This is an interesting topic, in fact a piece of research on it would be very interesting. My personal theory is that the occasional ‘true cheat meal’ has no effect on body composition (and as a few posts have mentioned, they may even improve your next workout/increase muscle fullness).
If you take a logical look at this, it make sense that one cheat meal would have no effect on body comp. If the human body worked in this way then our body compositions would be in a constant measurable flux from one day to another. I would very much doubt that one cheat meal measurably alters one’s body fat composition?
Similarly, a couch potato who suddenly eats a clean meal isn’t going to start leaning out! There must be a threshold where the frequency and calorific load of ‘cheat meals’ starts to effect body composition, and this will be likely to vary from person to person. The ‘cheat meal’ is in my book one of the bodybuilder/athletes rewards for eating clean 90% of the time - so I say enjoy it with no guilt and the knowledge that it won’t harm your composition. What’s more, if you’re dieting hard, the cheat meal may stop your metabolism shutting off.
If you don’t plan a cheat meal every once in a while, you will set yourself up for failure. That is unless you have a full time personal trainer/chef there with you 24/7.
To echo what ProfX said: If you are hypocaloric and you have a planned cheat meal occasionally - nothing but good can come of it. Stressing over one freaking meal is idiocy. Berardi has the 90% rule. read up on it and stop manufacturing cortisol over a damn hamburger and fries every 14 days.
On what Massif said about eating it PWO - that is by far the best time to enjoy the cheat meal. If you are training hard, a PWO cheat meal is a God send.
Life is too short to have to feel guilty and do pennance over one meal. Make it a habit and you have a problem. But to make it a problem when there is none does no one any good. Especially you.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
ThisIsMyRifle wrote:
Yesterday, I ate homemade hamburgers and fries with 3 XX. I’m not trying to compete or anyhting but do want a six pack by summer. My diet it pretty clean. Although I have cut my cheat meals to 1-2 a month.
Is there any real way to counter that before it turns to blubber? I go to the gym and train hard the next day but other then that, I do nothing else. Any recommendations? Or should I not let it bother me and just enjoy my cheat meal?
Rifle
If your diet has been that strict beforehand, all that will do is fill your muscles out. Very often my best workout is the day after a cheat meal if dieting for a week or more. You are stressing over something that is probably helping you more than hurting.
[/quote]
If eating clean and tight, in my experience your body actually thanks you for a cheat meal once a week. Dont worry about the bad calories. I wake up fuller and tight the morning after when getting contest ready.
Is there any real way to counter that before it turns to blubber? I go to the gym and train hard the next day but other then that, I do nothing else. Any recommendations? Or should I not let it bother me and just enjoy my cheat meal?
Rifle[/quote]
[quote]vroom wrote:
Agreed though, if it is a deserved and planned cheat meal, then you shouldn’t have to worry about countering it’s effects anyway.[/quote]
My cheat meals are always deserved as I’m always busting ass in the gym. Hardly planned though, that’s too strict for me. I just limit the amount I allow.
I hear what some of you girls are saying, when I do “cheat” the last thing I crave is a greasy burger and fries. I want to enjoy my cheat, not feel like crap afterwards.
ha ha - yeah, i’ve been known to be a bit anal about eating clean. and yeah, my cheat meals are different from how others usually define them. they are indeed clean. but they’re waaaaaaaaay higher in calories. and you know what? i love ‘em, because the food still tastes freakin’ awesome! you see, i’ve perfected the art of making healthy food taste great. so why not? not saying the occassional pizza means you’ll die young. not saying i deserve an award. just my style, that’s all
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Massif wrote:
A clean cheat meal?
Have I been doing this wrong for the last few years? Isn’t a cheat meal where you actually cheat and partake in the badness? Isn’t this the reason that cheesecake exists?
I can only assume that people who claim they “cheat” with more chicken and rice must all have simply awe inspiring physiques. I don’t understand dieting like you are getting contest ready. You don’t get an award for never eating a pizza in your life time. I mean, you do what makes you happy. However, does anyone really believe a cheat meal NEEDS to be this strict or else you make less progress?
Also, to one statement made above, I don’t eat “huge” all of the time. That is relative anyway. If I am gaining some could say this because it takes a lot of food to maintain my body weight. The scenario is completely different when dropping some weight.[/quote]
Absolutely, after 3 weeks od ‘dieting’ (yeah only 3 weeks of calorific restriction) I was feeling tired, depressed and weak. I had like 2 weeks of fat loss as far as I can tell when I dropped 6 lbs total which was some water also. Then I actually had a temperature drop on waking according to my Braun thermoscan at the start of the third week.
Round about 7pm GMT today the solution was eat 4 hamburgers from Macca D’s and drink 2 litres of chocolate milk. The psycholgical effects of stuffing my face were astounding. I don’t expect all my recent calorific restriction to be in vain because of this caligulan style feast. No not at all.
Hardly planned though, that’s too strict for me. I just limit the amount I allow.