subject: Fat Loss Programs: Is It Ever OK to Cheat? [print this page] One of the most common dilemmas that dieters face on fat loss programs is the simple question of "to cheat or not to cheat." For example, if you have been sticking to a healthy eating program for a long period of time, and one day there's a birthday celebration at workis it the kiss of death if you have one slice of cake?
Or should you allow yourself the occasional cheat meal, in the interests of staying on track with long-term weight loss goals? Here are the top 3 most-asked questions about cheating and healthy lifestyle changes:
1.Is a cheat day or cheat meal OK?
Yes. A cheat meal or a cheat day is absolutely fine when incorporated into the basic elements of a healthy lifestyle. You must get out of the typical diet mindset, first and foremost.
Stop thinking of your eating program as a temporary thing to keep until you reach your weight loss goals, at which time you will magically be able to eat everything you want in any quantity you want. If you go about it that way, you will gain back all the weight you've lost in a heartbeat.
Instead, remember that this is a slow, evolutionary but ultimately life-changing process. A cheat meal here or a cheat day there is not going to alter the basic ongoing process you achieve with every healthy choice you make. If you know you have a vacation or holiday coming up and want to splurge, be sure to plan for your cheat meals. And don't let yourself feel guilty about it!
2.Should cheats be strategic?
There are some nutritionists who feel that you can strategically space out your cheat days to match your metabolism better, minimizing the impact that a special meal has on your waistline. Having a strategized method for cheats really works well for some dieters, as it performs an additional mental check that keeps you on the wagon.
In other words, if your cheats are random, it's more likely that you will get off track with your diet program and never get back on track. But if you have a planned strategy for cheating, you can incorporate special meals into your program and stay on track more easily.
3.Are some cheat foods worse than others?
If you plan your cheats and stay on track with fat loss programs, then there's really nothing that's off-limits. One of the best strategies for cheating is to buy a small quantity of the very best of your favorite food and savor it.
So if you really love chocolate, set aside a special time to enjoy an artisan chocolate bar, savoring it with a glass of red wine, rather than scarf a handful of Hershey's kisses in the carpool line at your kid's school.
Or if you love pastry, walk down to your local coffee house and enjoy a single pastry as you sip coffee and browse your favorite magazine rather than make a toaster pastry as you hurry through your morning. The key is to make it a special occasion and savor itthen get back on track the next day!
