Cheat Day...It's More Than A Meal

Y'all I know all too well the excitement that comes with the arrival of the cheat day!! You've worked hard all week to eat perfectly and finally that day comes when you can dig in and eat whatever you want. But what you forget each week is the guilt that follows that cheat meal.

I can remember the feeling of waiting all week for my cheat day to arrive, planning exactly what I was going to splurge on. Finally, my meal would come and that first bite would be everything I dreamed it would be. Then I would start to think, "I really shouldn't be eating this, it's got so many calories," or "it's so fattening," or "I'm going to have work harder tomorrow to make up for this," and on and on. I would try to rationalize that I deserved this meal because of how good I had been and as long as I was stricter next week, it would make up for my cheating. I was stuck in this cycle and I saw no way out.

Often my cheating would cause so much guilt that I would be discouraged and would easily let that one cheat day, slip into a cheat weekend, and on and on until my progress was completely derailed. Not to mention that these over-indulgent cheat days would tear up my stomach. My body never felt well the next day. Because of the guilt I was dealing with and the sluggish, bloated way I felt the next day, I couldn't even enjoy this day I had been looking forward to all week. 

{Photo Cred Pinterest}

I had no idea how to change what I was doing. My meals during the week were so strict, plain, and unsatisfying. I couldn't wait to eat anything else. I was limiting myself to tiny portion of bland salads and plain grilled chicken. Nothing had flavor and nothing made me feel full. But the thought of having that one cheat day, would keep me going through the week. And so the cycle would continue, week after week. Strict deprivation. Overindulgence. Guilt. Over and over again.

{Photo Cred Pinterest}

So, how did I break the cycle? Well, for me a couple of things changed...

1. I learned how to eat clean

We've talked a lot about clean eating in the last week, so I'm not going to dig into that much, but once I realized that I could eat good-tasting, flavorful food it made my meals enjoyable. I actually looked forward to what I was eating.

2. I learned portion control

For me, having portion control containers was a game-changer! To know exactly how much of a delicious food I could have with each meal made my meal planning so much easier. I was surprised to see how much food I could have and it was a lot more than I'd been allowing myself. They allowed me to eat well and still feel full!

3. I started incorporating a "lifestyle meal" each week

No more "cheat" meals!!! Each week when making my meal plan, I plan in advance where I'm going to work this meal in. I limit myself to an extra 500 calories per week. This meals I can use them all in one meal or I can spread them out throughout the week. Whatever works for me. 

The thing I didn't expect was how little I would actually use those extra 500 calories. My food throughout the week is so delicious and keeps me so full that I usually find that I'm skipping that lifestyle meal. And even better than that? I've fallen in love with my daily Shakeology that my sweet tooth cravings are completely gone. I never would have believed someone if they had told me that was possible!! 

If you're reading this and you're realizing that you're stuck in this all or nothing cycle, know that you can get out!! Find a meal plan that you can stick to without feeling deprived. It shouldn't be bland and it shouldn't be boring. You can eat well and enjoy it!

But know this, there are days you're going to mess up. There are days that you're going to have that extra piece of cake you didn't plan on or that big, juicy burger at your favorite restaurant, and that's ok!! No one is expecting you to be perfect every single day. You haven't failed because you had a few extra calories. You don't owe yourself an extra workout. You don't need to deduct calories from tomorrow. Tomorrow is a new day, your next meal is new meal. It's ok to give yourself another chance. You can do this!! I believe in you!!

If you're struggling to find a meal plan that works for you or you can shake that sweet tooth, let me know! Reach out, I'm here for you and I will help you!! My upcoming August Challenge Group might be perfect for you. It's a great place to learn how to meal plan, how to meal prep, learn some awesome recipes, and more...and you can join for FREE!!!!! Interested? Comment with your email below and I'll send you the details!