What do you consider a cheat meal?

[smokinal]

When I put a banana in my protein shake

[AdamWW]

When I put a banana in my protein shake

My innuendo radar is on high alert

[Xpiro]

You say you don’t restrict, and yet you limit fat... hmmm

Not too much, I will definitely eat the **** out of some pizza should it find its way to me. “Restriction” for me has been much more intense than what I allow myself now, and “total freedom” would be an unreasonable and sickly amount of food. I just don’t go crazy.

[AdamWW]

Not too much, I will definitely eat the **** out of some pizza should it find its way to me. “Restriction” for me has been much more intense than what I allow myself now, and “total freedom” would be an unreasonable and sickly amount of food. I just don’t go crazy.

So you’re saying ‘freedom’ to you is is feeling sick from food?

[TheShadowMan]

Anything's a cheat meal if you have enough of it.

[Strawng]

So you’re saying ‘freedom’ to you is is feeling sick from food?

This. Eating until you feel sick is hardly "freedom" ffs. I'll eat outside of my typical macros from time to time, but I don't really track so I don't think anything for me is really a "cheat meal" with the exception of MAYBE drinking alcohol. I've had substance abuse issues in the past and I have to keep my drinking days to a minimum in order to keep my sanity. The thing is, even I would never intentionally drink until I'm sick and I don't attach shame or guilt to my drinking days. Why in the hell would that mentality be ok with food? I suppose if you're like me but addicted to some certain type of food that you just can't control yourself around unless you limit it to a certain day of the week, something like a cheat day would be ok. That being said, the second you think it's "naughty" to eat something (cringe) or feel shame about indulging, then it's probably time to try to include the food in small amounts or honestly just not eat it. The same goes for if you intentionally have a day where you eat until you feel physically sick immediately after eating.

[snailsrus]

When you’re having a meal with someone other than your committed partner with the intention of breaking agreed upon relationship parameters.

YES!

I don’t do cheat meals but on holidays or special occasions I don’t worry about counting calories and macros, I just eat till satiated. One meal once in a blue moon wont affect anything

[boo99]

That silly "cheat" word should be censored here like broccoli was and **** is now

[Xpiro]

So you’re saying ‘freedom’ to you is is feeling sick from food?

Yes, to my ex-bulimic ass it definitely is.

Managing a decade+ of eating disorders adds a whole new level to this game, really.

[Xpiro]

This. Eating until you feel sick is hardly "freedom" ffs. I'll eat outside of my typical macros from time to time, but I don't really track so I don't think anything for me is really a "cheat meal" with the exception of MAYBE drinking alcohol. I've had substance abuse issues in the past and I have to keep my drinking days to a minimum in order to keep my sanity. The thing is, even I would never intentionally drink until I'm sick and I don't attach shame or guilt to my drinking days. Why in the hell would that mentality be ok with food? I suppose if you're like me but addicted to some certain type of food that you just can't control yourself around unless you limit it to a certain day of the week, something like a cheat day would be ok. That being said, the second you think it's "naughty" to eat something (cringe) or feel shame about indulging, then it's probably time to try to include the food in small amounts or honestly just not eat it. The same goes for if you intentionally have a day where you eat until you feel physically sick immediately after eating.

Not only like you in terms of addiction to food, but I’m an ex alcoholic too!

I know moderation, we have a beautifully powerful yet often turbulent relationship.

[AdamWW]

Yes, to my ex-bulimic ass it definitely is.

Managing a decade+ of eating disorders adds a whole new level to this game, really.

Sounds like you still have a lot of work to do.

Having an actual drive to become sick is hardly ‘managing’ the issue.

Even now while I am recovering from anorexia and going through bouts of extreme hunger and ‘recovery feasts’, I never eat myself until sickness.

Overly full? Sure, but that’s about it.

My primary issue with the concept of ‘cheat meals’ is that it creates an unhealthy reward and shame system around food. If you ‘do good’, the reward is a ‘cheat’ food. If you accidentally ‘cheat’, you feel shame. If you plan a ‘cheat’, then almost always people will restrict before and after, thus spending unneeded time in an underfed and restricted state... also not healthy IMO.

As strawng said, I don’t consider anything a cheat. There are times where I favor highly processed or highly palatable foods, but I eat them freely, without shame... at least that is the idea. It’s just food, you have no breakable contract with it.

[Xpiro]

Sounds like you still have a lot of work to do.

Having an actual drive to become sick is hardly ‘managing’ the issue.

Even now while I am recovering from anorexia and going through bouts of extreme hunger and ‘recovery feasts’, I never eat myself until sickness.

Overly full? Sure, but that’s about it.

My primary issue with the concept of ‘cheat meals’ is that it creates an unhealthy reward and shame system around food. If you ‘do good’, the reward is a ‘cheat’ food. If you accidentally ‘cheat’, you feel shame. If you plan a ‘cheat’, then almost always people will restrict before and after, thus spending unneeded time in an underfed and restricted state... also not healthy IMO.

As strawng said, I don’t consider anything a cheat. There are times where I favor highly processed or highly palatable foods, but I eat them freely, without shame... at least that is the idea. It’s just food, you have no breakable contract with it.

“Cheat” to me doesn’t really mean anything but the technique that it defines. There’s no shame or guilt, I just consider it a thing that may have a negative impact upon my desired results if implemented regularly. A break from my plan, basically, so “break” meal may be more appropriate?

But to get a bit personal, my girlfriend is kinda food obsessed and it makes things hard. Yes I still have binge urges... not that I’m blaming her, but I am trying and finding that living with her is really difficult for my recovery. I guess I’ve just accepted that the urges are something that will never fully go away/something that I can sate to some degree with moderation within the large amount of calories I can eat for bodybuilding. Would it be different without her, am I using her as a scapegoat? Shyt, who knows, triggers are real but recovery is my responsibility.

[Paulie1986]

Don't say ''cheat meal''

Just say ''Calorie ballin'.''

[Xpiro]

Don't say ''cheat meal''

Just say ''Calorie ballin'.''

That would def solve the semantics issue