(Cheat Days)? good,bad?

I was reading a few post today about some people saying its ok,some saying it's not. What's your opinion? Mine is that it's ok to have a cheat day as long as it is done in moderation. For example like if I'm going to have pizza then I make sure to not go over my caloric intake or at least I won't consume 3 or 4 pieces I usually enjoy 2 slices and don't eat the end crust,that way I enjoyed my meal but at the same time stayed within my caloric range for weight loss,fats,saturated fats etc. that's my opinion of a cheat day.

I'm new to this site but not weight loss. I lost a lot of weight before with cheat days every week or 2. My cheat days consisted of adding a couple tacos to my normal diet though. I lost about 50 pounds in 6 months this way. Also note that I was running 5 miles a day 5 days a week. After that I began to cheat more. I would add in a day a week where I would eat a whole pizza for example. I lost no weight after a month of this! I was so discouraged that I gave up and gained a lot of weight and here I am restarting. So from personal experience I say cheat days are a no go but a meal that does not go overboard every week or 2 is not going to do you any harm. I hope I've helped. Good luck!

If you are strict everyday except for one day where you indulge under 3000 calories you trick your metabolism so it speeds it up. I had a cheat day each week and still lost 50 pounds in 6 months properly. And I ate everything in that one day!

Original Post by susangerist:

If you are strict everyday except for one day where you indulge under 3000 calories you trick your metabolism so it speeds it up. I had a cheat day each week and still lost 50 pounds in 6 months properly. And I ate everything in that one day!

I agree, I did that too. Lost the same amount of weight, 50 pounds, and on weekends I treat myself to a takeaway on Saturday night and a nice breakfast on Sunday. I think if you are too strict with yourself every day you lost the motivation because you get bored, especially if you aren't seeing the results you want to see, and then you are more likely to binge.

I think they are ok if you don't overdo it. This diet I'm on now lets you have a celebratory meal twice a week in one of its phases.

Not the whole day but its still the same concept. It fools your metabolism for one thing and thats good.

Plus I could say to myself...I'm never ever ever, as long as I live going to eat any candy, sweet stuff, junk carbs, etc!

Uh yeah, that will happen! *GRIN* 

Original Post by bo56:

I think they are ok if you don't overdo it. This diet I'm on now lets you have a celebratory meal twice a week in one of its phases.

Not the whole day but its still the same concept. It fools your metabolism for one thing and thats good.

Plus I could say to myself...I'm never ever ever, as long as I live going to eat any candy, sweet stuff, junk carbs, etc!

Uh yeah, that will happen! *GRIN* 

Oh, hey - are you on Dukan?  I've been on it for 8 weeks now and I've lost over 28lbs.  My doctor is amazed and is now plowing through the book for herself.

On cheat days, I think they work as long as you know the limits in advance.  A cheat day shouldn't be turning into a binge day on a regular basis but I think it's a good thing to be able to have something you really enjoy once in a while.  Done right, cheat days are probably a good teaching tool for long term moderation.

Personally I don't believe in cheat days.  I also believe that if you are on a diet where you feel the need to cheat then you need to re-think your diet.  You should be able to eat Pizza or a couple of extra tacos or a bowl of ice cream and not have to cheat to do it.

Yup! I'm on Dukin, attack phase and I've lost 5lbs in 6 days. Not to shabby. :)