Free Days

[englangrover]

I hope I am not fooling myself but I want other peoples' opinions. Do you think people are fooling themselves to give themselves a free day to eat what they want so they can have something to look forward to or do you think no free days should be permitted when you are "dieting"?

 

[Carthonn]

I believe eating in moderation suits most people. Depriving yourself, though very monastic, can be very difficult especially if your dieting AND exercising.

I myself love depriving myself of things. Mostly things that make me fat and are completely unnecessary. I have found if you deprive yourself of those things you actually begin to lose the desire to consume them.

Pick your path if your up to a challenge, results may vary

 

[Steve]

Depends on the person and what you mean by cheat days.

Personally I don't ever feel the need to have a cheat day simply b/c my normal days aren't anything to dread.

 

[englangrover]

I believe eating in moderation suits most people. Depriving yourself, though very monastic, can be very difficult especially if your dieting AND exercising.

I myself love depriving myself of things. Mostly things that make me fat and are completely unnecessary. I have found if you deprive yourself of those things you actually begin to lose the desire to consume them.

Pick your path if your up to a challenge, results may vary

Thanks for your input. I've deprived myself before and went crazy. There are certain things that need in my life. I know it's all in my mind but I don't think I can go without certain things but thank you very much for your comment.

Depends on the person and what you mean by cheat days.

Personally I don't ever feel the need to have a cheat day simply b/c my normal days aren't anything to dread.

I don't dread my normal days either because I eat really good food, but sometimes I feel really bad that I can't eat dinner at my mom's because she makes everything with butter and fat. It's the stuff I grew up on. I eat very well 6 days a week and use one day (my free day) a week to basically not worry about counting calories. I usually use that day when someone's going to have barbecue or if my mom is making one of her wonderful meals or when I come up on a certain time of the month that I neeeeeed chocolate.

I read "Eating for Life" by Bill Phillips, he recommended that people should have one free day. I was just wondering what other people thought about that. Thanks for your comment.

 

[[Focus]1]

Imo, free days = failure.

It's just an excuse. Or at best, a shitty gapstop.

 

[Steve]

I would never not eat with the family on the occasional (even weekly) get-together. I'd simply be smart about it.

And I don't count calories so my normal days really aren't stressful at all.

 

[englangrover]

Imo, free days = failure.

It's just an excuse. Or at best, a shitty gapstop.

Thanks for your opinion but I don't agree with you.

I would never not eat with the family on the occasional (even weekly) get-together. I'd simply be smart about it.

And I don't count calories so my normal days really aren't stressful at all.

It's not very easy to eat smart at my mom's. All I could do is just portion control, which has been working for me so far. I feel like if I don't count my calories, I'll go overboard. I don't really know any other way to eat healthy. It is very stressful at times.

 

[[Focus]1]

Thanks for your opinion but I don't agree with you.

Not really sure why you felt the need to point it out if you're actually grateful, but okay, haha. You asked for opinions. If you wanted a well constructed argument against why your "opinion" is probably just delusional or wishful thinking, here you go:

If you do it right, you don't need "cheat days". They're almost always counter-productive. Just look at that post of the guy who made almost 0 progress one month (because he had an 'eat whatever' day) and then made some phenomenal progress the next by simply getting rid of the fat kid day. (I'll also point out that everyone else in that thread told the gentleman in question, "Just keep at it, sparky!" Me, I gave him shit for being a pussy and told him to man up. Fortunately for him, he listened to me and not the advocates of your kind of thinking.)

There are much better options than cheat days. As already outlined, most of them are of the "eat healthy and smart all the time so you don't even feel the need to 'cheat'" persuasion. There are also strategies like carb cycling, re-feeds, and some more complicated stuff.

How you feel about it doesn't really matter. Except that in your case, you are letting it dictate what you do. Which is, generally speaking, a very very bad idea. And the most common cause of dietary failure. Hence, "free days = failure."

Still don't agree with me?

 

[englangrover]

Not really sure why you felt the need to point it out if you're actually grateful, but okay, haha. You asked for opinions. If you wanted a well constructed argument against why your "opinion" is probably just delusional or wishful thinking, here you go:

If you do it right, you don't need "cheat days". They're almost always counter-productive. Just look at that post of the guy who made almost 0 progress one month (because he had an 'eat whatever' day) and then made some phenomenal progress the next by simply getting rid of the fat kid day. (I'll also point out that everyone else in that thread told the gentleman in question, "Just keep at it, sparky!" Me, I gave him shit for being a pussy and told him to man up. Fortunately for him, he listened to me and not the advocates of your kind of thinking.)

There are much better options than cheat days. As already outlined, most of them are of the "eat healthy and smart all the time so you don't even feel the need to 'cheat'" persuasion. There are also strategies like carb cycling, re-feeds, and some more complicated stuff.

How you feel about it doesn't really matter. Except that in your case, you are letting it dictate what you do. Which is, generally speaking, a very very bad idea. And the most common cause of dietary failure. Hence, "free days = failure."

Still don't agree with me?

While I appreciate your opinion you don't have to be a butthead about it. I never said I wanted an argument. I asked for opinions, you gave it, I said thanks now move on. If you're going to give me attitude don't post on this thread. You don't have to agree with me but you don't have to be an ass about it either. Right back at ya!

 

[[Focus]1]

Uh...huh. I think you are confused about what a lot of the words you use mean.

Here's a hint: the literalist interpretation of a word or phrase outside of the specific context in which it was employed is not generally equal to its actual meaning.

But, whatever. Apparently it upsets you when people take time to answer questions you ask:

"Hey guise what's your opinion on X?"

"My opinion on X is W."
"My opinion on X is Y."
"My opinion on X is Z."

"YEAH? WELL YOUR OPINIONS IS STUPID. WHO ASKED YOU, FAGS. YOU FELL RIGHT INTO MY BRILLIANT TRAP LOL."

And now I'll go direct my efforts somewhere where they're not being drowned in the waters of De Nile.

 

[Kristi]

It's not very easy to eat smart at my mom's. All I could do is just portion control, which has been working for me so far. I feel like if I don't count my calories, I'll go overboard. I don't really know any other way to eat healthy. It is very stressful at times.

I would say the best thing to do is eat healthy at the rest of your meals that day and then for lunch or dinner at your mom's you don't have to skip out on what she's cooking. Moderation is key!

I eat at my mom-in-law's house on Sundays and usually try to watch my caloric intake the rest of the day or just eat on a small plate at her house depending on what it is. Since this is a life-long thing, I don't think cutting out family time is wise.

Another thing to do is to ask her if you can cook once in awhile and that way she can try some of the things that you are cooking. She might end up liking it!

One more thing I do...sometimes I ask for a "special order" if it's not too much work. Like if they're frying fish I ask if I can cook my own on the stove. Or I offer to bring a salad and eat mostly that with what they are cooking...the possibilities are endless


OH and ONE more thing (haha)....I never leave my mom-in-law's house without jumping on their exercise bike! I can't wait to get my own!!!

 

[englangrover]

Uh...huh. I think you are confused about what a lot of the words you use mean.

Here's a hint: the literalist interpretation of a word or phrase outside of the specific context in which it was employed is not generally equal to its actual meaning.

But, whatever. Apparently it upsets you when people take time to answer questions you ask:

"Hey guise what's your opinion on X?"

"My opinion on X is W."
"My opinion on X is Y."
"My opinion on X is Z."

"YEAH? WELL YOUR OPINIONS IS STUPID. WHO ASKED YOU, FAGS. YOU FELL RIGHT INTO MY BRILLIANT TRAP LOL."

And now I'll go direct my efforts somewhere where they're not being drowned in the waters of De Nile.

Once again, I said ALL opinions are welcome. Steve disagreed with me but he wasn't a dick about it like you were. I never said opinions were stupid. All I did was ask a damn question and you fly in like a bitter smart ass. Thank God not everyone on this forum is like you, no one would ever want to lose weight with all of your negativity. And I'm glad that you'll direct all your efforts somewhere else. At least I won't have to worry about your negativity here.

 

[englangrover]

I would say the best thing to do is eat healthy at the rest of your meals that day and then for lunch or dinner at your mom's you don't have to skip out on what she's cooking. Moderation is key!

I eat at my mom-in-law's house on Sundays and usually try to watch my caloric intake the rest of the day or just eat on a small plate at her house depending on what it is. Since this is a life-long thing, I don't think cutting out family time is wise.

Another thing to do is to ask her if you can cook once in awhile and that way she can try some of the things that you are cooking. She might end up liking it!

One more thing I do...sometimes I ask for a "special order" if it's not too much work. Like if they're frying fish I ask if I can cook my own on the stove. Or I offer to bring a salad and eat mostly that with what they are cooking...the possibilities are endless


OH and ONE more thing (haha)....I never leave my mom-in-law's house without jumping on their exercise bike! I can't wait to get my own!!!

Thanks for you opinion. I absolutely agree with you.

 

[edco76]

Here is a good read on cheat meals/days



Its a very individualistic thing. I dont have a designated "day" or "meal" but at the same time, I'm not gonna be an ass. If someone is kind enough to invite me into their home and prepare me a meal I'm damn well going to eat it. I value my health as well as my goals, and lifestyle. I also value my relationships with others. If someone invites me over for dinner and when I arrive dinner= fried catfish, colesalaw, and hushpuppies (not an uncommon outcome in my neck of the woods) I am going to eat it. Then gush about how good it was to the point that my host is almost, but not quite uncomfortable. Thats the way it is suppose to be.

 

[englangrover]

Here is a good read on cheat meals/days



Its a very individualistic thing. I dont have a designated "day" or "meal" but at the same time, I'm not gonna be an ass. If someone is kind enough to invite me into their home and prepare me a meal I'm damn well going to eat it. I value my health as well as my goals, and lifestyle. I also value my relationships with others. If someone invites me over for dinner and when I arrive dinner= fried catfish, colesalaw, and hushpuppies (not an uncommon outcome in my neck of the woods) I am going to eat it. Then gush about how good it was to the point that my host is almost, but not quite uncomfortable. Thats the way it is suppose to be.

That link was a really good read. Thank you very much.

 

[getoutside]

I don't go for free days. If I want something, one of my tricks is to take a bite of whatever 'it' is, and I throw out the rest...and if 'it' was expensive to purchase, then that's my own dumb fault. I haven't died over or missed any of the food I've thrown in the trash. I also discovered that my body doesn't tolerate high salt and high sugar foods too well, and although they might taste good for a second, it takes my body some time to process that crap, and I feel lousy until its flushed out. The latter experience has taught me over time to avoid crappy food, but it is hard, and my ability to make the right decision, didn't happen overnight.

 

[englangrover]

I don't go for free days. If I want something, one of my tricks is to take a bite of whatever 'it' is, and I throw out the rest...and if 'it' was expensive to purchase, then that's my own dumb fault. I haven't died over or missed any of the food I've thrown in the trash. I also discovered that my body doesn't tolerate high salt and high sugar foods too well, and although they might taste good for a second, it takes my body some time to process that crap, and I feel lousy until its flushed out. The latter experience has taught me over time to avoid crappy food, but it is hard, and my ability to make the right decision, didn't happen overnight.

That does make a lot of sense. That's something that I have done in the past; taking a bite of whatever, only I wouldn't have to throw it out. My husband would eat it. Thanks for your post.

 

[austin_88]

No I don't really have 'free days'.

Basically 80% of what I eat is healthy and nutritious, whilst the other 20% is high sugar treats. I don't like fatty food, what I usually go for is sweets or ice cream. They are my only vice.

Although, on days I know I am going to go out for dinner and eat a larger portioned meal, I just eat a little less for breakfast and lunch and skip the snacks.

I think you can have a treat every day, that's why I don't agree with 'free days'. Also, free days can completly screw up your progress. You could rack up 5,000 calories on a 'free day' and completly ruin your defecit for the week

 

[Aleeluh]

No I don't really have 'free days'.

Basically 80% of what I eat is healthy and nutritious, whilst the other 20% is high sugar treats. I don't like fatty food, what I usually go for is sweets or ice cream. They are my only vice.

Although, on days I know I am going to go out for dinner and eat a larger portioned meal, I just eat a little less for breakfast and lunch and skip the snacks.

I think you can have a treat every day, that's why I don't agree with 'free days'. Also, free days can completly screw up your progress. You could rack up 5,000 calories on a 'free day' and completly ruin your defecit for the week

I do something like this too, I have a few treats everyday- just add it into my total.

 

[iLikeMyUserName]

I think since you have alleady lost 18lb its working for you so you should continue with it.

I don't have a treat day but I have a treat (something small) everyday. to be honest though, I really enjoy the diet im doing and really like snacking on fruit so im just lucky I guess.
My opinion on dieting is that if its working for you then go for it - im sure many people on here would try the diet im on and be totally unhappy with it, but I love it and have lost over 60lb so far so it works for me and thats all the encouragement I need!