Cheat day...good or bad idea?

Oblivio Accebit

New member
So its been 2 weeks and imd own ~7 lbs. Im starting to get really bad cravings and i was wondering if it would be a good or bad idea to have a cheat day tomorrow, just eat whatever tomorrow and not thing about it...not overeat, just have what i like. Would this do more harm than good? what are all of your opinions?
 
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! lol! Seriously though...NOOOOOO!!!

I was on a diet for almost 3 mths, decided I could use a cheat day...guess what? today is day 10 that i've been off of my diet now and gained back 5lbs. Don't do it man, not worth it!
 
if you do it, make sure it is a controlled cheat day. Or one good meal. You can do a lot of damage to your weight loss and kill your progress very easily.

And make sure you have a plan to get right back into your routine.
 
Personally, I think it's a better idea to let yourself have semi-cheat snacks or meals a few times throughout the week. For example, when you are craving salt, have light popcorn. If you want something sweet, have a low-cal granola bar. There are many healthy alternatives that can help curb cravings and leave you not feeling guilty afterward.

If you really feel you just can't resist that bacon cheeseburger and cheese fries, allow yourself to eat the meal, but sip water after every bite. Allow your brain to realize it is full, and stop once you are satiated. A restaurant portion is almost always larger than what you need to feel full, so eat half of your plate. After all, our stomachs are only the size of a loose fist!

Healthy eating should be a lifestyle - don't think of it as a diet, just try to eat healthfully and have unhealthy treats in moderation.

Allowing yourself an entire day to 'cheat' could lead to a huge binge day which you will feel guilty about afterward. Do your best to take it one day at a time and allow yourself small treats every once in a while rather than scheduling an entire day where you stray from being healthy.
 
I'd probably agree with no! I'd been doing really well for 3 weeks, lost 10 lbs..decided to let myself get whatever at dinner on friday, well cheat dinner turned into cheat weekend..and cheat monday. Back on the wagon today and feeling hungrier than I felt during the last 3 weeks!! Eesh. That lobster pizza was good though :p
 
For those interested i decided to skip the cheat day. Its been 3 weeks now and im down 11 lbs, maybe ill just save that cheat day for when i go home for thanksgiving.
 
Next time you want a cheat day, ask yourself why? Is it because you think of it as a reward? If so, then the answer is no. Food shouldn't be seen as a reward because that is how we connect it to emotional eating.
 
Honestly the only time I lost significant weight was without cheat days. I was extremely strict as I have a bad "all or nothing" mentality when it comes to diet and exercise. After many months of this I decided I'd finally eat a cheese burger and fries. My body was so accustomed to healthy foods that this meal made me physically ill. But, I think this is a good thing for trying to lose weight. My old favorite junk foods no longer appealed to me because how sick they made me feel.

But, if you do decide to do a "cheat day", make it just a once a week "cheat meal". The problem with the cheat day is that it might turn into a full day binge fest if you aren't careful. If you confine it to one meal you can enjoy your favorite food eat til you are satisfied then get right back on track.
 
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