No cheat meal?

[valpo2518]

I was wondering if anyone here doesn't have a cheat meal. I'm fairly new to the whole clean eating lifestyle. Before this I thought I was eating pretty healthy but I was eating WAY too many carbs-yes, they were whole grains, but it was too many. Anyway, I've been eating clean for about 1 month now and have NO desire to have a cheat meal. I can't believe I don't crave any bad food. I'm the queen of ultra low-cal diets(no more!) So, I'm eating more than ever w/good results and I feel great. My question is, do I HAVE to have a cheat meal? Am I setting myself up for failure if I don't have a cheat meal?

[ChicagoChef]

I think as long as you're eating enough to keep your metabolism going at a good clip and you don't feel like you're depriving yourself, I don't think you should "force" a cheat meal.

There will come a day when ya get a craving for something "bad", and then you can have your cheat meal, lol. 'Til then, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Varla]

I don't regularly have a cheat meal and it doesn't bother me. I eat delicious, yet heathly and clean foods all weekend long and then during the week with the craziness of my schedule I just eat pretty much the same few foods day in and day out, makes it easy to shop and plan for. So eating a fancy salad, yummy fish and some sweet potato dish is more than tasty enough for me on the weekends and feels like it is a treat.

[Amanda76]

I was wondering if anyone here doesn't have a cheat meal. I'm fairly new to the whole clean eating lifestyle. Before this I thought I was eating pretty healthy but I was eating WAY too many carbs-yes, they were whole grains, but it was too many. Anyway, I've been eating clean for about 1 month now and have NO desire to have a cheat meal. I can't believe I don't crave any bad food. I'm the queen of ultra low-cal diets(no more!) So, I'm eating more than ever w/good results and I feel great. My question is, do I HAVE to have a cheat meal? Am I setting myself up for failure if I don't have a cheat meal?

CHEAT MEALS DO NOT DO ANYTHING FOR YOU! Think about it...does it make sense that there would be any real nutritional benefit to eating refined, processed foods over whole, more natural foods, EVER? If your calories have been low and you need to do a refeed (bump up your calories for a day or two every few weeks), you are far better off doing that through clean sources than through consuming junk. If you're maintaining with a healthy level of calories, no need to worry about refeeds at all, of course.

It's not that I never let junk pass my lips, but don't cheat on a regular basis (maybe more often in the winter, but not because I think I'm doing my body a favor). There is absolutely no reason to make cheats a regular part of your diet.

[trainwithrae]

why would you HAVE to have a cheat meal? It's not necessary at all. More often than not it hinders progress

[valpo2518]

Thanks for the good info! I guess I thought I HAD to have a cheat meal or else I'd go crazy one day and eat a gallon of ice cream But, the more I think about it, the more absurd it sounds,"To have a healthy diet you must eat crappy food occasionally, even if you don't want to"

[JVo]

There seem to be two types of people. A lot of people feel like they need an occasional cheat in order to stick with the rigidity the rest of the time. And other people don't. My cheat is wine on weekends, but in terms of foods, I really have no desire to eat foods that are off-diet.

[kimm4]

I'm sorry but people who say they're perfect on their diets 24/7 year round are full of crap!!

A cheat meal will not kill you. If there is ever a time you feel the need for a cheat meal (and it will happen) then do one. If you're feeling good and you don't feel the need for one then don't

[ChicagoChef]

I'm sorry but people who say they're perfect on their diets 24/7 year round are full of crap!!

Cheers to that. And I really don't think that's anyway to live. Yes, we need to work hard and put forth 110%. But guess what?

Eat healthy, exercise, and die anyway. Indulge once in awhile if it will make ya happy!

[2lean2Bmean]

I'm sorry but people who say they're perfect on their diets 24/7 year round are full of crap!!

A cheat meal will not kill you. If there is ever a time you feel the need for a cheat meal (and it will happen) then do one. If you're feeling good and you don't feel the need for one then don't

kimm4, you ROCK !...this is sooo true...allllll my daily "meals" are soooooo incredibly clean, BUT..i must say, i do love a good NUTTER-BUTTER buzz every now and then...

[InaSpin]

I've just spent the first weekend in over 4 months with my parents. My cheat day became a cheat Friday - Saturday - Sunday. Eek. Double cardio for me tomorrow!

[MichelleAntonia]

I'm sorry but people who say they're perfect on their diets 24/7 year round are full of crap!!

A cheat meal will not kill you. If there is ever a time you feel the need for a cheat meal (and it will happen) then do one. If you're feeling good and you don't feel the need for one then don't

exactly!

lots of ppl need cheats for psychological reasons- a mental break from the rigidity of certain specific or very "clean" diets. and sometimes it's just a special occasion and it's gonna be much more enjoyable if you're being anal about your diet, lets be real here, lol. when you've got a once in a rare while vacation or trip, or going out with someone you're not going to see in a while, or something MAJOR to celebrate...who can say they're going to have just as much fun worrying about how many processed carbs are in a beer & a birthday cake? cmon now, it's life! it should be worked hard at, but enjoyed also!!

[cleanfreak]

Remember, you can still "cheat" and eat clean! Just because you're eating something out of the ordinary and considering it a cheat because its higher in sugar or fat or whatever doesn't mean it has to be low-quality food. A nice dark chocolate, Immaculate Baking Co. cookies (all-natural but definitely a cheat for me)...pretty much anything you like to eat can be made clean.

[precisou2004]

Last time i had a "cheat" meal was when I ate a sub in a restaurant (Mikes) that was in February and a few months ago i had like 3 serving of pork LOL If u can call this cheating... hehe

BUT next Tuesday is my Bday and i INTEND to seriously cheat... WITH tuns of good food :-) lol

Me and a gf from the gym are going to Scores and i intend to have a few things from the buffet like cottage cheeze, mixed beans, tomatos, shredded carrots, soup, etc... for main meal probably the babyback ribs platter (one big rack of babyback ribs with a baked 'tato and may add some fried chicken strips but might skip on that)
http://www.scores.ca/quebec/english/...iningroom/#top

havent been there in at least a year so im way overdue on that

right after, my trainer is putting me on a "competition" diet for a whole month to see how my body will do with it

[Sgonzalez76]

exactly!

lots of ppl need cheats for psychological reasons- a mental break from the rigidity of certain specific or very "clean" diets.

You'r right.

I didn't have a cheat meal for 4 months but now I'm just crazy for that, I think is better to have a balance.

[precisou2004]

Cheers to that. And I really don't think that's anyway to live. Yes, we need to work hard and put forth 110%. But guess what?

Eat healthy, exercise, and die anyway. Indulge once in awhile if it will make ya happy!

and god only knows those babyback ribs will make ME HAPPY LOL

[BFIT]

It should depend on your body, on how you feel. I don't always have a cheat meal on a regular basis. When I do have a cheat meal it's more of a "re-feed" day, but my body is fine with it.

[littleblkninja]

I'm sorry but people who say they're perfect on their diets 24/7 year round are full of crap!!

A cheat meal will not kill you. If there is ever a time you feel the need for a cheat meal (and it will happen) then do one. If you're feeling good and you don't feel the need for one then don't

TRUE. No one is perfect, except when they are online of course!

[valpo2518]

Remember, you can still "cheat" and eat clean! Just because you're eating something out of the ordinary and considering it a cheat because its higher in sugar or fat or whatever doesn't mean it has to be low-quality food. A nice dark chocolate, Immaculate Baking Co. cookies (all-natural but definitely a cheat for me)...pretty much anything you like to eat can be made clean.

Very good point!! Just because it's a 'cheat' doesn't mean it has to be poor quality food.
I do love dark chocolate

[valpo2518]

TRUE. No one is perfect, except when they are online of course!

LOL!!!...and I'm 5'8", long blonde hair, super long legs, killer abs....

[Scarl3tbutt3rfly]

I usually have pretty scheduled cheat meals when Im not doing strict dieting. Usually it is a dinner date, or some takeout if it is something Ive been craving. Does my body physically need it? Probably not. I could probably get away with a good refeed and it would be ok too. But mentally I do need it. I turn down every thing ever offered during the rest of the week and eat totally clean otherwise, strict portions of food, etc. So it is nice to just sit and eat something tasty until Im 'full' and 'satisfied'. I think sometimes you mentally need that. At least I do.

Do you have to have one? Of course not. However, I think it is easy to start eating totally clean for a long period of time and not think it too difficult. I think most eventually will crack though. If you dont, more power to you!

[kimm4]

I usually have pretty scheduled cheat meals when Im not doing strict dieting. Usually it is a dinner date, or some takeout if it is something Ive been craving. Does my body physically need it? Probably not. I could probably get away with a good refeed and it would be ok too. But mentally I do need it. I turn down every thing ever offered during the rest of the week and eat totally clean otherwise, strict portions of food, etc. So it is nice to just sit and eat something tasty until Im 'full' and 'satisfied'. I think sometimes you mentally need that. At least I do.

Do you have to have one? Of course not. However, I think it is easy to start eating totally clean for a long period of time and not think it too difficult. I think most eventually will crack though. If you dont, more power to you!

Great points in this post!! I will go one step further by adding it also depends how strict you diet is. As a bb and the lengths I go through with contest prep dieting can be brutal. Getting that depleted for shows is fine...but it's not something that would be healty to do year round. So in my off season I absolutely have planned cheats...my feeling is I've earned them and you can bet your a$$ I'm going to use them LOL!!

The key is finding a good balance that works for you. This is a lifestyle and it's important that you're stay healty and happy along the way!!