The Cheater's Diet

Hi.

I just created an account, although I've been using this site for calculating calories for a while.

I'm doing a trial of "The Cheater's Diet" by Dr. Paul Rivas. I'd love to hear from anyone who's tried it.

If anyone wants to read about my efforts and progress, I started a Blog a few days ago.

http://cheatingirl.blogspot.com/

i read the blog, and i get the gist of it. eat good 5 days a week, eat more 2 days? something like that? could you give a brief description of what the Cheaters diet is?

Hi Nirvrush!

You've basically got the idea. According to Dr. Rivas, you need to treat dieting like a job - 5 days a week you stick to whatever diet you choose, whether it's low calorie, low carb, low fat, etc. Then for two days (actually 36 hours) you increase your caloric intake by 10 calories for every pound you weigh. For me, that's an extra 1300 calories.

This concept has a few major key points. The idea is that the extra calories keep your metabolism humming, so that when you return to your diet regimine, you'll burn off the calories more quickly. The other idea is, it's a lot easier to tell yourself you're going to adhere to a program for 5 days, rather than indefinitely. Knowing that you've got the opportunity for special treats just a few days away should keep the temptations to a low roar. :)

The author is a doctor who has helped over 15,000 people lose weight (but aren't they all?) and he says that you have to stay away from foods that you might binge on.

The other idea, is that even on "cheating" days, you still want to make healthy choices. Making sure that you're still getting your body the vitamins, protein and energy it needs.

I'm not sure I'm 100% on board yet, which is why I'm giving it a shot and tracking how it goes. I'd really like it to work, though!

P.S. I've got a tattoo, too - but You've got me beat on the piercings!

Well, lookie that! I'm on the cheater's diet and didnt' know it. ^_^

I let myself have a little fun on weekends, but I still try to keep bread and pasta at arm's length...once I start on them I have trouble stopping.

hahaha! i was thinking the same thing when i was reading this thread...the weekends are just so hard to stay away from the good stuff...its much more easier to deal with things on the weekdays! for my my weakness is desserts...gotta love them!

do the cheater days have to be two in a row? i have tuesdays and saturdays off and those are the hard days.

piercing-wise, i took most of them out. i used to have my eyebrow, nostril, labret, and tongue. still have my nipple rings (and the septum, of course). =)

I had this one program called "The on/off diet" I loved it, but no longer have it. It was years ago. They had a list of different things to eat and how much, you choose what you want. You do that for two days then you have an off day which was the same menu, but with a little more added then back to two more on days then an off day. They also had it where you could substitue for fast food. I lost 10 lbs in one month and I still was partying (drinking at the bar on weekends). i wish I could get it again.

I think everybody probably finds it hard to keep away from their favourite foods on their days off!! My technique is to have a lie-in :D. I then have 'breakfast' at lunchtime and whatever I want at dinner. That way, you still have the same amount of calories to play with, but less time to eat/ feel hungry. Of course, I guess some people aren't as lucky as I am to get to sleep in at weekends :( sorry I can't help you guys. Has anybody got other suggestions? I guess you can't put on too much weight over just 2 days...can you? I'm not sure I want to find out lol!

This is similar to a tactic I have been using with some success where I keep my metabolism going high by alternating my calories. It takes the body about 3 days or so to adjust to a certain caloric level so every few days I raise my calories up to maintenance and then after a few days drop them back down and it seems to have shortened plateaus and keep me moving downwards. I've only had one gain since doing this and I think that was a fluke - water weight or something - because I've been steady for the most part doing this. It also lets me work in some of the higher calorie foods if I want them on those days and is less monotonous than trying to eat 12-1300 every single day :).

Hi all - thanks for your responses.

I've heard a few variations of this plan, most of whom have reported success. The one negative I've found is that if people don't have will power, it's hard getting back on program after the two days off. I've got will power, when I set my mind to it, so I wasn't worried too much about that.

Tomorrow is my weigh in day - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Oh, Niv - in this plan, it's supposed to be 36 hours together, but I've heard of others that break the days up.

Hey can you forward the link to this diet. I would like to try it..

It sounds pretty interesting~

thanx~

Hiya!

Sorry, this isn't online (at least not that I've found). I read the book it's called "The Cheater's Diet" by Dr. Paul Rivas. I'd be happy to answer any questions I can about it, for you.

P.S. Love the picture - so elegant!

thank you!! I appreciate the compliment!!

I was 245 in that pic.. Iam tryingto get back to that weight befor the summer iam currently @ 290 ~ {boo hoo} but on the other hand. I was 315 when I joined this site..

but any who. how many cals do I eat mon-fri??

thanx !!

You follow whatever diet you choose to use during the 5 days on program. I use the guidelines from this site, so I'm on a 1200 a day program. Then on the two off days (actually 36 hours) you take in an additional 10 calories for every pound you weigh. FOr me, that's an additional 1300 for 2500 calories per day. I've only been doing this for about a week, and haven't done my first "official" weigh-in yet, so I don't know how well it's working. It sure is fun, though!

If you're interested, you can see the details of my program on my Blog.

thanx a bunch cheatngurl!!

I will start @ 1200 as well ..

thanx a bunch~

I don't think i have the will power to do that diet.. i'm doing well eating 1200-1300 a day and i think if i cheated i would feel like i could do it whenever i wanted and then i'd be back to square one.. eating everything in sight every day. maybe when i get some better will power.. :)

bbmq i LOVE your picture.. :) that dress is amazing.. :)

About the "Cheater's Diet" and metabolism: If your metabolism adjusts in 3 days, and you stay on your low-cal or whatever diet for five days, it seems to me that this is not the most effective way to "keep your metabolism humming." Wouldn't a shorter interval be better? Any insights on this?

Thanx obsidyan~

Its an African Piece {straight form the MotherLand!!}
My husband is West African and his mom is always sending me lovely pieces such as this one..

propblem is they are way to fancy to wear to the places that i normally go~ {except for church}

thanx!! :)

Hey DC!

I hear what you mean on the metabolism thing. I've heard that there's a plan or something named Wendy that tells you to build in higher days every few days instead of waiting for the weekend.

For me, if this works, it's ideal. My family likes to go out to eat on the weekend, and we like to travel, too, so it would work really well for me to be able to relax the rules a bit.

I'm not advoacting this plan by any means, I'm just trying to share my experience - if it helps someone else - then woo hoo! :)

bmqb- wow.. you must have a VERY nice mother in law to send you such beautiful things.. :) I wish my mother in law lived on the other side of the globe.. hahah.. this christmas she told my husband that divorce isn't taboo anymore and that the gift she gave us (gift certificates) was in his name "just in case". So i'll send my crappy mother in law over there to live and you can have your nice sounding wonderful mother in law come here to be closer to you guys! hahahaha

Obsydian - yours and my mother in law should get together and compare notes!