To cheat or not to cheat?

[Alex A]

I find that cheating on your diet .... even a cheat meal can get out of control and cause a bit of a setback in your plan...

This is just my opinion guys....but i have done a lot of dieting for a lot of years, been fat before, been shredded before and now maintaining a good all around condition that is a happy medium..

and cheat meals have not really been a part of my plans.. not really untill my body is just screaming for one...because....

I cant stop at one moderate cheat meal! that cheat meal turns into more than just a meal...... but a feast of some of my favorite foods.. ( i dont crave pizza, burgers and fries) just other sugar and fat filled items justified by my condition and the fact that i feel i deserve it...

For guys doing preps.. i advise this... Get in shape first... then let your trainer advise you on what and when to cheat and stick to just that.

For most people ... who are following pretty strict, off season diets and plans... i advise limit your cheating to one meal and dont do like me "Hmmm im in shape, and im cheating... so fuckit"


But in the off season.. work on satisfying your cravings with alternative diet foods that keep you from being deprived.

But listen... I know this doesnt apply to everyone... if you can cheat, have maybe a 1,500 calorie meal and end it there , get back on the wagon and put it behind you.. then thats awesome..

Im totally into hearing from you guys on this.. Im not an expert on cheat meals thats for sure!

 

[T TOTAL]

Ive tended to plan for a cheat meal at various times, including in the ' off ' season if there truly is such a thing and i find that although mentally ive planned for it i can't always have it, or at least all.

Even when i do i do the best that i can to minimise damage. Ive had a fairly good off season and just about to start my show prep, and its been about 6 weeks since ive had a cheat ' meal '. What i have done however is on my high carb day ive accounted for some sort of indulgence to add to my normal meal. This can range from some sugar free muesli to a hob nob biscuit or something but not a full meal.

Ive a funny taste bud and am more towards texture and as an example i have my chicken chopped along with broccoli and beetroot and puy maybe 30-40g of the sugar free muesli on top and find this delicious and satisfies any cravens.....

 

[SOCOM]

In my case..I see cheat meals like "smoking"..
Lets just say right now im trying to quit "smoking" and every now and then I get a craving for a cigarrette in this case a cheat meal. I know If I give in and have a cigarette im just going to want another, and Im going to try and come up with a reason to have one.

Im still in the learning process of dieting, so I rather stay away from cheat meals all together.
Instead of saying "well Ive been doing pretty good with my diet ill go ahead and pig out on sunday" ill think to myself "well ive come this far with my diet why am I going to screw it up by pigging out on sunday".

Its not easy, especially when I drive down Figueroa and I get whiffs of Panda Express, Fat burger, Del Taco, all these mexican fast food stands, Pastrami...OMG *drool* then I look at my damn chicken breast.

But I know it will get easier if I stick to my plan.

 

[shawnkarbabacz]

Sadly, im a total glutton. I would rather have an entire large pizza that would make me sick then a moderate serving of lobster or whatever other super tasty high class food you want to insert there.

Im dieting for a show right now actually, and my trainer has my 'cheat meal' on my high carb saturday. From 14 weeks out i havent had that cheat meal because to my mentality it would serve no purpose. A little bit of something i want isnt going to make things better for me, its going to make them worse. I can be as strict as anyone else, but once i add in a cheat meal, it makes everything else harder. Im kind of an all or nothing type guy, which sucks. It works good for my pre-comp, but i always have trouble on my 'cheat DAY' when im off-season. 2 Burgers, a pizza, and a milkshake in one day probably isnt optimal for a bodybuilder even if they arent dieting

 

[SABAGOY]

My diet is very well rounded so i rarely cheat...maybe once a month or two...usually when i do its because i am "forced" too...going to dinner for a special occasion, business dinner, holidays, ect.

When people ask me why i don't have more cheat meals i always joke and say "I don't want to bring my taste buds back to life"

 

[RONJON]

good post ALEX..

Thoughts Guys?

 

[Jcagle]

I am torn. Alex when we did my prep I did not cheat...no way man, not even close. Too much hard work put in to just piss it away on one measly meal! I feel during that 16 weeks you should not allow any cheat at all. Offseason......I feel like I am in confession..ha ha..I have a cheat MEAL! 1 meal that's it..I am pretty damn strict and can have 1 CHEAT MEAL ONLY! and jump back on the diet. My philosphy is this; this is not a diet but lifestlye and I have to enjoy what I am doing. So taking the family out to sushi once or evry other week suites me just fine. However, one meal and one meal only. In the past I have had cheat days and wow talk about being sick. Good post Alex, I was feeling guilty the other day when I have three and half sushi rolls

 

[pesty4077]

For those who know me, I believe in eating consistant all year, just more calories for growth. I will admit after my show, I did 3 days of binge eating, felt like shit, so I went back to my meal plan. I plan to come in this year very improved.

 

[Alex A]

It seems like most of you guys have well rounded diets so cheating is not a big deal to most of you. But It is for many that either deprive themselves too much or ... are just flat out not a hard core dieter.

I have read some posts on other forums boards..... were guys are eating entire pizzas, three burgers, fries on top of a bunch of clean food just to get a certain number of calories in their diet..

That just sounds so ridiculous if your a bodybuilder.

Jake and Greg both have done preps with me.. and pretty long ones... Greg, the entire season and jake a 12 weeker but im working with him again ... And im working with greg.. Both guys i cant be more proud of their effort and the results..

But with both of them, i advocated not a single cheat meal.. I say when your balls to the wall in the middle of a prep for a big show... ( every show is big because its a big event in your life).... there is no need for junk..

I know greg mentioned eating bad a few days after his show.. i did the same, but bad food for me was still decent stuff and i loved it!


Socom too... and i know what you mean.. I work in south central were every other corner is a fried chicken shack, donut shop or Roscos Chicken and Waffles... but you know.. i would rather eat nothing then that stuff...

Stick to the oatmeal with splenda, steak every day and rice and some light sauces on your foods...but hardcore binging on junk...welll..


To me its so mental.. I cant enjoy a pizza! or some greesy meal.. i just cant mentally do it .. I would feel so guilty... i would end up doing 2 hours of cardio to make up for it...

I throw in some baked chips and more fats in the off season and it keeps me satisfied..

Everyones opinion is welcome..

 

[BigChef]

Some people believe in a weekly cheat meal, depending on your goals or your body-fat percentage. Cheat meals have some nutritive value, and while such food can serve a physiological need, refeed meals will provide all the physiological benefits of cheat meals while maximizing fat loss. When glycogen levels are low (following a period of lowered carb intake), increasing carbs and calories will raise insulin levels. This is great for raising leptin, which is the key fat burning hormone, but it will also increase fat transport to adipose tissue.While cheat meal serve to increase carbs and calories, they also contain saturated fat. In the presence of elevated insulin levels, this fat will most likely be stored as adipose tissue. This is why it is not recommended to combine high glycemic carbs and saturated fat, and why cheat meals are not necessary.