I, honestly, have a "cheat day" about once a week. I know I shouldn't "reward" myself with food, and that isn't what I'm doing. But, I do either go out with friends once a week, or I eat something that I absolutely love, even though it's sort of bad for me (like lasagna with lots of cheese and meat... yum!) to remind myself that there is a reason I'm trying to lose weight and get healthy. I enjoy many different types of food, and I'm also a social eater... which is why I limit going out with my friends to restaurants that are tempting with steaks and seafood... If I end up at such a place (I love steak and seafood too!), I try to portion myself.

Also, when I have my cheat day, I either A.) portion my "cheater" food a little better than I used to do, or B.) work a few more calories off at the gym.

Making a decision to get healthy, lose weight, and ultimately, live a healthier lifestyle shouldn't make you feel like your a slave to the gym or feel like you have to watch every little piece of food that goes into your mouth. Which is why, people like us, have a cheat day! =)

Good luck to you!

Hmmm, yeah the "rewarding yourself w/ food" is a point well taken.  I've tended to do that in the past.

I agree w/ you, though.  I think it's important to have a cheat day to remind yourself there's a reason you're wanting to lose weight.  My dad used to tell me that you only live once, so you might as well enjoy it!  And I'd like to think that I don't want to NOT eat foods that I find so deliciously yummy just b/c I'm trying to lose weight!

That's a good idea about portioning the "cheater" foods.  I hadn't thought of that.  I think I'll do that on my next cheat day on Sunday.

Hmmmm, Sunday can't get here fast enough! lol.

Cheat days are a very bad idea.

To maintain a weight you have to make a lifestyle change.  The concept of a cheat day just means you are not willing to make that sacrifice.  This month you cheated ones, next week you cheat again, then before you know it you are in the same rut you started in.  Somewhere in between you might reach your goal weight, but w/o the lifestyle change it will just come right back.

I have cheat day once a week too.

I let myself indulge a little bit more than usual on Saturdays. Over the weekend, I had three mini bagles with peanut butter & Jelly.  It helped me to relax and three mini bagles won't kill me. I just need to exercise harder on Monday.

At least we are admitting that we do have "Cheat Days" and it won't be a problem as long as we push ourselves harder after cheat days.

Original Post by mysticjbyrd:

Cheat days are a very bad idea.

To maintain a weight you have to make a lifestyle change. The concept of a cheat day just means you are not willing to make that sacrifice. This month you cheated ones, next week you cheat again, then before you know it you are in the same rut you started in. Somewhere in between you might reach your goal weight, but w/o the lifestyle change it will just come right back.

Every individual has their own ideas about what personal sacrifice is. I personally don't feel like having a cheat day is a bad thing. I've made plenty of lifestyle changes since I've started my path to becoming healthier and losing weight, without making gigantic sacrifices.

Portioning the foods I eat has been a major lifestyle change for me, and it has helped immensely. I also eat the foods I love, but have added healthier choices to them as well.

I have an "eat with the family day". One day a week - usually Sunday we eat dinner together and I eat what they are. It really isn't a terrible thing but I will eat spanish rice with peppers or maybe some flour tortilla's or even a sloppy joe sandwich.

I feel I have made several changes in my life and to have a meal that reminds you you are a human - to me - isn't a bad idea.

I wouldn't suggest "cheat" days more then once a week and I would watch how much I "cheated" but the point is to not deprive yourself of living!

I, also, do not necessarily believe seeing foods or scenarios as "cheating" is conducive. If you recognise you made some poor choices or overindulged, you've done enough to accept it's not a pattern you'd be well to maintain. Rather than dwell in the guilt or associate guilty feelings with days or foods, embrace tomorrow as another day. It's better to accept and move on.

I cannot tell you how many times I would think to myself 'well, I've already ruined today's diet, I may as well order a pizza.' Nowadays, I find it better to reflect on how I feel when I am eating unhealthy foods so I might instead think to myself 'phew, it's a good thing I don't eat like that everyday.'

Don't beat yourself up, though. A girl deserves a champers (or two) from time to time!

I think "cheat day" has many connotations.

I think the first one is that you are allowed to eat whatever, be it 2000 calories or 5000. This is what is not conducive to a lifestyle change.

However, I have also observed many very skinny people eat whatever they like, whether its fried or high-carb or whatever.  How do they stay skinny? They limit their portions.

I think a cheat day in terms of the types of food you eat, not the calories you consume, is perfectly harmless.

A cheat day is fine, if you are not suffering from an eating disorder (dont know your situation).  You can give your body and your mind a break, without major consequences (again, if you are not in recovery).

I am in recovery myself, so i don't give myself one day a week to get drunk and then stay sober the other six, unfortunately it doesn't work that way.  I don't drink at all.

But if you are committed to your workout and diet during the week and you have a day where you relax and don't work out (body for life calls it a free day www.eas.com) then you are fine.

you know what? i have a male friend who is trying to lose weight. he's not severely obese, nor is overweight, actually. but he's big - chubby. he told me that every other week, he eats normally and doesn't try to lose weight. here's an example of what he does:

Week 1:makes a calorie deficit every day of the week.

Week 2:eats only to MAINTAIN, but does not exceed/overeat.

Week 3:makes a calorie deficit every day of the week.

he told me that doing this actually relieves the stress he gets from "dieting."

if you ask me, i think it's a pretty safe and even healthy way of losing weight - even though it MAY take some time to lose the weight. i really do believe that the less stress you have overall, the easier it will be for your body to lose weight !! =)

i didn't know this before, so i used to work out everyday and tried to burn SOOOOO many calories!! (definitely over 1000 cals each day) and i also tried to eat too little for how much i was burning overall.

yepp, i didn't lose that much weight. i was SIGNIFICANTLY stressing my body out...!!

what im trying to say is... i think it's good to have some breaks, but DONT allow those breaks to be opportunities for you to OVEREAT/BINGE. cuz i know there are many people who take those breaks for granted - TOO MUCH.!!!

yeh, thinking of it as a 'maintanence' day rather than a cheat day is better i think. that way you're not going to exceed your burn meter and go crazy but you will be allowing yourself those treats you normally forfeit. I tend to maintain over the weekend (wine, oh lovely dry white wine) and then keep a 500 cal deficit during the week. it seems to be working so far (though to be fair I'm only trying to lose a little). and if you maintain rather than exceed on those days you at least know you're not going to put on weight.

Original Post by mysticjbyrd:

Cheat days are a very bad idea.

To maintain a weight you have to make a lifestyle change.  The concept of a cheat day just means you are not willing to make that sacrifice.  This month you cheated ones, next week you cheat again, then before you know it you are in the same rut you started in.  Somewhere in between you might reach your goal weight, but w/o the lifestyle change it will just come right back.

I agree with this post.  The only "cheat" days I have are when I go home to my parents house and the only cheating I do is to not count calories - instead I just try to eat less and better.