Helping Kids and Families Cook & Eat Healthier.

No Cheating! Why Cheat Days Send the Wrong Message

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The idea of cheating on a diet is nothing new, but what has recently become more popular is the concept of official “cheat days” on your diet. The basic idea is that you adhere to your healthy diet for so many days and then have a “cheat day” on which you don’t follow your normal, healthy eating patterns.

While going hog wild and eating whatever you’d like every few days may sound fun, the reward is momentary, and the drawbacks are numerous. Check out why you’re only cheating yourself when cheat days become your norm.

  1.         Cheat days send the message that healthy eating is temporary. If you are constantly looking forward to the next time you can stray from healthy foods you are telling yourself (and others around you) that healthy eating is something to endure until you can make it to the point you can take a break from nutritious meals. You may soon begin to look forward to a time when you can permanently abandon the “rules” and make “cheating” the standard once again. Instead, shift your perspective to changing to a healthier lifestyle rather than a diet with an end date(s) in sight.
  2.         Cheat days send the message that eating unhealthy foods is a reward. When your eye is on the prize of a cheat day, unhealthy foods become the reward instead of the inherent benefits of following a whole foods, nutrient dense diet being the reward. Instead, fix your eyes on things like more energy, better sleep, less pain and illness, and more as the prize. Trust us, this will ultimately be much more rewarding than cheating with a sugary cupcake!
  3.        Cheat days can derail the progress you’ve made. Many of the foods on the standard American diet (S.A.D.) promote inflammation, weight gain, headaches, lethargy, and more. It can take time to heal the damages done by these processed, sugary foods, and that processed can be set back much more quickly than it can be reversed.  Not only does this make you feel bad physically, but it can be emotionally discouraging to lose the progress that you have made.

BUT…Though the idea of a sanctioned cheat day has many negatives, recognize that there will inevitably be times when even the healthiest eater may indulge in foods that are outside the norm and not of the healthiest variety. There will be times when healthy foods just aren’t readily available and exceptions need to be made. While I don’t recommend making a cheat day a part of your normal routine, I also encourage you to grant yourself grace when these situations arise. Make healthy eating a lifestyle goal rather than a legalistic practice and you are sure to make progress!


Author: Diana

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