CARRIE1948
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A Matter of Semantics

Saturday, April 17, 2010

I've been reading lots of posts lately about "cheat" days and the phrase makes no sense to me.

If we're truly embarking on a lifestyle change, doesn't the phrase intimate that this is a temporary journey?

I'm not opposed to ever eating something fattening. I merely think it is something we should be conscious of and weave it into our day.

I don't even mind eating more calories on a given day. But, I do have trouble with the phrase cheat. I don't see myself as cheating. I see myself as keeping my body on its toes, so it doesn't get too comfortable with one level of calories.
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  • GRACEFULIFE
    A lot of the bodybuilding people use the "cheat day" phrase. I argue that, calorie cycling or not, a whole day is too much. I prefer the idea of a cheat meal or two per week.

    I also, however, prefer not to call it cheating. I like those who call it a "treat meal".

    This doesn't necessarily mean going off plan, either... it could be part of a calorie cycling plan which seems to have a large following. I'm not sure what scientific studies there are to back up calorie cycling but there definitely seem to be an awful lot of people online who say that calorie cycling plans are effective for them. And it does make some sense to me that a higher-calorie day now and then could help to stay at a higher calorie deficit the rest of the time both from a mental will standpoint as well as the standpoint of keeping your metabolism going.

    2929 days ago
  • JAE_HENNINGTON
    I know for myself, cheat days are not a good thing. If I get myself on track with eating right and exercising to deviate from that is a definate death sentence. Some can do it and I applaude them...but me no way, I liked your blog and I agree with you
    2929 days ago
  • DDOORN
    Agree with the thumbs down thoughts...additionally it seems to connote some magical thinking as though one can defy the laws of biology and "get away" with eating more calories without having them count.

    Don

    2929 days ago
  • 4A-HEALTHY-BMI
    I don't like the way it sounds, either. The connotation is somehow that it can be desirable to go off plan. How can it be desirable to sabotage our efforts to make the positive changes in our lives that we really want?

    Couple that with the fact that maintenance is associated with consistency in eating habits, and it sounds to me like a bad idea, in general.
    2929 days ago
  • MOMFAN
    I see it a choosing, not cheating! I was just talking about this with a friend. Yes I have a restaurant and a meal that I adore which I usually have once a year on mine or hubby's birthday. We are going to continue doing that, there are a lot of great memories and is something we truly enjoy. We use to do it several times a year, but now we only do it once. It is the daily choices that make me able to be living a healthier lifestyle then I have ever before.
    2930 days ago

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