Do you you ever take a scheduled "cheat" day ?

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10/9/12 12:04 A

I did initially view Saturdays as a "cheat" day but since I've learned the beauty of tracking my calorie differentials for the week, it's no longer a "cheat" - just using up the earned or not consumed calories from M-F. I aim for a 7,000 calorie differential each week (they say it takes 3500 calories to lose a pound). I exercise consistently during the week and there are always plenty of calories left over for me to indulge in something I would normally avoid during the week. I've lost consistently for the past 8 weeks so I think it works well for me! That's my favourite feature of the SparkPeople app, hands down!

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10/8/12 6:29 P

Definitely....I'm currently on a 45-day streak of healthy eating after which, when I am successful, I will splurge on absolutely anything I want all day!

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10/8/12 5:31 P

This weekend was Thanksgiving, so I didn't track on Saturday or Sunday but I'm back to Sparkpeople today! I might have overindulged with the desserts, but I made sure to have light lunches both days to make up for the bigger dinners. This was the first cheat (non-tracking) day since my vacation in August.

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10/8/12 4:59 P

I dont like having a scheduled day because then it makes me feel like all the work ive put in was for nothing. but i do accept that once a week or so its okay to order out or not eat as healthy for a meal or a snack but the nest day i go completely back on track to my routine.

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10/8/12 4:51 P

If I am scheduling anything, the intention is for me to make it a habit. So...no, I don't schedule "cheat" days. Also, I don't like the idea of thinking of food choices as "cheating", because it sends the message that I am depriving myself by eating healthy. Though, I can understand the thinking of it that way. Also, when I don't eat well I feel yucky. I definitely don't want to schedule any of that. That being said, if have a craving for something, I investigate why that may be and sometimes I just have it. I just don't hork down a large serving. I eat it slowly and focus my attention on the food so I know when the craving is over. The habit to eat the whole thing is where I think I could go wrong. I have a fiber bar everyday (FiberPlus, or Great Value, Krogers) and usually sit down at about 3pm with a biscotti and cup of tea. So, I do have built-in treats. It's just that I thought them through and they fit in to my healthy day.

I am learning that my cravings for junk, namely sugar and bread, come from my lack of nutritional balance. So, my goal is to get my protein and fiber levels where they need to be more regularly and I am watching my sodium intake. It seems that when I have a balanced day, I feel as though I indulged as my belly feels full and don't really crave many "baddies".



Edited by: KATKEES at: 10/8/2012 (16:58)

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10/8/12 4:07 P

Since I don't diet - then "cheating" doesn't come into the picture. However, there are days
when I exceed my portions and indulge in extra calories. Daily tracking of my calories seems
to work for me. There are days I come to dinner having comsulmed 800 calories during the
day. I still eat a normal dinner portion knowing that will put me over for day. I simply accept that as part of living.

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10/8/12 3:31 P

No, I can't afford to play around. Nor do I "reward" myself with food. It's counterproductive for me.

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10/8/12 3:22 P

I love the idea of referring to it as a reward, rather than a cheat...seems like a positive way to view this behavior...so thank you for that thought!

I typically won't schedule a whole day, just a meal...but I will try to mix it up (day/night) as the mood suits me...and stay on track the rest of the time.

I'll be honest...this seems to make for slightly slower progress in terms of weight loss...but I am really okay with this since I refuse to feel totally deprived while I am on this journey.

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10/8/12 3:09 P

I don't take a cheat day at all. If I want something that's not all that great for me, I will go for it. I'll make up the difference through exercise and portion control. But a whole day--no. My body will react badly to it, if you know what I mean!

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10/8/12 12:44 P

In order for me to make healthy eating a lifestyle, I need to. When there is a family event or a special party that I go to, I choose to eat whatever is being served and often a little too much of it. I don't make a pig of myself and will often choose to snack on veggies but I don't beat myself up if I slide. That is my reality when I am at goal weight so I want to fit those days into my losing weight stage as well!

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10/8/12 11:20 A

Nope! I'm an all or nothing person. I've lost a lot of weight in the past and my "cheat" days slowly became everyday. So I know this about myself.

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10/8/12 10:49 A

Yes, I take a cheat weekend. If I have been very good M-F, then I relax on the weekend. Relaxing for me means a light exercise routine (or skip) and a little wine with dinner (maybe an aperitif as well).

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10/8/12 9:33 A

I don't call them Cheat Days, My hubby and I call them "Reward Days"

If we stick to our diet, eat all meals at home for 2 weeks and don't gain anything, we treat ourselves to a night of eating out.
However, we tend to not to overdue it when we do go out, because we appreciate how hard we worked to earn that night out...

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10/8/12 9:33 A

No cheat days now. I need to see some results and am focused on staying completely on the program. Right now, the feeling of being true to the program feels better than the taste of cheat food.

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10/8/12 7:51 A

No scheduled days. They happen naturally.

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10/8/12 12:14 A

Not really I tend to be more random

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10/7/12 11:35 P

I agree - with many responses. A cheat day does work for many and it doesn't have to be a free for all, just a relaxed day that you have planned for. That way you don't feel bad and binge for the day plus you then just go back to your main schedule of monitoring food and exercise the very next day.

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10/7/12 10:11 P

Oh heck yes! I feel like if I can have a day where I can eat what I want it makes it that much easier to eat healthy and well the rest of the days.

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10/7/12 9:45 P

I do WW and there are no cheat foods. This works for me because I never feel deprived. Just keep things balanced and in moderation.

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10/7/12 8:11 P

Yes, I had one today as a matter of fact--our
State fair was in town--but I actually didn't do too bad! But--back on as soon as I got home, ate a very small dinner. Now I'm planning my meals for tomorrow.

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10/7/12 7:41 P

yeah, like this weekend, my family came up to visit, and they wanted to go to all the burger places around my college, so I went over yesterday and Friday. However, lots of people may say "Oh, I've fallen off the wagon." but I like to think of it more like the wagon took a pit stop, but you have to be sure to get back on, otherwise they'll leave you behind and you have to wait for the next wagon to come along.

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10/7/12 6:25 P

i was at my target weight so started having cheat days, 1 a week which turned into two a a week and then 3 days a week. now im back to fat and really fed up with myself. so if your going to have a cheat day make sure it doesnt turn into more than one - good look x x

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10/7/12 6:15 P

Not really......just plan an occasional treat in with my healthy eating.

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10/7/12 5:46 P

Today.

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10/7/12 3:46 P

Yes.....then I can celebrate what great things I've been able to do!

Edited by: CREEKLADY1 at: 10/7/2012 (15:47)

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10/7/12 3:02 P

Yes! What I'm trying to do is having one celebration day at the end of every month for all of the effort that I make. It inspires me to keep going, and I enjoy what I'm eating that day guilt-free!

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10/7/12 12:31 P

I used to schedule one day a week "off" where I allowed myself to have whatever I might have craved any other day of the week. It's a useful tactic to tell yourself, when you're craving something, that you can't have it now but just wait until Saturday (or whenever). It helps derail that "Oh I can never eat this again" despair. Usually, by the time the weekend rolled around, I wasn't craving that particular thing anymore.

Now I eat what I like, mostly, but meticulously track my food so I know how much I can have. Portion control, ya know.

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10/7/12 10:31 A

Hi everyone,
I don't have a cheat day as such, if I know I'm going out for a meal, then I'll try to work out my food for the day so that I'm prepared and can have a meal that I love, but still feel able to track it. For me cheating isn't really an option - I want to set myself up for the rest of my life, and so its about getting my head into the right place to make the right decisions, and provide my body with the food that it needs. Sometimes I will be lucky and get to go out for meals, but I don't see that this should put me off track....
This sounds very sanctimonious - I don't mean it to, I just wanted to share how I'm approaching things, as I thought it might be helpful,
I'm the worst person for bad food - I adore cake! But I try to work it out - if I've had lots of food already, then I don;t have the cake (you have no idea how painful this can be for me )
You just work out what you need to do to help you achieve your goals, and live your life!

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10/7/12 10:26 A

I allow myself controled cheats from time to time but they are usually kept into proportion so that it's not a real cheat.
When I have vacation, I usually plan to allow myself a few cheats but I rarely follow through on those plans. Plus, I also increase (and sometimes more than double) my exercise so that if I do splurge it's balanced out.
I also try to have a non exercise cheat day, or at least a no gym/no yoga day, once a week.

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10/7/12 10:10 A

today

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10/7/12 9:29 A

I don't schedule a cheat day, it mostly comes when we socialize with others and I deal with the food choices available and make the best of what is on the table. You can't stress the small stuff, you have to look at the big picture, this is a marathon not a sprint.

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10/7/12 5:28 A

We 'cheat' on Saturday's when we have a vegan banana-chocolate chip muffin from our local bakery. It has some frosting on it and satisfies our sweet tooth, as well as our need to be 'bad' once in a while. We still log it and attempt to remain under our calorie allotment, but if we do go over a bit on Saturday we forgive ourselves and begin on Sunday again.

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10/6/12 10:33 P

We typically save up for cheat meals .... And they are mostly trips to nice restaurants.... But cheating doesn't mean NOT tracking . . . It means having a meal that's greater than my calorie allotment for the day. It doesn't seem to make sense to me to get off track just because it's some particular day, or because I "deserve" it... I want to change my lifestyle so too many cheats make me feel as though the lifestyle changes are not forever -- only for the moment - and that's SO not the goal I've set for myself.

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10/6/12 5:53 P

Sundays R&R day and a relax on the food program often find I eat way less maybe because I relax more

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10/6/12 4:58 P

I don't "schedule" a specific cheat day but I do try to have 1 every week. And I absolutely don't beat myself up about it. I know entirely too many people who cut out everything they enjoy and are miserable for an entire month, wonder why they've stopped losing weight, and then head to Golden Coral and eat at the buffet until they're sick. For me, it's easier to stay on the path of healthy eating if I throw in a cheat day, or call it a reward day if that sounds better. Also if I don't have some "bad carbs" once in a while my metabolism slows waaaay down, my body starts storing carbs instead of burning them, and I won't lose weight. My favorite cheat/reward is a Pizza City lunch special - 1 slice pepperoni, 1 slice mushroom, and a pepsi :)

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10/6/12 4:42 P

I schedule a cheat day every so often when I feel rebellion trying to rear its ugly head. So instead of going crazy and binge eating I plan for it. I plan a healthy meal with tea and I may just put a teaspoon of sugar in my tea or I may have 4 fig newtons instead of 2 but i stay within my calorie alotment for the day.

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10/6/12 9:51 A

every SUnday

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10/6/12 8:45 A

I look at food and I gain weight.. but yea I do splurge once a month nothing major maybe
chicken wings or something...

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10/6/12 8:00 A

Yes I do but then I also try and balance it with some type of activity.

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10/6/12 6:22 A

Like others I try to just do a cheat meal. I usually end up tracking it anyway just to see where I'm at.

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10/6/12 2:20 A

I schedule them around social events mostly, out of the house, and it's only for one meal. I can't do cheat foods in my house (unless they start delivering 1 slice of pizza!).

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10/5/12 11:46 P

I dont schedule cheat days, in the social scene I may have a cheat meal. I cook at home and I am trying very hard to learn to cook healthy.

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10/5/12 10:05 P

I tried to have a cheat day today, but it didn't work out. Piled my plate high with pizza, but couldn't eat more than two small slices, not adding parmesan, and then went and tracked it!

Now, if you put a cheesecake in front of me,.......

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10/5/12 9:37 P

Last night, I had a cheat meal. I might have one again next Thursday. A restaurant and movie theater is having horror movies for free every Thursday. I don't eat out often and I'm losing weight faster than I expect so I could use at least one big meal a week.

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10/5/12 9:24 P

I don't schedule a cheat day, but when my family wants to eat out I take that day as a cheat day. We don't eat out often, we cook our meals at home.

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10/5/12 6:12 P

Congratulations on your journey. You are to be commended. I too have lost a lot before joining Sparks. I belong to a TOPS group and we started having one day off the food plan. But after getting close to my "favorite number" I started the climb up. I now have one meal on Thursdays, one of my favorite things. I am walking, slowly and doing aerobics in the water. This is a lifestyle and I for one do not enjoy even my one meal on Thursdays (weight day) because it takes me 2 days to get back on, so a constant up and down and gettting nowhere. I am now counting carbs for a 3 week quick start, but also trying to stay at 1300 calories. Good luck to you. Keep up the good work.

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10/5/12 5:54 P

I follow the 80/20 rule. I eat Healthy 80 percent of the week and then 20 percent i indulge

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10/5/12 5:04 P

I don't have a cheat day or even cheat meals, per se.

I like to indulge once and a while, and I'm more likely to do it on weigh in day, but if there is a wedding or a celebration, I let myself celebrate. I just try not to go completely overboard.

I eat what I want any day, I just make sure the portions are controlled, and that I reallio, trulio want it and its not just a passing fancy.

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10/5/12 2:51 P

I used to do the cheat day, now i usually have just a cheat meal. Every once in a while when i feel myself getting dangerously crave-y, i will allow myself the whole day and it's funny now because i typically will just have a nibble of things rather than porking down the whole thing! At weddings, i used to eat a couple pieces of cake or have plates of cookies. Now i usually split a small piece of cake with my husband, and the same with the cookies. One small plate of goodies, split for a satisfying taste of each. enough to make my brain know i'm indulging, but not enough to kill my whole progress.

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10/5/12 2:39 P

I definitely don't do a cheat day. An entire cheat day can slow you down sooooo much. I have no problem with a cheat meal though. There is nothing wrong with rewarding yourself... but don't allow that to mean you get to eat entire deep dish pizza.

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