Cheat Meal vs Cheat Day

GameDayDog · 10-19-2005, 12:20 AM

Ryght now, I'm doing my fyrst ... (possibly last *D ) .. cut.

I'm wondering should I have a cheat meal... or a cheat day..

Personally, I'm leaning towards a cheat day... since I'm not really cutting for a contest or anythyng... Plus I already have it planned out.. Uhm.. actually, I shouldn't lyst all the foods I'm gonna consume on Saturday..

When I thynk about it tho, a cheat meal makes more sense from a "reach your goal quicker" stand point... but a cheat day is sooo much more appealing..

Which should I use.. and would there be a difference between a casual cut, (lyke I'm doing) ... versus a professional cut... (lyke a bodybuilder getting ready for the Olympia) ... ???

Thx..

Peace..~G
Cheat Day.. Cheat Day.. Cheat Day...

**johnsbod** · 10-19-2005, 12:22 AM

I normally have a cheat meal, but for the day I plan on eating maintenance calories. It helps keep my cravings down during the week and the increased calories seem to keep my metabolism from shutting down as much. If you have a cheat day just watch the calories. It's easy to put those couple pounds you lost during the week back on in one day if you don't watch it.

AYung · 10-19-2005, 12:27 AM

I dont even deserve a cheat day, let a lone a cheat meal. When I was bulking for the past 1.5 years, my diet has been half assed. I've done all my cheating. I'm just 2 days into my cut, and I am starving for junk food. I gotta stay strong though. The outcome will far overcome what I am experiencing now.

**Peaked_18** · 10-19-2005, 02:49 AM

Cheat meal is enough, I get sick after eating a lot of junk after eating real clean before.

**A.FreeRadical** · 10-19-2005, 02:55 AM

I prefer one or two cheat meals per week. (Let's call them refeeds. The idea of a refeed is to restore glycogen and Leptin levels so our metabolism doesn't slow down or go into starvation mode. Starvation mode is when your body canabalizes muscle to preserve the brain, heart and other vital organ functions. Unfortunately, it will do that if you have a major deficiency of calories for a few days.) The cheat meals can be some of the healthy carbs, fats or proteins that you have been foregoing to keep the calories down. It really shouldn't the things that you know you shouldn't be eating.

I don't really have a problem with a cheat day if it is a clean refeed.

*

**skelooth** · 10-19-2005, 03:00 AM

cheat day. One big meal is not enough to keep leptin up. eat good all day long.

builtbeast · 10-19-2005, 04:19 AM

I'll have a cheat meal once a week. That's enough for me, I don't really mind eating clean. :eat:

GameDayDog · 10-19-2005, 04:59 AM

I decyded to set up a poll... yeah, I know, I'm late to do it...

I was probably going to double (maybe triple), the amount of calories that I consume during a regular cutting day...

Starting with Pancakes... then Pizza .. then Carrot Cake... and then 4 servings of these noodles called Pancit Canton (270 cals per serving) ... a bag of Salt & Vinegar potato chips... ... Man does cutting suck..

Are you guys agreeing with ... Eat whatever I want.. but styll count calories... then stop at maintenance??? Cause I'm thynkin' it'll really help my leptin levels if I pig out.. *D

Peace..~G

**johnsbod** · 10-19-2005, 05:02 AM

How about adding "dyrty cheyt meyl aynd mayntenance calorys day"?

Steve_W · 10-19-2005, 07:25 AM

Structured refeeds are best, however I don't think a cheat meal will do any harm? A cheat day? Well I can't have them too regularly

**Sixpack** · 10-19-2005, 12:54 PM

I have my clients do a cheat meal not a cheat day. A cheat day IMO is a little too much for some. One meal is fine

**NNTB** · 10-19-2005, 03:01 PM

BIG cheat meal :eat:

**BigZeke** · 10-19-2005, 06:27 PM

I generally have a cheat day on the weekend, but I still keep my foods pretty normal (read: Clean). I may have a couple cookies or a piece of cake, but I'll still eat 8oz of chicken breast and whatnot.

AYung · 10-19-2005, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelooth

cheat day. One big meal is not enough to keep leptin up. eat good all day long.

Would this apply for pre contest cutting?

**dbflgirl** · 10-20-2005, 12:52 AM

There's a difference between a cheat meal (or day) and a refeed. I think refeeds -- higher calories of clean foods -- are important for a number of physical reasons. Cheat meals (or days) are not important physically but psychologically. Some people are motivated to eat clean because of the "reward" (in the form of a cheat meal) they'll receive at the end of the week (or whenever).

I prefer refeeds with only occasional cheats. I wouldn't do a cheat day simply because I know I would feel like sh*t afterwards.

**A.FreeRadical** · 10-20-2005, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelooth

cheat day. One big meal is not enough to keep leptin up. eat good all day long.

You are probably right about this. This is why I usually eat two refeed meals per week. I don't think a day of cheating or refeeding is enough to keep your leptin up for a week. It is not just quantity within a meal, it is also the frequency of meals.

*

Jackadise · 11-04-2005, 06:41 AM

I do a cheat dinner on Wedsday then a cheat day on Sat or Sunday, makes me feel good...

**DJSTARER** · 11-08-2005, 04:20 AM

y cut now? It is november....

I will start my cut in feb... unless you live in Australia.... I get ripped for the fems...

View Poll Results: Cheat Meal or Cheat Day.. ???
A Clean Cheat Meal	6	25.00%
A Clean Cheat Day	4	16.67%
Eat Everything In Syght Cheat Day	7	29.17%
Eat Everythyng In Syght Cheat Meal	7	29.17%
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

10-19-2005, 12:20 AM	#1
GameDayDog The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks! Posts: 1,914 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32	Cheat Meal vs Cheat Day Ryght now, I'm doing my fyrst ... (possibly last *D ) .. cut. I'm wondering should I have a cheat meal... or a cheat day.. Personally, I'm leaning towards a cheat day... since I'm not really cutting for a contest or anythyng... Plus I already have it planned out.. Uhm.. actually, I shouldn't lyst all the foods I'm gonna consume on Saturday.. When I thynk about it tho, a cheat meal makes more sense from a "reach your goal quicker" stand point... but a cheat day is sooo much more appealing.. Which should I use.. and would there be a difference between a casual cut, (lyke I'm doing) ... versus a professional cut... (lyke a bodybuilder getting ready for the Olympia) ... ??? Thx.. Peace..~G Cheat Day.. Cheat Day.. Cheat Day... __________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167#

10-19-2005, 12:22 AM	#2
johnsbod Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 2,733 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 60	I normally have a cheat meal, but for the day I plan on eating maintenance calories. It helps keep my cravings down during the week and the increased calories seem to keep my metabolism from shutting down as much. If you have a cheat day just watch the calories. It's easy to put those couple pounds you lost during the week back on in one day if you don't watch it. __________________ Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen können, posten Sie hier. Misc Perv #69

10-19-2005, 12:27 AM	#3
AYung IMPC Contestant Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 2,301 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 42	I dont even deserve a cheat day, let a lone a cheat meal. When I was bulking for the past 1.5 years, my diet has been half assed. I've done all my cheating. I'm just 2 days into my cut, and I am starving for junk food. I gotta stay strong though. The outcome will far overcome what I am experiencing now. __________________ Clean Bulking Journal http://www.ironmass.com/showthread.php?t=9546 Max Lifts Bench: 155 x 6 Deadlift: 315 x 6 Squat: 245 x 6 1 Rep Max Lifts Bench: 180 - Tested Deadlift: 365 - Tested Squat: 285 - Estimated TOTAL: 831 @ 156lbs Eddie Guerrero (1967-2005, R.I.P.) You'll always be loved and remembered.

10-19-2005, 02:55 AM	#5
A.FreeRadical the Epicurean Bodybuilder Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,245 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 58	I prefer one or two cheat meals per week. (Let's call them refeeds. The idea of a refeed is to restore glycogen and Leptin levels so our metabolism doesn't slow down or go into starvation mode. Starvation mode is when your body canabalizes muscle to preserve the brain, heart and other vital organ functions. Unfortunately, it will do that if you have a major deficiency of calories for a few days.) The cheat meals can be some of the healthy carbs, fats or proteins that you have been foregoing to keep the calories down. It really shouldn't the things that you know you shouldn't be eating. I don't really have a problem with a cheat day if it is a clean refeed. * __________________ "Is it going to be the red pill or the blue pill, Neo? The red pill will answer the question 'What is the Matrix?' Choose carefully. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Ron Paul for President, 2008 A.FreeRadical ...the Epicurean bodybuilder Height: 5'9", Age: 62, My last high on 2/1/2006 was 196 lbs. My last low on 8/08/2006 was 167.5 lbs. Cutting until I am lean Starting weight: 190 lbs. bodyfat: 19.7% November 27th: 183 lbs. bodyfat: 18.3% bodyfat Goal Weight: 176 lbs with no more than 10% bodyfat My recipe collection

10-19-2005, 02:49 AM	#4
Peaked_18 a la commode Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,247 Recipes: 2 Rep Power: 96	Cheat meal is enough, I get sick after eating a lot of junk after eating real clean before.

10-19-2005, 03:00 AM	#6
skelooth eh heh heh Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Posts: 7,205 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 158	cheat day. One big meal is not enough to keep leptin up. eat good all day long. __________________ R I P

10-19-2005, 04:19 AM	#7
builtbeast Großer Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Location: In a very red state Posts: 1,430 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 94	I'll have a cheat meal once a week. That's enough for me, I don't really mind eating clean. :eat:

10-19-2005, 04:59 AM	#8
GameDayDog The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks! Posts: 1,914 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32	I decyded to set up a poll... yeah, I know, I'm late to do it... I was probably going to double (maybe triple), the amount of calories that I consume during a regular cutting day... Starting with Pancakes... then Pizza .. then Carrot Cake... and then 4 servings of these noodles called Pancit Canton (270 cals per serving) ... a bag of Salt & Vinegar potato chips... ... Man does cutting suck.. Are you guys agreeing with ... Eat whatever I want.. but styll count calories... then stop at maintenance??? Cause I'm thynkin' it'll really help my leptin levels if I pig out.. *D Peace..~G __________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167#

10-19-2005, 05:02 AM	#9
johnsbod Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 2,733 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 60	How about adding "dyrty cheyt meyl aynd mayntenance calorys day"? __________________ Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen können, posten Sie hier. Misc Perv #69

10-19-2005, 07:25 AM	#10
Steve_W Pro Stature Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 105 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 5	Structured refeeds are best, however I don't think a cheat meal will do any harm? A cheat day? Well I can't have them too regularly

10-19-2005, 12:54 PM	#11
Sixpack Optimum Sponsored athlete Join Date: May 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 867 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 15	I have my clients do a cheat meal not a cheat day. A cheat day IMO is a little too much for some. One meal is fine __________________ ["Tough Times Don't Last But Tough People Do" My Pops RIP http://www.optimumnutrition.com/ "Fueling your desire for success" www.rippedacadamy.com Mod-massmonsterz.com ISSA certified

10-19-2005, 03:01 PM	#12
NNTB rEVOLutionary Join Date: May 2005 Location: FL Posts: 2,447 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 163	BIG cheat meal :eat: __________________ "This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it." Abraham Lincoln

10-19-2005, 06:27 PM	#13
BigZeke Bringing Lat Flares Back Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hell Raisin' and Girl Chasin' Posts: 2,345 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 71	I generally have a cheat day on the weekend, but I still keep my foods pretty normal (read: Clean). I may have a couple cookies or a piece of cake, but I'll still eat 8oz of chicken breast and whatnot. __________________ Eat like a horse. Lift like a demon. Sleep like the dead. Only cheat on girls, never on your workouts My Workout Journal "I like the color red because it's a fire. And I see myself as always being on fire." -- Arnold Schwarzenegger

10-20-2005, 12:52 AM	#15
dbflgirl Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hurricane Alley Posts: 646 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 19	There's a difference between a cheat meal (or day) and a refeed. I think refeeds -- higher calories of clean foods -- are important for a number of physical reasons. Cheat meals (or days) are not important physically but psychologically. Some people are motivated to eat clean because of the "reward" (in the form of a cheat meal) they'll receive at the end of the week (or whenever). I prefer refeeds with only occasional cheats. I wouldn't do a cheat day simply because I know I would feel like sh*t afterwards.

11-08-2005, 04:20 AM	#18
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 4,165 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 116	y cut now? It is november.... I will start my cut in feb... unless you live in Australia.... I get ripped for the fems... __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

11-04-2005, 06:41 AM	#17
Jackadise New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 22 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	I do a cheat dinner on Wedsday then a cheat day on Sat or Sunday, makes me feel good...