cheat days...how far do you take it?

[seraph]

i'm coming up w/ a new diet plan and workout, and i'm going to use sunday's as my cheat day. now i'm curious as to how most of you guys do this. do you eat whatever you want all day? do you get mcdonalds or stuff like that? or do you give yourself one cheat meal on that particular day?

currently i'm working on gaining weight, and i'm having a difficult time gaining. for reference i'm 5'8" 145lbs - trying to hit 165lbs

[Life]

i'm having this struggle, too... although i'm trying to lose weight.

5'4" here, male, 24yo started at 245.1 about 7 weeks ago, currently 226.6 as of jan 14, '05

i've gone 12 days in a row now with no cheats... and i was thinking of giving myself a "cheat" meal because i know i'd go overboard with a day... and i don't mean pigging out on the meal either... just... something responsible and reasonble for that meal - i was thinking maybe once every two weeks or once a week... what do the rest of you guys do?

[RichUK]

I tend to have one or two cheat meals at weekends which keeps me right for the rest of the week. Some people don't bother, I guess it depends on personal preference. I know people who can put on 5lbs of fat by just looking at a pizza, whereas others (like myself, to an extent) can eat a pretty poor diet and put on very little bodyfat.

I eat well during the week but let myself go a bit at weekends. I don't want sub10% bodyfat percentages or anything like that, so my diet works well for me as it helps me achieve my goals whilst still enjoying some of the foods which are no good for me!

So look at your goals, then ask yourself what do you think, not what does everybody else think!

Good luck with it!!
Rich :

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by RichUK

So look at your goals, then ask yourself what do you think, not what does everybody else think!

Good answer Rich.

I personally do not schedule "regular" cheat days. My thought is, why cheat if I'm not having any cravings? In my family, certain things come up; family comes in to town and wants to go out to eat, wife wants to go out to eat, special family occassions...things like that. I use those days to be more flexible. However, if I do start having cravings, then I go ahead and take care of those cravings. But I try to do it on a day when I'm working out so I can have some type of activity that day that will burn it off. But that's just me. You should do whatever works for you.

[rbuchman]

No cheat days. Occasionally (and I mean occasionally) I'll have something bad IF it's provided (i.e. A single slice of pizza etc.) but try and avoid this.

My only cheat is alcohol (being 22) but I try and limit that as much as possible, only drinking when it will enhance the fun (not sitting around watching football) and a little less (5-7) instead of (9-12)

The key is to find substatutes for your cravings. Sugar free pudding (for chocolate), sugar free jello (for sugar) and what I call barely fried chicken (heavily spray a pan then cook chicken with your own bread crumbs) for something greasy.

I feel mentally and physically horrible if I were to eat something like a donut or fries but then again I'm sort of a freak.

[ACEHOLE]

cutting


going 3k, 3k, 7k, 3k, 3k, 7k, 3k etc

[Clark Kent]

Here is an interesting fact. We all know that there are 3500 calories in a pound of fat, basically. Did you know that it actually takes twice that, or 7000 calories to metabolize and create a pound of fat?

I don't think cheat meals are a bad thing if they keep you to your diet the majority of the time. We aren't robots!

[Life]

Well said guys.

For me, it's a little different... being a diabetic (type 2) my blood sugar depends on the healthiness of my meals and the exercise I put into it. (as I've only begun to realize in regards to my journal)

I'm trying to change my eating lifestyle (well actually, I have) and I think as long as diet and exercise are stabilized and in good balance ... an occasional "responsible cheat" here or there will keep that good balance in tact!

I hope...

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Life

For me, it's a little different... being a diabetic (type 2) my blood sugar depends on the healthiness of my meals and the exercise I put into it. (as I've only begun to realize in regards to my journal)

Life, I'm a Type II Diabetic myself. Check out my progress pics. I was diagnosed on January 12th, 2004. I went on an immediate diet (what I call a lifestyle change). On March 1st, 2004, I added an exercise program. I decided to chart my progress with pics. I don't know what you look like but I hope my pics will help encourage you. I have my blood labs done every three months. My fasting blood sugar has gone down from 322 to the 70s and 80s. My cholesterol has gone down from 207 to 153. It was down as low as 93. My triglycerides are down from 913 to as low as 44. It's now at 68. My A1C went down from 10.3 to 5.7. Since being off of the medication, it has gone down even further to 5.1. And for what it's worth, I was on diabetes medication for only six months.
So Life, I know exactly where you're at and what you're going through. If I can ever do anything to help ya out, give me a holler!!

[Life]

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

Life, I'm a Type II Diabetic myself. Check out my progress pics. I was diagnosed on January 12th, 2004. I went on an immediate diet (what I call a lifestyle change). On March 1st, 2004, I added an exercise program. I decided to chart my progress with pics. I don't know what you look like but I hope my pics will help encourage you. I have my blood labs done every three months. My fasting blood sugar has gone down from 322 to the 70s and 80s. My cholesterol has gone down from 207 to 153. It was down as low as 93. My triglycerides are down from 913 to as low as 44. It's now at 68. My A1C went down from 10.3 to 5.7. Since being off of the medication, it has gone down even further to 5.1. And for what it's worth, I was on diabetes medication for only six months.
So Life, I know exactly where you're at and what you're going through. If I can ever do anything to help ya out, give me a holler!!

Hey sooner_ed, very glad to meet ya... Very impressive with the pics, way to go!

I was just like you, I went on a whole lifestyle change upon diagnosis (June 2003) I was even so inclined to write a journal about it back then and did - http://www.discussfitness.com/forums/http://www.discussfitness.com/forums/f9/lifes-journal-11134.html (which is a very old thread by the way)

I am glad to see you have maintained control in your diabetes as this is my aim right now.

My story is similar in many respects, as I had fought in June 2003 - 5'4", male, 23, 236lbs and had a 351mg/dL fasting blood sugar.

I dropped about 55lbs in the process (236lbs to 180lbs) June 2003-October 2003 and maintained control.

As the months progressed I slowly began to get back on my "binging" rollercoaster - an eating disorder I've never been able to fully shake off - and from 180 I shot back up to 245.1lbs on December 10, 2004 and had a fasting blood sugar of 201mg/dL.

I started going for occasional walks but never really changed my eating habits.

5 weeks later I lost about 12lbs (233.0lbs) and decided to visit my doctor.(January 7, 2005) the doctor found protein in my urine, which is now the result of kidney damage... which is the cause of poor blood sugar control.

That's when I started to take this thing seriously. The last two weeks I've fought hard to eat better and ended up joining a gym.

I'm not on any lowering blood sugar medications and have brought my blood sugars from the 150range into the high 90s range (you can check my current journal for that and as well as two pics of me I've posted)

My last weigh-in was last week at 226.6lbs and I am weighing-in again tomorrow.

I have tried my best to eat better and exercise and lift, and I'll try to fight this kidney damage as long as I can... apparently diabetic kidney disease is progressive, and it will just continue to get worse...

Losing weight, controlling my blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol are the only means to slow down the damage.

It's kind of sad in a way because I've seen my dad struggle. In 2001 he's had a heart attack and a stroke at the same time (and is also a diabetic) To date my dad's health is declining as he has had nerve damage and bleeding in his eyes, chest pains, and pretty much everything else associated with diabetes.

I have not yet told my mom about my kidneys as it is too hard to break it to her and I have yet had a hard time coping with it...

I plan to do my best to get in the best shape possible to make my body and life as healthy and fit as possible because it's only now am I realizing how important it is to me.

I guess at 23 you don't think much of it, and at 24 being diagnosed with kidney damage is even more of a shot to the face...

Ehh... I'm sorry for the rant, but yes, I do know where you come from and I'm glad to see there's somebody else on this board that can provide any helpful info...

Thanks! (and sorry for such a long post, it's been a rough ride recently)

[Life]

Just wanted to add... I am on medication now for the kidney damage... they put me on an ACE inhibitor called Lisinopril. It's supposed to slow down the kidney damage...

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Life

Hey sooner_ed, very glad to meet ya... Very impressive with the pics, way to go!

I was just like you, I went on a whole lifestyle change upon diagnosis (June 2003) I was even so inclined to write a journal about it back then and did - http://www.discussfitness.com/forums/http://www.discussfitness.com/forums/f9/lifes-journal-11134.html (which is a very old thread by the way)

I am glad to see you have maintained control in your diabetes as this is my aim right now.

My story is similar in many respects, as I had fought in June 2003 - 5'4", male, 23, 236lbs and had a 351mg/dL fasting blood sugar.

I dropped about 55lbs in the process (236lbs to 180lbs) June 2003-October 2003 and maintained control.

As the months progressed I slowly began to get back on my "binging" rollercoaster - an eating disorder I've never been able to fully shake off - and from 180 I shot back up to 245.1lbs on December 10, 2004 and had a fasting blood sugar of 201mg/dL.

I started going for occasional walks but never really changed my eating habits.

5 weeks later I lost about 12lbs (233.0lbs) and decided to visit my doctor.(January 7, 2005) the doctor found protein in my urine, which is now the result of kidney damage... which is the cause of poor blood sugar control.

That's when I started to take this thing seriously. The last two weeks I've fought hard to eat better and ended up joining a gym.

I'm not on any lowering blood sugar medications and have brought my blood sugars from the 150range into the high 90s range (you can check my current journal for that and as well as two pics of me I've posted)

My last weigh-in was last week at 226.6lbs and I am weighing-in again tomorrow.

I have tried my best to eat better and exercise and lift, and I'll try to fight this kidney damage as long as I can... apparently diabetic kidney disease is progressive, and it will just continue to get worse...

Losing weight, controlling my blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol are the only means to slow down the damage.

It's kind of sad in a way because I've seen my dad struggle. In 2001 he's had a heart attack and a stroke at the same time (and is also a diabetic) To date my dad's health is declining as he has had nerve damage and bleeding in his eyes, chest pains, and pretty much everything else associated with diabetes.

I have not yet told my mom about my kidneys as it is too hard to break it to her and I have yet had a hard time coping with it...

I plan to do my best to get in the best shape possible to make my body and life as healthy and fit as possible because it's only now am I realizing how important it is to me.

I guess at 23 you don't think much of it, and at 24 being diagnosed with kidney damage is even more of a shot to the face...

Ehh... I'm sorry for the rant, but yes, I do know where you come from and I'm glad to see there's somebody else on this board that can provide any helpful info...

Thanks! (and sorry for such a long post, it's been a rough ride recently)

Hey Life, I'm sorry to hear about all of that. I know these can be some trying times for you. Listen, I would love to share with you some of the things that have been successful for me if you feel it may help you. I used to have a problem with the binge eating myself but I FINALLY have it under control. If you would like to initiate some contact, I will be more than happy to share anything with you and help you with anything I can (we diabetics have to stick together you know!). Shoot me a private message if you're interested. Otherwise, I'll keep a look out for you here in the forum :

[Aw-De-Oh]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Here is an interesting fact. We all know that there are 3500 calories in a pound of fat, basically. Did you know that it actually takes twice that, or 7000 calories to metabolize and create a pound of fat?

Really? How does that work?

We're metric in NZ, so 9000cal is a Kg of fat - does that mean it takes 18000cal to gain/metabolise a Kg?

[Life]

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

Hey Life, I'm sorry to hear about all of that. I know these can be some trying times for you. Listen, I would love to share with you some of the things that have been successful for me if you feel it may help you. I used to have a problem with the binge eating myself but I FINALLY have it under control. If you would like to initiate some contact, I will be more than happy to share anything with you and help you with anything I can (we diabetics have to stick together you know!). Shoot me a private message if you're interested. Otherwise, I'll keep a look out for you here in the forum :

Hey Ed, it's okay. :

I try to be as optimistic as possible... and as long as I'm trying my hardest, I'll try not to moan like a little baby all the time.

I hear you on the binging. I did it since I was around 15 years old... it seems like the kidney damage news has stopped that... even more so than the diagnosis of the diabetes last year.

Thank you for your help, I sincerely appreciate it!

Feel free to PM me too, whenver... always glad to talk.

- Life

[goodgirl]

Life,

I just wanted to wish you luck in your quest to fight diabetes. It seems that you were diagnosed at a very early age -- I thought diabetes usually happened later on mid 30s - 40s. Anyhow, Sooner Ed is one of the most encouraging people on the forum. Hopefully, he will be able to help you out.