Hi. I'm new to the forum and realtively new to serious weight training. I was wondering what people thought was an appropriate time between cheat meals. A week? A month? any input would be appreciated. Thanks,

Justin

a week is good enough.


for some people 4 days works... you know sooner.


if you're still loosing 1 to 2 pounds a week while including cheat meals... you should be doing okay (that is if you're eating good).

It's all up to you. I use my cheat meal as a way of saying yes to the spouse who is pestering me all week long to eat out - or for Birthdays or other holidays - so I don't find myself sticking out like a sore thumb and having to answer the 4000 questions about why are YOU dieting?

I average about one meal per 10 days in the past couple months - and its really all I want/need to keep me level headed. :cool:

If you're a real iron man who can stand it - I've heard of folks going 5 weeks between em. You have to get a feel for what it is you're trying to do and work from there. If fat loss is your main goal - then cheat meals (IMO) are more for keeping you in the game when cutting back and one meal every week or so isn't wrecking your diet when you're eating clean 90-100% the rest of time.

Some people will feed you the "boost and confuse" metabolism speal - unfortunately i dont buy that line. If your body isn't confused when you drop calories for a single meal - why would it shock it when you increase them. Our bodies are designed to stay pretty even - thats why progress takes time. :tu:

i didnt cheat for 7months :D after than i cheated about once every month or 2 (they were pretty big though :D)

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm currently in a cutting phase in preparation for a bulking phase in a month or so. I'm gonna try one cheat meal per week for now. Nothing crazy-just some more carbs than I usually allow myself to eat or somewhat less healthy fats. I'll stick with that if I continue to lose weight. The harder thing for me will be restricting alcohol being a college student and with valentine's day and my girlfriends birthday coming up. But I'll do what I need to do. Thanks again for the replies,

Justin

Once a week is ok, but I think if your goal is to maintain weight or you still have a lot of weight to lose, then try to find a balance of a cheat meal and not depriving yourself. What I'm trying to say here is you can have some cheat foods once in a while, (not necessarily once a week) but you must focus on eating clean. Try to enjoy eating your healthy meals, rather than living from week to week looking for that cheat day and stuffing youself until you feel sick... Find the right balance for you... Good luck :tu:

I'm the type of personality that if I give in when I don't have to, I feel like i'll give in a ton.

So my cheat meals happen when I can't get to the right foods - I've had one in the past 6 weeks.

I cheat once a week or so. Its one meal and usually nothing too crazy.

Having a cheat meal once in a while is fine and actually no problem at all. But the problem is people assiciate cheat meal with binge eating, that what makes the problem bad. I, myself enjoy eating cheat food everyday, be it a bite from my brother's cake or somethng like it. But the key here is moderation. But if your cheat meal is a binge, than you better stick with the once a week plan of chat meal :nod:

Having a cheat meal once in a while is fine and actually no problem at all. But the problem is people assiciate cheat meal with binge eating, that what makes the problem bad. I, myself enjoy eating cheat food everyday, be it a bite from my brother's cake or somethng like it. But the key here is moderation. But if your cheat meal is a binge, than you better stick with the once a week plan of chat meal :nod:

couldn't agree more. granted, a cheat meal is something to look forward to, but how many people feel sick to their stomach after an all out binge?

how many people feel sick to their stomach after an all out binge?

I do, the next day is spent mostly in the "little boys room", if i was a smiley i would be doing this after a cheat meal :read: <---oh and im not reading on the couch if you know what i mean ;)

I agree with the once a week strategy a lot of the people here seem to be endorsing and the no binge. I think that's what will work best for me as well. I stay away from basically all refined, white, and processed carbohydrates. My carbs come from fruits and vegetables, and to a lesser degree from oatmeal or unrefined, whole grains. A good cheat meal for me would be a few slices of pizza with some meat and veggie toppings. But what about alcohol? I know that alcohol is muscle wasting and a host of other negative effects on the body. But could one night out drinking a week be used to replace a cheat meal if all the other nights are alcohol free? Anybody do this with any success?

I also think when you should have your cheat meal should be based on an honest mental evaluation. In the past I would fall off my diet after one cheat meal/day. So this time around I vowed not to have one for at least a month, however I forgot all my meals (all 4 meals) today before coming to work, since I nap went longer than expected. So, I will be having a cheat meal today on the 9th day. It's ok this time though, because my mindset and motivation is not shaky as it used to be. I'm going to Taco Bueno, I have no other choice, since I have 30 minutes :confused: Tomorrow morning it will be back to cardio, chicken, and tuna, protein.

But could one night out drinking a week be used to replace a cheat meal if all the other nights are alcohol free? Anybody do this with any success?

I'm not sure how to answer this because personally I don't drink any kind of alcohol. But I think it's all right... but on the second, if you can, than I think it's better to avoid it. I'm sure your body will thank you later... :nod:

I agree, once a week is good I usually do mines on sunday since the next day is cardio hell for me(I run with my friends brother who runs long distance in H.S). These past few weeks been hard for me being that I've been studying my ass off and I'm skipping so much meals that my only option is Mcd, Jacks, and/or Burger King. School is the only thing I'd sacrifice for. :tu:

Thanks. I'm going to continue to have one drinking night a week or one cheat meal per week and see how it affects my cutting. (but continued opinions on this appreciated). Saturday night for me as this is the big night out. I'm also a college student. It is hard to always get meals in. What I do is make sure to brings protein bars with me. If it's time for me to eat between classes, I can. You can even make a complete if not necessarily optimal meal if you add a little fruit and nuts.

I agree, once a week is good I usually do mines on sunday since the next day is cardio hell for me(I run with my friends brother who runs long distance in H.S). These past few weeks been hard for me being that I've been studying my ass off and I'm skipping so much meals that my only option is Mcd, Jacks, and/or Burger King. School is the only thing I'd sacrifice for. :tu: