Cheat Meal ?!?!

[mandy_ydnam]

Hey everyone

Just wondering, do you have cheat meal or not?

X

[Hidden]

Looks like no one's owning up! I have fish n chips from time to time, but in a way that keeps within my calories, just half the chips and none of the batter. Also have a big veggie brunch some wknds, but do this by combining breakfast and lunch calories... Is this the kind of thing you meant? Or fully taking an evening off once a week? If that works for you, and helps you stay on track the rest of the week, then it could be a good strategy

[Spader]

I do sometimes eat things that are less than desirable, particularly after a bit of a boozy evening the night before, but I do not schedule cheat meals in as a rule.

[Hidden]

I have a lot of cheat meals because I have decided no food is banned and now that I am calorie cycling I can have fish and chips one day and then just soup and salad the next as long as I am within my weekly calorie allowance.

I also have chocolate if I want it, but choose fun size instead of the full bar. I m thinking long term about my eating plan and if I constantly deny myself I will have up again. I having everything I want in moderation and keeping my exercise levels high to counter balance 😏

[2bFabnfit]

I don't think of it as cheating (positive psychology only allowed! )

I think of it as mindfulness . So if I have an invitation out or a celebration planned I reduce my calories for a couple of days and save them for that occasion. I don't feel it is cheating but forward planning that allows me to enjoy the occasion without guilt.

[Dave1961 25kg]

I rarely get take away or eat out - 95% of my meals are home made and I don't really have a cheat meal.

The closest I would get is a chicken kebab with lettuce, tabbouli, tomato, hummus and chili sauce but thats not that often I would have that.

I have a cheat FOOD which is my cheat and thats "Cadbury Marvellous Creations Jelly Popping Candy Block".

I can consume a 290g block without really blinking and even though I have been eating quite healthy for 6 months THAT was the thing that was making me gain weight. One of those 3 or 4 or 5 times a week!

I guess because I tend to plan a whole weeks meals I always have something healthy to eat so cheat meals don't really happen that often.

[mandy_ydnam]

Thanks for your comments

Mt weigh day is Saturday so Saturday night I always have a treat/cheat meal. I have a meal completly off plan without even counting calories generally a Chinese take away or KFC or McDonalds, followed with a beer and a chocolate bar. As soon as I have eaten this meal I am straight back on the plan but knowing I have this gives me the motivation all week to be good.

Iv researched it a bit and there is a difference in opinions as to weather you should or shouldn't.

This Saturday I am going to do the same but actually count the calories and try to get it to fit in within my daily limit

[2bFabnfit in reply to mandy_ydnam]

This sort of fits with the calorie cycling idea (so long as calories are counted) Google it but basically you total your weekly allowance (in my case 1200x7).

You can then plan a couple of lower days ie 1000, do 4 days at 1100 and hey presto you can have 2000 on Saturdays!

Some people advocate this as your body is less likely to lower it's metabolic rate if it grts different amounts and can't predict needs etc.

[Hidden in reply to mandy_ydnam]

You can find out the calories for lots of takeaway things like this on myfitnesspal, if you put the company name e.g. kfc and the name of the meal. It might be interesting to see that some of your 'cheat meals' can actually be fitted into your calories, perhaps in a calorie cycling sort of way like 2bfabnfit says.

[mandy_ydnam in reply to Hidden]

Yes that's what I'm going to try this week. Have a 'cheat meal' within my daily calories still x

[Hidden in reply to mandy_ydnam]

Also, having a 'brunch' for fewer calories than breakfast and lunch combined can give you extra for a treat evening. Good luck. I was so pleased to find a way to still have fish and chips within my cals

[mandy_ydnam in reply to Hidden]

Yes that's a good idea to try. Going to try and work treat meal into calories then I won't feel guilty about eating it and can get straight back on plan x

[Hidden in reply to mandy_ydnam]

A good way to get rid of that guilt is by allowing a bit of everything, that's how slim people manage to still eat fast food etc, they just have a little bit of everything

[Andyt2120]

I am really disciplined at home but when I go away all goes out of the window.

Just been away for 5 days during which I've consumed a Byron burger, loaded nachos,

Giant Cornish pasty, takeaway pizza, fish and chips plus 3 cooked breakfasts.

I know it's not trendy to say it was fantastic but it was. I have been healthy eating now for over 14 months and lost 7 1/2 stones.

I have changed the way I eat so much that I can have these types of blowouts very occasionally without it changing my mindset.

One week later I am exactly the same weight as I was at the start of my break. When I got home I have had a really low calorie and carb couple of days and the weight gained just disappeared.

I think it works a bit like the 5:2 diet as the pig out seems to kick start my metabolism again.

Over the last 14 months I have been away for lots of holidays and short breaks where I have gained weight but then lost it extremely quickly on my return.

The secret for me is to immediately get back on plan and be extra strict for the first few days.

For me personally I do not allow myself a cheat meal as part of my normal diet but as soon as I go away cheat like mad.

I am getting to where I am very nearly happy with the weight I've lost and if I could get rid of the last bit of belly fat I really would be happy but will never go back to my old ways. I weigh myself daily and any weight gain at all is addressed immediately. I know some will find this strange but it works for me.

I have not followed any diet plan or counted any calories as part of my weight loss although I do follow an exercise plan.

I am not advocating that anyone goes off plan, I am just stating my experiences.

There is a lot of advice on here telling people what they should or shouldn't eat.

My only advice is get your mindset right, portion control, exercise, eat what is obviously good and avoid obviously bad.

Find what works for you and stick to it . If not working, tinker with it till it does work.

[mandy_ydnam in reply to Andyt2120]

Thanks for sharing that with me Andy, very useful and gave me something to think about.

Well done on your weight loss

You have motivated me so much in what you have said, thank you x

[Hidden]

I have a take away on a Friday. I order half what I used to but having that to look forward to seems to give me motivation during the week.

[Diligent500]

Hi to you

What is a cheat meal??

Explanation would be good.

[mandy_ydnam in reply to Diligent500]

Hi

Basically it is a meal that you would not normally eat on your diet plan.

For example my diet is mainly fruit, salad, veg, meat, eggs, and 30 grams fiber a day therefore food like fast food or alcohol or chocolate is not part of my normal diet so for 1 meal a week I would eat fast food and a bar if chocolate n a bottle of alcohol so I'm not missing out in these foods and it also gives my metabolism a boost.

You can Google it for more information.

Hope this helps slightly x

[Diligent500 in reply to mandy_ydnam]

Thankyou for your reply.

[Gonti 10 kg]

Last night at the cinema I managed to persuade my self that an apricot flapjack was a health choice. I then a slice of lemon polenta cake on the same weird logic. Not the first time that the movies have triggered me into cheat eating!,

[mandy_ydnam in reply to Gonti]

Cinema always gets me too, I eat before I go but then the treats I just can't resist them x

[ICan-IWill]

Saturday is our 'treat' day, but instead of a takeaway we will cook a nice homemade curry or Chinese and share a bottle of wine. I sometimes have a small snack size chocolate bar if the craving is bad! I think the key is moderation and if you have a treat day just make sure that's all it is and get straight back to it the next day. It works for me.

[mandy_ydnam in reply to ICan-IWill]

[Hidden]

Hmm. More how much than what - just have to go large occasionally! #5000cals