Cheat meals

[rj92x]

What are people's thoughts on cheat meals and cheat days? Do they help you stay on track by having a chance to have something you love? Or does it ruin your progress? In a moral dilemma! Thanks X

[sueper]

Hi, I am a fan and have one evening (and only evening) off once a week. I find it really keeps me on track and stops me from caving in on other days.

I think maybe it depends how much weight you have to lose and how long your journey is going to be. I am looking at 2 - 3 years, so no way I could go all that time without the odd indulgence.

I know some people would just give in if they had a day off so it really is all about finding what works for you

[Hidden]

I would say, and I could well be wrong that if you have a calorie target of 2000 and occasionally eat 2500 but often fall short at say 18000, then the odd day you are over, is not a cheat, it is simply part of a normal eating pattern, with peaks and troughs. I defy anyone to eat exactly the target number of calories for the rest of their lives

[weedeepeachy]

I always have a cheat meal. On a Monday night after after I've been weighed. Have something really nice that you enjoy. Helps keep me on track

[GoogleMe]

I don't find the concept of 'cheating' a helpful one... usually cheating means an attempt to gain unfair advantage... which hardly applies here!

[saltseakate]

Hi rj92x,

I agree with the others - below comments.

Saturday and Sundays I let myself have an "incentive" - not a cheat. It might be a piece of cake, a chocolate bar, something extra on my plate. Keeping on track the other days - within the calorie limits (1400 for women, more for men) has become a lifestyle. You will still lose weight!

What's more, you will enjoy the odd respite. So - do not think about yourself as cheating, but as rewarding yourself for the new, disciplined you.

Good luck and thanks for the opportunity to think about this.

[Prin]

Its what ever works for you - we have a lot of success on this forum with all different types of eating plans - what ever it is you are going to have to stick to it long term. It might be a mix of things I eat much less in the week and exercise quite a bit, then eat more at weekends it works as a regular pattern for me. Anything overley faddy tends not to work as you go back to your old ways once you have finished, think is this something I wouldn't mind continuing with long term? if the answer is yes then cheat/reward what ever you call it go for it good luck! Remember life is for living you cant just ignore eating out celebration, xmas, holidays you want to be happy ( at those time sometimes I give myself a little pinch - and remember the terrible but true comment nothing tastes as good as skinny feels) Skinny by the way is all relative I don't mean size 6! it could be size 16