Cheat days? How often?

I was wondering: Those of you who have a "Cheat Day" in their diet, how often do you do it? Like once a week? Or once every two weeks, or what?

I don't have a specific day. I eat more calories when my body tells me I need to. It's usually about every 2 weeks.

A lot of people have cheat meals. I used to have cheat days once a week, but now I've slacked on calorie counting. No more cheat days for me :[. But try having a cheat meal once a week. :]

Original Post by tolife: I don't have a specific day. I eat more calories when my body tells me I need to. It's usually about every 2 weeks.

 I may be wrong but I don't think that's what most people mean when they say "cheat day". A lot of people schedule specific days when they plan to eat a lot as a treat. I don't do that. Like you, I too eat more than I planned once in a while because I'm excessively hungry and my body is rebelling. I don't call those cheat days. I call them screwups.

We have good southern fellowship lunch at our church after service every month and that's usually when I cheat. WHO can resist fried chicken?  

my roomie and I are doing the work-out/eat healthy thing together and we made a list at the beginning of not-so-healthy things that we LOVE to eat, i.e. burgers at this really fancy restaurant on campus that does em with fries for 3.99 on wednesdays. each week if we eat well and work out 3-4x we get to pick one thing off of the list. we keep the list on the fridge along with our work out schedule so we have to think about it every time we grab something to eat.

the great thing is that after the first three weeks of doing this, we got to where we really only seem to crave stuff every other week, which is beneficial to our newfound healthy lifestyle as well as our college kid wallets =) it has worked out SO well and is totally different from any diet that I have ever done before - guess there actually is some truth to the concept that if you do stuff it moderation you won't go crazy about it later!

The entire time I lost my more then 100lbs I had cheat "MEALS" built in to live a little and give myself something to look forward to. I always adjusted my calories a little to give myself some wiggle room and then you have guilt free enjoyment of your favorite food. Also since only once a week did I get what I really want I found out what foods I LOVED and which ones I didn't. Now I have cheat meals 2 or 3 times a week as I am maintaining and I have been working out like normal. Now I have some Kashi cookies after dinner or something as before I wouldn't have. So cookies but healthy cookies. If I was cheating and had pizza I had a medium pizza and not an XL so that there weren't left overs and I couldn't eat too much because the pizza wasn't huge. I would not suggest a cheat "day" as you will feel more guilty, take in tons more calories, etc,.

Well, thanks to all of you for your replies..

jharmon4 - I like your "system". I wish I had someone supporting me in this..

I don't think that "cheat meals" would work for me, because if I  eat a lot in one meal I KNOW I'd be like: "Why even bother and count calories the rest of the day? I already screwed up anyway."

So, I guess, the "Cheat day" would work better for me.. Now, do you guys think I should do it every two weeks or once a week?

If you don't have the self control to stick to one meal I wouldn't do a cheat anything to be honest. Then you'll just say well I already screwed up this day why should I worry about this week. it's a cycle that it doesn't sound like you can control. Personally, in your case I wouldn't do it at all to be honest.

 I have a cheat day once every three days, but I only go 200-300 calories over, and the next day I have less to balance it out. 

I save "cheat times" for special events.  Birthdays, Christmas party, New Year's, etc... and it doesn't mean it's an all out eating frenzy.  I just allow myself to a little of everything in moderation.

I also rarely go to movies and I love having popcorn so I also allow myself to have popcorn but I don't get butter and I eat it in moderation.

That's not to say that I am perfect other days.  If I am having a really hungry day I pick an extra snack that is filling without adding a lot of extra calories.  I figure if your more perfect than not then you are on the road to success!

there's no need to feel guilty about cheat meals - they're GOOD for fat-loss, so long as they're used in moderation.  when you do the same thing for too long (i.e. calorie restriction), your body gets used to it:  your metabolism slows, your leptin levels drop, etc.  to the extent that you can 're-set' your metabolism every so often to its former, higher level (not that this is necessarily done completely with a single crappy meal, but if you regularly eat at or slightly above maintenance once or twice a week, there's evidence that it can be beneficial for this), you're helping yourself!

I've lost 60lbs since June and I take a free day/cheat day every 2 weeks and eat anything I want and just get right back on track the next day.

The thing I miss the most when I try to lose weight and start counting my calories is a good, hearty breakfast.  I would prefer to call it "treat day" and I still have my hearty breakfast every Sunday morning after church with my family.  I just won't give that once-a-week, "blessed" meal up :).   It's my reward for staying on track. 

weekends are free, in moderation.

i only cheat when i go out to eat, or to someone's house. i NEVER prepare "cheat" food myself.

my cheat food is mostly good restaurant food. thai, sushi and other japanese, ethiopian, lebanese or other middle eastern, etc. i TRY to make wise choices, i.e., no white rice with thai, only one piece of pita at lebanese as opposed to however much i want, chicken or fish over beef dishes, one delicious sushi roll like dragon or godzilla and one or two modest ones, like tuna or sweet potato.

on sunday mornings, I ALWAYS do diner food. here i also exhibit moderation. i'll usually get an egg white omelet with no cheese, but i allow myself butter on my toast (I LOVE THIS) and eat some or all of the home fries. I also steal a piece of bacon and a few bites of pancakes from my boyfriend.

last weekend i had a really over the top cheat weekend...a huge hoagie (tho turkey and with no mayo), hawaiian pizza, half my boyfriend's pancakes, tons of candy...and then i lost three pounds in the following week.

 

if i were you, i would have a cheat day maybe once a week at first, and see how it goes. i think the worst thing you can do is not have one at all. if you do that, then you're giving up all your favorite things, and that's only going to make you want them more. plus, if you really wanted to make this a "lifestyle change," then giving up those things forever is so unrealistic. however, a cheat day isn't to go completely nuts. maybe just have one thing that you LOVE throughout the day, and just don't count the calories for anything else. a cheat day isn't for someone to go to mcdonald's for breakfast, burger king for lunch, wendy's for a snack, and taco bell for dinner.

i am not sure i see it the same way.

for me, cheat days are too daunty a thing, YET i can have what i want, but in moderation. i LOVE cheese, especially vintage cheese. i do not deprive myself of it, i just have about an ounce on a salad. etc.

i know that cheat days are just not for me. i will have something more free next week as i am going abroad and will not be able to count exactly, but will take measures to keep on track.

i am not sure i see it the same way.

for me, cheat days are too daunty a thing, YET i can have what i want, but in moderation. i LOVE cheese, especially vintage cheese. i do not deprive myself of it, i just have about an ounce on a salad. etc.

i know that cheat days are just not for me. i will have something more free next week as i am going abroad and will not be able to count exactly, but will take measures to keep on track.

I have cheat meals whenever the occasion comes up.  For example, on Wednesday night I went out for wings and beer to watch the Pitsburg/Sens game (I live in Ottawa ).  Did I go over my calories for that day? Yes.   Not my much, about 200 over my Burnmeter.

I mean, if I keep a 500-600 deficit most days, going even, or going a little over one day won't hurt.  I just can't do it EVERY day.  Once or even twice a week is no big deal.  I mean, this is for life, and in life, there are special occasions, I have to learn to live my life, and lose weight.

I plan a  "free day" every 2 weeks, on holidays, special occasions, vacations or whenever I just feel like it, but I usually stick to once every 2 weeks. I have taken them since day 1 and they haven't stopped me from losing 89 lbs since last June.