Are Cheat Days Beneficial?
The first few weeks of eating healthy, even though it is a challenge at first, you think you have it all under control. You have no cravings to snack on chocolate and crisps. Every evening you are preparing your food for the next day like clock work. You feel like you could probably continue this forever.
After a few weeks into your diet, even though your abs are
beginning to show, your energy levels are a lot lower than they used to be.
Plus, your mind is starting to think about 'food'. Food like chocolate, ice cream, crisps etc. How
can this be happening?! You think to yourself, 'I'll just buy
a small piece of chocolate, not an entire bar, and that will satisfy my craving
for something sweet.' Within seconds the chocolate is gone, and you know you
need more. There is no talking yourself out of it this time, and within 20
minutes you have eaten two chocolate bars.
For the next few days you are overwhelmed with guilt and have a hard time picking up where you left off. What can you do to prevent this from happening again?
For the next few days you are overwhelmed with guilt and have a hard time picking up where you left off. What can you do to prevent this from happening again?
Solution:
The concept of having a "cheat day" or a "food-pass" once or maybe twice a week. This is where you will increase your starches to stoke the metabolic rate and give the body what it needs for repair and growth. Your last two meals on this day will be primarily carbs. Yes you can splurge on those usual forbidden foods-bread, pizza, desserts and even alcohol. Be smart about portions. Remember not to over indulge.These cheat days can be adjusted as needed for special occasions, making it very convenient and totally interchangeable.
To me, cheat days are necessary to not only emotionally calm your cravings, but to jump start your metabolism and provide extra energy. Eating foods that are higher in calories, or are not normally in our food plan, will increase our metabolism since our bodies are forced to work harder at burning the calories ingested.
Remember on every day other than cheat days try eat your starchy carbs earlier in the day, alternating between eating carbs with your breakfast one day and with your lunch the next.
To me, cheat days are necessary to not only emotionally calm your cravings, but to jump start your metabolism and provide extra energy. Eating foods that are higher in calories, or are not normally in our food plan, will increase our metabolism since our bodies are forced to work harder at burning the calories ingested.
Remember on every day other than cheat days try eat your starchy carbs earlier in the day, alternating between eating carbs with your breakfast one day and with your lunch the next.
I would only
recommend cheat days to those who have reached their target weight and exercise
regularly and eat a healthy balanced diet.
Summary of the reasons why a cheat day can be good
- Recovery- a rest day to allow your muscles to recover and recuperate.
- Pleasure Principle-Keep you from feeling deprived since they give you something to look forward to.
- Sleep- is important. It is a great way to give yourself a kick start before the next week of work begins.
For our cheat day this week, we made a homemade strawberry cheesecake. What will you have for your cheat day?
ENJOY!!!!!
