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I have been feeling guilty ever since 6 pm as that was when I cheated on my strict diet for the first time in these 3 weeks. I had a Frozen Mocha with Oreos and although it was great, I just wonder how many calories I consumed; oddly enough I had just gone on the scale to see that in these 3 weeks I lost 9 lbs.. so I rewarded myself.. Does anyone else ever cheat ?

Robby08 saidI have been feeling guilty ever since 6 pm as that was when I cheated on my strict diet for the first time in these 3 weeks. I had a Frozen Mocha with Oreos and although it was great, I just wonder how many calories I consumed; oddly enough I had just gone on the scale to see that in these 3 weeks I lost 9 lbs.. so I rewarded myself.. Does anyone else ever cheat ?

As I mentioned on another thread, I completely blew off my fairly strict diet for an entire week while I was out of town on a retreat, and when I got back home, I'd only gained 2 pounds. That was back in May, and since then, I've lost 5 pounds.

No, I don't cheat, but, I do have a treat here and there. Oddly enough, I plan it. I know I cant go without something sweet and fun now and then, so I find options. For instance, if I'm stressed and know I'll be anxious for something chocolatey, I'll have a serving (yes the actual serving) of frozen non-fat yogurt. OR, if I'm REALLY going nuts, I'll fit something sweet in my diet - meaning I have to give up other calories in my day's diet. It hasn't hurt me on the scale, though chances are, I'm limiting my body of needed nutrition. I'd keep frozen non-fat yogurt on hand rather than cheat without knowing the calorie count. You get what you want while doing the most responsible thing comparable. Just watch the fat and sodium count in your choices.

I cheat one meal per week. It helps me be strict the rest of the week. If I really want something, I say I'll have it on so and so day. When that day comes along, I usually don't want it anymore. But, the knowledge that I CAN have it allows me to wait.

What I've found is that I don't even like cheating anymore. Things I used to love to eat (fries, cheeseburgers, etc...) are just not good anymore. So, my cheat meal usually isn't all that bad anyways. ha ha!

I'll do a cheat meal or two on the weekends, as long as I stay strict during the week and make it to the gym it doesn't seem to have a negative effect on my weight loss

I think you will feel better if you look at your "diet" differently.

You need a to make a lifestyle change. A lifestyle can include some rewards once in a while for hard work. Diets don't work, permanent changes in your habits work! Good luck

i broke a really good streak of eating well last night with pizza, some chianti, and then Maggy Moo's butter pecan ice cream on a waffle cone

and i'd already had some pepperidge farms cookies at work too. well, back on the horse today.

I give myself one day a week, Saturday, when I'm allowed to 'cheat'. I can't just pig out and eat crap food all day but I am allowed to not feel guilty for enjoying toast with paté (SO GOOOOOD!)or other nice food that I don't allow myself during the week.

Life's too short to spend it all in the gym and avoiding food that tastes good. We're all going to die anyway.

Don't consider it "cheating" consider it a reward for your hard work! Although your choice of a reward may have been over the top, it's ok from time to time!

Remember feeling guilty about eat something is your choice.

Often when people total deny themselves food they love the regret and then once they get off the program eat like there is no tomorrow.

So know that in life you want certain food some of the time and not all the time. Plan and be accepting of yourself to be ok eating those foods once a week or so.

Here is the important part - portion size
Buy smaller portions - eat 8 oz. steak rather than 12 oz.
Eat 2 cookies instead of 6, 8 or 10.
etc...

If you tell yourself you never get to eat these food ever, then you are actually likely to over indulge because you think this may be it.

Find the balance exercise, cardio and diet. And if you eat a little more today just plan to do more cardio withn the next few days.

You'll be fine. Everyone has a point they come to where they need to just let loose. Like, a1972guy said, although it may have been a tad over the top, at least you didn't go to town like czarodziej (just kidding).

This thread is WAY too Catholic for me.

Hey, food is pleasure. It's just how it works.

Someone who cannot handle a pleasurable thing because it makes him overindulge is generally an addict.

Non-addicts can eat "bad" food now and then.

Weekend= my cheat days.

If it makes me drool, I'll eat it.

I've seen cycles in my own interaction with food (and exercise), and the "big picture" has become more important than obsessing over having gotten "off track" for a meal or even a day.

The trick for me has been a consistent effort to bring things back to center... back to center... back to center.

For instance, I'm going to see family in Vegas this weekend. Will it be a dietary disaster? Probably, LOL.

Like another guy said, I can make informed choices---even in such a debaucherous environment... eat two cookies instead of eight, etc. This helps minimize "damage," as it were.

And like another gentleman referred to, making a lifestyle shift over time is the bigger goal. Stressing about whether or not I'm "on track" means that I'm forcing myself to live in an unnatural state... and I used to do that a lot. Over time, however, I've shifted more and more toward water, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, etc., on a regular basis.

Such a shift takes time and there will never be a "perfect adherence" to the ideal. And obsessing about such regimentation is in itself not so healthy. Finding balance and working toward a goal but allowing for human breathing room, however, seems a much more attainable---and ultimately, healthy---direction to strive for.

So if ya "cheat" or "fall off the wagon" or whatever you wanna call it, it's OK to say, "OK, that's done and over with," dust yourself off, and simply bring it back to center. Start again for today with the next beverage or food choice and just move on...

ValleyGuy5000 said So if ya "cheat" or "fall off the wagon" or whatever you wanna call it, it's OK to say, "OK, that's done and over with," dust yourself off, and simply bring it back to center. Start again for today with the next beverage or food choice and just move on...

Yep, couldn't agree more. We all do it and a number of things can drive us to just give in, don't beat yourself up over it. The mere fact that you recognize what you have done and it bothers you, that's the best part of it. Now, carry on and congratulations for what you've lost and recognizing that you can continue to improve your physical being!

RunintheCity saidThis thread is WAY too Catholic for me.

lmfao