lol it's funny to see all the different names people call it.

The reason I call it a "cheat" is because I'm cheating myself out of something I want, as in my big goal. It keeps me honest with myself. I also don't mind the word diet because we all eat a diet of food, whether it be bad or good ;) My diet is not the only part of my lifestyle lol

I love when I can pull out a post so I don't have to type it :D This is one I have on my blog about this subject:

---------

I don't know if there is a term I care for less in the weight loss world than 'cheat day'. The name alone is a totally negative term.

First, the word 'cheat' is defined by Websters as:

1: to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud
2: to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice
3: to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting
1 a: to practice fraud or trickery b: to violate rules dishonestly

Do any of these definitions sound like something you want to apply to your life? No one is perfect, and no one eats totally on plan all the time (I certainly don't). But I don't consider it 'cheating' when I go off plan. And sometimes those off plan foods are actually planned in. Then I have control over them.

Cheating also implies that the way you are eating is not something you can sustain for a lifetime. If you view your eating plan as so rigid and uncompromising that you cannot have some of your favorites - then how can you possibly expect to succeed in maintaining your weight loss (let alone getting to goal)?

I think it would be better to call it a choice rather than a cheat. There are too many negative feelings and associations with cheating: guilt, remorse, self loathing, the feeling of lack of control.

If you make a choice, then you are fully aware ahead of time as to the consequences of your actions. You can say, I am choosing to have this piece of cheesecake. It will not cause me to go off plan, it is not a license to abandon the rest of the day (eating wise), and I can get right back on my normal plan with the next meal.
That can eliminate the guilt, because if you are going to have something - why not truly enjoy it without the guilt?

I guess I'm about the only one out there that likes the word and I'm a really positive person :)

I don't like the term cheat days either. I like fiberlovers philosophy of controlling your eating on the days that you choose to eat off plan. That is what I aspire to and by far the biggest challenge in maintaining weight loss.

I am really good at staying OP for long periods of time. I'm getting pretty good at getting back on plan after a planned off plan diversion. I still get that all or nothing attitude on my days when I am off plan though. I want to eat everything or large quantities of "treat" foods before I have to go back on plan...That is the part that I am working hard on!

Also I do indulge with little snacks (I stay within my daily points) but there are rarely times where I say the heck with it and eat an entire meal that I don't care (or want to know) what the points in it are.

I did it for my birthday and for Christmas (one meal for each) and I honestly felt like poop physically after eating them. So yeah that I consider those two meals cheating because it's something I don't want to really do for a lifetime.

If they were indulgences or even me treating myself...I don't want to do that anymore lol

I think it depends on perspective. I don't mind the term 'cheat' day..doesn't bother me a bit. But, like I said, my cheat days are really about cheating my journal - I pretty much do everything the same but don't journal what I eat. I guess I look at it as a 'test' to see if I can make the right choices without my crutch (my journal). After that one day I am back to journaling 'cause I know that helps keep me successful.

A few years ago (way before I was even thinking about a healthier lifestyle) I was laying out a bunch of cookies for some event and a thin friend of mine said something like, "Oooooo, those look delicious! But, I can't - I already had a cookie this week." I almost laughed at the time and thought, "Are you kidding me? You already had a cookie THIS WEEK?!" But I couldn't get her comment out of my mind...not until I got it. And, I did get it (eventually :o ).

So now if I happen to go out to dinner unexpectedly then I make allowances for it for the rest of the week. If someone brings donuts (or whatever) to work I usually just get out of the room. It is easier to plan for it but most of the time life kind of gets in the way.

Many wise comments were made on this thread but the one that I identify the most with was when Rhonda said that if I had to live the rest of my life without the foods I love the most I don't think I could do this...ditto for me. If I have a strong craving/desire I just eat it and fix my plan for the rest of the week. After all, it isn't about that one cookie...:)

Oh, and thanks for the links, PhotoChick!

My definition of a cheat meal would be doing whatever, with no counting/accountability. I don't deprive myself of things I want - but have never had a free for all during my weight loss. My reasoning is that each day I spend 'off track', so to speak - means another day overweight. It's just not worth it to me, to go overboard. I want to be healthy and powerfully svelte much, much more on any given day than I want unhealthy food.

In addition, going overboard or having a free for all isn't mentally healthy for me, it doesn't fix the eating problems I have. Besides, I don't feel well after eating unwell. It's profound - how merely eating clean impacts my energy and well being.

THIS, the way I eat now is my new normal. For me, I cannot understand behaving abnormally, in what would be a negative way (for me only) - it doesn't serve my purposes.

:D:D:D That is funny. LOL!