How terrible was my cheat day (s)?

[Anonymous]

How terrible was my cheat day (s)? The last weekend of every month I let myself cheat. I had gummies, chocolate, and cheese and crackers. I still had my veggies though. Now its the next day and I should be back to eating healthy. But I woke up and reached right for a big bowl of Raisin Bran and had a bagel with cream cheese. And some chocolate! I know I'll be able to go back to normal tomorrow because I feel REALLLY guilty now. But is it hard for anyone else to bounce back after cheat days? Should I workout twice today? Or one long session? Should I not eat the rest of the day and just drink green tea?

[Anonymous]

I am a proponent of so called "cheat days." I literally schedule them once a week into my health plan. I think when you withold from eating those guilty pleasures for long, you do tend to do what you've done which is turn them into more than one session because you want to enjoy that type of food and you just hold off and hold off and hold off for so long. Let me put it to you this way: if you ate perfectly exactly one day a week, but ate all the junk food you wanted for the other 6 days in the week, is that going to make you automatically healthy? Absolutely not! So why do so many people believe the reverse is true that if you eat one day a week with junk food and healthy all the rest, you're some how a 'bad person' or you feel guilty or you've ruined your diet.

[RachelBrigs]

Working out twice doesn't change the food you've consumed, it just burns calories. If you're eating sugar and a lot of processed crap you are still eating that no matter how much you work out.

That said, your cheat days weren't that bad at all. You will be fine.

I think you'll find life more enjoyable if instead of severely limiting your foods you find healthy alternatives.

Want chocolate? Have a couple dark chocolate squares. They're good for you. They have a bit of an acquired taste though at least for me.

Want a bagel with cream cheese? Try 100% whole wheat toast with cream cheese. Nothing wrong with that.

Want cereal? Opt for an organic one with whole ingredients, and add chopped fruit.

[Rufus335]

i would just get back on your routine... once you do cheat yes its more tempting the next tday to continue cuz your body was reminded of the yummies. just dont eat them and dont go harder in the gym just because of that... if will make ur cravings worse and its more important to eat right than work out more.

[Avenuewriter]

Sister, a couple cheat days isn't going to be too bad. And most of the things you had aren't too terrible (the gummies and chocolate being the worst offenders). As long as you don't let your cheat day roll on into a cheat month like me you should be okay.

[BertMacklinFBI]

1 day won't kill you. 2 is fine, just don't let it get to 3.

simply go back to your normal schedule.

[LunaLawliet]

Don't beat yourself up too much! Lol two weeks ago, I binged on chocolate, Mexican food, and a bunch of other junk and I felt terrible too. But now I've bounced back and I'm eating well. :) If I could do it, you could too. Just make sure to do what you've normally done and drink lots of water. :)

[akanetuk]

Bodies are different, check your ability and do what you can. Do not live other people's life.

[lolatyou]

You do that once a month? I do that once a week lol. I'm sure you'll be fine.

[broadsword]

It's ok I think your boyfriend won't mind to much. lol

[RachelBrigs]

Um? .

[broadsword]

@RachelBrigs sorry wrong sort of cheating lol.

[apple24]

haha! Its alright lol!