To be honest, I think the "trick your metabolism with a cheat day" idea is really just a rationalization for cheating. It's bad mental ju-ju, is what I mean; the dieter wants to cheat, and therefore finds a justification for cheating.
Actaully the body is very very good at adapting to new circumstances it takes approx 7 days (give or take) for the body to start adapting to a new regieme, i.e thinking food is short and after starting to adapt it will take very little time for the metabolism to come into line.
tricking the metabolism by eating more on one day usually every 7th day will stop any adaption the metabolism is making, its not an excuse to cheat as its not cheating its a very logical practice to ensure the success of the diet.
however in saying that the 7th day isn't a total blow out eating a huge amount of caloires. the 7th day should have a food increase of really no more than 33% extra calories so the average bloke on 2k a day should move to 2660 cal. or essentially another meal.
this is best in the form of another meal and not cakes chocolates
tricking the metabolism by eating more on one day usually every 7th day will stop any adaption the metabolism is making its not an excuse to cheat as its not cheating its a very logical practice to ensure the success of the diet.
Now of course we're all different. But for me, I found success by strictly staying within my calorie budget. The few times that I added in more calories, my weight loss stalled.
Just like now that I'm in maintenance. I consume more calories then my budget allows for - and I gain weight.
Pretty much you see, more calories coming IN, means less of a deficit. Less of a deficit, less weight loss.
Last edited by rockinrobin; 01-31-2009 at 10:16 AM.
in the past, hubby and i would do a cheat meal. that is, we would have one meal out that was not carb, or cal, or whatever counted. it never effected us adversely, unless it turned into the one meal that lead to the cheat day, cheat week, cheat life....
it was a boost (or whatever to metabolism, tricking the body) and a reward for a hard 2 weeks work.
again, we didn't go crazy, just had a meal w/out worrying about the cals
but how long into your diet did you add more calories for you weight loss to stall if it was over 7-10 days at a time it would stall as the metabolism will have slowed
Si, I really wouldn't change a thing about my weight loss journey. I lost steadily for 10 months straight, losing 154 lbs. I had a stall, meaning I stayed the same, 2 weeks out of those 10 months. They were not back to back either. They were both self-induced, meaning I ate over my calorie budget. Upon losing those first 154 lbs, I upped my calories for the next 2 months. Didn't lose a thing as was the plan. I decided to take my weight down and did so in the next month, going back to my losing calorie level. Lost the last 11 lbs. And that was that.
I'm sorry, for ME, and ME only, because I can't speak for any other person on the planet, I see no need whatsoever to *trick* my metabolisim.
Last edited by rockinrobin; 01-31-2009 at 11:34 AM.
I agree that it sounds like he went overboard, but that may also be what he needed to do at this point in his journey.
When I started with my trainer, she gave me a cheat day a week. I changed the term to "free" day, cause I didn't like the cheat connotation. She does believe that it is important to keep our metabolisms from adapting to a set amount of calories but also for psychological reasons (which may be where the OP's DH is at right now).
Radically changing one's food intake is a big deal. It is changing so much about habits, socialization, coping skills, etc., and for me, the free day was an emotional lifesaver. I was very very strict 6 days out of the week, knowing that I could have the ice cream or chips or whatever on the 7th day. It helped me to NOT eat those things on the other days during the week.
When I first started, my free days were pretty much horrendous. Fast food, cookies, ice cream, all the junk that I wanted. But I soon learned on my own that eating that way was not great. I would feel sluggish and sick and it would affect my energy levels and workouts for about 24 hrs. I learned that my body hummed along with great energy and feelings of satisfaction when I ate healthy and that junk food was pretty much poison. So my free days evolved from junk food binges, to maybe an extra serving of beans, or a dinner out to eat, or a birthday celebration, or pizza. But not a whole day free for all.
I still use the idea of a free day. If there is a day that for whatever reason I eat something that I wouldn't ordinarily eat, it is okay. For me, mentally, it is okay. I chalk it up to my free day, and get right back on plan, and don't use it as an excuse to slip for another day or the week or the month or whatever. I've learned that I can get right back on plan. I've learned that I don't have to be perfect to maintain my weight loss. I've learned that I can incorporate a pastry or a piece of cake or a bacon cheeseburger into my life, as long as it is occasional.
Never underestimate the power of learning and evolving one's own food and exercise plans. My life right now looks different from my initial foray into this latest weight loss/maintenace effort. This journey takes a lot of trial and error, steps and missteps, learning and evolving. The OP's DH may have needed that experience for a myriad of reasons. Perhaps he will still post a loss this week. Perhaps he will be chugging mylanta for 24 hrs. Perhaps it will push him off his new WOE for a week or a month and then he will get back on and remember what happened this time, and choose not to do it again. Or choose to do it again.
This journey is very personal and fraught with learning experiences. This sounds like a learning experience for him.
I do believe in cheat meals and have been doing it. I did it twice since I joined this site and both times afterwards I had lost weight. I think it's okay. A few years ago I had cheat days and cheat meals and I still lost 40 pounds in 3 months. That's because even if my eating isn't right, as long as I am moving I lose weight. My mom is the same way. What I used to do is six days a week I would follow my eating plan and on one day eat whatever I wanted which was high calorie and fattening. A few times I was eating right 5 days a week then had a cheat meal on the sixth day and a cheat day on day 7. It sounds crazy but honest it worked fo rme. It might have been pizza and ice cream or ribs and fries but I lost actually I was losing at a faster pace than I am now! I was losing 3 and 4 pounds a week so go figure. I am doing well now but I do include cheat days because I do work out every day and four days a week I do twice a day. As long as I am not sedentary I will lose. It's not good to deprive yourself. For instance my daughter's birthday is today. I was nearly foaming at the mouth all week thinking about eating cake because I haven't eaten it in months. It's good to indulge sometimes but not all the time or else you will forever be trying to enter Onederland. LOL. I do it once a week but it's usually something I crave and if I don't have a craving I just stay on my meal plan.
however in saying that the 7th day isn't a total blow out eating a huge amount of caloires. the 7th day should have a food increase of really no more than 33% extra calories so the average bloke on 2k a day should move to 2660 cal. or essentially another meal. this is best in the form of another meal and not cakes chocolates
Totally agree! I have heard of a 'cheat meal' when your doing a restricted calorie diet, not a whole day. Dig into a favorite food you like for lunch once a week but by dinner be back to eating right.
Lets see my power was out so I had to go to my moms. Dinner that night was pizza. The next night was a club sandwhich and cheesy potato soup. Not to mention pepsi that I havent had ALL month and candy.
Those two days have me back up tp 301 from 297. Granted my real WI isnt until Monday but still it sucks. I feel like crap. Im cutting WAY back this week to get me back on track.
