humour count towards weight loss?

I sorta doubt it...but not getting invited to parties must make avoiding cheat pressure easier. I also hear douching can help a fella lose weight. The OP is selective in his trashing...he's ignored the sensible comments and attacked only those that have helped this thread to turn into a flame war. Since this is clearly his thread he's set the terms to the debate and by the color of his responses it's clear he's in the mood to rail, not debate or learn.

It must be a blast hanging out with you at a party.

... says the person with Homer Simpson as their avatar.

Judging a person by their avatar is a great measure of character. Using the numbers he's lost twice the weight you have and 50% more in terms of percent original body weight.

Is this thread really happening? I thought we were all in this thing together.

Time to eat my feelings...




CHEAT DAY!!!!

It looks like you're about to eat your cat. Do you know how many calories are in him/her?

. I was just trying to ascertain where this notion of a cheat day is derived from. My suspicion is that it is a term constructed for justification.

It always seemed obvious to me that people meant they were going off their regular diet for a day. Like playing hooky from work.

I am pretty tired of seeing the term cheat day. People act like throwing out that term magically justifies, well, anything! I drank a fifth of vodka last night, cheat day! I ate 2 bowls of ice cream, cheat day! And everyone is like "Yeah, that's awesome!" or "LOLZ".

"Cheat day" should not even be a term used here. I mean, do you even know what it means? Or is the herd just falling in line.

From my 35 years of experience, cheat usually means taking a shortcut to win or finish first. It means doing something you shouldn't. It means you don't brag about it, you hide it hoping to not get caught. It means you lack the knowledge or will to complete a task with integrity.

But when you cheat on your diet, you only fall further behind.

It should be called a "regress day" or "lapse day".

Regress:
1. To go back; move backward.
2. To return to a previous, usually worse or less developed state.

Laspe:
1. To fall from a previous level or standard, as of accomplishment, quality, or conduct

Perhaps we would be less cavalier about our cheating if we acknowledged what we were saying.

I love your post so much I want to hug you.