Cheat Meals ARE necessary, heres why

**xp388** · 03-09-2006, 09:18 AM

After speaking with a Nutritionist fdrom weight watchers ( my neighbor). She told me if you are on a VERY VERY strict diet, meaning no small cheating thruought the week, eating absolutly pure clean food, then a cheat day is necessary. Becuase the 99% of the meals you eat are clean lower the speed of your metabolism, cheat meals, espcially when your eating very clean, and your calories deficit is very low, cheat meals boost up the metabolism and give it a shock. Without a cheat meaL, OLVER TIME YOUR METABOLISAM WILL GET use to the food and slowly slow down.

**David_1201086** · 03-09-2006, 09:20 AM

how often? wouldnt mind a pb and J

**alblocker** · 03-09-2006, 09:24 AM

i eat a pb&j almost every single day and im still losing 2lbs a week, its just sugar free jelly whole wheat bread and natty pb

**xp388** · 03-09-2006, 09:24 AM

She said once a week.

She said make it different. How many g of fat do u consume a day ? For me, its around 30.

Go to Mcdonalds and eat a #1 meal. Thatll shock the **** out of your metabolism

**ethoxidenuc** · 03-09-2006, 09:30 AM

You have inspired me to go to a nutritionist at weight watchers and argue with her... think I can get a free membership if I win?
Cheating is neccessary depending on weight and caloric intake.

**David_1201086** · 03-09-2006, 09:30 AM

About 60-70. 22g from walnuts

**David_1201086** · 03-09-2006, 09:33 AM

ethoxidenuc these are my stats

Roughly 2400-2500 calories, 60-70g Fat, 200g Protein, 40-50g sugar, 215g carbs I am 5"11-6ft 183lbs think I should be having a cheat meal?

**nithos** · 03-09-2006, 09:34 AM

Cheats are for psychological purposes only. They are rewards for staying strict all week.

If you are really concerned about your metabolism slowing down, don't crash diet and keep your calorie defecite at no more than 500 calories a day.

**ethoxidenuc** · 03-09-2006, 09:36 AM

No, David, you're fine.
Cheating IMO is more for crash dieting to boost T3 levels, as well as Leptin. If you're eating 2400-2500calories, I wouldn't worry about super low T3 or Leptin.

**David_1201086** · 03-09-2006, 09:42 AM

ok thanks

**panic66** · 03-09-2006, 09:47 AM

as the well made machines that we are, our bodies adapt to things over time, this is why you change things up like doing different cardio, changing weight routines, etc. so i do believe that our bodies do adapt to the calories we take in, and they do need a shock now and then, but this does not mean go and eat a whole pizza or go out and eat a greasy double cheeseburger, just up the calorie intake for a day instead of eating at a deficit eat above maintance one day, but still eat clean.

that is just my 2 cents

PANCIC66

**reflexions** · 03-09-2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by xp388

After speaking with a Nutritionist fdrom weight watchers ( my neighbor). She told me if you are on a VERY VERY strict diet, meaning no small cheating thruought the week, eating absolutly pure clean food, then a cheat day is necessary. Becuase the 99% of the meals you eat are clean lower the speed of your metabolism, cheat meals, espcially when your eating very clean, and your calories deficit is very low, cheat meals boost up the metabolism and give it a shock. Without a cheat meaL, OLVER TIME YOUR METABOLISAM WILL GET use to the food and slowly slow down.

i agree with cheat meals, however when bulking up, il take the weekend of my diet, as ernie taylor often recomends in flex, when cutting il take either 1 day or 1 meal, i still make terrific mass gains not all fat!

**tfg** · 03-09-2006, 10:43 AM

I don't think it's as much about a "cheat" meal as it is about eating more calories. Someone on the board made an analogy a while back about how losing weight is like running a marathon through the desert. Every once in a while you have to stop and refuel with water and food. It's the same thing with dieting. I agree with normal cheat meals.

**xp388** · 03-09-2006, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by tfg

I don't think it's as much about a "cheat" meal as it is about eating more calories. Someone on the board made an analogy a while back about how losing weight is like running a marathon through the desert. Every once in a while you have to stop and refuel with water and food. It's the same thing with dieting. I agree with normal cheat meals.

Once a week correct ?

Say a combo meal at any fast food resturant ? KFC, WENDYS, BK, MCDONALDS, ECT..

**BodyBuild03** · 03-09-2006, 11:00 AM

i think the whole "eating clean slows ur metabolism" is incorrect and misguiding... ive found that eating the same meals at a lower caloric intake is going to drop someone's metabolism because ur body is going to naturally try to stop u from starving urself... as far as a cheat meal where u stuff ur face with crap (which i am guilty of from time to time also just like most here) isnt necessary... a REFEED where ur eat more overall calories (clean sources of foods) IS the ideal method... this is why when cutting ive found im most successful when doing a carb cycling diet so my high carb day acts as my refeed to make sure my body isnt slowing down

**LightCrow** · 03-09-2006, 11:57 AM

Your metabolism is controlled by the calories (based on bodyweight) you consume every day, not the cleanliness of your food. Now on that note, I would ask the original poster for some research to back up her claims. One cheat day will not reset your metabolism. All the research I've seen shows that it takes longer for things to normalize after a diet, like around two weeks. Cheat meals/days help for psychological reasons sure, but nothing besides that.

**xp388** · 03-09-2006, 12:01 PM

Dude, I couldnt tell you. I am just going off of what she is saying. I am just saying this is what she told me.

This brings me to another question.
I want to cheat Saturday. Pkan on going to Mcdonalds or KFC or soemthing. Now, when wuold my metabolism be the highest ????

20 minutes of HIT ?

45minutes of Med-High intesnity cardio ( eliptical)

saturday is my back n Bi day. I was thinking of doing this

Morning : Lift, Back n Bis
2 hours after lifting, CHEAT MEAL
Night : 45 minutes of cardio

Hows that ?

**LightCrow** · 03-09-2006, 12:13 PM

Too much bodybuilder OCDness. Let me ask you this, if you've been running a good calorie deficit all week, what difference will it make if it follows lifting, cardio, or whatever? On that note my only recommendation is to move it to night, so you aren't tempted to turn it into a reason to eat poorly the rest of the day.

**panic66** · 03-09-2006, 12:19 PM

this is what i think: i think you are just trying to justify a reason to go eat mcdonalds or kfc, dude if you wanna go eat that go ahead you dont need a reason, just do it

**nithos** · 03-09-2006, 12:21 PM

You are going to waste a perfectly good cheat meal on McDonalds???

**Leroy Jenkins** · 03-09-2006, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by xp388

Go to Mcdonalds and eat a #1 meal. Thatll shock the **** out of your metabolism

jeesh haha that would make me puke prob after cutting for 2 months and no cheats.

**slothasor** · 03-09-2006, 12:33 PM

your taking advice from a nutritionalist from weight watchers? weight watchers is geared towards average people who eat 1000 calories a day and dont do cardio. a cheat meal is not necessary, but a REFEED will help in most cases.

**xp388** · 03-09-2006, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Leroy Jenkins

jeesh haha that would make me puke prob after cutting for 2 months and no cheats.

what would be ur perfect cheal meal ?

**PhilaLifter99** · 03-09-2006, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by slothasor

your taking advice from a nutritionalist from weight watchers? weight watchers is geared towards average people who eat 1000 calories a day and dont do cardio. a cheat meal is not necessary, but a REFEED will help in most cases.

I beg to differ.

There is no way 97% of the people just starting their diets with Weight Watchers could perform on 1000 calories.

Not to mention, I know for certain that Weight Watchers promotes fitness (i.e. Cardiovascular excercise). The people involved in the program do not need to do HIIT or long periods of cardio to see results.

Also, they do adjust one's diet while being on the program. In the beginning, you are allowed to have so many "points" which are calculated by your height and weight, etc... just like someone who weights 250lbs is going to have a higher maintenance level than someone who weighs 100lbs less. As one loses weight, their "point allowances" will decrease...

IMO, it's genious program for the average Joe/Jane who finds it difficult to count calories and macronutrients like many of us.

xp388, thanks for the post.

To the rest of you... give the guy a break.

**panic66** · 03-09-2006, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by xp388

what would be ur perfect cheal meal ?

CHIPOTLE

**Myztek** · 03-09-2006, 02:10 PM

A cheat meal for me is eating extra bananas + PB. Mmmm.

**ceilos456** · 03-09-2006, 02:15 PM

eat clean everyday of the month and pretty much cheat once per month, i promised myself that

i mean its only normal when all your friends are drinkin jack and cokes (OMG NOT DIET COKE!!), bacon cheeseburger deluxes, frostees, smoking cigarettes

i mean 1 out of 4 weekends i do let myself go now, i am 19 days of cutting right now and feel great, i just know that i will eventually be able to cheat and that helps keep me sane

**Rachel_n_SD** · 03-09-2006, 02:19 PM

eating clean doesnt necessarily lower your metabolism if you are eating a sufficient amount of calories.

and one cheat meal could not 'reset' your metabolism.

**jeff232** · 03-09-2006, 03:35 PM

for me cheat meals are a really good way to undo a weeks worth of dieting and exercise. I keep myself at about a 200 to 500 calorie a day deficit and one big meal means i dont lose any fat that week. Plus when i eat crap i feel like crap, i get headaches and generally feel like taking a nap.

**john70** · 03-09-2006, 04:13 PM

Two comments.

Weight Watchers. They can cheat everyday. It is based on a point system. They can eat cake, ice cream, whatever because the meal and amount of is based on a total number of points per day.

In the forum, your cheat meal is for sanity. I eat clean all week. Presently cutting with 2 cheat meals a week.

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