A cheat day is a day where you break away from your normal diet and treat yourself to something you wouldn't otherwise eat. This could be, for example, a piece of cake, an ice cream or a burger.
Many people believe that cheat days are bad for your health and lead to weight gain. But that's not necessarily true. In moderation, cheat days actually make a lot of sense.
Why cheat days are good for your health
Cheat days can help you stick to your diet in the long term. Constantly restricting yourself can lead to frustration and cravings. A cheat day can help you avoid these feelings and stay motivated.
Cheat days can also boost your metabolic rate. Sticking to a strict diet can cause your body to go into economy mode and burn fewer calories. A cheat day can help stimulate your metabolism again.
How often should you have a cheat day?
The frequency of cheat days depends on your individual situation. If you want to lose weight, you shouldn't have more than one cheat day per week. If you just want to make your diet healthier, you can also have cheat days more often.
How to do a cheat day right
If you have a cheat day, there are a few things you should keep in mind to protect your health:
- Choose healthy cheats. It's better to treat yourself to a piece of fruit cake than a large portion of ice cream.
- Don't eat too much. It's okay to cheat a little, but don't overdo it.
- After the cheat day, go back to your normal diet.
Cheat days on holidays
It's particularly difficult to stick to your diet on holidays like Christmas or Easter. There is delicious food and drink everywhere, and it's easy to overeat.
If you want to have a cheat day on the holidays, that's totally fine. It's even better than forcing yourself to eat something you don't like.
Cheat days are not bad for your health. Taken in moderation, they can even help you stick to your diet long-term and improve your health.
