How badly does a diet "cheat day" affect your weight?

MelandJeff

Take a guess.

I had a really really bad cheat day on Easter. I am STILL feeling like an arse about it.

I weigh in on Friday a.m. I am just trying to mentally prepare myself for the damage. Any idea?

 

Temp108743750006959

ugh, i don't know. for me, i think it's more of a mental set back then an actual true weight setback, kwim?

Mickschick

I can answer this. I've been "dieting" since January 1st. Every Sunday I allow myself to cheat. We usually go to the chinese buffet for dinner. I live for that dinner. I dream about it starting on Wenesdays until I get that dinner on Sunday. And every Monday morning my weight is up about 2-3lbs but it will be down again my Wednesday.

 Last week I cheated the ENTIRE week. I had AF and felt like eating whatever I wanted. I lost another 1.5lbs last week. If you've been dieting/excercising for some time now it shouldn't affect it too bad. I'm pretty sure it didn't affect me b/c my metabolism is up. I"m back on the wagon again- it wasn't hard to get back on like I thought it would be... but I know that if I didn't get back on I probably would start gaining some weight back b/c my metabolism would slow down. Am I making sense?

cooker71

Not much, thank GOD. I mean I'm not really on a "diet," per se, but if I have a day or two where I can't stop eating (like pre-AF) or I eat like crap it doesn't make much of a difference.

DandelionMom

Drink a bunch of water, go back to your diet, and it probably won't affect your weight much. 

REOM

Sometimes I think it actually helps b/c it vamps up your metabolism!

Mominator

Well, in order to lose a pound you need to have a 3500 calorie defecitand in order to gain a pound you need to have consumed and not burned 3500 calories. So, unless you ate several thousand extra calories on Sunday, any gain that you will see will be temporary.

For example, I had sushi Saturday and Sunday night and had a TON of soy sauce, read, lots of sodium. My "official" weigh in was yesterday and I was only down 1lb for the week. This morning, I had lost another 3lbs. That was all water weight from the sodium and I probably also added some to my glycogen stores.

My point is, as long as you are doing things right the rest of the time, 1 day, heck, even 1 week isn't going to ruin you as long as you are still looking at the big picture and are in it for the long haul.

hopefulmom

I'm on Atkins and a diet cheat day for me lasts 2 days until I'm back in ketosis.  Of course I put on a pound!

GrowingFamily

DandelionMom:

Drink a bunch of water, go back to your diet, and it probably won't affect your weight much. 

This.  I ate a lot of junk on Easter (and the day after), as well.   Yesterday morn my weight was up 2lbs, but by this morn, I am back down the 2lbs.  If you are careful with what you eat most of the time, a cheat day here & there should not have that much of an effect.