dheimer's Journal, 13 June 2012

I think some people have a cheat meal once a week and they lose fine. If you are the kind of person that can go off your diet for one meal and then get back to it with no problem, then it's fine. If your the kind that gets upset and wants to quit, then it's not for you. Starvation mode is controversial. Some say it exists, others say it doesn't. I know that sometimes when people plateau and go out to eat, they show a loss the next day. I don't think there is any easy answer, lol! Sorry! Do what is right for you.  

I am not a fan of cheat days, but there are folks that feel they cannot stick to their diet unless they get a cheat day. At least for me when I cut my calories I find my body hordes what I put in it, thinking that it has to get ready for a famine. Then it settles down and my numbers go down. Then if I throw in a cheat day it get's all messed up and it not sure what to think about the sudden input. So it then again hordes...and my numbers go way up. Thus I don't like cheat days. I do a small treat once in a while. This takes care of a craving, but does not cause my body to horde. As stated by Suzi161 you have to see if a cheat day works or does not work for you.  

Personally I think that sticking to the calories in calories out along with exercise in a meal plan that you can stick to for life is the best bet. This way you are eating foods you enjoy and it is not a diet per say. Just a new way to eat the foods you like in moderation. I followed the South Beach diet to get jump started a few years back on this site and I am in maintenance now. I will tell you that unless you pick something that is livable always maintaining will be hard when you get there. I hope this helps. Enjoy your day! 

Thanks for the feedback. I agree about a diet that I can live with for the rest of my life. For me that's going to mean that I have to monitor my weight and watch what I eat. And, for me, that means some easy-to-follow rules. So I decided that one of the rules is to have a great dessert once a week. It's something to look forward to, and it gives me a reason to NOT have dessert the rest of the week. I'm not sure I'm going to extend it eating other junk that day. Thanks again for the feedback and opinions.