Define Cheat Day

[Joe P]

Everybody who watches their weight knows what Cheat Day is, but it is never really defined anywhere. It's a gray area.

Considering a typical 2000 calorie diet (just for the sake of discussion), how many calories would you consider to be a normal day verses a cheat day?

2000 calories is a light day. If I went 2 or 3 of those in a row, I could EASILY shovel 6000 calories past my lips in a day. Consider half a dozen donuts for breakfast with a quart of milk, the Pizza Hut buffet for lunch, and a fried seafood sampler for supper with a pitcher or 2 of beer to top it off. Oh man, I'm going to have a HUGE turd the next day!

So, how should a Cheat Day be defined? Would it be a percentage increase of your normal daily calorie count, like 25% more calories (2000/day up to 2500 on Cheat Day)?

While leaning out, I really don't have any cheat days. But, it has me wondering.

How do you classify your Cheat Day? Is it defined, or is it an "anything goes" day?

How often do you do that? Once a month? Bi-monthly? Weekly?

 

[Sk8man101]

Honestly I say just save your "cheat days" for when your bulking.

When you consider that a pound of fat is 3,500 calories, screwing up your whole week of dieting for 1 day is super counter productive.

That being said when your bulking It seems most meso members are almost exclusively in favor of a "dirty bulk" diet.

Edit: But honestly man, I think a better way to do it would be to not "plan out" your cheat days. Just understand that your gunna have special occasions where your gunna eat a less than healthy meal every once in a while. Life's to short not to indulge from time to time.
I just don't really see a point in eating a fuck ton because it's the second Saturday of the month or whatever.

 

[LordSamuilo]

Honestly if your trying to lean out there really isnt any use for cheat DAYS at all .. A cheat meal on the other hand can be extremely useful especially the lower your body fat drops , but 99% of people dont have either the metabolism or self control to have cheat days during a cut. Why would You diet and train hard for a week just to blow your progress ? Cheat meals once every 7-10 days (3-4 days if your sub 10% bf )will help you keep your metabolism reving and help you keep your sanity without pissing away all your hard work . Just my take though

 

[Joe P]

I just don't really see a point in eating a fuck ton because it's the second Saturday of the month or whatever.

It's more like swimming underwater.

It's not that I plan to come up for air while swimming, but rather that I'm going to die if I don't come up soon.

 

[Docd187123]

Cheat meals are what bodybuilders call them but they’re more accurately considered refeed days. Refeed days can serve a great purpose when done properly. Restore glycogen, help with psychological issues from dieting, help slow down/reverse down regulation of several key metabolic hormones, etc.

 

[Eman]

It would be primarily used if you're dieting at say 2500cal with a maintenance of 3000cal, a cheat or refeed day would be eating at 3000cal. A focus on carb intake is probably best but it's personal preference more than anything I think. It's somewhat important while cutting so you can make ghrelin levels.

 

[Eman]

Cheat meals are what bodybuilders call them but they’re more accurately considered refeed days

Lol, I saw a bodybuilder go on a rant one time referring to refeed days and cheat days... Both terms have their merits though.

 

[Xlgx]

I follow skips protocol. Once training , diet and cardio are on point. I would start with a weekly cheat day. Starting around 3 hours initially. Usually higher carbs low fat and eating until full.

As you get leaner you increase it. Longest I did was about 10-12 hours. Also need to figure out if your body responds to high carbs low fat or moderate carbs and moderate fat. Took me about 6 months to go From. 3 to 10/12 hours. Lost almost 40 lbs of fat during that time.

 

[OldmanRob]

I eat low carb so every 3 to 4 days I pick something I like with carbs but still eat a sane amount. I guess that is more of a refried day but it feels like a chewy day.

 

[Athlete127]

Cheat meal not a cheat day... one meal and then done.

 

[OldmanRob]

I eat low carb so every 3 to 4 days I pick something I like with carbs but still eat a sane amount. I guess that is more of a refried day but it feels like a chewy day.

Fucking spell check

 

[Bundy55]

I go the cheat meal route, a whole cheat day makes no sense to me unless you're bulking then maybe sure. Cheat meal for me is more mental than anything gives me something to look forward to either weekly or biweekly I'll get to eat something I'm craving as a reward only if I stick to my diet 100%

 

[Xlgx]

I go the cheat meal route, a whole cheat day makes no sense to me unless you're bulking then maybe sure. Cheat meal for me is more mental than anything gives me something to look forward to either weekly or biweekly I'll get to eat something I'm craving as a reward only if I stick to my diet 100%

Counter intuitive but great for dropping fat or bulking. Level of leanness determines how long of a cheat amongst other variables.

 

[Athlete127]

Counter intuitive but great for dropping fat or bulking. Level of leanness determines how long of a cheat amongst other variables.

100% disagree. Find me a legit coach that gives a client a cheat day or a pro that has a cheat day.

 

[Xlgx]

100% disagree. Find me a legit coach that gives a client a cheat day or a pro that has a cheat day.

Ken Skip Hill and all the clients he’s ever prepped over the last 20-30 years.

 

[Athlete127]

Ken Skip Hill and all the clients he’s ever prepped over the last 20-30 years.

I am a pretty well known coach and I know pretty much all well known coaches and Ive NEVER heard of him... went to his ig and he hardly has any following....... but do cheat days i guess whatever tickles your fancy

 

[Xlgx]

I am a pretty well known coach and I know pretty much all well known coaches and Ive NEVER heard of him... went to his ig and he hardly has any following....... but do cheat days i guess whatever tickles your fancy

It’s hard to not make this personal. But you are 28 year old millennial we’ll know coach lol. That nobody even heard of.
Meanwhile you are commenting about someone who has more experience than you have been alive. As a prep coach and npc judge. The guy writes for elitefts and has written for various muscle mags. Has put out two free “DVDs” including his latest trt bodybuilding.
At least if you had attempted to try his protocol and failed you could have an opinion.
Btw. You also post on proM. He’s well respected there too. Do your he beyond Instagram young sapling.

 

[Athlete127]

It’s hard to not make this personal. But you are 28 year old millennial we’ll know coach lol. That nobody even heard of.
Meanwhile you are commenting about someone who has more experience than you have been alive. As a prep coach and npc judge. The guy writes for elitefts and has written for various muscle mags. Has put out two free “DVDs” including his latest trt bodybuilding.
At least if you had attempted to try his protocol and failed you could have an opinion.
Btw. You also post on proM. He’s well respected there too. Do your he beyond Instagram young sapling.

Bro.... I promise you.. PLENTY of people know me..... plenty.

I looked at his guys they prep and they all look like utter shit....

 

[Xlgx]

Bro.... I promise you.. PLENTY of people know me..... plenty.

I looked at his guys they prep and they all look like utter shit....

Lol.

I am just pointing out that your way of thinking is flawed. You come off as ignorant, arrogant and talking out your ass.

You just demonstrated you are a well known clown not coach.

 

[Rockclimber]