Cheat Days?

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1/3/13 12:12 P

I'm staying away from cheat days altogether for the next 6 weeks, but will treat myself to MORE healthy food on certain days, especially if I'm coming off a big workout.

current weight: 198.3

210 202.5 195 187.5

180

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1/2/13 11:05 A

It can also help if you don't think strictly in terms of days. By that I mean you can also look at your target calories totaled up for an entire week, and if you can keep under that, even with a cheat day, then you should be fine. Of course you shouldn't take that concept to the extreme (starve yourself until Sunday and then wolf down 12,000 calories in one day), but opening up your thinking just a little can perhaps help you deal easier with a day that doesn't go as planned.

current weight: 197.5

225 213.75 202.5 191.25

180

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1/2/13 10:38 A

I'm early in my program, but im going to try and not include a cheat day and stay within my caloric intake recommendations

Pounds lost: 50.0

0 16.75 33.5 50.25

67

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12/19/12 7:29 P

Yeah, my goal hasjust been to keep within my calorie range as much as possible, and if I go over then I go over, but try to limit that to once or twice a week.

current weight: 198.3

210 202.5 195 187.5

180

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12/13/12 3:32 A

I would avoid the 'Cheat Day' idea, that would be like giving you permission to binge eat and that is not healthy. Instead, think about having smaller proportions of food that you normally do not eat like dessert when out with friends. On days that you know that you are going for a big meal with friends/family think about limiting your other meals for the day and do not forget to drink plenty of water. I usually eat five meals that are about 300 calories during the day, but on big meal days I might have smaller ones before getting there and I relax on my 2000 calorie daily limit. Just an idea...

Body Fat %: 13.0

17 14.75 12.5 10.25

8

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11/17/12 1:04 P

I concur with the suggestion of keeping these tied to social occassions. I try to eat Primal/Paleo most of the time. But I know that when I go to Grandma's there will be food that doesn't fit with that. I eat modest portions and don't sweat it.

current weight: 369.4

385 343.75 302.5 261.25

220

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11/16/12 10:27 P

I ate fast food today, but I made sure that it was "healthy" fast food. Rather than getting a Frisco melt, I just got a single burger with no cheese and no mayo and a small fry. I was going to take today off from exercising, but when I decided to eat out, I new that I had to exercise to make myself feel better.

I think if you do have a free day, you should make sure to exercise that day, just to keep yourself sane haha.

current weight: 300.0

305 261.25 217.5 173.75

130

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11/16/12 1:59 P

Yes. Give yourself cheat days. Especially in social settings. Once a week has generally been reccomended as perfectly fine.

So I have a problem with binge eating, and I think my biggest trigger is not letting myself go over my calorie limits. I can do perfect 2-3 weeks, but then I just absolutely snap and eat everything that isn't tied down (I have tracked and break 6,000 cals...)

Its probably better for me if I where to just have a nice relaxing meal or drink with friends once a week where I'd hit 3,000 cals for the day and then not stress myself out about it.

current weight: 11.0  over

15 7.5 0 -7.5

-15

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11/16/12 12:27 P

I agree reducing the cheat days is the next step before eliminating them... we're all human and being so stringent just sets us up for failure.
1 cheat day a week is better than 2 or 3 or 4...

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11/16/12 10:49 A

Last week I was on target for 6 out of the 7 days, but on one of the days I clocked in at about 3 times by daily recommended weight-loss caloric range (4,500 calories... rough night).

This week I've only been on target twice (Sunday and Monday), and went over every day since Tuesday night (alcohol played a huge role, actually).

I've decided to track every single thing I've eaten on those cheat days just to give myself a visual of how much damage I actually did to my plan. It's sickening.

Anyway, I'm trying to get back on track, but was wondering if maybe allowing myself one cheat day a week could help keep me on the level for 6 days a week.

What do you guys think? Do cheat days work? Can you still lose weight if you give yourself one day a week to eat whatever you want?

current weight: 198.3

210 202.5 195 187.5

180