ARE CHEAT MEALS BAD? The PROBLEM with CHEAT DAYS. | Edukale

Are cheat meals bad? Should you have a cheat day? What is the problem with cheat days?
These questions will be answered in this video.

First, make sure to get your FREE optimal Wellness and Nutrition Checklist! https://bit.ly/2JTb0wv

A lot of people stick to a strict diet during the week and have a cheat meal or even an entire cheat day during the weekend. While it’s a health trend for many, it can actually become quite problematic.
Why? What is the problem with cheat days?
What is a chat meal?
Having a cheat meal involves letting yourself indulge in foods that are usually prohibited, temporarily breaking your strict diet rules.
Often, it’s a calculated permission to enjoy high-calorie foods, junk food, and other processed goodness. The idea is that by allowing yourself to eat these foods once a week (more or less for some), you’ll be more likely to sustain your diet long term without feeling too deprived.
In theory, you’re also less likely to have those cookies for dessert because you can just wait until your cheat meal to splurge.
Why cheat meals are bad.
Now, you might think that the main problem with a cheat meal resides in the gargantuan consumption of unhealthy foods. Pancakes for breakfast, a hamburger and fries for lunch, or a pizza for dinner? Why not all three? Surely a nutritionist would have a problem with you overly indulging in these types of foods? In addition, even if you are very strict with your diet during the week, having a cheat meal/day might totally counter-balance all of your hard work. And it’s much harder to get back into a healthy mindset after indulging in all of these foods.
But the thing is, that’s not even the biggest problem.
So what is?
Cheat meals encourage unhealthy eating behaviors. The biggest problem I see with cheat meals is that they fuel an unhealthy relationship with food.
This rule dictates when you can eat, what you can eat, and how much you are allowed to have. Certain foods are seen as good while others are seen as bad, and therefore more desirable. The more you restrict during the week, the more you’ll want to eat during that long-awaited meal. You’re giving certain types of food way too much power. Are you controlling them, or are they controlling you?
Binge-eating
Another problem I see with cheat meals is that they seem like an organized form of binge-eating. This can drive you to eat much more than your actual needs and wishes, completely obliterating your hunger and satiety signals. The cheat meal concept definitely sets you up for the unhealthy binge-and-restrict cycle.
So what should you do instead?
If you have basic knowledge regarding nutrition and portion sizes, and if you are in tune with your body’s hunger signals, I would suggest opting for a more mindful approach to eating.
If you still feel like you need rules or aren’t in a place where you can rely on your hunger cues, I would recommend following the “80/20 rule”. Try to eat mainly whole, healthy, nourishing foods (around 80% of the time) all while letting yourself indulge in treats 20% of the time.
But what if cheat meals work for you?
I do want to mention that if you have been successfully maintaining a healthy diet all while having the occasional cheat meal, that’s great. Everyone has a different body, mind, way of eating, and relationship with food.

Watch "Dangers of the all-or-nothing mentality"    • END THE ALL-OR-NOTHING EATING MENTALI...  
Watch "How to stop binge-eating"    • HOW TO STOP BINGE EATING FOR LIFE: fi...  
Watch "Health benefits of mindful eating"    • How to eat your meals: healthy eating...  

Don't forget to like this video and subscribe!
__________
Read my blog post for more info and my sources: https://edukale.com/the-problem-with-...
Check out my blog! https://edukale.com/
Follow me on Pinterest!   / edukale  

Music 1 by Clueless Kit - Lie - https://thmatc.co/?l=B6916A4
Music 2&4 by Clueless Kit - Rooftop - https://thmatc.co/?l=F6693457
Music 3 by Reggie San Miguel - Daydream - https://thmatc.co/?l=278068D
__________
All information posted is for educational and informational purposes ONLY. While I do have a master’s degree in biology specialized in nutrition and health, I am NOT a doctor or dietician. I'm just stating my informed opinion, and these videos are NOT intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Any decision to act upon the advice given in these videos is done at your own risk.