why a free day didn't work for me?

everyone here talks about life style change.. and how it is more important than diet. So I had one cheat day three months and it didnt work for me. I couldn't stop bingeing since then.

why does this work for some people but not me?:(

Ya know, when you are determined to make a "lifestyle" change, you don't look at it as every hour, everyday.....for me, I look at it as the overall picture of things.  I am very, very good during the week but usually on Sat. or Sun., I "blow it out".  So what if it takes 3 days to lose another lb. after that.  I feel that a true lifestyle change balanced with a "free" day is healthy for you mentally.  I am not obese, I am about 13 lbs. over weight, now,  after starting my new lifestyle on Jan. 2nd.  I feel better, I look better, my clothes fit better....You can not deny yourself every indulgence in life.  Don't feel guilty you had a relapse, get back on the "wagon" and do what you can to help yourself feel good about yourself.....  I wish you all the best!  :>)

Everyone is different in how they view food and counting calories.

For me, I don't really do cheat days but I'll sometimes do a cheat meal. If I really feel like it I will have a hamburger or bacon cheeseburger or whatever I really want, but I'll usually have a side of steamed vegetables. I have pizza at least once a week, but instead of ordering a large pizza for delivery I keep a bunch of personal BBQ chicken pizzas in my freezer and have a bag of broccoli with it.

I also don't keep a specific caloric goal, I leave a certain amount of flexibility so that I don't feel deprived. I aim for a 300-700 calorie deficit every day but don't worry about the days when I have no deficit whatsoever, as long as I don't go over by too much it's still a good day. Unless I'm planning on something special I find that I don't really have to work too hard at resisting temptation unless I buy the junk food in which case I will eat it. Trips to amusement parks I do pack granola bars, but part of that is so that I'm not spending ridiculous amounts of money of food that isn't good for me anyway.

Here's a thought--

If a "cheat day" knocked you off the wagon, maybe a "cheat day" can get you back on it.

Why don't you pick a day--let's say this Wednesday--to have a reverse cheat day? Don't commit just yet to getting back on the wagon, because that may just sound too daunting. But commit to having just one day like you had before the cheat day. Plan to eat like you did when you had your bingeing under control. For just one day. And then, at the end of that day, see how you feel.

I bet that you can do it for just one day. And then, you may discover that you could do it again, for just one day. And then again, for just one day. And then the next thing you know, you're back in control.

I know that, for me, the thought of "for the rest of my life" scares the hell out of me. "For tomorrow," however, I can handle.

Would you try that? Would you try this Wednesday to have a reverse cheat day, for just one day? Then tell us how it goes.

Thanks everyone.

Thanks beckyeas. I will try it this Wed and let you know. would you wait for my report? thanks for your support.

Safina--

It's Wednesday. How are you doing today?

We're thinking of you, and hoping it was a better day . . .

Beckyeas:) good morning to you.

I have to say that the support that I get from you and this community is invaluable.

Yesterday, I did great and went to the gym. I didn't binge or anything. Today, I had a good breakfast ( egg white, non fat milk  a piece of bread, and one orange).

Although I am happy but the weekends scare me. I will try my best to eat healthy this weekend.

Way to go, Safina1! 

Another thing that might help is to not cut your calories too low.  You should probably aim for a slow loss of not more than 1 lb a week (you know a 500 cal deficit).  That way there is less chance of you waking up the hunger/craving beast.

At Xmas time I ate close to my maintenance level.  I was afraid of being hungry around holiday sweets.  That strategy seemed to work - I only had a few "extras" and NO binges.

(edit spelling)

Safina--

Don't be afraid of the weekend.  You can definitely do this.  Use your momentum from how good you did today to help you sail through this weekend making healthy choices.  Don't you feel great, physically AND mentally, from the healthy choices you made?  Don't you want to keep feeling that way?  Then keep up the good work, I know you can do it!

Way to go Safina! That's wonderful news!

I completely understand your fears about the weekend. I've discovered that I snack much more at home than anywhere else--the food is here, I'm not as busy, I'm out of my usual routine. I don't know what a typical Saturday is like for you, but maybe you could try keeping yourself as occupied as you are on a weekday. Get out of the house and away from the snacky stuff that is just so tempting. It's too cold and miserable here to do any outside activities, so that might not be an option for you, either, but maybe you could go walk around at a mall, or go to a museum, or some other activity that isn't focused on FOOD.

And remember, Saturday is just one more day. Not a lifetime of weekends. You can do just one day, can't you? It'll feel GREAT!

I think free days work for me because:

1-) I have incorporated them into my diet since day one; I take a free day every 2 weeks or on holidays etc. So they aren't new to me.

2-) I'm not deprived on my regular diet, I love my diet as much as I love free days.

3-) I know that it's not the last time I will get to indulge, so I don't mind getting back on track the day after.

4-) I strive for balance, not perfection. As long as I'm making healthy choices most of the time, I don't mind some imperfection in my eating choices. 

Original Post by safina1:

musictchr: last week, I bought those kashi cookies just to allow myself a treat once in while instead of those starbucks cakes I eat everyday. Guess what? I finished the entire pack before I go home.

I blame myself for listening to the cheat day advice because I am unable to come back.

oh my gosh, sorry.  Well look at the bright side, you got your fiber for the day :+)

It is Friday almost 4 pm. I am about to leave work soon. and I want to eat muffins. :( I don't know why this happens on the weekend.

You know, I had gotten into the habit of putting the kids to bed each evening and then treating myself. And is there a worse time of day to eat than 9:00 at night??

But I discovered that, if I'd just wait it out for a little while, I usually could skip it. Get my hands busy, knitting or messing around on the computer. Just wait awhile, I'd tell myself. And if I'm still hungry, then I'll get something. Usually, I'd be fine. Sometimes, though, I'd still really want something, and then I'd try to get something not so bad for me. My new favorite night-time snack is fat free chocolate pudding and a cinnamon sugar graham cracker. Not great, but a whole lot better than cookies!!!

Anyway--here's my advice. Just wait awhile. I'm not saying never have another muffin. But just not right now. Wait awhile. Get your hands busy, go read a book, take a walk--do something that's impossible to do while snacking. I bet that, after awhile, you'll discover that you're just fine without that muffin.

But if you're not, see if you can make a smart choice. Not a big, giant muffin. But aren't there some 100 Calorie Packs of muffins? Heck, eat two of those packs and you're still better off!

Let us know how you're doing.

Becky

I overate and I don't even know how many calories I consumed.

It started Friday night and I felt so down.

Any ideas on how to spend those terrible weekends?

Perhaps we could be more helpful if you describe what is so different about the weekends, as compared to the weekdays. Is is what you do, who you're with, where you are? Tell us more, and then we can give you more specific advice. (And I'll admit--maybe as you describe the weekend, you'll also see what it is that makes them so difficult for you.) But let's see.

hello beckyeas, thanks. This weekend was ok. I was so happy on Sat that I didnt binge but I did so bad on Sunday. I had two sandwiches egg and cheese and one piece of cake from starbucks over my cals.