Um...Are Cheat Meals OK?

The Short Answer:

YES!  It is perfectly fine to have a CHEAT MEAL.  If you are sticking to the rest of your diet plan throughout the week, there is nothing bad with cutting lose once or twice a week.  In fact, the shift in calories actually can help you avoid plateaus.  And let's face it - it also helps keep us SANE!  Life is WAY TO SHORT not to eat the occasional chocolate cake and ice cream!  :) 

The Long Answer:

So, now I will explain WHY the occasional cheat meal is alright every now and again.  As I mentioned before, it can help you in avoiding plateaus.  It honestly can help you physically, mentally, and emotionally overcome diet challenges and stay on course! 

So here is a basic rule that our body likes to operate under PHYSICALLY:

When you eat at a calorie deficit while working out regularly, your body doesn't get the memo that you could stop at any time. Instead, it assumes you're trudging across a hot desert, desperately looking for food and water in hopes of feeding your starving family... or you get where I'm going with this... 

So, to deal with this stress, your body's metabolism will slow down causing it to hold onto its emergency food storage (your body fat) to survive.  Many experts call this "starvation mode" and because you're not burning fat, it creates a weight loss plateau. "While the obvious solution is to increase your calories in general, cheat meals are also effective because they give your body a little "feast" break in the middle of the "famine" to convince it to keep burning those love handles away."(1)
In fact, many nutrition experts suggest mixing up your calorie intake every day (deficit and surplus) - so that you aren't eating the same amount all the time.  You need to trick your body so that it continues to help you get rid of those love handles (!!).

Here is the MENTAL arena that cheat meals help you with... 

If you haven't had the chance to read it - please do: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, written by Dr. Roy Baumeister and science writer John Tierney discuss the concept of "decision fatigue," the idea that willpower, just like our muscles, can give out after a while. "When asked whether making decisions would deplete their willpower and make them vulnerable to temptation, most people say no. They don't realize that decision fatigue helps explain why ordinary, sensible people get angry at their colleagues and family, splurge on clothes, buy junk food at the supermarket, and can't resist the car dealer's offer to rustproof their new sedan."

Why do I mention this reference?  Well, think of your Cheat Meal in the same way you think of your Work-out Recovery Days.  It allows you to relax and rejuvenate your willpower, minimizing the risk of you falling off the horse in the future. 

Also, let's face it - cheat meals help RELIEVE ANXIETY, which assists the EMOTIONAL aspect of this brilliant concept.

I know you've been there - heck I've been there!  Turning around your diet can be really challenging.  When you eat clean, it can mean that you're steering clear of those comfort foods you've loved and craved your entire life.  The foods that act as your security blanket, your comfort.  Well - the fact that they are absolute crap and they were slowly killing you is besides the point....*cough, cough*  Those foods help in giving you emotional strength!  As long as you don't think it'll cause a relapse (SERIOUSLY), there's no reason to completely walk away from a cupcake on your birthday or a hot dog at the baseball game.  When I go to Florida to visit my grandparents - I can't stay away from my Nana's home cooked Italian Pasta and Dordeegies (Italian cookies) - yum. 

There is something to be said about having these cheat foods on those special occasions that help make life all that much more enjoyable - don't you think? 

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My Resources:
(1)-BB Newsletter Article: "Ask the Expert: Are Cheat Meals OK?" By: Denis Faye