eating off plan (opinions please)

fitat49

fitat49

Cathlete
Hey Ladies, I just wanted some opinions on if every so often it does the body good to eat off for a day. Meaning for example I eat pretty much healthy all the time, It's very rare I eat something that's not healthy. My question is do you think it helps kick start the metabolism to eat off plan for only 1 day and then go back to normal? Thanks, Lori
 
I think that everybody is different when it comes to what works for them, but I will say that I have had much success with giving myself one "cheat" day a week. I usually eat pretty healthy throughout the day but allow myself to go out to dinner and eat whatever I want, or order pizza and eat however much I want. I allow myself to have some wine or beer. When I started doing this I actually saw my weight loss speed up. The only pitfall to this is when the "cheat" days become 2 days a week and then 3 days a week, etc. I felt that having that one day a week made it easier for me to eat healthy the rest of the time because whenever I would crave something I would just tell myself that I could have it on my "cheat" day. If I tell myself I can never have something, or not have something any time soon I only want it more. Again, everyone is different, but this has worked extremely well for me.

Katie
 
I did the same as the OP did and it worked for a longtime until I starting being careless and adding in an extra one and there.:eek:
Sometimes you can get away with 2, but 3 meals a week consistently, no way!
 
Hey Lori! Well I have to say that I am one of the unfortunate ones. I tried this whole one cheat day thing, but it doesn't work for me. However, if I do eat whatever I want, however much I want, and still do cardio for that day...I don't seem to gain any weight. But like you others saying it speeds up weight loss...boy how I wish it would work for me! LOL! but like it's been said, everyones different! I just gotta work a bit harder! =)
 
A "planned splurge meal" (I don't like the word cheat--it implies doing something wrong) once a week or a small treat once a day works for me to keep me sane and binge free. It's also very easy for me to add a little here and there, so I try to limit the treats to 200 calories or less and it can't be a trigger food or I'll have more. For the once a week splurge meal I usually eat light the day before and then eat low cal/low carb the rest of the day and have a resonable portion of whatever I want.
 
Hi!

I have been doing a "free day" for awhile now and I've lost 18 pounds to date! :)

My diet is pretty tight during the week. I eat mini meals and eat about 1350-1400 calories per day, however I'm still in a calorie deficit of 1000 calories per day during those 6 days according to my bodybugg.

However, on Saturday/free day, I don't count calories "per se" but when I have counted, I eat at least as many as I put out so about 2400-2500 calories for the day! Yep, you heard me--I enjoy whatever I've been craving whether it be a meal out, pizza, ice cream, etc--sometimes I don't eat as much as that but on other days it is close! :D

It seems to work for me. I weigh myself every day but my official weigh in day is Saturday morning. It usually takes a few days to return to normal but I attribute that more to water retention from salt, etc from the "icky" food I ate on Saturday. I still continue to lose on my weigh in days and I don't feel "left out". I can plan events on Saturday and not feel like I can't participate because "I am on a diet". (like this Saturday our church is hosting a Garden Party and how fun would that be to go and not be able to partake of any of the food??)

Anywho, to each their own, but it does take some restraint on the individual to make sure it is only 1 day and not 2, 3, 4 or MORE!

Good luck!


Denise
 
Cheat days

I've been doing one cheat day a week for years now & it works very well for me. A lot of plans factor it in, like Weight Watchers & Body for Life. Abs Diet, too, I believe.
 
I do and yeah it seems to help. I just don't eat something that I know always makes me put on weight overnight. I usually go for some fried fish or something like that. Yesterday, I had a bean burrito and a taco. I had reached my calorie goals by lunch time and just didn't eat the rest of the day. I didn't feel hungry. Sometimes, eating what you are craving just fixes it providing there is some fat and protein in their. Usually, sweets don't work for me. I don't know if any of that made any sense.
 
I've played around with this concept for years. What does NOT work for me (as noted by others) is to include any binge or trigger foods. And I have to limit my 'cheat day' to about every 2 weeks.

What DOES work for me
- zig zag on the calories. I do pretty low (a bit above BMR) 5 days a week. One day/week about 300 calories above and one day/week about 500 calories above. All of these are below what I 'burn'
- one day every two weeks I 'blow out' the calories and don't count
- I still eat within my guidelines on all days. Just more of them than on others. For me this means I still stay vegan.

This is working. Previously I was eating too low and had not been able to lose for years. Even as a raw vegan. :-( I upped my calories and am very conscious of my calorie burn with my GoWear Fit. I've now lost 12 lbs since mid May which for me is a phenomonal amount. I still have a lot to lose but am averaging about 1lb/week.
 
Thank You all for your opinions! I think I will try and give myself a treat every so often. After all we all deserve it after working out with Cathe!! Lori
 
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