Has anyone tried to have 1 cheat day a week?

[Ravenly74]

Prior to kids and in my late 20's, after I hit "goal", I was able to endulge a few days per week. I also briskly walked over 2 hours per day, around 5-7 miles. I would usually go 4 days on diet, 3 days off. If I stayed at low carbs, I would lose too much weight.

Now it may be a different story - I now have 2 young kids and no time to devote to exercise like I had plus in my mid-30's I am sure my metabolism has slowed. I need to relose alot of weight I put on over the years and then adjust. Definately a YMMV situation.

[Stacy O]

I would never do this until I got to my goal weight....but...I wouldn't go off plan once every week...considering that maintenance allows really so much already in my opinion.

I would say I could be comfortable with having 1 off plan meal or snack no more that 1-2times per month. This is what would be it for me as I've learned my lesson the hard way.

[InspiredBlue]

The last time I was properly on plan I found that giving myself a "free day" about once a month made me not get "diet fatigue". It was probably more like an afternoon, but we (partner and I) really gorged ourselves on anything we wanted. Going back on plan the next day wasn't so hard, since we were pretty sick of the carby stuff by then.

[Jonahsafta]

Originally Posted by livinlarge

Be careful........I had a "cheat day". Sept 20th we went to a Cubs/Cards game in St. Louis and I told myself that I was gonna have whatever I wanted that day. Garlic fries, beer, beer, more beer, chicken strips, captain & diet, did I say beer? Anyway, I'm just getting back from my "cheat day". Guess we'll call it a "cheat month". I now have to lose 9 lbs just to get back to my siggy weight. I learn everything the hard way.

Livin' Ive soooooo missed you!!!!! I am glad you are back!!!!!!! You can do it!!!! Im stuck at 152.....youll catch up to me way before you know it!!!

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by JuliaL

I've been maintaining for 6 years while having one "free eating" day per week. I don't call it cheating because it's not - I just eat what I want and don't worry about portions. What I have found is that I don't crave sweets or junky food. I typically just eat things like nuts and peanut butter, maybe a small portion of low sugar ice cream, but that's it.

I only did this after I reached my goal weight. While I was losing I didn't have a free eating day. That's not to say I didn't have a day during my weight loss when I ate more than I should have here and there - I did. I just didn't plan it.

Seeing your photo success is great-awesome job! And what you wrote makes sense-it seems when you do eat right-even given the opportunity to eat what ever, you chose something wise anyway. It is a state of mind. I have some questions if you don't mind: How much have you lost and in what period of time? You mentioned cheating (or whatever you call it) meant having nuts/peanut butter...did you not have that while trying to lose? If not, why? Isn't low sugar peanut butter OK? And what carb count did you find you kept losing at? If you have a secret to share about low carb dieting-what is it?
Your answers are appreciated!

[kelley17]

I lost 30 lbs on Wendy Chant's program. You need to do the whole program though - low, med, and high carb days. It worked wonders for me. After I did the initial deplete week and kept away from sweets and alcohol for 3 weeks I was able to feel in control and have an occassional sweet and glass of wine once or twice a week - guilt free! My favorite cheat meal was pizza though.

That being said I do know some people were unable to do Wendy's program because they were very carb sensitive.

[livinlarge]

Originally Posted by Jonahsafta

Livin' Ive soooooo missed you!!!!! I am glad you are back!!!!!!! You can do it!!!! Im stuck at 152.....youll catch up to me way before you know it!!!

Hey Deb!! Good to hear from you!!!
I'll probably need the friendly competition from you just to get back on track!

...threadjack over....

[Ilpirata]

Originally Posted by BrookeS

1 "cheating" day per week should be ok.

As long as you remember to eat unhealthy types of food in moderation.

This is the second hilarious post I have seen from you in the last hour.

[Armystolehim04]

Yes and it did me in.I got to goal and decided i'd have a "cheat" day once a week.I've gained more weight than i weighed before and am at my heaviest now.

[Steve Parker, M.D.]

I've been wrestling with this myself lately, the idea of a "cheat day."

I recently ate very low-carb (25 g/day) for 50 days straight, losing 15 pounds. Then I planned a cheat day in advance in an effort to ensure I wouldn't go overboard. But I realized it was a risk. I increased my calories that day from 1850 to 3500. It didn't set me back, fortunately.

A cheat day for me is not about pigging out, but just eating the usual "forbidden" things in moderation. I had a serving of baked beans, potato salad, a wheat bread roll, and a slice of cherry pie. I skipped the ice cream I had planned - just didn't need it. It was more of a cheat meal than a cheat day.

I did notice, however, for the next few days that I had increased desire for carbs.

I understand this wouldn't work well for some, perhaps many, people. But I can just imagine how frustrating it might be for someone who has lost 50 pounds and has another 50 to go, and it's already been seven months with few carbs.

If someone already knows they will "fall off the wagon" if they have a cheat day, certainly don't do it.

But a cheat day or cheat meal once a month might not hurt. Doing it once or twice weekly would be perilous for me.

As others have written, "YMMV."

-Steve

[quiet_observer]

Originally Posted by Rubber Ducky

I have been Low Carb dieting/maintaining for years. It seems I start to gain and I just go back to a more strict low carb diet and it works. But after reading Wendy Chant's two books, it seems that once your body starts using it's stores of fat on a low carb diet, then adding carbs and switching back to cutting them will not interrupt the diet. So my thought is: Has anyone tried to do this type of eating (having a cheat day or two a week) and have been successful? If so, what was your experience? For how long? etc.......
It seems that when you think about it...all diets work. But, sticking with it is the key. If you went all week looking forward to a day of "whatever", would that work? Could you then go back to the low carbs without continuing to cheat and go overboard? If it meant next Sat or whatever day you chose, you could have that pizza taco or whatever you chose? Could you plan around a wedding, birthday?
Let's face it, when you go off your diet this is essentially what you do anyway! So why not plan it? Just a thought and would like some feedback.
Thanks!

You'll knock yourself right out of ketosis every time if that's what you're going for. Personally my goal is just to stay as low carb as I can. I let that slip every now and again (usually between 20-60g of carbs a day) and not worry so much about ketosis. I won't worry if it's a special dinner or something but that's like on the order of once a month; once a week seems way too often.