Thread: Cheat day when cutting?

Cheat meal...not day if you are serious!

DP

It is not about tricking the body into thinking it will get its sweets.....the body doesn't need the sweets. The extra calories are a way of tricking the body into thinking that it is not on a diet. This can be achieved by overeating (ie more than your daily calories for the day) and doesn't not have to necessarily be sweets or junk food (but those do make it a little more fun!!). Like DP said a cheat meal is safer than a cheat day, especially on a cut.

From the analects of Pardeucius:

"Cheat days are for gluttons. Purposeful overfeeding is another matter entirly"

-enjoy

Originally posted by Dr. Pain
Cheat meal...not day if you are serious!

DP

Yup, that's what I have reduced myself to, we always go out to dinner on Saturday night, so that is my one cheat meal for the week.

I seem to hear a lot of mixed opinions on that topic in particular: That a cheat meal "tricks" the body into speeding up its metabolism, or tricks it into thinking it isn't on a diet....

But I've also heard from several trainers and lifters now that that whole concept is bunk....and the only real purpose of a cheat meal is to give yourself a little diet vacation, and is good for the soul....

I have one cheat meal a week, but it's a pretty mild cheat meal....something like a moderate portion of steak and mashed potatoes....

i think many people use the idea as an excuse to go apeshit....

One Guy I know eats Sundays, cheetos and all kinds of shit, then wonders why he's still got pudge four months later....

I seem to hear a lot of mixed opinions on that topic in particular: That a cheat meal "tricks" the body into speeding up its metabolism, or tricks it into thinking it isn't on a diet....

A cheat meal is just that......cheating. Eating something you enjoy, that may not necessarily be "good"for you, that you may have deprived yourself for a certain period of time is a cheat.

There is however, a difference between a cheat meal and a carb up or re-feed. These are need in my opinion, and the opnion of many, to prevent certain problems you may run into while dieting which could put you in a bit of a rut/plateau. Things like catabolization of muscle, slowed down metabolism, lowered leptin levels, depleted glycogen etc.

i think many people use the idea as an excuse to go apeshit....

When used properly carb ups and re-feeds can be highly succsesful in helping you reach your goals. It should not be an excuse to eat whatever you want or go "apeshit"

I have one cheat meal a week, but it's a pretty mild cheat meal....something like a moderate portion of steak and mashed potatoes....

Whether it is mild or not you are having a meal of some sort that it outside of your diet and probably above your caloric needs for the day. That meal is going to help in the long run, in my opinion. Don't believe me? Try and go about 4-6 weeks dieting without that meal, you may find that your results get a bit slower and possibly even cease. (just my opinion)

Originally posted by P-funk
A cheat meal is just that......cheating. Eating something you enjoy, that may not necessarily be "good"for you, that you may have deprived yourself for a certain period of time is a cheat.

There is however, a difference between a cheat meal and a carb up or re-feed. These are need in my opinion, and the opnion of many, to prevent certain problems you may run into while dieting which could put you in a bit of a rut/plateau. Things like catabolization of muscle, slowed down metabolism, lowered leptin levels, depleted glycogen etc.



When used properly carb ups and re-feeds can be highly succsesful in helping you reach your goals. It should not be an excuse to eat whatever you want or go "apeshit"



Whether it is mild or not you are having a meal of some sort that it outside of your diet and probably above your caloric needs for the day. That meal is going to help in the long run, in my opinion. Don't believe me? Try and go about 4-6 weeks dieting without that meal, you may find that your results get a bit slower and possibly even cease. (just my opinion)

Mine too

A cheat meal is unnecessary when one eats enough quality food.

Originally posted by Duncan
A cheat meal is unnecessary when one eats enough quality food.

If you're on a strict diet a cheat meal is very helpful mentally. I pretty much eat the same foods/meals 6 times per day all week and having that one meal to look forward to makes it much easier to stay strict all week.