Weight-Loss Cheat Days
- Thread starter allcdnboy1
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Weight-Loss
lostinthedark
New member
Cheat day? I eat 10 bars of Hershey's chocolate... yummy! The ultimate cheat for me!
astrolab
New member
Aside from the pleasure of eating the yummy cheat food, do you think that there is an actual weight-loss benefit to cheat days?
E.g. 'shocking' the body with extra calories to keep the metabolism from slowing down?
Anyone ever include cheat days in their plan and then remove them due to bad results?
E.g. 'shocking' the body with extra calories to keep the metabolism from slowing down?
Anyone ever include cheat days in their plan and then remove them due to bad results?
KaraCooks
New member
I actually have a bit of a different concept here. I HATE the idea of a "cheat" ... whether it's a day, a meal, or whatever.
A cheat is a shameful thing, something to be hidden; it's deceitful. The dictionary defines a cheat as a "fraud" and as "unfaithfulness". So if you "cheat" ... what are you cheating on? Yourself? Your life? Why set yourself up for the guilt and shame that follows when you "cheat" yourself?
I don't cheat. I don't always eat 100% healthily; very few people can achieve that. Our lives are full of things that aren't always healthy - there's always a birthday or a evening out with the guys/girls, or an office function, or a potluck, or something. When you go to those things and *make the choice* to eat something unhealthy, then you should do it taking full responsibility for it and accept that you are treating yourself.
TREAT, not CHEAT.
I choose when I eat something unhealthy - when I have a few pieces of pizza, when I drink a margarita, when I have cake or cookies. Those aren't cheats - because the only person I could cheat on is myself. Those are treats that I choose to have and choose to account for.
Don't cheat yourself. It's not worth it.
A cheat is a shameful thing, something to be hidden; it's deceitful. The dictionary defines a cheat as a "fraud" and as "unfaithfulness". So if you "cheat" ... what are you cheating on? Yourself? Your life? Why set yourself up for the guilt and shame that follows when you "cheat" yourself?
I don't cheat. I don't always eat 100% healthily; very few people can achieve that. Our lives are full of things that aren't always healthy - there's always a birthday or a evening out with the guys/girls, or an office function, or a potluck, or something. When you go to those things and *make the choice* to eat something unhealthy, then you should do it taking full responsibility for it and accept that you are treating yourself.
TREAT, not CHEAT.
I choose when I eat something unhealthy - when I have a few pieces of pizza, when I drink a margarita, when I have cake or cookies. Those aren't cheats - because the only person I could cheat on is myself. Those are treats that I choose to have and choose to account for.
Don't cheat yourself.
It's not worth it.I actually have a bit of a different concept here. I HATE the idea of a "cheat" ... whether it's a day, a meal, or whatever.
A cheat is a shameful thing, something to be hidden; it's deceitful. The dictionary defines a cheat as a "fraud" and as "unfaithfulness". So if you "cheat" ... what are you cheating on? Yourself? Your life? Why set yourself up for the guilt and shame that follows when you "cheat" yourself?
I don't cheat. I don't always eat 100% healthily; very few people can achieve that. Our lives are full of things that aren't always healthy - there's always a birthday or a evening out with the guys/girls, or an office function, or a potluck, or something. When you go to those things and *make the choice* to eat something unhealthy, then you should do it taking full responsibility for it and accept that you are treating yourself.
TREAT, not CHEAT.
I choose when I eat something unhealthy - when I have a few pieces of pizza, when I drink a margarita, when I have cake or cookies. Those aren't cheats - because the only person I could cheat on is myself. Those are treats that I choose to have and choose to account for.
Don't cheat yourself.
That's my exact outlook as well. My family knows that I eat healthy. When they find out I decided to treat myself to a burger, or something I don't normally eat on the weekends (especially when we're out on our weekend motorcycle rides), I get the response "Oh, it's cheat day I see". I always correct them on this. I'm not cheating anything, just treating myself to something delicious that I normally don't eat.
astrolab
New member
I hear you...let's call it treat day then. Has anyone had experience suggesting that there are physical benefits to treat days?
I did see a post at Men's Health listing some report suggesting that if you eat more than usual, your metabolism is increased for the next 24 hrs. I'm just interested to see if any other folks here have actually incorporated treat days into their plan. thanks!
I did see a post at Men's Health listing some report suggesting that if you eat more than usual, your metabolism is increased for the next 24 hrs. I'm just interested to see if any other folks here have actually incorporated treat days into their plan. thanks!
Princess_Lissa
New member
Really? Now, that's interesting.
The last time I heard of metabolic rate is that it is affected by a couple of factors such as age, genes, muscle mass, etc... but nothing about eating more than usual to boost one's BMR... na-ah, nothing.
That "information" sounds pretty alarming...
Did they follow-up that claim with a basis?
The last time I heard of metabolic rate is that it is affected by a couple of factors such as age, genes, muscle mass, etc... but nothing about eating more than usual to boost one's BMR... na-ah, nothing.
That "information" sounds pretty alarming...
Did they follow-up that claim with a basis?
astrolab
New member
They quoted a couple of studies...I went back to the site to try and find the article again but no luck!
My own experience with 'treat' days is that they usually don't impact my weight loss trend..particularly if I am extra-vigilant the next day.
I like the idea of a "cheat" (or Treat!) day.
I think for myself it will be very good psychologically as long as I keep some willpower about it ^_^
As a few others said, these are life time changes and who can handle never eating something they love ever again?? I know I can't! Just thinking I can "never" have something again makes me want it SO bad! I did a cleanse and only made it to day 4 because I craved cheese SO badly! haha
Might just be me though... I'm probably that kid who gets told "don't go in that room" and that makes me want to go in the room haha
I think for myself it will be very good psychologically as long as I keep some willpower about it ^_^
As a few others said, these are life time changes and who can handle never eating something they love ever again?? I know I can't! Just thinking I can "never" have something again makes me want it SO bad! I did a cleanse and only made it to day 4 because I craved cheese SO badly! haha
Might just be me though... I'm probably that kid who gets told "don't go in that room" and that makes me want to go in the room haha
astrolab
New member
Its weird for me...
I promised myself a cheat meal (fish and chips) when I got down to 175....but I didnt bother having it....put it off 'til I got to 170.
Now I am south of 170 but not going to do it.
I'm getting close to my goal of 155 and don't want any self imposed set backs.
Instead what I find myself doing is 'treating' myself a little bit each day. Nothing ever too crazy...and I'm still able to lose weight at the pace I've set for myself.
When you totally deny yourself of something then you totally want it more.
For me, I'll grab a couple of potato chips to satisfy the craving, but then stop immediately, and go grab a healthier snack.
I promised myself a cheat meal (fish and chips) when I got down to 175....but I didnt bother having it....put it off 'til I got to 170.
Now I am south of 170 but not going to do it.
I'm getting close to my goal of 155 and don't want any self imposed set backs.
Instead what I find myself doing is 'treating' myself a little bit each day. Nothing ever too crazy...and I'm still able to lose weight at the pace I've set for myself.
When you totally deny yourself of something then you totally want it more.
For me, I'll grab a couple of potato chips to satisfy the craving, but then stop immediately, and go grab a healthier snack.
LisaIsLosingIt
New member
I am very interested in this. It seems there is conflicting information out there. Not that it still isn't a worthwhile concept if it's purely psychological, but if there is some advantage metabolically, that would be good info to have. I've read about a concept called carb cycling also. Has anyone had experience with using a treat meal/day to push them past a plateau for example?
^I've seen it mentioned on Lyle McDonald's page actually
"I've often also seen refeeds (high-carbohydrate overfeeding as discussed in A Guide to Flexible Dieting) trigger whooshes. A bit more accurately, people get fed up with dieting for a month with no visible results, say ’screw this’ and go pig out. And frequently wake up several pounds lighter and looking leaner. I just try to structure and control it a a bit better with structured refeeds."
Looks like he talks about it in his book more..but haven't bought it or seen it so I don't know anymore than that..however every Friday for the last month I will down a whole small pizza which is ~1600 calories and added in with the rest of the day what I eat comes out at about ~3500 calories..yet I've never seen any visible effect the next day, more often than not I look a bit better (or probably just my mind playing tricks on me) which is why I was wondering the same thing..mind you besides this one day I usually maintain a strict diet.
"I've often also seen refeeds (high-carbohydrate overfeeding as discussed in A Guide to Flexible Dieting) trigger whooshes. A bit more accurately, people get fed up with dieting for a month with no visible results, say ’screw this’ and go pig out. And frequently wake up several pounds lighter and looking leaner. I just try to structure and control it a a bit better with structured refeeds."
Looks like he talks about it in his book more..but haven't bought it or seen it so I don't know anymore than that..however every Friday for the last month I will down a whole small pizza which is ~1600 calories and added in with the rest of the day what I eat comes out at about ~3500 calories..yet I've never seen any visible effect the next day, more often than not I look a bit better (or probably just my mind playing tricks on me) which is why I was wondering the same thing..mind you besides this one day I usually maintain a strict diet.
samsamsam2
New member
i feel like reading these forums and knowing thats its ok to have a cheat day, stops me actually wanting a cheat day!
hardBODmiranda
New member
I sooo do cheat days, but then we should not lose focus.
Harold14370
New member
My biggest cheat day of the year was the family reunion in August when I ate 2920 calories. This is only about 200 more than I burn daily, according to Fitday. The only other time I approached that was on Easter. So, as far as I'm concerned, I don't really need cheat days. YMMV.
harshathlete
New member
I usually have two "splurge" meals that coincide with my hi-carb days. I am currently following a 3 day low-carb dinner followed by 1 day hi-carb dinner plan.
Usually on my hi-carb dinner day all my meals except for the dinner are pretty similar to other days ( i.e low-fat meals with mostly unprocessed foods ) but for my hi-carb dinner, I relax the rules.
For e.g. We might go to Chili's and I will have a light beer and a burger and then split a dessert with my wife.
OR
We might go to an Indian restaurant , have a glass of wine, eat a proper meal and then split dessert.
Now, these meals may not scream "overeating", but they are usually higher in fat than most of the other meals as well as higher in carbs.
But I have noticed great results with this cycling!
Harsh
Usually on my hi-carb dinner day all my meals except for the dinner are pretty similar to other days ( i.e low-fat meals with mostly unprocessed foods ) but for my hi-carb dinner, I relax the rules.
For e.g. We might go to Chili's and I will have a light beer and a burger and then split a dessert with my wife.
OR
We might go to an Indian restaurant , have a glass of wine, eat a proper meal and then split dessert.
Now, these meals may not scream "overeating", but they are usually higher in fat than most of the other meals as well as higher in carbs.
But I have noticed great results with this cycling!
Harsh
boyshawn
New member
Thank for the explanation. I hear about the Cheat Days before, I don't believe about it before. Now I am going to try it what Tomble suggest, having a Friday Cheat Night as my rewards for following the strict diet in the week. But I feel that maybe a Saturday/ Sunday Cheat Night suit me more, becuase those 2 night will be outing night for me.
boyshawn
New member
A note to John_KY
You Should try it one or twice to cheat... I really think cheating can help you to balance your craving for some food that you dare not touch on the normal days when you are trying a healthy lifestyle...
You Should try it one or twice to cheat... I really think cheating can help you to balance your craving for some food that you dare not touch on the normal days when you are trying a healthy lifestyle...