Cheat days... naaa don't need them'

BreakingUpWith75lbs_Cass
BreakingUpWith75lbs_Cass Posts: 181
in Health and Weight Loss
I don't do a cheat day, in fact I really dislike the idea of them. I mean the whole point of my my weight loss journey to begin with was to make an entire healthy lifestyle change and that includes cutting out junk. in my personal opinion I feel cheat days are redundant and feels *wrong* because its going against the whole purpose I started my new way of life I don't feel deprived nor do I feel cheated from anything more like I feel empowered!!. I must not be the only one am I?. this is not a debate this is my personal view if you take cheat days I'm fine by that.. I'm just saying I don't and wonder if anyone else feels the same. Thanks have a great day :) day 171 on my new way of life cheat days free and loving it!!!! :)
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Replies

  • creature275
    creature275 Posts: 348 Member
    thats why I just have a cheat meal once a week I think a whole day is pretty extreme but a snack at the end of a hard weeks work isnt going to kill anyone, everything is ok in moderation
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    I don't plan them because life will give you enough opportunities to need them for some occasion or the other.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I don't consider how I eat cheating in any way, but I think a cheat meal or day is better than eating that way 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. I'm not going to go the rest of my life without pizza or cake, so it doesn't make sense for me to not incorporate those kinds of food into my normal life.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    thats why I just have a cheat meal once a week I think a whole day is pretty extreme but a snack at the end of a hard weeks work isnt going to kill anyone, everything is ok in moderation

    Agreed! I have an indulgence or two through out the week...and I always average out at the end of the week, that's what counts. It's a lifestyle, not a diet. It has to be something I can do the rest of my life.
  • nikkimaria
    nikkimaria Posts: 6
    I thought cheat meals were to avoid a metabolic plateau? Like increase the horomoe leptin - which decreases hunger.
    When I am on a meal plan I tend to have one cheat day a week. Keeps me sane.
  • kappyblu
    kappyblu Posts: 654 Member
    Cheat MEALS are what I have...not entire cheat days. That's what works for me. :smile:
  • fit4lyfeLisa
    fit4lyfeLisa Posts: 529 Member
    Cheat MEALS are what I have...not entire cheat days. That's what works for me. :smile:

    ^^^^^^This
  • gatecityradio
    gatecityradio Posts: 401
    I keep my cheat days to major holidays (easter, christmas, thanksgiving, etc) and my birthday.
  • Secondgoround
    Secondgoround Posts: 61
    I am only 30 days into my clean eating program, so I'm staying away from the concept of "cheat meals" and "cheat days." I know that I'll eat a bagel, a piece of pizza or a cupcake sometime during the rest of my life but for right now, I choose not to. I want to be more established in my good eating habits and not tempt myself to go on a binge.

    That's my story and and I'm sticking to it!
  • flabbytofabby
    flabbytofabby Posts: 40
    i don't do them either, i have my calories at 1700 a day so i can afford to have something a little naughty if i feel like it, with it staying in my calories. If i had a cheat meal or day and have my calories at around 1200-1400 all week i would have such a blow out and ruin everything lol.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    This is because, as you said, you don't understand it. You may say you don't need them. Great. Maybe others do. Why go on and on about something you don't understand? That's what I don't understand. .
  • valeriedent2
    valeriedent2 Posts: 154
    I read this on someone's blog on here, and it struck a chord with me, so it's the mentality that I adopted:

    "My food choices are personal. I can only cheat on myself."

    I make allowances for the foods that I like, such a pizza or an alcoholic beverage, but they're no longer part of my daily diet. I don't do "cheat days", but I don't deprive myself either.

    I also give in to cravings on the rare instances that I get them. I've learned it's easier to satisfy it, get it out of my system and move on, then eat myself out of house and home trying to avoid it. Which is what I end up doing, and consuming twice as many calories, fat, carbs, whatever, in the process.
  • Zvyezda
    Zvyezda Posts: 90 Member
    I don't plan them because life will give you enough opportunities to need them for some occasion or the other.

    Definitely. I don't think I need to plan when I'm going to cheat. I do that when I really want to, when there's a celebration, special occasion or I just want to (which luckily is less than once a week).... If I planned it, I would feel compelled to eat bad food when I probably could have eaten good stuff.
  • Dudagarcia
    Dudagarcia Posts: 849 Member
    Cheat MEALS are what I have...not entire cheat days. That's what works for me. :smile:

    ^^^^^^This

    ^^^ this :) my pic is my cheat meal day
  • clover5
    clover5 Posts: 1,640 Member
    It's not cheating if I log it all and let my mfp's take a look at it. I don't say that I will never eat cake again. Just knowing that my kind and considerate MFPs are going to look at it helps me to keep my indulgenges to a reasonable amount.
  • twinmom01
    twinmom01 Posts: 854 Member
    me either...

    if I feel like having something out of "my ordinary" I have it...but I don't go overboard or feel like I need to do it every week.

    My friend who is a trainer doesn't like the term "cheat" because like you said it brings up all sorts of connotations that it's BAD for you...and one persons cheat is totally different then anothers - she likes to call them "going off road" - meaning you have a clear cut path - with a end goal...occassionally you may go off road - see the scenery for a bit - but you just have to get back on that road...the more time you stop and check out the scenery it just means it will take a bit longer to get to your destination
  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    I don't "cheat" because I don't put myself under rules and restrictions in the first place. I tend to eat what will cause me to lose weight, but I don't subscribe to any plan or program. If I want cake, I eat cake and don't consider it bad or cheating; that's a surefire way to start feeling guilty and bad about myself. It's only cheating if you're telling yourself you're not supposed to do it in the first place.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I don't "cheat" because I don't put myself under rules and restrictions in the first place. I tend to eat what will cause me to lose weight, but I don't subscribe to any plan or program. If I want cake, I eat cake and don't consider it bad or cheating; that's a surefire way to start feeling guilty and bad about myself. It's only cheating if you're telling yourself you're not supposed to do it in the first place.

    I eats what I eats and that's all that I eats.

    Mostly smaller dinosaurs.
  • chrisb75
    chrisb75 Posts: 395 Member
    I don't "cheat" because I don't put myself under rules and restrictions in the first place. I tend to eat what will cause me to lose weight, but I don't subscribe to any plan or program. If I want cake, I eat cake and don't consider it bad or cheating; that's a surefire way to start feeling guilty and bad about myself. It's only cheating if you're telling yourself you're not supposed to do it in the first place.
    This!!!!!
  • AntShanny
    AntShanny Posts: 359 Member
    I read this on someone's blog on here, and it struck a chord with me, so it's the mentality that I adopted:

    "My food choices are personal. I can only cheat on myself."

    I make allowances for the foods that I like, such a pizza or an alcoholic beverage, but they're no longer part of my daily diet. I don't do "cheat days", but I don't deprive myself either.

    I also give in to cravings on the rare instances that I get them. I've learned it's easier to satisfy it, get it out of my system and move on, then eat myself out of house and home trying to avoid it. Which is what I end up doing, and consuming twice as many calories, fat, carbs, whatever, in the process.

    This, definitely! Also, as someone else said about not putting herself on restriction in the first place. I've got a lot of life left to live and I will not live without ice cream, chocolate, cupcakes, beer...so I make it fit into my day. Sure there will be days I go over, but I can't beat myself up about it or I'm setting myself up for failure.
  • Bailey543
    Bailey543 Posts: 375
    I have had cheat days, but they usually turn into dayS, so I am pretty sure I'm done with them. I can't do it, because then I end up craving that crap for days on end and just end up ruining what I've worked so hard for. Not to say I won't have them every so often, but def not weekly anymore. It all depends on the person. Me, I can't do it, I just end up sabotaging myself!
  • meliann07
    meliann07 Posts: 24
    thats why I just have a cheat meal once a week I think a whole day is pretty extreme but a snack at the end of a hard weeks work isnt going to kill anyone, everything is ok in moderation

    Agreed! Nothing wrong with eating bad once in a while and everything is okay as long as you don't go overboard.
  • beauty2323
    beauty2323 Posts: 70 Member
    If I want those chips, that piece of cake then I eat it. I don't feel bad as long as I don't go over my calories.
    It's not a everyday thing but there's also not a particular day.
    I've lost 3lbs so far... slow progress but I'm still happy.

    Diets don't work!!
  • McBully4
    McBully4 Posts: 1,270 Member
    I don't do cheat days occasionally I have planned to go out and eat food that would definitely be considered cheating. On these days I know that i'm going to have a few beers or some wings with my buddies I will make sure to drink all the water I can and work out extra to counter the calories I plan to eat. I think "Cheat days" are just a crutch and we should not look at food as a reward, this habit has to be broken or else chances are that you will put all your weight on after you hit your goal and stop being so vigilant to lose weight.
  • Lynne120
    Lynne120 Posts: 74
    I've tried the "cheat day" thing. I just don't have the control yet to keep the "cheat" in check. Due to my diet choice (low carb) it takes me about 3 days to recover from a cheat day. Not worth it! I always feel crappy the next day too. I do however, feel holidays and special occasions will be when I take a break.... once I get my weight off. Let's face it, cheat days got me where I am, I've cheated enough!
  • jessimom
    jessimom Posts: 29
    I don't do cheat days, though I have occasional wth days :) ... I am trying to loose weight but I want this to be for good, so I don't stress if I give into a craving occasionally ... But like last weeks paid for it since I gained a pound. This is what helps me not do everyday as a wth day ;)
  • ZugTheMegasaurus
    ZugTheMegasaurus Posts: 801 Member
    I don't "cheat" because I don't put myself under rules and restrictions in the first place. I tend to eat what will cause me to lose weight, but I don't subscribe to any plan or program. If I want cake, I eat cake and don't consider it bad or cheating; that's a surefire way to start feeling guilty and bad about myself. It's only cheating if you're telling yourself you're not supposed to do it in the first place.

    I eats what I eats and that's all that I eats.

    Mostly smaller dinosaurs.
    I do love me some crispy microceratops.
  • monicasuze
    monicasuze Posts: 37
    If I want those chips, that piece of cake then I eat it. I don't feel bad as long as I don't go over my calories.
    It's not a everyday thing but there's also not a particular day.

    Diets don't work!!

    ^^ THIS!!
  • Fergie21
    Fergie21 Posts: 46 Member
    Even when i wasnt trying to eat healthy or lose weight i would have a 'treat' on a friday which was something like pizza. I now class Friday as my 'Cheat day'. I don't stuff myself all day, i have a pizza and some sweeties for tea and the rest of the day i eat how i normally would. I look foward to Fridays and it pushes me on when its Thursday and i really really wanna eat crap!
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    I eat what I want. I don't see the point of being as strict as a drill sergeant on yourself.

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