Cheat Day or Craving Satisfaction?

Rarely would I have cravings and binge eat before MFP, more like mindlessly graze through what was available in the kitchen and simply overeat on a regular basis. Since starting on MFP I have continued to allow myself certain foods (chips, cookies, ice cream, take out - fast food, etc.) if I really wanted them, but making sure to log the calories and hold to serving sizes. The portion control being weighing out a serving of chips into a bowl and putting the bag away, or doing the same with ice cream or whatever. A lot of times I find that having a large amount of something bad in the house, like a full size bag of chips or cookies or a 1/2 gallon of ice cream instead of a pint, creates that slippery slope for me and I will eat a serving of that thing everyday until it's gone. So I try to not buy it very often or in large quantity.

For me it boils down to mind over matter, applied through strict portion control with an eye on total calories and getting out of the grocery store without buying a cart full of bad stuff!

I am exactly the same way, and I used to allow myself a cheat day. I would end up consuming up to 10,000 cals!!!! It was pretty ridiculous. But now I haven't "cheated" in almost 3 weeks and I plan to never binge like I did before. What has really helped me out is saving calories. I know that ideally its best to spread your calories out during the day but if I'm really craving something, I will eat small meals throughout the day so that I have enough calories to eat what I was craving. I did that the other day when I ate 3 hershey's dark chocolate bars with peanut butter for dinner. It totally satisfied my cravings, was very filling, and I still stayed under my calorie limit. I even think its okay to go over your calories sometimes, but certainly not by thousands. LOL

I have a "cheat day". It's when I don't actively monitor how much I'm eating, but I'm still eating healthy. Like, I'll still have a salad for lunch, but I might actually use dressing. Or I might have some chocolate covered nuts before bed. Small things like that that won't ruin my whole day, but I still feel like I'm indulging :laugh:

I do have a "cheat" day, but I stay under my calorie goal that day just like any other day, but the "cheat day" I eat the foods I'm craving. Tonight is my "cheat" day, going to the fair to have a Gyro and some Cotton Candy Sometimes it's deserved! Tomorrow I'll be working out extra hard!

I dont really have a cheat "day" but more of a cheat "meal". I've found that if i either do IF that day, or, eat lighter I can usually eat WHATEVER i want for that one meal and still barely tip over my goal for the day.

I'd found when I had less to lose I was causing my net weekly calories to be in a surplus even though I ate well all week and at a small deficit. I felt like it was really holding me back.

To be fair though, I eat whatever I want, hit my macros, and still stay within my calories every day despite eating foods you might consider "cheat foods".


OP on an unrelated note... DO YOU HAVE A SHIBA-INU?

You have an all of nothing mentality. It's not very healthy. I advice you to cut out those cheat days and really just eat everything in moderation. If you crave chocolate for example, have one today, right this minute, as long as you eat lightly during the rest of your meals and it's still in between the calories you're supposed to have. It's way better to do it that way.

cheat days are bad

i sometimes do a cheat meal, but even then i hit calorie goal because i make up for it with my other meals (or lack thereof)

I don't allow myself an actual cheat day, but I do give in to sugar (in small portions) on a regular basis. This way I never feel like I'm depriving myself of anything.

I used to allow myself a cheat meal on the weekends. Ate good the entire week, but weekends were off limits.

I would never schedule a cheat day, but I will allow myself occasional treats, if I've earned them. Also, I will eat a treat on a special occasion, such as a holiday.