felt really tired and bogged out today, thinking I might have been working too hard for the caloric deficit, so I had a bit of an unexpected cheat meal and dessert. I sort of regret it, but I feel so much more positive now and like I can continue on strong tommorow. I guess its a neccasary evil once in a while.

thats fine. don't feel guilty about it. :)

consider upping your calories/protein in general if it's a constant problem

My personal view/reason for a cheat meal is.........well.......... let me define my version of what a common cheat meal is:


SwoleCat's Dictionary entry for "Cheat Meal".

"Any food offering/meal that contains no positive physique contribution, is nutritionally handicapped, and 99% of the time the cheat offering is comprised of mostly fat and carbs, with a petty amount of protein/incomplete proteins".

I get absolutely SICK to my stomach trying to enjoy something like Jack in the Box, pizza slice after slice, chinese food or chinese buffets (ouch, the worst feeling the next day). So, my view and why I cheat is not to enjoy garbage aka "junk" food because I miss it and it's one day that I can go hog-ass wild eating pure trash. I used to approach it in that manner, but as time went on w/my continuing to eat natural/clean/wholesome/natural/fresh/etc., those cheats quickly grew into a hinderance of enjoying my "free" day rather than providing relief and the feeling of enjoying a well deserved offering.

I now approach the cheat meal as a tool needed to "pimp slap" the thyroid so as to have it operating at an optimal pace, so as to not become stagnant/stale when processing the same offerings and amounts for 6 days at a time. I view it as something needed to be done that is just as key as cardio or weight training, w/the purpose to avoid metabolism slow-down.

I try to eat something "off limits" the other 6 days of the week, but it's usually carb heavy and follows a leg workout or other big bodypart w/smaller parts workout so as to utilize as many of those carbs as possible, along w/a good offering of lean protein combined with the effort to keep fat ingestion as low as possible. It's more like a part of
keeping up my "look" instead of a craving for hydrogenated slop. :lol:

~SC~

"I now approach the cheat meal as a tool needed to "pimp slap" the thyroid so as to have it operating at an optimal pace, so as to not become stagnant/stale when processing the same offerings and amounts for 6 days at a time. I view it as something needed to be done that is just as key as cardio or weight training, w/the purpose to avoid metabolism slow-down."

Funny, This is the answer to the question I was just about to ask. Are you listening to my thoughts? I thought I heard someone sneaking around my brain last night. :D

Seriously though, I have been wondering what the intent/advantages of a "Cheat Meal" are. I have been doing SGX for nearly 6 weeks now and have great results. But I have been reluctant to purposely eat a "cheat meal" (Although I have had no choice a couple times). On SGX I am almost NEVER hungry, and with all the food and types of foods I am consuming, I don't really feel the 'urge' to cheat. But now that I know the reason why I should cheat, I WILL!!! :D

Cheat meals have always been a big struggle for me. Starts as a cheat meal on a Friday or Saturday night and turns into the whole weekend - just not able to stop.

I was on SGX a year ago and had good results even though my weekends were terrible for food. I've taken nearly a year off from working out and I've been eating terrible and gained back all of the weight I lost.

The last few weeks I've been eating great and lifting again. I feel wonderful. Suddenly I've found that my desire for cheat meals has changed. I had some ice cream Friday night and I really didn't want it. Instead I was really craving some yogurt I had in the fridge. Dannon strawberry flavor is awesome.

My motivation right now is very high and perhaps that is part of why I didn't want the ice cream. I also feel great and I know how terrible I feel after eating loads of fat and carbs, ugh. That feeling isn't worth the taste anymore - or so it seems.

From now on I think I'm going to make my cheat meal a nice big K.C. Strip on the grill - steak is something I miss and love.

The most important thing after any kind of cheat is to continue on as if that cheat never happened. Doing that and limiting cheats are key.

Alright... so after that cheat last night, I started feeling really hot when I was trying to go to bed, then I couldnt fall asleep or stay asleep all night... it made me feel like a total peice of crap all night. gross feeling.