- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Anyone get nervous when splurging on food and what brings you back to baseline?
Posted on 3/3/25 at 4:20 pm
Posted on 3/3/25 at 4:20 pm
I was a pretty hefty fella ~7yrs ago, 240 and bumping 250ish at 5’8”. Was down to 220ish late 2023. Started actually giving af and busting arse in the gym, lots of cardio, solid nutrition and recovery…new obsession basically, down 50lb from this time last year to a more muscular and respectful 160-165 now. I haven’t quite finished my current cutting phase yet, and I plan on adding much more muscle once I satisfy my BF% goals, but not there yet. Still, the success I’ve had with nutrition relies in part on occasional cheat days for sanity sake.
That said, I’m a realist and enjoy food and friends and fun, so I partake in the occasional 3-5 beers and pizza, albeit sparingly. Nonetheless, I constantly find myself scared shirtless the next day that I’m going to look like shite again to the point that I will stare and lament my choices the following day like I’m somehow going to gain it all back immediately.
It’s not a super terrible body dysmorphia moment, and I’m not particularly concerned I’ll revert to being a lardarse again, but it tends to cause me to enjoy the splurge/re-feeding less than I could due to my concern. I’ve lost it before, so I know I can again…and maybe I’m answering my own questions, but do the more experienced/informed masses of the H/F board on TD have any similar experience? Strategies to regulate any emotions/feelings about a good generous cheat day or splurge? Things to consider?
That said, I’m a realist and enjoy food and friends and fun, so I partake in the occasional 3-5 beers and pizza, albeit sparingly. Nonetheless, I constantly find myself scared shirtless the next day that I’m going to look like shite again to the point that I will stare and lament my choices the following day like I’m somehow going to gain it all back immediately.
It’s not a super terrible body dysmorphia moment, and I’m not particularly concerned I’ll revert to being a lardarse again, but it tends to cause me to enjoy the splurge/re-feeding less than I could due to my concern. I’ve lost it before, so I know I can again…and maybe I’m answering my own questions, but do the more experienced/informed masses of the H/F board on TD have any similar experience? Strategies to regulate any emotions/feelings about a good generous cheat day or splurge? Things to consider?
9
Posted on 3/3/25 at 5:32 pm to TigerReich
What works for you doesn’t necessarily work for everybody. You’ve been at this long enough to see the results of a cheat day. Sometimes a metabolism shock is good.
Posted on 3/3/25 at 5:42 pm to TigerReich
Falling off the food wagon on occasion isn’t a big deal in my opinion. If you already know what works for your body and have your routine, it’s a simple process to get back to it after a pause. A day or a few days off is rarely a significant setback. If taking a cheat day is the thing that keeps you sane and going strong, then its healthy. Embrace it.
Posted on 3/3/25 at 6:54 pm to TigerReich
As you build muscle your body will burn the simple carbs off quick as shite.
A few years ago if I ate a snickers I could tell… now I can eat two snickers and won’t miss a beat.
A cheat meal always failed me. I would fall off the health wagon every few months and get fat again. Now I do an entire cheat day and have kept it off 4 years.
A few years ago if I ate a snickers I could tell… now I can eat two snickers and won’t miss a beat.
A cheat meal always failed me. I would fall off the health wagon every few months and get fat again. Now I do an entire cheat day and have kept it off 4 years.
Posted on 3/3/25 at 6:56 pm to TigerReich
I think in order to keep your body sane mentally, you have to have cheat meals. It’s reaaallllllly hard to do, bc one cheat meal for me usually turns into a cheat day/cheat weekend.
But enjoy your unhealthy kicks, pizza beer fried seafood etc. but just try and limit it and understand you can eat that and you can enjoy that because you do monitor everything else you eat.
To put it this way, you exercising and being health conscious is better than 99% of the people in America…. So hell yea Baw, take your cheat day and enjoy the frick out of it!!!
But enjoy your unhealthy kicks, pizza beer fried seafood etc. but just try and limit it and understand you can eat that and you can enjoy that because you do monitor everything else you eat.
To put it this way, you exercising and being health conscious is better than 99% of the people in America…. So hell yea Baw, take your cheat day and enjoy the frick out of it!!!
Posted on 3/3/25 at 7:35 pm to TigerReich
quote:
Strategies to regulate any emotions/feelings about a good generous cheat day or splurge? Things to consider?
I plan them out. E.G big event like a wedding or a holiday I go lean meals calorie deficit for several days while ramping up my workouts and increasing my mileage running and walking. I then cheat without concern, seems to be working.
Posted on 3/4/25 at 8:50 am to TigerReich
I don't do a cheat day I do a cheat meal maybe once a month. The key is when I 'cheat' I eat so much of it until I do not want it anymore for a longtime.
For example last month I ate a whole pizza. I could barely get in the last bite. It was good but since I had so much I haven't craved pizza since. The month before that I had a meal that was just Krispy Kreme donuts. I ate like 15 of them. I haven't wanted one since. I think where things can go off the rails is people doing a whole cheat day. If I did that I bet I would end up eating 12,000 cals
so i limit it to just one meal once a month.
For example last month I ate a whole pizza. I could barely get in the last bite. It was good but since I had so much I haven't craved pizza since. The month before that I had a meal that was just Krispy Kreme donuts. I ate like 15 of them. I haven't wanted one since. I think where things can go off the rails is people doing a whole cheat day. If I did that I bet I would end up eating 12,000 cals
so i limit it to just one meal once a month. Posted on 3/4/25 at 12:26 pm to TigerReich
quote:
Nonetheless, I constantly find myself scared shirtless the next day that I’m going to look like shite again
This is a good thing. You are actually concerned about your health. If everyone did this, wed have a fit, healthy country
Posted on 3/4/25 at 1:02 pm to scottydoesntknow
This is common, I think everyone that has lost weight deals with this.
The biggest skill to learn is the ability to snap & clear, get back on the wagon.
I would encourage you to get away from the idea of "Cheat Days" or "Cheat Weekends". I had this mentality for years and resulted in me mass bingeing on weekends.
I've been able to move into a headspace where I eat clean 90% of the time, but choose to indulge when the time is right.
Have a few slices of pizza, but not the entire pizza. Have some ice cream, not the entire gallon.
Even if you do screw up (which you will), just wake up the next day and get back on the wagon. Forget about it, one day isn't going to kill you.
The biggest skill to learn is the ability to snap & clear, get back on the wagon.
I would encourage you to get away from the idea of "Cheat Days" or "Cheat Weekends". I had this mentality for years and resulted in me mass bingeing on weekends.
I've been able to move into a headspace where I eat clean 90% of the time, but choose to indulge when the time is right.
Have a few slices of pizza, but not the entire pizza. Have some ice cream, not the entire gallon.
Even if you do screw up (which you will), just wake up the next day and get back on the wagon. Forget about it, one day isn't going to kill you.
Posted on 3/4/25 at 1:22 pm to TigerReich
Kind of a tangent:
But I just spent a couple of long weekends on the road traveling to bike races with my kid. When I'm on the road, I'm out of routine and don't eat as well as I normally do at home. I also exercise way less, though I did do a lot of walking and got in a few runs as well.
I was shocked that at the end of the 2 weeks, I was actually down in weight quite a bit. I can't decide if it was because I wasn't lifting at all over that two weeks or maybe I just ate less than I thought.
Anyway, I'm back UP now that I'm at home and lifting regularly and hammering protein.
But I just spent a couple of long weekends on the road traveling to bike races with my kid. When I'm on the road, I'm out of routine and don't eat as well as I normally do at home. I also exercise way less, though I did do a lot of walking and got in a few runs as well.
I was shocked that at the end of the 2 weeks, I was actually down in weight quite a bit. I can't decide if it was because I wasn't lifting at all over that two weeks or maybe I just ate less than I thought.
Anyway, I'm back UP now that I'm at home and lifting regularly and hammering protein.
Posted on 3/4/25 at 3:39 pm to hogfly
Thanks everyone. The responses help put it in perspective for me…my anxiety about it is the reason I’ve been successful in the past with the occasional cheat day. As long as I’m not stringing them together and know how to recalibrate, things will be fine and perhaps better.
Reminds me of a quote I read in relation to having a bad gym day, which I will now bastardize and forget who to attribute to: “just try not to have 2 bad days in a row”
Reminds me of a quote I read in relation to having a bad gym day, which I will now bastardize and forget who to attribute to: “just try not to have 2 bad days in a row”
Posted on 3/4/25 at 4:19 pm to TigerReich
Nothing wrong with enjoying food. When you put in consistent work you need to reward yourself. Got to have balance in life
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News