Say no to cheat days?

[toga22]

For me, I allow myself a cheat day on a special occasion. For example when dining out with friends or a holiday. Part of the reason I do this is I hate having to explain my diet and my motivation behind it to someone. This often tends to turn into a debate and the whole purpose of the occasion is lost.

Another thing I noticed about cheat days, at least for myself, is if I indulge in that triple decker ice cream sundae, with peanut butter and whip cream, that I begin craving these type of foods often after my cheat day is over. So it is just easier not to eat them at all.

Really though, since I am low-carbing, I really consider my carb-up days as cheat days, simply because I get to eat something different.

~toga

 

[jennifer BFL chick]

I don't think you should look at it that way(this is on a low fat diet of course..). Cheat days are needed not just because you can't handle the diet it self and that you are to tempted to eat junk food, but also to bump up your metabolism after a 1 or 2 week strict cuttingdiet.
Let's say you eat 1000cals below your maintenance calorie intake(of course I mean that you slowly should lower calories, but let's say U have reached -1000cals from what U have to eat to maintain your bodyweight). After a week or so U do not by far burn as many calories as u did a week ago. One cheat won't make U fat, I think It will help U a lot.

I always have cheating days when I cut with a low fat intake. I have it on saturdays and I eat what I want. On the sunday I have gained about 4lb, on monday I'm still at +2lb from saturday morning. The next saturday morning I'm down 1lb-1.5lb from the week before.

I ALWAYS ALWAYS have a "free" day once a week, 99% of the time on Sundays.

I want my body to be a major food burner----and if you feed it heavily once a week it will get use to it and not turn it into fat-----I have been doing this for almost a year, and trust me, not only has it kept me enjoying this lifestyle, I have NEVER cheated during the week EVER. I have lost over 50 pounds this year, and still going strong-----free days/cheat days/ect are not a bad thing! Unless you have "trained" your body to not have them

 

[jennifer BFL chick]

so for me when i do a cheat day, i just take the quantity cap off, but still eat the same foods.

But I can eat as many clean foods as i want. that way I dont have to starve for 4 months straight, and only 6 days straight. I think this is a much better concept. feel much less quilty by doing it this way. i recommend this way to all of you. Not only will you feel better about your cheat days, but it will still provide the same metabolic benefits.

I never feel guilty on my cheat days---I eat what ever I want and how much I want----you should do what you want, but for me, I love to eat all sorts of food--not just brown rice and chicken--shit I eat so much chicken and rice each week its crazy---so to have one day where I can eat something different, its a must for me for long term----sure I could go a couple of months without a free day, but what happens when you start taking them? your body will react negatively to them.

I love all types of food----there is nothing that is "bad" in my book, just food that I eat less of.

How could you go the rest of your LIFE not having slice of cake, or pizza? That's just crazy if you ask me.....but hey, to each their own.

 

[toga22]

p60--

Your pm box is full........

 

[rez]

toga..what does ure lowcarb diet look like?

 

[anthrax]

I "keep" cheat days and I use them when I can't control what I eat (ie Xmas, birthdays,...)

 

[Gambler]

I belong to a gym that is owned by a former por bobybuilder who is probably one of the greatest natural (yes this is true) bobybuilders of all time, Michael Ashley. Although he retired about 5 years ago, he still eats exactly the same as he did when he was competing. He told me that he hasn't had a peice of pizza in over 20 years. I asked how and why he did this. He explained to me that no one, including him, has the will power to "not cheat" for 20 years. He, as someone stated earlier, just looks at food differently. He doesn't WANT pizza ever. He looks at food not as some form of momentary pleasure but as something that is necessary to stay alive. If a person is concerned with muscle size or low body fat then why not use your knowledge of macronutrients to maximize your appearence?

I think that ultimately this is the true secret to long term goal achievement. You must change the way you look at food. If someone looks at a doughnut and is constantly tempeted, ultimately they will crack. We need to look at a doughnut and think of the damage that the fried dough and sugar will do to our arteries and how it will make us look rather than what it may do to our taste buds for 30 seconds.

As Par Deus has said - cheat days are for gluttons.

 

[PlateheadJim]

Cheat days are fantastic - I have 2 of them per week (no shit) cutting or bulking it really doesn't matter. When bulking I eat high CLEAN cals 5 days and high NASTY cals 2 days. When cutting 5 days of clean low cals & 2 days worth of high NASTY cals.. My body fat averages about 6% when cut or maintaining and about 10% when bulking. My energy levels go through the roof on my cheat days (which is pretty much the weekend).

 

[110%]

the first tiem a started with a diet i lasted 2 months, since it was my first time i felt like i needed to stick to it and no cheat days.