Do you allow yourself a "cheat day?"

[pinkbelle]

so since ive been on my diet ive been pretty strick on myself.. no more than 1500 calories a day.. and no soda, and no white pasta or bread..  but what i have been wondering is do you allow yourself to "cheat" so to speak once a week.. whether it be a soda , a piece of chocolate cake or what have you?

[PMoon]

I don't even think of it as cheating. I just try to think everything in moderation. So I have the cookie or two instead of half the bag. If I don't give in a little now and then, then I know I will end up binging. A binge could end up being the whole day. Not good.

But I have noticed I have learned to appreciate certain foods more. I can pass up a donut if it doesn't look that good. I wait and have a really good donut when I can. Just try to be picky about the foods that aren't so good for me.

[StarryNight23]

I don't like to think of them as cheat days or cheat foods, because I think that sort of subconsciously makes me thing I'm doing something wrong or bad and then I end up feeling guilty afterwards. I don't reserve a special day of the week where I get to eat something bad. I actually eat a little something most days of the week that by most standards arent considered "diet-friendly" It depends on the day though. For example, sometimes I'll go a few days eating only healthy snacks such as granola bars, yogurt, fruits and peanut or walnut butter. That kind of stuff. And not because I'm purposely trying to limit myself, just because that's the food I'm in the mood for and am content eating. But then maybe my time of the month is rolling around and I'll be in the mood for chocolate every day for days on end. On those days, I work some dark chocolate, a 100 calorie brownie, some slow churned ice cream or frozen yogurt,  or a 100 calorie pack of hostess cupcakes etc into my calories for the day. Some days one snack or dessert does the trick, other days I have um..a little more than that lol. But I never go over my calorie range so it all works out.

I really just take it day by day and eat according to what I'm craving. Some days I have no snacks or desserts, other days a good portion of my daily calories is made up of snacky foods. I keep it balanced and enjoy everything in moderation though. Just about my entire diet is healthy whole organic or natural foods so if I'm really craving something and I have enough calories to work with, I eat it! It keeps me from feeling deprived (and when I'm deprived, thats when I tend to binge) I'm still a food addict and still have a strong taste for "naughty" foods, but I've gotten used to eating much smaller portions and much less frequently.

If we're not just talking about 100 calorie packs, luna bars or half a cup of light ice cream and it comes to REALLY "guilty pleasure" food such as cheesecake, donuts, a fast food burger or real pizza, those are the food I personally stay away from. For me, those are my trigger foods and usually when I get a fresh taste of those, "just once" isnt enough for me and I end up craving it for a while. No one method will work for everyone so if being strict throughout the week and then splurging once works for you and helps keep you on track, then that's great and you should definitely continue doing it! I think I'm going to start trying that method out again soon since I'm almost at my goal and I think I've exercised enough self control by this point where I'm hoping I'll be able to be happy with just one helping of any one of my true weakness foods every so often!

[TrudieC]

I'm having a problem dealing with cravings and just started a new rule that I would make a dessert every Sunday.  My hope is that knowing I am going to get a treat will help me to be good the rest of the week.

[msniki412]

Yes i do. It's mostly only done on the weekends when food seems to be everywhere!!! Like this past weekend, my boyfriend bought some Mrs.Feilds chocolate chip cookies and I splurged and had 2 of them!!! It seems I can have good control during the week (and without my boyfriend) but once it becomes weekend and we hang out together my old food habits come back.

But I only try to "cheat" on the weekends maybe 2 times and thats it and then I get back on track. Normally my weakness is sweets and now thinking of it I sooo want a cookie! Thank god I dont have any!!!