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No harsh words here - my relationship with food is totally not healthy and I am good with that. It took me years to figure this out, and I'm just coming to terms with it in recent months. Also a binge eater here. If I restrict myself too much, I will binge. So instead I am learning to listen to my body and to allow some 'cheating' in order to have a healthier lifestyle overall.
I have some yummy plans for this weekend - not a 'cheat', but absolutely delicious (and the possibility is there if I need it).
Yep. You nailed it.
I'm at peace with myself. It's a wonderful feeling.
despite the "cheating", I experience all of the benefits of healthy lifestyle that hasn't been offset one iota.
people need to find whatever plan works for them in the long term.
I don’t find myself needing cheat days on paleo, which is not to say I don’t occasionally cheat,just that I don’t seek out a day or opportunity to cheat. The times I have cheated have not impacted my long term goals.
I have a lunch in addition to my breakfast OMAD, perhaps twice a month. It seems to increase my weight loss a tiny bit, perhaps by stirring up my metabolism, I don't know. But as far as an actual cheat day where I can eat anything I want, that scares me. I'd probably revert to my massive consumption of sugar, white carbs, wine and pasta, God knows what. And maybe not be able to stop the next day.
My mind is very good at justifying and making excuses, even being oblivious. And I'm addicted to sugar. I don't want to go there.
I'm at peace with myself. It's a wonderful feeling.
despite the "cheating", I experience all of the benefits of healthy lifestyle that hasn't been offset one iota.
people need to find whatever plan works for them in the long term.
hey!
why aren't you posting anymore in the fitness forum - you're our inspiration!
I live alone so I'm free to keep tempting goodies out of my house. Also retired, so no boozy business dinners or cookies I have to pass up in the break room.
My cheats take two forms. First I LOVE pecan pie, bakery cakes with frosting and really good, heavy cheesecake. Fortunately I rarely encounter them. Typically it's at a church function or the annual Garden Club holiday dinner and it's been months since I enjoyed one of these desserts. I have a piece (preferably a corner of the cake with a flower on it), thoroughly enjoy every molecule of fat and sugar, and then back away from the table.
The other is travel, when I also relax somewhat. I rarely eat beef, pork or chicken at home so I have more meat, maybe pasta and other things I like but avoid most of the time. I just got back from a cruise in the Sea of Cortez, where I enjoyed more wine than usual and desserts at both breakfast and lunch. Fortunately the cruise line is focused on quality of food over quantity- plenty of seafood and vegetarian options- and there was lots of kayaking, snorkeling and hiking to work most of it off. I'm a few pounds heavier but that will come off. It will take longer than it did to put it on though!
It helps that I'm not really into overeating. I don't like feeling uncomfortably stuffed, so it's not the quantity of food that changes as much as the fat, carb and calorie content.
I had it for the first time last Thanksgiving. It's a bit much for me.
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The other is travel, when I also relax somewhat. I rarely eat beef, pork or chicken at home so I have more meat, maybe pasta and other things I like but avoid most of the time.
I tend to eat what I usually eat (a lot of meat) if they've got it. I don't go off the rails too much.
Bacon and/or sausage and eggs for breakfast and I'm happy. I think I'd get ill if I ate one of those waffles with a bunch of fruity goo on it.
The drinks flow freely, though...
why aren't you posting anymore in the fitness forum - you're our inspiration!
ah, thank you!
unfortunately i've injured myself and it's been a slow process healing :/ My body decided to remind me that I'm middle aged. I just don't have much to add any more there as all I do is cardio, which I hate. TBH I am pretty down because I can't lift as much as I used to...the key to any exercise regime is to find something you enjoy and I enjoyed lifting. The modified lifting doesn't do anything for me, I fear that I will rush things and re-injure myself, so all I do is run and the elliptical. I don't really enjoy that, but I do it to keep up the exercise.
I did low carb for a year, but I allowed myself pasta once a week and pizza every month or so. I didn’t really consider it cheating though, I considered it moderation, which I think is the key to being successful. On my birthday, I ate cake.
Who's getting cheated with cheat days/meals? I mean, why go through the effort of trying to lose weight at all if you're just going to cede gains on purpose? How important is food that you need to do something like that?
Eat what you want, when you want and just adjust as you go. Don't plan to be irresponsible, it's self-defeating.
Free meals (I like that term more than "cheat" meals" have both mental and physiological benefits.
What are our thoughts on a cheat day or cheat meal?
Your thoughts?
My thoughts on cheat days/meals are simple:
1. Cheat Days are totally unacceptable during any time of any program. If you have not yet reached your goal, there is NO REASON to have a complete DAY where you just pig out for pig outs sake.
2. A single simple cheat meal is okay within the first 15-30 days of a program.
3. Monitor what you eat on a cheat meal. You should NOT gain any weight because of a cheat meal. If you find that you gained weight, then your cheat day was just diet/health sabotage. No more cheat for a min of 30 days.
4. The closer you get to your end game plan, the more cheat meals you can have, like maybe 1 meal every 10 days (but ONLY if progress is still being made). The surprising this about this is, the closer you get to goal, the less desire you have to cheat.
5. If goal has been reached, then, and ONLY then, it is acceptable to have a cheat DAY. But more than likely you wont want a full day because now you feel great and dont want to ruin things.
Seriously, cheat meals are fine within reason, but if you feel that you need a cheat meal within the first two weeks of any program your problem is more likely mental and should be approached from a psychiatric angle.
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