Does anyone else do this?

Sometimes when I feel like I am losing motivation, I let myself cheat, and when I say cheat I mean, for one entire day I eat exactly what I want, to me this is different than what I've heard others describe as a cheat(usually its one meal, an ice cream cone etc.) but no, I find it really helpful to eat three meals as usual but let myself have whatever I want in order to get motivated again. Does anyone else find this successful?? Is this an ok way to keep myself motivated?

is it working for you?  are you still maintaining?  if so, then keep at it -- you need to do things that work, more likely to stick with them that way

Absolutely, do it if it keeps you maintaining on all the other days.

If it would encourage you to completely quit maintaining, then, of course, you would have to reexamine if it was worth doing it.

I don't systematically plan days where I reward myself by getting off the straight-and-narrow, but I certainly take days off and have a bit of fun.  I just always remember why I went on a diet/exercise regimen in the first place -- for my health.

Best of luck, keep maintaining, and treat yourself!

I usually do use the entire day to have whatever I would like!  But I do make each meal count.  If I am going to do I do it right! Do I eat a whole bag of potato chips? NO. Do I eat a lot of fried oysters, shrimp and stuffed mushrooms? YES!! No donuts for me. Give me a meat lovers omelet with a side order of sausage and wheat toast w/butter and a side order of hash browns.  IHOP here I come!  Then the next day.  Special K / banana/ raisin toast etc! Most of all no regrets!

I think cheat day implies that you cheat the whole day...but you're better than I am. I don't cheat for the whole day, I cheat for three days...

I don't know, when I was overweight I could eat as much as 1000cals in one meal, but once I started pacing myself for a while it became really hard to cheat since I couldn't eat more than 400 cals in one meal without feeling full to the brim. If you're doing things properly the stomach should shrink and the cravings will be satisfied with a lot less food than before. Also the reward for losing weight shouldn't be the (fast)food that put the weight there in the first place, that's just hanging on to a bad habit.

but if you eat only a strict diet while still craving those things you gave up, I can definitely see how it can lead to a loss of motivation and an eventual total break down of your diet. I don't see (and have never experienced) anything terribly wrong with occasionally indulging yourself a little, especially if it keeps you ON track, like the OP is claiming it does. Although the logic behind rewarding yourself with the things you gave up seems counterproductive, if being able to have that cheesecake at the end of the week makes you eat and exercise fantastically during the other 6 days, seems ok to me? As long as you don't go overboard, of course on portions