I almost hate to call it a planned "binge" day because the word binge in itself is fairly condemning. But basically, I'm referring to an extreme cheat day, lol.

One of my good friends is very very fit. She's in Army ROTC, participates in lots of sports, and just looking at her you see "athlete." She's very slender and toned, but not in the stick figure actress kind of way, she just looks healthy. Anyways, as expected, I normally see her eating very healthy foods. She cooks and packs her meals, orders salads, naturally avoids greasy empty calories whenever we go out, etc. Well the other day I saw her eating a king size Snickers bar with a whole other one on her desk. She then asked if I wanted to split a supreme pizza with her that night. I said something like "Yea, I WISH I could eat like that and look like you." And she said "so do I!" I was puzzled at first, but she explained that on the last day of the month (so March 31st), she allows herself to eat aaaabsolutely whatever she wants. She said she'd go crazy otherwise. And the next day, she feels bloated and sluggish and remembers why she only eats like that one day a month.

Well this got me thinking. I know many of us do cheat days or cheat meals. I usually plan a cheat dinner sometime in the week, but even still, it's budgeted in my calorie count, and I hardly ever go over maintenance limit. This has been a decent system to me, but I'm not going to lie, I DO miss pigging out. And as I get closer to maintaining, I feel those evil destructive thoughts of "eh, you're almost at goal, you can eat a candy bar!" I do not WANT to slack off. I'm wondering if I could sacrifice my cheat meals and eat clean for the month knowing that I'll get a completely free day where I can gorge myself like I want to.

Of course, that could be taken to the extreme, but I don't think that's necessary. If I had a day where I could eat a candy bar or two and pizza for dinner and maybe even ice cream for dessert? Shoot, I'd be in hog heaven! That would be worth waiting a month for! And if that day was "on plan" and accounted for and all that good stuff, I think it might take away the out of control panicky "omg I'm binging, might as well keep going!" attitude.

I dunno, I realize that it does sound very "naughty" and I'm not sure if it's something I'll even do. I just thought it was interesting

If it is planned into her, and your, month and accounted for calorie wise then it isn't a binge.

I do it, and have done it all along. I did at one point have to be more careful, and I don't ever have an entire planned day. More a meal, or one larger or a couple of smaller indulgences.

I'm in this for life, and there is no way my life doesn't include pizza or the occasional Milky Way bar.

Hmm ... I don't think that sounds like a bad idea!

I think its totally fine to have a day like that once a month! As long as you aren't doing it every week and don't let it carry over to more than just that day. You arent going to do too much damage in just one day I prefer to have a day like that once a month rather than smaller "cheats" throughout the month since I still have to think about and calculate those whereas if I have a day I can just not think about it at all its a nice break

Haha, yay! I'm glad you guys think this is legit. I kept going back and forth between thinking it's a great idea and a terrible idea.

I've had one binge since I started, actually just last Saturday. It was NOT planned, and it was a terrible feeling. I felt out of control, guilty, disgusted with myself, and absolutely mortified that I'd completely thrown my plan out the window. And the next day, while I did force myself to get back on plan, I felt the typical "well, screw it, I ruined it for myself, might as well cheat again today."

I am in this for life, and I *know* there will be binge days, it just happens. I'm human, and that's one of my weaknesses. If I knew that I had a planned day coming up, it would give me control back. As long as I stay in control, then I think I can let myself have a free for all day once a month.

I do this already! Usually once a month....It has not shown to effect my weightloss. But you will feel crappy the next day lol

I totally do it because I LOVE to eat... and if I think I can never have ice cream, chocolate, pizza, cookies, etc... I will go crazy and wont be able to stick at any plan.
What give me power to turn down all the delicious food daily is to know that I’ll be able to eat them on my “cheating” day.
I can even plan what to have. Like if I see someone eating a cheesecake, I can just say to myself... I can say NO, because I can have it on my CD and make things so much easier for me...
I do however, try go low in calories one day before and after, just to try kind make up for the indulge.
And if there is a party or any event about to happen, I plan my CD for that date, so I don’t have to turn all the good food down.
Next day, not even think about going close to a scale though. Get right back to your plan and wait few days before weighting yourself.
You will few bloated and bad, but it will go away in couple days.
When when the thought of screw it, I might as well cheat next day too... Keep in mind that the only reason you can have the CD is because you can right back to your plan next day and that you don’t want to ruin all your hard work putting all your weight back on...
Remember this is for life... and life worth a indulge once in a while

My binge night was last night...
I went to the Brazilian Churasscaria restaurant called Fogo De Chao in Bev Hills. ITS SO GOOD. Basically its unlimited meat and salad bar...its indescribable. We went around Valentines Day and I ate so much I could barely move..this time I think I was more in control but I know that I was definately still over eating. It was only one time though, so Im not really worried about it, but this morning I felt really really sick.

OMG!!!!!
Tomorrow will be my day at the Churrascaria....
I'll go to NJ with my bf to buy some low calories ice cream in a diet store and before we are going to this Brazilian restaurant!!! I wish we had one around here, but we dont...
Let me tell you what... I'll not hold myself... and will take easy in the veggies, beans and rice, because I want indulge in all that great meat they have....
I miss Brazil so much

As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. One crazy binge day could backfire badly. When you eat one meal, you're still in control. But when you let yourself totally gorge, one day turns into two and two turns into I'm going to start clean Monday.

She seems to have always been in control of her weight and eating, for her a binge day is nothing because eating healthy has become her normal way of eating for so many years. For someone who still fights the battle of food, a major binge could be a deal breaker.

Just speaking as someone who knows, after a major binge, going back to healthy eating can be miserable.

For me this wouldnt work. I'd feel terrible, bloated, fat and those are the feelings I'm doing all this work to get away from. Plus I see this as a lifestyle change, so reverting back to old habits for me wouldnt help reinforce that. I can see why it appeals to some people, and I'm saying you must be on plan, eating perfectly all the time or you are a failure, I just think for me personally this would be a bad idea

I think this is completely ok...I think allowing yourself to have the things you love like pizza, candy bars, helps keep you on track. Plus I've always heard that you should have a day where you take in more and throw your routine off, it keeps your body from getting used to things.

Happy Indulging! (one day a month, of course! )

HAHAHA I like the way you think.

I just don't think I could be on plan good enough for an entire month to all myself to do it. I have a few little "slip ups" or treats here and there. It doesn't always work for me though. I like the idea or just one day a month... just don't think I could be good enough the rest of it.

But also, I don't need two chocolate bars in one day. I would rather have half a one four times a month! I am trying to work on the just a taste type thing. The second half of the chocolate bar or the second slice of pizza will taste the same as the first!

I used to have binge days the other times I've lost weight but this time, I haven't felt the need. If I want pizza, I'll make it and it'll be good. If I want garlic bread, pasta, ice cream, brownies, I'll make it. I just haven't felt the need to have a binge day but I also don't restrict myself to "good" and "bad" foods any more. I count my calories because I'm trying to lose weight, but if I want to carb load one day, I will.

I think you do whatever you need to keep sane. Mental health is required for weight/physical health so if you're miserable because you really want that piece of cheesecake/cookie/pizza/whatever it is, have some! Most of the time lately, I feel like one to four bites is enough to satisfy my cravings and I'm over it.

But I've been in the binge position before so I know how that feels.

See, I can't have the 1/2 a candy bar once a week and be satisfied. I CAN have two candy bars in a day, and be good for a loooong time, especially knowing that I'll get another candy bar day in a few weeks. Just the way my brain works, I guess. Little tastes of treats are torture for me, they make me want to have more little treats. A day of lots of treats is completely satisfying to me. And if it's planned, that means I get right back on plan the next day, which doesn't include treats. I'm okay with this.

I'm not saying it would work for everybody. It may not even work for me, but I'm going to try it and see how it goes.