The Beauty of Cheat Day!

So you’ve selected your workout program, you’ve signed up for the customized meal plans at TeamBeachbody.com, and you’ve given it your all. But some days you just feel like you’re going to go out of your mind if you don’t have that piece of chocolate cake, or that slice of deep dish pizza. Or even worse, you go on a complete binge and eat everything in sight! Ok, I’ve been there. I’m a chocolate lover and a pizza lover and it’s difficult to quit “cold turkey”. And I’ve been known to go on one of those eating binges and wiping out the fridge and cupboards in record time. So what can you do? One, schedule in a cheat day!!!! Yep, it’s ok to allow yourself a cheat, actually a good idea to plan for one as it prevents those crazy binges. But here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Schedule it in! Rather than indulging on a whim, plan for it. Decide what day of the week will be your regular cheat day and WRITE IT DOWN!
2. Decide whether or not you will have a full-blown cheat day or just a cheat meal. I used to do the full-blown cheat day, but found I didn’t always feel so good the next day. So if you opt for the go-all-out-eat-whatever –I-want- for-a day method, keep in mind there could be some consequences. It’s generally a better plan to just allow for one complete cheat meal, including dessert. And in addition to the cheat meal, then allow yourself a small cheat snack sometime in the middle of the week.
3. Workout on your cheat day! Don’t schedule your cheat day for your rest day. If you’re gonna cheat, burn off those extra calories.
4. Keep a list. Throughout the week, as you get some of those nasty cravings, write down whatever it is you’re craving, reminding yourself you can have it on your cheat day. You might be surprised once cheat day rolls around that you don’t really want that particular food after all. Hey, you may not even feel like “cheating” at all! You don’t have to, you know!
   

Remember that this is a lifestyle change, not a quick-fix diet. By adding in the Cheat Day you make it a whole lot more bearable than having the mentality that “I can never have a piece of cake or a slice of pizza again for the rest of my life.” You’re a whole lot more likely to stick with the program! So go ahead, cheat a little! And then get right back on track with your eating and watch those pounds melt away!