Opinions on "Cheat Day"...

Miss Fluff

I'm on a low-carb and low-fat plan as well as 4/5 days a week weight training and it's going really well. Have lost approx 18lbs in fat and gained about 5lbs muscle and have been really strict with myself over the last couple of months. Yesterday I had a binge though and ate some cake as well as a pizza. I'm back on the straight and narrow today though and know I will sustain it. What I want to know is I have heard mixed reports on whether "cheat days" are advisable? If I'm training hard and seeing great results can one day of a high-carb/high-fat/high-sugar blow-out cause me damage and undo good work or, as some people have said, will it simply give my body a momentary shock and mean the six other days are more effective because I've shaken things up a bit? Any ideas/opinions welcomed!

poconnor16

it really does depend on what your version of a 'good diet' is (low carb and low fat - where does your energy come from?), but without getting into that....I think a cheat 'meal' is what you need to aim for as opposed to a cheat 'day'.

Kimia

I love cheat days, although I'm ridiculously bold and have a cheat weekend. I know that I could have faster better results without it but I love being bold on the weekends and having pancakes for breakfast! Mmm.

Only thing I would say though Ms Fluff - I don't know how you are sustaining a low fat AND low carb diet - I would find that very hard. And I was under the impression that you can only be one or the other because you have to get energy from somewhere, and if you're not getting it from carbs, then you need to get it from fat. Right now, you're not getting much energy from either..

Sundy

Kimia wrote: »

I love cheat days, although I'm ridiculously bold and have a cheat weekend. I know that I could have faster better results without it but I love being bold on the weekends and having pancakes for breakfast! Mmm.

Only thing I would say though Ms Fluff - I don't know how you are sustaining a low fat AND low carb diet - I would find that very hard. And I was under the impression that you can only be one or the other because you have to get energy from somewhere, and if you're not getting it from carbs, then you need to get it from fat. Right now, you're not getting much energy from either..

Im the same as you Kimia. I watch my diet and eat healthy during the week, (ie dont eat crap between dinner on sunday and sat morning). I dont go mad at weekends but il have a dessert, a beer or two or some wine. I was heading for over weight back last november but im an awful lot leaner now.

WildBoots

If 80-90% of your diet is good you've nothing to worry about

Miss Fluff

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Yeah the plan I am on is RIDICULOUSLY strict so I add my own brand of magic, i.e. full-fat cheese and other good fats like avocado/read meat and olive oil and occassional naughty ones like mayo/dark chocolate etc. Basically I'm following the diet almost to the letter during the week but then have an occasional VERY naughty blow-out.

Have been doing it since mid January and have lost 18lbs. Have another 18lbs to go (quit smoking 18 months ago and it was a case of who ate all the pies!:o)

Am still taking in quite a few carbs as I am eating a lot of fruit and low-fat yogurt just no bread/potatoes/pasta/grains/noodles/rice so I'm not in ketosis or anything!

Interesting you say that Kimia. My only concern if I was bold all weekend is trying to get back on the straight and narrow by Monday!! Do you have difficulty doing that? I suspect I might if I were bold a few days in a row :cool: I don't want to feel deprived either (which I don't during the week) so its all about getting the balance right isn't it?

Kimia

Sounds like a good enough plan alright, with nice good fats - I thought for a minute there it was one of those crazy ones!

Yea it can be hard going back on the straight and narrow but I just love food too much. I used to be really strict to the point where I measured and noted every single thing to pass my lips every day of every week, including when I was bold and it was kind of fun for a while but now I'm at the stage where I need this to be my lifestyle, rather than my diet if that makes sense?

So what I do is the same as you only it sounds like I'm waaaay bolder than you, although I'm not actively looking to lose weight really. I don't eat bread, potatoes, pasta or rice and little amounts of fruit. I eat lots of veg, lots of meat and lots of good fats and I have dark chocolate and nuts as a treat. Then at the weekends I still wouldn't have the bread/pasta/rice but I would have a bag of crisps or baked potato skins with loads of melted cheese. Also some mornings I'd have pancakes with maple syrup (oh god the boldness) and maybe if I'm feeling reaaly bold I'll have a bagel (but only maybe once a month).

So I suppose my weekends aren't really that bad I suppose. The difference in my lifestyle now is that I exercise more than I used to (which was never) - I'm doing the couch to 5k which I love and yoga too. So maybe that's balancing things out. I feel good anyway!

Miss Fluff

Kimia wrote: »

I would have a bag of crisps or baked potato skins with loads of melted cheese. Also some mornings I'd have pancakes with maple syrup (oh god the boldness) and maybe if I'm feeling reaaly bold I'll have a bagel (but only maybe once a month).

Lol your post made me laugh. You're definitely a foodie then, just like me.

Good to hear your feedback. I'd prefer to see this as a change to my eating habits on an ongoing sustainable basis rather than a crazy diet. Seems like you're getting the balance just right so good to hear that it's working for you!