I don't have a set cheat meal or day. I don't ever have a day where I DON'T count the calories. But I do allow myself to have something I really really really want and work it into my calories.

My vice? Movie popcorn and ice cream on vacation. Now I go to the movies once every 3-4 months. Last night we went. I budgeted 650 calories for a small popcorn with butter. It was DIVINE. I won't lie. But I worked it into my calories. On vacation I had ice cream nearly every night. I made sure they were Skinny Cow varieties and worked it into my calories.

Now I don't often make those choices as I find they do pack on sodium weight and I HATE THAT. BUT you CAN have your cake, eat it too (IF it does not trigger cravings and binges... which ice cream DOES for me) and not count it as a cheat as long as you work it in!

That's my two cents :)

Belezura, I had a bmi of 56. That put me in the super morbidly obese category. Super morbidly obese. Super chance of death. That *most likely* means that my overeating was a tad more out of hand then those with lower body weights. And therefore I believe different tactics/strategies/methods are needed to achieve successful long term weight loss. Not only that - but my very life was on the line. It was critical. Every day I had the extra weight on was giving my body an extra day to turn on me. Cheats for *this* super morbidly obese person was no longer an option. The only cheat I was looking for - was cheating death.

There is never, ever, ever going to be one or two or ten ways to do this. Every one's plan has to be as individual as they are.

i think if your plan is working and you're losing, dont worry about what other people say. we are all different. ive avoided sugary sweets and ice cream for many months, but hey the idea of eating an entire cheesecake still sounds great to me! some people quit smoking and eventually get to a point where they hate smoke and cigarettes, other people have to fight off the temptation for the rest of their lives (though it does get easier of course), do what works for you!

Originally Posted by nelie:
I would hate to call it a cheat though. Basically it is designed so that you eat restrictive during the week and then plan on a higher calorie/day meal and not one where you go crazy.

Hence, why it's not called a binge day...

Originally Posted by juliastl27:
i think if your plan is working and you're losing, dont worry about what other people say. we are all different.

It's really hard to do that when you read over and over that in order to be successful you must avoid this and count that and never cheat and be "on plan" at all times (whatever the heck that means) and don't ever give yourself a break, etc. because you'll surely fail. And believe me, I've seen this kind of sentiment expressed many a time on this forum.

Okay, so if we're using our own successes to argue a diet is "proven" then let me be proof that taking a moderate, sensible approach to losing weight and getting healthy is "proven," along with daily treats, regular cheats, and maintenance breaks.

Originally Posted by Ija:
It's really hard to do that when you read over and over that in order to be successful you must avoid this and count that and never cheat and be "on plan" at all times (whatever the heck that means) and don't ever give yourself a break, etc. because you'll surely fail. And believe me, I've seen this kind of sentiment expressed many a time on this forum.

Okay, so if we're using our own successes to argue a diet is "proven" then let me be proof that taking a moderate, sensible approach to losing weight and getting healthy is "proven," along with daily treats, regular cheats, and maintenance breaks.

yes, i think this is why we're all so confused. every day a different diet comes out telling us, THIS is the way to lose weight. you cant have carbs, you cant have sugar, no red meat, no dairy... what the heck is a person supposed to do? this is why people resort to fad diets, the media has us all so confused that we dont know what to do and even if we find something that works, we're questioning ourselves every time a new diet comes out! hmmm... maybe im NOT drinking enough tea... or whatever. if its working, i say keep doing it!

I understand that science is neutral.it's how it is used and who does the using that determines its impact.
What I do know is that a diet that is high in fats, sugars and calories actually stimulate the growth of pathways that connect areas of the brain where addictions are born.
Concrete?Never said it was.

Originally Posted by Ija:
Hence, why it's not called a binge day...

But it is really not a cheat because is part of the overall plan :) I mean some may call it cheat day/cheat meal but it is part of the plan.

Real cheats, I'd consider, would be things that weren't initially planned on or accounted for. That was really the point I was trying to make.

I think everyone is trying to say the same thing, maybe not, but really if you stick to your plan that works for you then you shouldn't run into issues. Where people tend to run into issues and we hear stories of 'plateaus' are where people start letting unplanned things creep into their diet.

Originally Posted by JayEll:
Lori Bell, I think Mainah meant "thread" not "post."

Jay

Yes, indeed. Thank you, JayEll. I apologize for the wrong terminology and any confusion it caused.

Originally Posted by Ija:
It's really hard to do that when you read over and over that in order to be successful you must avoid this and count that and never cheat and be "on plan" at all times (whatever the heck that means) and don't ever give yourself a break, etc. because you'll surely fail. And believe me, I've seen this kind of sentiment expressed many a time on this forum.

Okay, so if we're using our own successes to argue a diet is "proven" then let me be proof that taking a moderate, sensible approach to losing weight and getting healthy is "proven," along with daily treats, regular cheats, and maintenance breaks.

Ditto! :)

Oh Drina. You do not disappoint. I was wondering when you were going to pick on something I said ;) . I clearly, clearly, CLEARLY stated earlier on, that my "proven" method is not the only *proven* method.

Originally Posted by :
Okay, so if we're using our own successes to argue a diet is "proven" then let me be proof that taking a moderate, sensible approach to losing weight and getting healthy is "proven," along with daily treats, regular cheats, and maintenance breaks.

And for the record, the removing the junk from ones diet method is EXTREMELY sensible. EXTREMELY. When I was in the losing portion of my journey, having cut out the *junk food*, it's not like I was cutting out vitamins, nutrients, minerals, etc. I was cutting out - junk. Horrible fats. Sugar. Unpronounceable processed garbage. Garbage. Worthless. Kinda makes a LOT of sense *to me*.

What is sensible for one, is ludicrous, simply ludicrous for another.

Have I mentioned that we all have to find our own paths? That there is not one correct way to do this? That we each have to find out what works for us?

This topic DOES get discussed a lot, doesn't it? And we really go round and round and round. Maybe we should have a sticky of some sort on this topic. HOW THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO THIS. THAT WE'VE ALL GOT TO FIGURE OUT OUR OWN BEST METHODS. HOW THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO THIS. Oh, I said that already. Several times in fact. ;)

Originally Posted by Lori Bell:
So since you started your new plan you have had 2 cheat days right? 2 and only 2? How do you feel the day after? Do the cravings come back full force? Is it hard to get back into the swing of things? If you can do it, and easily get right back into it, then I don't see a problem. But if you do it and agonize for a week after with the sugar/carb demon, then I agree with your friend and you are just torturing yourself....

I quoted my first post to MissBliss, (Where is she anyway???) so that some of you can plainly see that I never told her not to cheat, nope not me. :D Matter of fact I'm baking some brownies as I type this. I'm also making some fried chicken and mashed potatoes for supper and can't wait to sit down for a good old fashioned cheat, because I deserve it. If others can lose weight and maintain a significant loss by daily/weekly or monthly cheats than by gosh SO CAN I! :carrot: Thank you to you all for helping with this important step in my life...and THANK YOU MissBliss, (wherever you are) for opening up this decision.

I count calories. Yes I cheat...here is my weight loss philosophy. I can't never eat chocolate for the rest of my life. M&Ms are my favorite, oreos my favorite cookie. I am sure I would give up if I never ate these ever again. So some weeks I might have a serving. However, I calculate them into my calories for the day and try to stay in that range regardless.
I also eat out at buffets, alot! At buffets I let myself eat what I want...I just don't go overboard! A typically lunch at Hoss's this is what I eat:
big salad with veggies but no meat, either a slice of garlic bread or cinnamon bread, a handful of those little fish crackers. For desert if I see a brownie, I have one. I also try to get the fruits like honey dew, strawberries, grapes if they look good. Or I will have pudding...
I figure if I had brownies at home I would be tempted to eat the entire batch, and could do it too! But...when I go to buffets I can have little servings of everything (a brownie, some onion rings, pizza) and then leave the restaurant and not blow it. Make sense?
I eat out like this maybe 5 times a month and still try to stay in calorie range. Even if not, it seems to be working for me...(I started at 280 and am now at 183)

Originally Posted by rockinrobin:
Oh Drina. You do not disappoint. I was wondering when you were going to pick on something I said ;) . I clearly, clearly, CLEARLY stated earlier on, that my "proven" method is not the only *proven* method.

Quote:
Okay, so if we're using our own successes to argue a diet is "proven" then let me be proof that taking a moderate, sensible approach to losing weight and getting healthy is "proven," along with daily treats, regular cheats, and maintenance breaks.

That's picking on what you said??? Isn't she simply saying the same thing you did, applied to her methods. You said your method is not the only one, and she provided an example of that. She also did not say hers was the only one. I don't get it.

How about we all agree on the following:

1. For some people, PLANNING in a day or meal or whatever that is not something they would usually eat does not stop their weight loss/maintenance, and it works for them (and, in some cases, helps them to make better choices throughout the week).

2. For other people, CUTTING OUT foods that they used to overeat is the only way to stop the cravings for those foods, and eating those things would NOT help them stay on plan and would not work for them.

3. Only each individual person knows what works FOR THEM, since there are many, many maintainers who fall into either category.

Isn't that what we're all saying anyway?

Originally Posted by JulieJ08:
That's picking on what you said??? Isn't she simply saying the same thing you did, applied to her methods. You said your method is not the only one, and she provided an example of that. She also did not say hers was the only one. I don't get it.

Ummm, did you not notice the wink? ;););) It wasn't necessarily pick on something that I've said,it wa more like pick up on something I said. Really, what's not to get?

Too funny.

Is it just me, or is this thread no longer feeling "supportive" in any way, shape, manner or form???????? Have we not exhausted this topic enough? And where is the OP? I hope we didn't scare her off. Send her running face first into a big tub of ice cream. Not that there's anything wrong with that - provided it's counted for and doesn't send her into a wild binge and a downward spiral that she can't get back on plan, feels like a failure and throws the towel in. Wink. Wink. ;);)

I don't have a cheat day or a cheat meal. I am afraid that it might stop my momentum at this point. If you can do it, I don't think there is anything wrong with it. For me, it could knock me off track, I think.

Cheers,

J

Originally Posted by rockinrobin:
Ummm, did you not notice the wink? ;););) It wasn't necessarily pick on something that I've said,it wa more like pick up on something I said. Really, what's not to get?

I'm glad you didn't mean it that way. I must admit I would never have guessed that "pick on" meant "pick up on." That is what I didn't get.

I thought the thread was mostly nice and supportive, which is why I spoke up. I hated to see a neutral comment labelled as picking on someone's post.

Glad it's all good :).

Originally Posted by JulieJ08:
That's picking on what you said??? Isn't she simply saying the same thing you did, applied to her methods. You said your method is not the only one, and she provided an example of that. She also did not say hers was the only one. I don't get it.

Thanks Julie, I always appreciate when someone beats me to the punch :hug:

Originally Posted by Ija:
Thanks Julie, I always appreciate when someone beats me to the punch :hug:

Oh come now Drina, actually, it always seems you love delivering the punch. ;)

But really ladies, sorry I had you both so confused. :dizzy:

Originally Posted by Lori Bell:
I quoted my first post to MissBliss, (Where is she anyway???) so that some of you can plainly see that I never told her not to cheat, nope not me. :D Matter of fact I'm baking some brownies as I type this. I'm also making some fried chicken and mashed potatoes for supper and can't wait to sit down for a good old fashioned cheat, because I deserve it. If others can lose weight and maintain a significant loss by daily/weekly or monthly cheats than by gosh SO CAN I! :carrot: Thank you to you all for helping with this important step in my life...and THANK YOU MissBliss, (wherever you are) for opening up this decision.

I am here...and I am sorry. When I posted my question, I had no intention of making people angry and starting arguments. My friend slammed me, it got me thinking, so I asked the 3FC population how they handled their "plans". I have been reading the thread and am a little taken aback by it all. I didn't know how to respond to it all. Again I am sorry.

Jane

Missbliss -- There is no need to be sorry. It's a good question that clearly is near and dear to people's philosophies. You keep asking those questions. I hope that it was a fruitful discussion that helped you think through some issues.

It really does seem like this topic has been exhausted and strayed a bit off topic, so I'm going to go ahead and close this thread.