Do you agree with Cheat Days?

maltaman99
maltaman99 Posts: 9 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
When I started my MFP aprox 6 weeks ago, I weighed 226ish pounds. For the first month I was doing great. I went down to 203, losing about 5 pounds a week. (I weigh in every saturday morning) From the forth to fifth week, I noticed I haven't dropped a pound. So I guess I hit a plateau. I was talking to a neighbour, and he mentioned that I should have a cheat day, and eat a whole bunch of food. Double my calories. He said my body is now getting use to 1600 cal a day, and I need to confuse my body. So that next monday, I ate approx 2800 calories. For the rest of the week I went back to my normal 1630ish calories a day. Hopped on the scale this morning, and 198. Do you think it was from the cheat day,? What do you think? I hope it is, because I dont mind having a cheat day every once a month or so.
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Replies

  • Scorpioangel
    Scorpioangel Posts: 951 Member
    I have heard that having a spike day can boost your metabolism. I have had days when I go hog wild and end up staying the same or even less weight wise (I am maintaining now).
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,419 Member
    I don't try to argue with cheat days. I just let them win.
  • kazzari
    kazzari Posts: 473 Member
    I don't try to argue with cheat days. I just let them win.

    LOL
  • SmartAlec03211988
    SmartAlec03211988 Posts: 1,896 Member
    Indeed. In fact, today is my cheat day and I will probably end up eating +4000 calories. I've been doing it for several weeks now and haven't gained a lb from it... and actually I've lost 6 lbs since doing it.

    It's not for everyone, but it works for me.
  • kazzari
    kazzari Posts: 473 Member
    Cheat opportunities (birthday cake, potlucks at work) come up often enough that I don't plan them. No, I don't think they are that helpful metabolically, but can be mentally.
  • mfp_junkie
    mfp_junkie Posts: 359
    I suggested a cheat day to my wife once, but when she figured out I meant with the hottie next door and not with a bowl of ice cream, she put the kibosh on that....
  • kellimr
    kellimr Posts: 69
    I don't try to argue with cheat days. I just let them win.

    LOL

    LOL love that response!
  • Ittybitty22
    Ittybitty22 Posts: 48 Member
    good job your neighbor was right when u plateau u got to change it up
  • sandown12
    sandown12 Posts: 648 Member
    I don't think anyone should see eating any food as a cheat
    This is a reason for upping your calories amongst others, no food us cheating in moderation or on allowance

    My mind sets changed in 4 months after 23 + years of yoyo 'dieting'
    I'm not hungry never feel I'm missing out deprived or feel I'm cheating

    This has to be a change of life a life plan if you are needing chocolate crisps a takeaway have it in calories if youve not enough calories left work for them walk for 2 hours dance for an afternoon but don't think any foods bad s cheat or you'll feel guilty x
  • ktanderson05
    ktanderson05 Posts: 207 Member
    Yes I think it can help for people, I'm not going with that "thought" this time around haha, but I guess we will see what happens if and when I hit a plateau.
  • kazzari
    kazzari Posts: 473 Member
    I suggested a cheat day to my wife once, but when she figured out I meant with the hottie next door and not with a bowl of ice cream, she put the kibosh on that....

    Ha ha!
  • nickyskins
    nickyskins Posts: 100 Member
    I think one cheat day a week is good for your weight lost needs. Ur body will get used to ur diet so every once in awhile u should eat a few more calories then normal to trick ur body into thinking u no longer are on a diet and then BOOOOOOM, the next day u watch ur cals again and u should start to loose some more lbs!
  • reginapeak
    reginapeak Posts: 24
    I am not sure anyone else caught it- so I will say *CONGRATULATIONS* at being below 200. I cried when I broke below 200.
    I guess you could say I have cheat days. My husband also agrees its good to shake things up every once in awhile.
    My worst cheat day was probably around 2800 calories, on my 19th anniversary when my husband took me out to eat.
    I continue to lose- slowly and steadily.
    I probably have one day a week where I eat at more of a maintenance caloric intake- of around 2000 to 2200 calories.

    My biggest fear is gaining my weight back- so when I have a cheat day- that determination keeps my cheat day from turning into a cheat week, and then falling right back into old routines.

    Again, congratulations!
  • CaptainAmerica1970
    CaptainAmerica1970 Posts: 435
    yes
  • bunnylvr
    bunnylvr Posts: 78
    Yeah, my cheat day is every Friday night. My boyfriend cooks dinner on the grill and we enjoy some drinks. I try to go on a longer run that day than normal though to make up for it.
  • TheFitHooker
    TheFitHooker Posts: 3,357 Member
    The word "Cheat" says that it's something bad, something you shouldn't do. So no I don't cheat, but I do treat myself to things and work it into my calories.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    No.
  • LilRedRooster
    LilRedRooster Posts: 1,421 Member
    Every day is a cheat day for me.

    Meaning if I want alcohol, I have it. If I want chocolate, I have it. I've found it's bad news bears overall if I don't, because then I'm grumpy.
  • debjane52
    debjane52 Posts: 3
    I had a 'cheat day' once that lasted 5 years and added 100 poounds to my frame. Think I will pass this time. I eat what I want and log everything. If I am going to go above my calorie count, I try to get in more exercise to balance it out. Maybe when I get closer to my goal weight, I will fee different. Keep up the good work though!
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    I "cheat" when I want to..I'm maintaining now.
  • scotslass
    scotslass Posts: 317
    i think each to their own on the matter, some people it works for others it doesn't xx
  • Funsoaps
    Funsoaps Posts: 514 Member
    Absolutely agree with it, I have one cheat meal a week and one dessert a week (off diet), once in awhile 2 meals off-diet per week. That way my body does not get used to the low calories and yes, I continue to lose and lose.
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    For myself, it worked. However it maybe different for others. Some can't do a cheat day bc they don't have self control and may find themselves binging later and falling off the wagon. My cheat things are fast food or alcohol; things I don't miss anymore or only want to eat once every 1-2 weeks. It's not a one size fits all equation. Some can do it, some can't and shouldn't.
  • HeHealsMe
    HeHealsMe Posts: 174 Member
    Hmm,. I am doing a LIFE CHANGE, not a DIET. Don't even use that phrase.

    Sometimes I go hogbutt wild
    \and eat a PINT, YEPPER'S a PINT :bigsmile:
    of B&J icecream
    but do it so rarely, it does not matter.

    Life is to enjoy yourself.
    Stop punishing..
    make a life change..don't diet..
    you will feel so much better about what you are doing..
    and then, you will not regain the weight,
    as you never "DIETED:"
    You changed the way you eat!!
  • htmlgirl
    htmlgirl Posts: 314 Member
    I don't do them on a regular basis but once in a while we will go out in town and do something. I call it "Italian culture day" (we're stationed in Italy). I basically eat a bunch of pasta or pizza, drink some wine, and eat some gelato. I try to get in a good workout beforehand or the previous day to balance it out.
  • mom2gar
    mom2gar Posts: 100 Member
    I don't plan cheat days, I may have a meal or decide I need a snack and go over my cals - but not double. There are days I am 200 below and 300 over. I think naturally it happens and unless I ate the same food every day there is no way I would hit my calories on the mark every day. Knowing what works for you is great and a "cheat" day works - awesome - just be careful of the idea what's one day and then another and another and then you gain it all back. Good luck!
  • alyson820
    alyson820 Posts: 448 Member
    I use special occasions as cheat days, and it works for me. Tuesday is my last final, and my clinical group is going out after for dinner and drinks, and I'm going to celebrate!
  • Lovely135
    Lovely135 Posts: 161
    I suggested a cheat day to my wife once, but when she figured out I meant with the hottie next door and not with a bowl of ice cream, she put the kibosh on that....
    LOl. at least u tried
  • mamasyd
    mamasyd Posts: 80 Member
    Your body does tend to get used to a specific calorie intake and see it as the new 'normal'. That's when you hit a plateau. Rather than having a cheat day, I found it worked so much better to vary my intake within any given week. While my average would be whatever my intake should be at that stage, my daily numbers varied by 200-300 within the week. For example, when my target intake was 1275 calories per day my week might look something like this:

    Monday - 1035
    Tuesday - 1380
    Wednesday - 1105
    Thursday - 1315
    Friday - 1640
    Saturday - 1125
    Sunday - 1310

    Weekly total = 8910 (1275 x 7 = 8925)

    I just ignored the times when MFP told me I was starving. LOL In all the time I used this plan, I never had a single week when I didn't lose something. It worked for me, but each person has to find what works best for their body and their lifestyle.

    I rarely ate sweets (still don't eat many), but I did have chips/salsa regularly (usually once every week) and just exercised portion control. Pizza used to be my favorite food and I don't have it often anymore, but if I am craving it I have found that Subway's personal pizza is just about right and only 700-850 calories depending on what I have on it. My goal was to make a new lifestyle and one that I could live for the rest of my life. Having 'cheat' days or even being on a 'diet' are not part of that plan. Eating a healthy amount and focusing on foods that actually nourish my body and give it some benefit have proven to be much more valuable to me.
  • LiddyBit
    LiddyBit Posts: 447 Member
    Because I tend to concern myself more with weekly totals than daily, I don't sweat cheat days because in the scheme of my weekly calories, I usually didn't cheat at all. I do try to save splurges for special occasions but I like having the flexibility to have some spontaneous fun food or drinks. I agree with those who say that not eating the exact same number of calories every day works for them - it seems to work for me as well. Or at least, it helps me not to feel constrained in my eating.

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