Why do people insist on calling them "Cheat" days?

I have been reading a lot of messages on here where people talk about "cheat" days.  I know what they are talking about, but I don't understand why people insist of calling them that.  It is just wrong thinking and signifies in my opinion an incorrect mindset that sets you up to fail.

Here are some of the phrases that really irk me and why:

Cheat days -- implies that I am doing something wrong.  If I have days built into my weight management plan that allow me to eat more or different foods, then it isn't cheating.  It is all part of the plan.  I don't cheat on my plan, I make allowances so that I don't feel deprived and get discouraged.

Going off my diet -- this one implies that I went on a diet.  I didn't go on a diet, I changed my eating patterns from unhealthy to healthy.  When I reach my target weight, I won't "go off my diet", I'll just adjust the amount of calories in my healthy eating plan so that I maintain a healthy weight.  I have made a choice to eat healthy for the rest of my life so that I can live to a ripe old age with my wife and kids and someday, their kids.

There are others, but they all are similar and reflect what I think is the wrong attitude about eating healthy.  And I think that a lot of people here would have an easier time if they not only changed the way they eat, but also how they think about food and weight management.

And for you people obsessed with "starvation mode".  Get a grip people.  One day where you don't eat some magic number of calories isn't going to put you into starvation mode.  It is the repeated process of not consuming enough food that does this.  So if you have one day where you aren't hungry but haven't reached your calorie goal for the day, then DON'T EAT.  The reason so many people are overweight is that they eat when they aren't hungry, but eat instead because it is time to eat, because they are trying to run away from stress or negative emotions, or because they are just being sociable.  Unless you have an eating disorder and your doctor says you must eat some specific number of calories per day, then don't eat if you aren't hungry.  If you don't make your calorie goal for the day, it isn't the end of the world.  Just don't make it a habit. 

Sorry if I offend anyone, but the most important tool in losing weight is your brain.  Use it people. 

I agree, and think you are very intelligent for posting this.  People really need to think of this stuff.

I think you're absolutely right.  We are all here for support in starting or maintaining a healthier lifestyle.  I know I don't want to think of myself as "on a diet" or "cheating" if I eat something that's not the best choice.  It's a matter of using more positive thinking that helps, not defeats, one psychologically. 

Historically, "going off a diet" has given me license to eat like a pig because "I'll start the diet again tomorrow."  Whereas, if you think about trying to make better choices and sometimes you didn't make the best choice, it leaves you free to make a better choice next time.

"Diets" have never worked for me.  Motivating myself to eat better (in general, there will always be times I have something decadent) so I have more energy and live longer has worked.

- Barbara

anyone with a weak enough state of mind to break over calling it a "cheat" day wont make it either way.  So who cares ya?

You're right that some phrases are not meant to be taken literally. This site especially has a lot of slang vocabulary. However, that's just what it is: slang. For the most part it's used for convenience. I hope that fact didn't go over your head while you were writing that? No one person decides how language evolves. It's very easy to say a particular thing shouldn't be called something, but very hard to try to change it in a large community.

I think it is just a fun way of being "naughty".  No one takes it that seriously.  A "cheat" day is just a little slap at our diets. You know, "My diet has been really tough on me, but I can sneak out and have a treat!"  Fun, but not harmful.

I don't really care about the "cheat" day nomenclature argument, it's just semantics methinks.  I totally agree with your statement about starvation mode though.  When your body has gotten to this point, it's not some "Hmmmm... Am I starving myself?" thing.  You have to actually try pretty hard to get there.  Absoloutely don't eat if you're not hungry.  If you're actually starving, your body will let you know that very well before you start starving.

 

I dont think its an attittude, but a way to differentiate it from stricter days.  If you have 'cheat' days, youre already allowing for them. 

Original Post by giggle_puppy:

anyone with a weak enough state of mind to break over calling it a "cheat" day wont make it either way. So who cares ya?

I call **** on that argument.  It is a myth that willpower is the key to a successful diet.

And I am so simple minded that I have lost over 90 pounds since June of last year. 

But it is sound psychological theory that by creating negative connotations by using phrases like those I pointed out can sabotage your efforts to succeed.  And a lot of the posts that I have seen recently have been by people who are having trouble with "cheat" days leading to binging. 

I am just saying that if we use our brain and do proper planning to not deprive ourselves all of the time and include small indulgences into the plan, maybe some of those people wouldn't be struggling as much as they are.  And if we encourage the use of positive planning instead of being lazy and calling them "cheat" days, it might help those people who are struggling.

I think that a much better phrase than "cheat" days is "planned indulgence" days.  A positive instead of a negative.

And vendicare, I don't agree that it is just semantics.  If it was, then why are so many people here struggling with cheat days.

If you care at all about supporting others here, consider using positive language and encourage thoughtful planning instead of just being lazy and using negative terminology. 

Original Post by techdog:

If you care at all about supporting others here, consider using positive language and encourage thoughtful planning instead of just being lazy

Awesome way to recruit people to your cause. Your argument is so positive.

I agree, when my friends and others have asked me if I'm on a diet I say I'm not, I'm just trying to eat healthier or I AM eating healthier, and I always make a point of correcting them when they tell others I am on a diet. The term 'diet' as most people interpret it is a temporary dietary change to reach a goal. While restricting my calories is temporary, eating healthy is not, and I will continue that even after I reach my goal.

different people handle different things different ways. Some people will eat strict all week and have a day of all pizza on sunday, some people will have 2 good meals and 1 imperfect one, some people will be strict until they cant take it anymore and finally give into temptation. Everyone feels differently about their "diets" or healthier eating (however anyone wants to read it), the same way people manage stress. As long as its healthy and it makes them happy it shouldnt matter.. hell i even indulge on pizza sunday occasionally, it keeps me sane.

 I also think putting people down for the way they eat, or diet, or whatever word you like isnt the way to encourage dieting

Okay.  Those who pointed out that calling people lazy isn't the best way to get people to agree with my point of view are right.  Lazy isn't the right word.  I should have said that I think it would help those who are struggling if we could use more positive words instead of just using slang that might have negative connotations.

And where in what I wrote, did I say that having days where you relax your healthy eating standards is bad.  I don't know where you got the idea that I was putting down people who have planned indulgence days, I just wish people would use more positive ways to describe it, instead of using the negative phrase "cheating".  And I don't want to encourage dieting, I want to encourage healthy living. :)

BTW, I am not alone in thinking that the way people think about weight management plans is important.  Weight Watchers, the Mayo Clinic, and others say the same thing.   I have just finished books from both of those groups that included chapters on the psychological aspects of living a healthier lifestyle.

I agree with your view on "starvation mode".  The reason people are overweight is because they eat when it's unnecessary.  Thank god you said it.  I really don't understand starvation mode and everyone's obsession.  Maybe someone needs to explain it to me?  I don't understand calorie goals either.  Do you only work for maintaining a calorie goal when you're underweight?  Does it matter if you're overweight?  Now this has really got me wondering.  Please help me out here.

techdog and seelyseelyseely,

Here's the deal with starvation mode.  A lot of people who diet overly restrict their calories.  They will eat under 1200 calories -- 1000, 800, or even less. They will rack up deficits larger than 1000 calories. 

This is based on a belief that the less you eat, the faster you will lose weight. And it is also based on some pretty pervasive bad advice. I remember as a teenager reading weight loss articles in mainstream women's magazines that recommended 800-1000 calories, and trying unsuccessfully to follow those diets!

Unfortunately, restricting calories that heavily does *not* lead to faster weight loss, at least not after some initial loss. Instead,  people stop losing weight or lose weight more slowly.  That is because if the body isn't getting enough food to fuel its basic functions, then the metabolism slows down.  Many many people on this site have this experience.

The solution to this problem is to increase calories so that the person has a 500-1000 calorie deficit, and is eating enough to fuel their body's metabolism. 

Original Post by techdog:

I have been reading a lot of messages on here where people talk about "cheat" days. I know what they are talking about, but I don't understand why people insist of calling them that. It is just wrong thinking and signifies in my opinion an incorrect mindset that sets you up to fail.

Here are some of the phrases that really irk me and why:

Cheat days -- implies that I am doing something wrong. If I have days built into my weight management plan that allow me to eat more or different foods, then it isn't cheating. It is all part of the plan. I don't cheat on my plan, I make allowances so that I don't feel deprived and get discouraged.

Going off my diet -- this one implies that I went on a diet. I didn't go on a diet, I changed my eating patterns from unhealthy to healthy. When I reach my target weight, I won't "go off my diet", I'll just adjust the amount of calories in my healthy eating plan so that I maintain a healthy weight. I have made a choice to eat healthy for the rest of my life so that I can live to a ripe old age with my wife and kids and someday, their kids.

There are others, but they all are similar and reflect what I think is the wrong attitude about eating healthy. And I think that a lot of people here would have an easier time if they not only changed the way they eat, but also how they think about food and weight management.

And for you people obsessed with "starvation mode". Get a grip people. One day where you don't eat some magic number of calories isn't going to put you into starvation mode. It is the repeated process of not consuming enough food that does this. So if you have one day where you aren't hungry but haven't reached your calorie goal for the day, then DON'T EAT. The reason so many people are overweight is that they eat when they aren't hungry, but eat instead because it is time to eat, because they are trying to run away from stress or negative emotions, or because they are just being sociable. Unless you have an eating disorder and your doctor says you must eat some specific number of calories per day, then don't eat if you aren't hungry. If you don't make your calorie goal for the day, it isn't the end of the world. Just don't make it a habit.

Sorry if I offend anyone, but the most important tool in losing weight is your brain. Use it people.

 I'll agree with the constant annoying starvation mode comments and questions in these forums; it takes MONTHS to really knock out your metabolism into starvation mode as they call it, one day WILL NOT kill you.

On the other hand, I completely disagree with the cheat day. Every fitness and health magazine will also call it a cheat day, just because you personally have changed your lifestyle, some people still are just "dieting" and therefore use days a couple days a month to just cheat on it. Stuff they normally may not eat, whether it be a little or a lot, it allows them to eat what they enjoy in a non-guilty fashion. 

Personally I have what I call a sweet day where I can have a desert of some sort. I try not to go overboard with it. It might be something like a piece of cake, cookies or some other sweet item that I try to avoid through out the week. The purpose of it is to keep myself from binging out on sugar laden foods later on. So far it is working. I enjoyed a yummy blueberry muffin yesterday that definately satsified my sweet tooth.

I'm glad you said that about starvation mode. It seems like the more you get away from packaged foods and begin eating healthier foods, the more food you can eat for the same amount of calories. And it's surprisingly how full you can get and still have a calorie deficit even after eating three square meals plus snacks a day. I'm glad I don't have to freak out just because I'm a bit under 1200 one day when most of the time I eat around 1350.

I tend to go under a lot too because my matenience is suppose to be around 2500....and thats just sedentary, not days I run, have tennis matches/practice or lift....To me, thats a ridiculous amount of calories.

I think Techdog's comments are less about language and more about attitude.  The way we approach weight loss will matter when it comes to maintaining.  Some are well aware so the use of language is not such a big issue, however some will benefit from changing how they view the process.  In this case language does matter. 

I also feel that a change of attitude must coincide with actually looking at what causes/ed us to be overweight in the first place.  

The Terminology is irrelevant, you can call it foo foo dayfor all I care. If it;s working for you go for it. JMO

it's more about the attitude behind the words then the actual words used.  If you look at it as a "cheat day" you have not had a paradigm shift to a new life style and are still just "dieting".  In having a life style change one realizes that the goal is to eat healthy 85% of the time.  There are birthdays, party's, night's out with friends, football party's...the list goes on.  If one is "dieting" they use this day as an opportunity to over indulge.  A person who has truly had the paradigm shift will instead have the "unhealthy" food in moderation and move on the next day without guilt or "making up" for the extra calories they may have had the day before.

The difficulty is that the paradigm shift is soooo hard given our society and the belief of "diets" and the magic calorie consumption number.  For people to learn and make a habit of healthy eating is the challenge.  If it was easy society would not be obese.  Thus, this site and the large amount of people who come here for support. 

Yes, everyone is different and everyone has different goals and end plans.  But, in order to be healthy and have a healthy weight for the long term food can not be obsessed over, counted, deprived, denied, over indulged.  It instead needs to be seen as a fuel for our bodies that is to be enjoyed in the moderation that your body needs.  And unlike an alcoholic who gives up alcohol, people who have addictions with food can not just stop eating, they need to learn to live with and overcome their addictions.  And here in lies the problem.