Cheat meals: No point!

[SubjectiveIllusion]

Cheating is so short lived, and its consequences far outweigh its benefits!

Easily put- 'taste is transitory.'

Just my 2c.

 

[HANSEL]

thanks for the motivator man, seriously.

 

[Mr.X]

Cheating is so short lived, and its consequences far outweigh its benefits!

Easily put- 'taste is transitory.'

Just my 2c.

Cheating and refeeding are two different things. A controlled refeed and/or carb-up can be VERY beneficial for your diet in the long-run - see my other posts for similar explanations on leptin and thyroid levels.

Mr.X

 

[SubjectiveIllusion]

thanks for the motivator man, seriously.

Your welcome. I hope it comes to good use!

Cheating and refeeding are two different things. A controlled refeed and/or carb-up can be VERY beneficial for your diet in the long-run - see my other posts for similar explanations on leptin and thyroid levels.

Notice how I only mentioned 'cheating', and not 'refeeding.' If what you eat has a positive longterm outcome I'm an advocate, otherwise no. I have been through the binge/purge cycle (vomiting, over-excercise, laxatives, fasting etc..) and cheating (without damage control- ouch!!!) and know that the physical and mental effects are just not worth it. I just cannot see the point in getting 10-30 minutes of pleasure eating when you'll either end up in worse shape or be making up for it the rest of the week.

When I first made that saying up ('taste is transitory' or 'taste is transient'), I repeated it over and over in my tape recorder for 1 hour. I listened to it for 3 nights in a row when I'd go to sleep. It repeated 4500 x's.

I have been dieting on 1200-1600 calories for a long time now and not cheated since. I don't even think about the saying anymore or even about cheating. I've come to the realization that eating is merely to support life. I calculate, grab my food, eat, and thats all, never to come back for more.

I find everything just seems to come naturally when you want it bad enough.

 

[Mr.X]

Your welcome. I hope it comes to good use!


Notice how I only mentioned 'cheating', and not 'refeeding.' If what you eat has a positive longterm outcome I'm an advocate, otherwise no. I have been through the binge/purge cycle (vomiting, over-excercise, laxatives, fasting etc..) and cheating (without damage control- ouch!!!) and know that the physical and mental effects are just not worth it. I just cannot see the point in getting 10-30 minutes of pleasure eating when you'll either end up in worse shape or be making up for it the rest of the week.

When I first made that saying up ('taste is transitory' or 'taste is transient'), I repeated it over and over in my tape recorder for 1 hour. I listened to it for 3 nights in a row when I'd go to sleep. It repeated 4500 x's.

I have been dieting on 1200-1600 calories for a long time now and not cheated since. I don't even think about the saying anymore or even about cheating. I've come to the realization that eating is merely to support life. I calculate, grab my food, eat, and thats all, never to come back for more.

I find everything just seems to come naturally when you want it bad enough.

There is a difference between cheating and refeeds (controlled) and I find many people misuse the wording, yet I understand where you're coming from. The momentary pleasure is usually outweighed later by the guilt of cheating - a lot of psychological issues come into play here.

Mr.X

 

[SubjectiveIllusion]

Also studies say that completely avoiding a desired food can alleviate its temptation, and I can concur with that.

..and Many people cannot eat a cheat food and then just stop, or all they can think of is their next cheat day, and that often results in cheating earlier and earlier. You get what I'm saying.

By not having a cheat day you are slowly accustoming your body accepting that- 'this does not happen', and eventually you will suppress the desire to cheat.

At least thats what I've found for myself, but theres more to it then just that...

 

[Mr.X]

Also studies say that completely avoiding a desired food can alleviate its temptation, and I can concur with that.

..and Many people cannot eat a cheat food and then just stop, or all they can think of is their next cheat day, and that often results in cheating earlier and earlier. You get what I'm saying.

By not having a cheat day you are slowly accustoming your body accepting that- 'this does not happen', and eventually you will suppress the desire to cheat.

At least thats what I've found for myself, but theres more to it then just that...

The simplest way not to cheat is to have timed and controlled refeeds (carb-ups) every week, usually 5/1 intervals. The main reason people do cheat is because of a lack of a set path to how a proper diet is set up. If one is to set up their diet correctly w/ refeeds saturated around hunger periods (potential cheat times), it would cut out any possiblily of binge eating.

Mr.X

 

[SubjectiveIllusion]

The main reason people do cheat is because of a lack of a set path to how a proper diet is set up.

Good point, but think most people eat out of pure hunger or tend to turn to food when they are stressed, so becoming stress-free is often quite useful.

I find manipulating food in such a way as to try to reduce hunger (low G.I. foods, meal spacing, proportions, etc) does not work nearly as well as just changing your mentality.

I can eat 1600, 1200, 750, 250 or 0 calories per day for long periods of time because I changed the way I 'think.' The type of food need not matter. I've eaten 1 tsp of PB in the morning and 250 calories worth of carrots during the day, for a month on pure will power (I don't advise it- my hands are still orange, LOL!!!)

Its mostly all in the mind.

 

[Mr.X]

Good point, but think most people eat out of pure hunger or tend to turn to food when they are stressed, so becoming stress-free is often quite useful.
.

Being stress free is always an issue, but overall it's the timing and type of diet that the person is on that becomes relevant when these instances come together.

Mr.X

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

cheating once a while keeps me sane and keeps me from straying from my diet
it also allows me to socialise and enjoy myself when i go out with friends and family

2 or 3 meals a week are great as long as i'm training hard i don't see a harm

 

[JKurz1]

I think the word "cheat" has gotten a bad rap......I "cheat" daily, but when I think of cheating, I think of adding a few shots of sugar free syrup to my protein drinks, or an added tb of peanut butter, or a few extra handfuls of peanuts.......not the same as "blowing your diet" or binging, by hitting Wendys or KFC.......thats totally different...good post though.

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

yeah i dont condone binge eating
(ok i have my moments at all u can eat buffets lol)
but if u can help it, don't "cheat" and possibly eat more "Good food" to satisfy hunger (i usually double or triple dose the veggies and double dose on protein or have a bowl of oatmeal lol)

 

[Deleted member 33117]

Honestly, I loose weight faster when dieting if I go hog wild on my refeeds and stuff down tons of pizza and ice cream rather than brown rice and chicken.

 

[chewyxrage]

Pizza is definately my refeed food of choice.

 

[mrjoker5150]

Cheat meals are the only thing that keeps my sanity... well, that and weed.

 

[jaymis]

bodyby fina

is there a reason for this, do you do this every week

 

[KWKSLVR]

Honestly, I loose weight faster when dieting if I go hog wild on my refeeds and stuff down tons of pizza and ice cream rather than brown rice and chicken.

I'm the same way, but only if I refeed like that around once a month. I'll literally wake up the next morning and found that I've lost 2lbs (that seems to stay off).

 

[STEP OFF]

if you have a strong mind, then 'cheating' once in a while will not hinder your gains .. i dont understand those that have a strict diet, dont go out in fear of drinking, dont accept cake when at a birthday part, etc, etc. enjoy life!

 

[ohashi]

Honestly, I loose weight faster when dieting if I go hog wild on my refeeds and stuff down tons of pizza and ice cream rather than brown rice and chicken.

Wow, my head is spinning, so I'm not 100% sure on what you said there.

Your cut progresses better if you go wild on the "refeed" day rather than controlling your carbohydrate intake?

 

[JJ from GoodTimes]

Can someone explain refeed to me. And how is it different from Cheat day.

 

[Mr.X]

Can someone explain refeed to me. And how is it different from Cheat day.

Refeed is a controlled type of a carb-up where you're taking in controlled amounts of set foods.

Cheat is where you basically eat anything you feel like and/or want.

Mr.X

 

[JKurz1]

No need...I havent had pizza, fast food, cake, etc..in years and don't miss it at all...Davinchi sugar free syrups - I'm telling you - are the key to all sanity.....that and some peanuts or ff cool whip.......it's all good...........

 

[slugfast6868]

i find that if I cheat, I am more likely to convince myself again later to cheat. Its funny how diets tend to do that to you, but if its controlled its not a problem. Just try to stay away from alcohol, thats what typically causes me to have a cheat meal that turns into a binge meal

 

[borg4902]

Its great my cheats are lots and lots of beer just on fri and sat, and lately when I get home I just walk right past the fridge like its not ever there. I love it.

 

[slugfast6868]

I wish I was you Borg... after like a 6 pack on a friday night, I have to have willpower not to eat a pizza. But thats me, I dont drink if "on", but do occaisonally have some fun when I am just maintaining

 

[Nathan101085]

condiments

Mr. X when you say controlled refeeds how MUCH are you saying and how exactly can that help you? Also is ther a way to figure out how long between them and are they anything goes carbs like sugar or whatever or someone mentioned pizza. I've been hearing cheat meals can somehow help but for the life of me cant bring myself to do it.. If i had a good reason though like a refeed i'm sure it wouldnt hurt if it could help.

 

[Deleted member 33117]

ohashi, if I go hog wild and gorge myself until I'm sick on my refeed day, yes, I lose MORE fat throughout the next week than I do on refeed days where I eat clean and limit my food.

 

[Deleted member 33117]

ohashi, on the other hand, I have no trouble following my diet very strictly during the rest of the week. I'm rarely even tempted to cheat.

 

[Mr.X]

Re: condiments

Mr. X when you say controlled refeeds how MUCH are you saying and how exactly can that help you? Also is ther a way to figure out how long between them and are they anything goes carbs like sugar or whatever or someone mentioned pizza. I've been hearing cheat meals can somehow help but for the life of me cant bring myself to do it.. If i had a good reason though like a refeed i'm sure it wouldnt hurt if it could help.

I usually advocate a low-gi/high-gi refeed, which you would have seen in my CKD manual (carb up section).

A controlled carb up usually contains the following ratios:
weight x 15
70%carbs/20%protein/10%fat

first 3 meals high-gi: i.e. cereal, dextrose shakes, non-fat ice cream
last 3 meals low-gi: oatmeal, yams, sweet potatoes, beans

Mr.X

 

[ohashi]

Thank you for clarifying, BBF.

 

[abc 1]

i'm with body by finaplex, if i cheat big on refeed day, i lose more bf. i also diet extremely strict so cheating/refeeding are very beneficial if i want my thyroid and leptin levels functioning at full capacity.