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I don't do cheat days that are planned. I'll have meals that are not considered "good for you," though, with portion control, because life sometimes makes it where you get home at 10 or 11 PM at night and have to grab something on the way home (had plenty of these nights). However, instead of saying "well, F it all! I'll get the tripple," I'll get a smaller burger/sandwich/etc. and small fries or side salad. Also, I do love rich foods, but again, I just portion it correctly. If I go to a restaurant and have a steak, I get the 7 oz, eat half, and get a side salad or a leafy green of some type, take the rest home for lunch. Sometimes I have pasta, pizza, chocolate. But instead of going crazy with it, I just portion it. It's worked great for me! I get to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life while not going overboard. Most of the time, I eat whole grains, leafy greens, lean meats, etc.. But, the other stuff can be fitted in, too, while I still lose weight! Have been losing doing this and have not had the urge to binge.
Oh, I should add, if you do have a cheat meal/day, are you still able to maintain your weight loss or weight maintenance goals?
I'm able to do it as long as I watch what I eat (and exercise) during the rest of the week. I only get into trouble if I don't stick to my plan during the week.
I can see how a cheat day could derail a person off of their fitness plan but, for me, having a "day off" helps to keep me on track.
I'm losing a steady 2 pounds a week which is what I want to do.
Cheat meal (not the whole day) is a wonderful idea for those who start weight loss. It is mentaly easier to hold on to your diet knowing that that you will get to have a hamburger (or whatever else you might crave). If one follows the diet plan for 6 days a week - 30 meals - why not treat yourself to something you love? It will just give a boost to one's metabolism - again ONLY if you follow meal plans for 30 meals. And the last argument would be the fact that a person who just started weight loss should have some reserve. By saying that I mean when you have last 2 pounds of fat that are accumulated around your waist you can stop cheat meals all together and that will break the plateau.
Actually caught part of an episode of Man Vs. Food. I almost threw up. Some bozo is traveling throughout the country and basically stuffing as much garbage down his throat as possible until he barfs.
I think I have this "cheat meal" thing under control now.
Also, you shouldn't be depriving yourself of so much that you crave "cheat foods." I'm pretty fit, and I eat pretty much whatever I want - it just so happens that what I want/crave is pretty healthy at this point, for the most part. However, when I was in the process of losing weight a year ago I watched EVERYTHING that I ate and journaled it (there's actually a good iPhone app for that, FYI). The idea of eating a "cheat" meal would be absurd because it would just hinder the progress I was making.
Actually caught part of an episode of Man Vs. Food. I almost threw up. Some bozo is traveling throughout the country and basically stuffing as much garbage down his throat as possible until he barfs.
I think I have this "cheat meal" thing under control now.
I've lost weight before where I didn't count calories and maintained that weight loss.
However, I had to remain physically active (which I am now of course) and the weight loss was slower: max 4 lbs. a month.
So, I am trying to up that amount to 6-8 lbs. a month, so I'm hoping calorie control will play a factor there.
Also, I am reading that healthier people throughout the world are eating a moderate amount of calories--although of course, your calorie count will have to go up if you are athletic. Which I am. Kinda.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thepinksquid
Also, you shouldn't be depriving yourself of so much that you crave "cheat foods." I'm pretty fit, and I eat pretty much whatever I want - it just so happens that what I want/crave is pretty healthy at this point, for the most part. However, when I was in the process of losing weight a year ago I watched EVERYTHING that I ate and journaled it (there's actually a good iPhone app for that, FYI). The idea of eating a "cheat" meal would be absurd because it would just hinder the progress I was making.
Also, you shouldn't be depriving yourself of so much that you crave "cheat foods." I'm pretty fit, and I eat pretty much whatever I want - it just so happens that what I want/crave is pretty healthy at this point, for the most part. However, when I was in the process of losing weight a year ago I watched EVERYTHING that I ate and journaled it (there's actually a good iPhone app for that, FYI). The idea of eating a "cheat" meal would be absurd because it would just hinder the progress I was making.
I usually want/crave healthy foods, too. I'm not a junk food junky by any stretch of the imagination.
But I take Saturdays off. That doesn't mean I collapse, reach for the cheeze whiz and all my hard work goes out the window.
It just means that I relax a little bit on that day - if I eat a hamburger on a white bread bun, potato salad with too much mayo in it and have a piece of cake, well that's just fine. I can also have some wine on that day if I feel like it, which is also o.k. because I don't drink alcohol at all during the rest of the week.
I think the best rule of thumb is to do whatever works for you.
The idea of eating a "cheat" meal would be absurd because it would just hinder the progress I was making.
Well said. Here are a few rep points for you.
As I have already mentioned on this thread (and also mentioned by others), planned cheat meals are not a good idea and counter productive to establishing healthy eating habits.
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