Controversy!?!

Ok -  enough Controversy!!

Is it or is it NOT true that a cheat day once a week can help you boost your metabolism?

I've been stalled trying to lose my last 15 pounds and I'm desperate - but not desperate enough to go eating whatever I want and ruin a week's worth of counting...

BUUUUUT...if anyone can convince me....?

I have one friend who has been at this weight lost thing for a long time, and what she does when she hits a "no weight lost" spot, it eat a little more, and exercise not as hard, or maybe not at all, for about a day or two, and then she goes back to eating regular again, and exercising, and she says that it tricks her body into working harder to get rid of the extra that she had over the last couple of days, and then it also helps her lose some more also...So I guess it does work, but I guess you also have to be very careful not to over do it...

well, it depends what you mean by 'cheat day'.  if you mean a day once a week when you pig out and eat whatever you want, going a couple thousand calories above maintenance level, well, that MAY do some harm (although not as much as you might think).

however, can eating more calories at least one day per week help with weight loss?  HELL YES!  from what i understand, this is because when you're on a consistent calorie deficit, your body eventually adapts to that and can learn to use energy more efficiently (that is, metabolic slow-down, so you burn fewer calories).  if you eat at or slightly above maintenance one or two days per week, this prevents the body from adapting as quickly - it "re-sets" your metabolism in a sense. 

BUT: for this to work as well as possible, it may help to keep the following in mind:  this will work best if you see your above-maintenance days as PART of your fat-loss plan, not as an indulgence that you should feel guilty about.   if you are on a clean, healthy diet, you shouldn't take these above-maintenance days to mean that you're off it:  eat what you usually do (healthy foods), just eat more of them.  BUT, do give yourself some indulgences, for psychological reasons if nothing else.  allow yourself one treat per week - don't go nuts on it, but 400 or so calories of fatty, sugary, empty carbs will give you a psychological break and, if anything, should be beneficial to your fat-loss.

I'm testing it out now myself I guess, but I think you need to keep in mind that "cheat" shouldn't mean gorging 1000's of calories over maintainence. It should be reasonable, and with the goal of being healthy in mind.

 In an interview I heard Carmen say that she stays looking so thin because she works out and eats super healthy, really low-no carbs all week, then 1 day a week she lets herself have her fave food (pizza). You shouldn't eat junk all day and go overboard with it but I am sure a few extra calories here and there won't hurt. Actually I just remembered reading somewhere that if you change up your calorie intake every day then you are more likely to see weight loss because your body doesn't get used to 1 set amount of calories. HTH

 I have a cheat day once every four days, and it keeps me sane!  I only go 300-400 calories over what I normally eat, and I go right back down to normal the next day.  I have to say that this definitely keeps my metabolism going! 

I can see the logic how having an occasional cheat day may boost your metabolism by keeping your metabolism "on it's toes".

I'm with caitling. The occasional cheat day keeps me sane. It allows me to ENJOY food, occasionally, instead of always having to work around it. It allows me to enjoy family gettogether, holidays, birthday parties, etc.

I allow myself one Cheat Meal a week. No more. And if I know I've got a big Cheat Meal coming up (like thanksgiving) I try to eat lighter throughout the day (high on the vegetable content) and workout that day.

I don't think you should eat "whatever you want" more than a little bit. That's how diets end. But.. an occasional cheat meal is OK, I feel :) 

This is very interesting.  I pretty much do the same thing as hkellick but I don't even think of it as a cheat day, but I guess it is.  I consider it just living.  Although I make healthy food choices the vast majority of the time, I like not being restricted.  I normally don't plan to have a specific cheat day but if I know something is coming up that will likely cause me to eat over my goal then I work it in.  As an example, I may have 2 3000 calorie days in a month but will help balance that out with 4 1800 calorie days to maintain a 2200 calorie average.

Today I hit a milestone for myself.  70 pounds within 10 months.  I do this by 1200-1400 calories each day..and ONE ENTIRE CHEAT DAY.  There are thousands of ways to skin a cat...but i love the way i am doing this.

From 270 in January to 200 this morning!  LOVE CHEAT DAYS

yeah. during my weight loss process i have always eaten what i want on friday and saturday nights .... monday through friday is between 1200 and 1500 a day. fridays and saturdays probably look more like 1800-2000. never caused me to gain weight. very good news.

So, ejwasson..do you mean you do this once a week?  How many calories do you eat that day?

When I'm on track, my cheat day is actually a maintanance day.  I go from my weight loss target of 1450 to my maintenance limit of 1800.  I plan my treat carefully.  It can be very satisfying and prevents cravings.

yes once a week. I let the schedule of events determine when it will be..but i make sure i get the most out of it.  Coldstone or Dairy Queen, McDonalds..whatever...it doesnt matter to me, whatever i want..i eat. ONE DAY EACH WEEK.

it gets me off plateaus.

I guess the reason why I posted this question is because of my recent troubles.

I started off at 187lbs (5"6) and steadily lost weight eating 1500 calories per day.  When I got to 150lbs, I reduced my intake to 1300 calories.

Now at 145 lbs, I seemed to have hit a plateau because I have not lost any weight in a little over a month.

I would like to eventually be 130-135 lbs, but I don't know what to do.

I wonder if this could work for me....

Original Post by hkellick:

I allow myself one Cheat Meal a week. No more. And if I know I've got a big Cheat Meal coming up (like thanksgiving) I try to eat lighter throughout the day (high on the vegetable content) and workout that day.

I don't think you should eat "whatever you want" more than a little bit. That's how diets end. But.. an occasional cheat meal is OK, I feel :) 

Exactly. I have almost lost 100lbs in 5 1/2 months and I did that with cheat meals almost once a week, sometimes every other week. I don't go super crazy and it's one meal. This weekend i'm having Papa John's pizza and i'll probably have 3 or 4 pieces that come out to 900 to 1200 calories. If my meal normally would have been 500 then I have gone 400 to 700 cals over and since I eat lighter but still often the rest of the day it's only about 500 cals over normal and I definately work out that day.

Keep in mind when you cheat you are almost always going to have higher sodium and more water retention so don't flip out when it's 4lbs higher the next day. You have to let your body work and drink lots of water.

Cheat meals are a big reason i'm still on this healthy lifestyle change.

Should a cheat day go to maintenance calories? Or can it be higher?

I've been stalled at the same weight for about three weeks (even gained a little) and I'm eating 1200 calories per day (1500 when I work out). Tomorrow I'm going out for dinner - should I call it a cheat day and order what I like, even though it will probably put me over maintenance (1700/day)?