To cheat day, or not to cheat day, that is the question. \ stacker news ~HealthAndFitness

pull down to refresh

To cheat day, or not to cheat day, that is the question.

1096 sats \ 38 comments \ @grayruby 15 Jan HealthAndFitness

I haven't posted in the new territory yet. For shame. Let me rectify that.

I am not a big fan of New Year's resolutions. My thinking is if something is really worth doing why not start today. I have similar thoughts about Valentines day but generally keep those to myself as I don't think my wife would accept random gestures of love sprinkled throughout the year in lieu of Valentines recognition. I would but she likely wouldn't so I would rather not test this theory.

Anyways, back on track we go. I did however make a kind of New Year's resolution this year and that was to limit my sugar intake. It's not a full blown resolution because it is more taking an effort that began in October off pause. I started significantly reducing my sugar intake in October and was doing well but got totally off the rails over the Christmas season as people were handing me baked goods to try, neighbours dropped off boxes of chocolates and my wife bought some candy cane ice cream (it's Christmas, I have to be festive). So, after kicking myself for enjoying all the tasty delights, I committed to getting back on track in the New Year.

I have gotten back on track. I still enjoy naturally sweet things like fruits but have been doing a good job of avoiding the products, whether it be sweets or soda or cereal, that are just drenched in sugar. However, with one caveat, I allow myself one cheat day a week. Usually Sunday night while I am watching football I will indulge in some ice cream. Ok a large quantity of ice cream.

What do you think about cheat days when you are restricting yourself from something or trying to adhere to a certain diet? Feels like a bit of a cop out to me but it does seem to work.

Let me know your thoughts and strategies.

Sats for all, GR

view all related items

132 sats \ 2 replies \ @SimpleStacker 15 Jan

Ugh, chocolate gifts are the worst. I'm pretty good about not buying chocolate at the store, but if I get them as a gift it's really hard to resist eating them.

As for cheat days, it's really just about whatever works for you. If your cheat days cause you to go over your limits, then they're not good, but if you stay within your limits and they help sustain your diet in the long run, then they're fine.

Personally, I have more "cheat circumstances". Like, eating out with friends, or on an occasion = eat whatever you like. But try to stay disciplined when eating yourself or at home

98 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

I think cheat circumstances makes sense. You still want to live and enjoy your life. And you are right, people giving you chocolates and sweets as a gift sucks. I am a classic case of if it is not in the house I won't go looking for it but if it is put in front of me I am going to be weak willed. Haha.

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @denlillaapan 15 Jan

Personally, I have more "cheat circumstances". yup. Precisely. And you could think of the holidays as one biiiig circumstance really

50 sats \ 4 replies \ @realBitcoinDog 15 Jan

Do it. #YOLO

95 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

Ok I will keep gorging on ice cream once a week but I won't have abs like you. Haha

50 sats \ 2 replies \ @realBitcoinDog 15 Jan

I used to do Tim Ferris slow carb diet with a single cheat day to great success! I loved it. But it drove my wife nuts

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

What happened to him. He was all the rage around a decade ago but haven't heard from him in years.

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @realBitcoinDog 15 Jan

He still does his podcast. These forever entrepreneur types are always up to something

40 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei 15 Jan

Gretchen Rubin wrote in her happiness book that she is an all or nothing person. She needs to abstain totally from something so that she doesn’t ever have to get tempted and waste cognitive energy thinking should I or should I not?

But it seems that you like to enjoy ice cream in moderation, so why not a cheat day? We must have cheap thrills every now n then to magnify the magic in our moments

24 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

I did that with alcohol. I completely quit cold turkey over 10 years ago. At some point I will post about that.

But to your point it is nice to have a treat occasionally so if it’s in moderation why not.

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei 15 Jan

You mentioned it before actually. N I’m sorry for your loss

40 sats \ 8 replies \ @User21000000 15 Jan

You could have ice cream every day if you built it into your daily calories and same with the Sunday funday cheat meal. As long as it’s a cheat meal not a cheat day. As if you go for broke for a whole day you will undo the good work from the other 6 days

0 sats \ 7 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

I guess but that wouldn't really be cutting down on sugar which is my goal more so than dieting.

40 sats \ 6 replies \ @User21000000 15 Jan

Why are you cutting back on sugar? If it’s not to improve your diet? What does cutting down on sugar as a goal look like?

Is the goal no sugar to tick the goal or is it something else? I’m trying to see how you know if you’re actually achieving that goal? If you have sugar on Sunday is that just undone the weeks battle with sugar?

Like my goal is to drop to 20% body fat . I can measure and see progress etc and will know once I get it.

I guess you could say something like reduce weekly refined sugars to x grams maybe 🤔

0 sats \ 5 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

I don't need a rigid goal. It's much more about getting a negative habit under control. I mean diabetes runs in my family so watching my sugar intake could help to avoid that as I age but it's mostly about recognizing a bad habit and trying to correct it. I don't think eating sugary goodies once a week is going to undo restricting sugar the rest of the week. It's not like I am going to eat sweets all day on cheat day. it just means I can give myself a break an enjoy some sweets.

50 sats \ 4 replies \ @User21000000 15 Jan

Yeah makes sense. Have you thought about buying an ice cream maker they are very affordable and you can make your sweet treat a cleaner healthier thing that you could enjoy whenever. I see you could add protein and other things to actually make a health beneficial treat tick more boxes

0 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

Not a bad idea and my daughter would love making ice cream with me.

40 sats \ 2 replies \ @User21000000 15 Jan

Be a win win you get to make things with your kids and you know what your eating

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

Yeah good point. Win win.

view replies

40 sats \ 3 replies \ @BlokchainB 15 Jan

Sugar is one hell of drug! Super addictive! But yeah balance is key. I say live a little. But if you have a specific weight or body physique in mind then you can try to challenge yourself and do no extra sugar for 30 or 60 days.

77 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

As I was mentioning to @Undisciplined it's not really a weight thing. I don't mind dropping a few pounds in the process but it is more about trying to cut out or cut down on what had become a bad habit.

40 sats \ 1 reply \ @BlokchainB 15 Jan

But it’s only one day a week? Why not just limit the portion size.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

One day a week is what I cut down to in October and then again in January after failing miserably during the Christmas season. Prior to that I had gotten into a bad habit of eating sweets almost every night.

40 sats \ 3 replies \ @denlillaapan 15 Jan

got totally off the rails over the Christmas season as people were handing me baked goods to try, neighbours dropped off boxes of chocolates and my wife bought some candy cane ice cream (it's Christmas, I have to be festive).

uuugh, precisely this. We can't say no that yummy, social, festive Christmas candy eh.

8 sats \ 2 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

My wife's work had a Christmas goodies baking challenge (which my wife ended up winning) so she brought home a bit of everything and then said she didn't want to eat any because she is on a diet and she didn't want the kids to eat too many sweets and left me with a giant tray of goodies for a week. Haha.

I mean it would be offensive to not try it all.

40 sats \ 1 reply \ @denlillaapan 15 Jan

HAHAHAHA oh man, that's mean.

What am I to do, wife?!

22 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

Haha. My son isn't into sweets but my daughter did try a bit and my wife did end up have a few as well but I would say I ate lion's share for sure.

That was maybe a week and a half before Christmas and then she buys me candy cane ice cream on top of it. Not sure if she was trying to be nice or take me out early to collect the insurance money. Hahahaha

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @LowK3y19 15 Jan

I love cheat days too much I’m not a good source for this question

40 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 15 Jan

I've read some stuff about how cheat days are actually better for weight loss, because they keep your metabolism from shifting down to the new caloric intake level.

If that's not you're goal, though, my thinking is generally that something is better than nothing, so if cheat days help you do something, then they're worthwhile.

121 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

Not really a weight loss thing but if I lose a few pounds in the process I wouldn't mind. I am probably about 10 pounds heavier than my optimal weight right now. It's more about trying to kick what became kind of a bad habit.

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 15 Jan

I do something like that every September. I probably wouldn't systematically build in cheat days then. I find that prolonged avoidance is better for resetting my palate and cravings.

40 sats \ 4 replies \ @Satosora 15 Jan

I enjoy having sugar and cream in my tea. But as I have gotten older, it seems like it is taking a toll on my body.

20 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

I don't think a bit of sugar in your tea is a big deal. I don't put sugar in my coffee but if I did I wouldn't worry so much about that. More the stuff where you eat a bit of it and you have exceeded your daily intake of sugar in one sitting.

40 sats \ 2 replies \ @Satosora 15 Jan

Well....I drink 6 cups in a day... Im sure I use a cup of sugar in that time. I am fasting now, I havent had the caffeine headache or sugar withdrawals yet.

20 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 15 Jan

That is a lot of tea. Good you don't get headaches from caffeine withdrawal. I get a massive headache if I don't drink coffee in the morning.

40 sats \ 0 replies \ @Satosora 15 Jan

I drink it throughout the day. But I knew it was getting out of hand. I think because of the fast, my body is focusing on other things. We will see if it gets worse in a few days.

20 sats \ 0 replies \ @Signal312 16 Jan

Here's my thoughts.

Cheat days have got to be an absolute NO unless you're fully okay with your resolution evaporating into nothingness.

You wouldn't have a cheat day if you were a drug addict. For many people, sugar is as addictive as morphine. Brain scans will actually show this, apparently, in the way certain parts of your brain light up.

If, potentially, you were able to limit cheat days to something like once a year (like, on your birthday, or Christmas), then MAYBE. But it doesn't sound like that's something you could do.