CHEAT DAYS? IF YOUR DIET WAS SO GREAT YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO CHEAT ON IT

When did it become okay to cheat on anything, ever?

Maybe it’s the moral-less public figures and celebrates we’ve come to idolize.

Or the way we lack values in this increasingly toxic cesspool we call society.

“Dang Craven, who pissed in your cheerios this morning?”

Nobody.


That’s because I had Captain Crunch today.

I’ve been working with a handful of new individuals over the last few weeks that have personal goals ranging from just wanting to lose 10 pounds and eat smarter, to one who wants to get into physique contest shape.

Before I even get a chance to analyze and draw up a customized program, without fail they’ll eagerly ask:

And there’s the ones who read those words in an e-mail and I’m sure don’t get a kick out of it at all.

But I couldn’t be more serious when I say that.

IF YOUR DIET WAS GOOD, YOU WOULDN’T HAVE TO CHEAT. 

To which I reply,

“The same time you cheat on your significant other.”

I personally think that’s a pretty funny, and perfectly appropriate response.

My clients think otherwise and will give me some half hearted chuckle and a look that says, “No really…when?”

Think about it in the context of dating.

Imagine you were dating a superb person that you felt was perfect for you.

They made you feel complete and motivated you and compelled you to be the best person you could be.

But only 6 out of 7 days of the week.

So that one day you for some reason decided you needed a break from all that superb wonderfulness and felt the need to go out slummin’.

To which at the time may have felt pretty liberating knowing you were breaking away from the shackles of your monotonous and routine life, but ultimately you end up feeling guilty and sleazy for the acts committed.  

If you’re normal and non-sociopathic person, the above situation sounds pretty absurd. 

But it happens ALL THE DAMN TIME when talking about diets.

“I eat clean for 6 days, but on the 7th I get to cheat!”

People enthusiastically recite this mantra.

And it utterly baffles me.

I don’t know who you paid to write up a program for you that encourages cheating, or how you even wrapped your mind around getting excited to take on a diet that makes eat foods you don’t enjoy for a majority of your meals.

And the psychological aspect of the situation makes it more convoluted. 

Somehow the mentality of knowing that you’re cheating lessens the severity of the situation. 


Because the cheat meal/day has been scheduled and allotted in the program, it may seem okay that you’re going off your low carb plan and putting an entire large pizza in your face and you can walk away feeling essentially guilt free. Although probably pretty bloated.

If for some reason you broke your diet mid-week and happened to demolish that same pizza at the end of a rough day, no doubt you’d hate yourself for it and you’d find your guilt-ridden self on the elliptical machine in a few hours or squeezing in another workout session the next day.

If you really want to get on a diet, make sure it’s something you know you can handle.

Sustainability and adherence should always be the main priority when starting a nutrition plan.

Because a diet is only as good if it works long term.

You may find one of these “cheat meal plans” to help you lose 20 pounds in 6 weeks, but in 6 months you’ve found those 20 pounds plus an additional 10. 

If you’re truly looking to make long term progress with a diet, the best method you can employ is a flexible dieting approach. 

I preach enough about flexible dieting and there’s an exorbitant amount of information on the subject all over the inter webs.

But for those of you unfamiliar with it, here’s the benefits of a flexible diet:
·         No restriction of certain food groups or foods
·         Enjoy the “cheat” foods you love when you want
·         Eat as many, or few meals as you please throughout the day
·         Traveling and vacations need not interfere with your goals

Here’s an exceptional article on how to get started on your own:
FLEXIBLE DIETING- HEALHTY EATER

And as always, you can hire me to walk you through the fundamentals and the information you might need to make flexible dieting a valuable tool you can use for the rest of your life. 


So Don't Cheat!