Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

I am on week 4 of my diet and I think I'm starting to lose it. It's just so hard to be good every day.

I'm thinking of giving myself an "off" day once a week, so that way I know I can have something forbidden and save it for that day instead of breaking down and not dieting all together.

what do you guys think? Is that just lame of me?

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

Well with WW, that's what the 35 flex points are for.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

I go with the advice of Jillian Michaels of the Biggest Loser. She has a radio show and I listen to it a few times a week (old episodes are archived online and I have a lot of catching up to do!).

She is VERY against "cheat days." She says that in her experience as a trainer, people overdo it so badly on those days, they set themselves back terribly. What she recommends is a "cheat" within your diet. Like, if you're on a 1400 calorie-a-day diet, eat a bowl of ice cream for 350 calories. Just make sure that you only ate 1150 before that so your total is still 1400. She is very adamant about the fact that you will lose the same amount of weight whether you eat 1400 calories of chicken breasts and steamed veggies or 1400 calories of Twinkies a day. (of course Twinkies don't have vitamins or protein, but we're talking about weight, not health).

Sounds like good advice to me. If you're bored with your diet and craving some cookies, eat the cookies! Just make sure to cut the calories at dinner that night to even it out (not even a smaller dinner - just maybe a huge salad instead of rice, something like that).

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

Yea I agree with what Jillian Michaels thinks about cheat days. I know that one the weekends sometimes I tell myself oh I've been so good all week and then I'll go crazy and eat way too much and for sure set myself back!
I think it's way better to treat yourself within your diet and just cut back on a few other foods that day.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

DONT FALL OFF THE HORSE!!!!
you can do this! just think of your ultimate goal!!!!

Message edited 6/4/2009 4:48:31 PM.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

Thanks, ladies!! I'll try not to cheat, but if I do, I will compensate the rest of the day.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

Message edited 6/4/2009 5:35:42 PM.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

i don't give myself an entire day off because then i tend to feel sick from over indulging. if i want something, i have it. i practice moderation and if something is super rich i eat half. if we go out to eat i save half my dinner for take home. etc. if i know i'm having a pig out night with the girls or something that entails junk food and drinks i'll eat a super healthy breakfast and have a protein shake and that's it until the night so i'll alter my food intake. i find that works best for me.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

So thanks to the support of you lovely ladies, I was bad (had Chinese for lunch) but I was good the rest of the day and only had salad and fruit for dinner!!

Thank you for leading back on track!!

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

I don't ever give myself a SCHEDULED day off but that doesn't mean I don't go off plan now and again. I don't really incorporate treats into my day (unless you count popcorn or sugar free fat free jello as a "treat" ) but I do have them and I never deny myself of anything or cut whole food groups out. It is usually on the weekend or at a party or something like that. Though I must say my version of "bad" has vastly changed from what it used to be, so even when I indulge it's not so bad.

Good for you for having your chinese and then going right back on program!! All we can do is live and learn. Next time you may want to plan ahead and incorporate it into your day

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

I pretty much know that on Saturday nights when I go to dinner with DH (we go for dinner every sat night) that I pretty much order what I want but even then I still watch like i would never order a cream sauce or anything fried! Other than that if I want chinese or pizza during the week I have it and then I go right back on my plan. I should not even say plan b/c this really has to be a lifestyle change for me!

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

When I was doing WW strictly (and lost 30 lbs.), I would take off one day a week (usually Saturdays). Sometimes I NEEDED to, to lose the weight.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

I guess it's what works for an individual.

I am a HUGE fan of cheat days. On friday and saturday I'm pretty naughty, but on weekdays I'm very strict with myself (Sundays are a crapshoot).

I've maintained my weight with only slight fluctuations for a good 7 years.

It's the idea of the cheat day that allows me to be so good during the week.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

I am strict for the most part during the week. But I do have Taco Bell one night a week (order off the Fresco menu and stay within my daily points allowance).

Saturdays are also a cheat day for me. I have a bagel with cream cheese from the deli for brunch and order whatever I want for dinner (we go out every Saturday). Must be fine because I've lost 26 pounds since January doing this. Would I lose more if I didn't? Maybe. But this keeps me sane which is what ultimately keeps me on WW.

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

i used to and i would lose gain, lose gain. since dh is doing ww online, i've been losing the last 4 weeks

Re: Do you give yourself an "off" day dietwise?

I give myself Saturday night to "cheat" dh likes to go out to dinner so we go saturday nights and i eat what I want so it keeps me on track all week aqnd something to look forward to