Cheat Days!

[te4vass]

So does anyone do the recommended cheat day thing?

I have a buddy who eats right the entire week, then when it comes to his cheat day. He pigs out on pizza, french fries, brownies, more crap and more crap.

I always thought the cheat day was a good idea but not overboard like that. I like to cheat with maybe a homemade hamburger with cheese no french fries. But never fast food.

Isnt the idea of the cheat day to not only emotionally calm your cravings, but to jump start your metabolism and provide extra energy?

Whether you have reached your fitness goals or have 20 pounds to lose, having a cheat meal will keep your sanity and rev up your metabolism so that when you return to your clean eating you will burn calories faster, now that your metabolism is working harder.

does this sound right?

[abbot138]

Yeah your point of view is much closer to reality than his. I only cheat about once every 3 or 4 weeks. Part for mental sanity and part to kind of reset my body. Once your body adjusts to healthy food you benefit less and less. You need to shock your system every once and a while. I wont go all out all day long when I cheat either. Just one meal of whatever I want. 9 out of 10 times it ends up being pizza for whatever reason.

[im83931]

I usually cheat friday night and Saturday morning. It keeps me sane the rest of the week. Besides my kids are young and we get pizza on friday nights with a movie, and then saturday is donut day. Occasionally (every couple of months) I will take 2-3 days and just go all out and eat like crazy all I want, what I want, when I want.

[novastepp]

i don't advocate a cheat "day" at all. but if buddies wanna go out, or my g/f decides to be cool for once and wants to take me out for dinner, those are my cheats. to me, let's face it. i want to look big and my best, but enjoy the ride!

[novastepp]

oh and maybe a small serving of 100 hooter's wings during the superbowl!

[G4R]

Yeah, rather than a "cheat day", the cheat meal seems more resonable. The friday night, saturday morn thing seems cool too.

Just don't overdue it, and use it only to keep your body in check.

Since it is just a meal, the occasionall fast foot is not going to kill you. Get a cheeseburger, fries, but instead of a Coke or Pepsi, try just getting water. I have noticed that sodas are one of the hardest things to break away from when you start to drink them again.

Good luck, and just judge it for yourself. See what you can tolerate without going overboard.

[eacman65]

Although the cheat "meal or day" does serve a purpose for your body and for your mental health, it realy depend on what your goals are. The first time I decided to cut down I cheated once a week and made a whole day of it. With that being said I dropped a ton of BF but never really got to my goal of 6%, I was at like 9-10%. Now I only cheat once a month when i cut and my cheats are in moderation(usually one or two big meals in a day). I would say if your getting ready for a show than cheating is not the best thing for you, but if your just trying to cut up for personal reasons than I would say cheat once a week or oncer every couple weeks and eat what u want. It wont kill you and it will do wonders for your brain.

[G4R]

Although the cheat "meal or day" does serve a purpose for your body and for your mental health, it realy depend on what your goals are. The first time I decided to cut down I cheated once a week and made a whole day of it. With that being said I dropped a ton of BF but never really got to my goal of 6%, I was at like 9-10%. Now I only cheat once a month when i cut and my cheats are in moderation(usually one or two big meals in a day). I would say if your getting ready for a show than cheating is not the best thing for you, but if your just trying to cut up for personal reasons than I would say cheat once a week or oncer every couple weeks and eat what u want. It wont kill you and it will do wonders for your brain.

Thats a good point, and I didn't even think about that. If you are getting ready for a show, then like eacman65 said, prob not a good idea.

If you are just starting your diet and trying to get a routine and healthy diet going for you, than a cheat meal will do wonders on you mentally.

Be safe and good luck

[green22]

I usually have 1 cheat meal per week, but not a whole day.

[dedic8ed1]

A cheat day is often misconstrued by eating everything you want,because once I get started on a cheat day it just ends bad.So I now just add a little bit more carbs throughout the day and I'll know if I really nailed it the next day in the gym cause I'll see it.But really the best way to benefit from elevating your carbs and fats is by just adding a portion or half a portion to each meal,every couple days.

[kman]

I do all day cheats sometimes, and sometimes do all weeks cheats while on vacation. I have also gone months without a cheat meal!!!! I have been eating healthy all my life, and I think listening to your body is best. If you have reached your goals a cheat meal or two is beneficial IMO.

[admirals56]

i have a cheat meal once per week wich is a large cheese pizza... it is amazing

[Da_Mayor]

Seriously, do you even need to ask the question. Obviously, you dont wanna eat a whole bunch of shit brownies, cheetos, pizza, ... i get sick just thinkin about it. And if you know whats good for you and how to cook then you really dont need a cheat meal. I take that back cause one of the days of the week your gonna be put in a position where you have to make a decision whether to cheat or not. Wait a minute I am thinkin about the wrong kind of cheat meal... pink tacos, bearded clams, and some roast beef Its the test I swear

[Da_Mayor]

On a serious note... Kman just summed it all up great!

"I do all day cheats sometimes, and sometimes do all weeks cheats while on vacation. I have also gone months without a cheat meal!!!! I have been eating healthy all my life, and I think listening to your body is best. If you have reached your goals a cheat meal or two is beneficial IMO." - KMAN