Cheat days, are they needed?

[buffness]

I'm starting to question our philosophy on cheat days. Al thought they serve a purpose, how far along should they be taken. your typical Bodybuilder will start dieting down anywhere from 20-12weeks out(varies). During this process, they don't have a cheat day, let alone eat out all the way through their competition. Granted, we are not all Bodybuilders or aspire to be one. Some of their practices can be applied to the average Joe getting ready for the summer. Cheat days/meals basically help boost thyroid hormone and basically keep us sane through out our task. I have however begin to believe that the lower you get in body fat (single digits), the less this practice will actually help. You wouldn't want to run the risk of shutting down your thyroid, but scaling down a cheat day would be the ideal key. Supplementing those days with maybe more carbs should give you enough change in your diet to allow your thyroid to keep on trucking. Cutting down in weight has become a common practice to me, although I never implemented this practice I displayed here, I plan to this time around and will see how well it works for me. I'm sure some of you guys that compete can shim in and attest with your experience...

 

[BigWilly]

I have cheat MEALS through my contest prep...all the way up to 2 weeks out. I thinks its very important. Keeps the metabolism burning, keeps you sane, helps with energy, and also helps you to gage how your body responds so you can plan your carb up.

BW

 

[goes4ever]

buff when cutting down, I tried controlled carb up and my effects were not as good as when I has a cheat day. Mentally there is no comparison. I love food, I cannot go for weeks on end w/o junk food, nope aint happening. I honestly don't think you can go very long w/o your pancakes either.

 

[buffness]

lol, I probably can't but I do over due it quite a bit every sunday. I think the closer I get, the More controlled I'll get on my cheat days.(probably a normal mans cheat day )

 

[Matt76]

I want to cheat everyday it's so so hard for me not to, but I have been sticking to 1cheat day a week. When I look in the mirror and see the difference that's when I know that my hard work is paying off. Before I started dieting I had no veins visible anywhere. The ones where they even take blood from were lost. However, now they are back and better than ever and I have the nice vein goin threw each vein. haha anyway now i'm just ranting and raving

Cheat days are important, but I am thinking of trying to go 2weeks without one. If I cheat one day it will prolly only be for a meal so to me that would be no big deal anyway.

 

[thecoin]

on july 18th, we'll see who's had one too many cheat days that's for sure...

 

[Stout1]

I would believe cheating WITH IN REASON is fine. But you dont see any of the higher up athletes doing massive cheating like some of the people on the board do. I would lead to believe it all needs to be done in reason and according to ones goals.

 

[goes4ever]

I would believe cheating WITH IN REASON is fine. But you dont see any of the higher up athletes doing massive cheating like some of the people on the board do. I would lead to believe it all needs to be done in reason and according to ones goals.

oh really? how can you honestly say that unless you are with them 24/7
I think there are very few people in the fitness world who can eat strict day in and day out all the time.

Just ask people like IA or Swolecat, hell even they eat crap one day a week

 

[Stout1]

oh really? how can you honestly say that unless you are with them 24/7
I think there are very few people in the fitness world who can eat strict day in and day out all the time.

Just ask people like IA or Swolecat, hell even they eat crap one day a week

awww fuck I dont know thats why I said I would believe.....but when I cheat I try to do it with in reason as I dont have the best genetics so every little bit I can do to seperate my self from someone else is a step in the right direction fo me

 

[buffness]

I would believe cheating WITH IN REASON is fine. But you dont see any of the higher up athletes doing massive cheating like some of the people on the board do. I would lead to believe it all needs to be done in reason and according to ones goals.

I agree, IA actually doesn't cheat. He can't lol. He actually picks a day out the week to eat less. All this came to mind looking at Jay's DVD. They basically fallowed him the whole time. Ate really clean about 14weeks out the whole way. Makes you think.

 

[Stout1]

I agree, IA actually doesn't cheat. He can't lol. He actually picks a day out the week to eat less. All this came to mind looking at Jay's DVD. They basically fallowed him the whole time. Ate really clean about 14weeks out the whole way. Makes you think.

See this is how DC trains his people too. Well sorta. When he has them blasting they are eating shit left and right but its clean for the most part. When he has them cruise he is giving their body a break from training so hard, anabolics are brought down if used, and a meal is dropped from the rotation to kinda give them some sanity (as DC would say).

 

[buffness]

there is nothing clean about they way I cheat on my cheat day lol, which is basically my point. Breaks a great, but moderation is the key. About a year ago I got down to what I thought was about the lowest I could go. Now I think if I would have adjusted my cheat days at that point I would have gotten even more ripped. This is exactly why guys that have serveral shows around the same time dont' cheat much after their fist show. IF they did, they'd be setting themselves back big time for the next show..

 

[Stout1]

there is nothing clean about they way I cheat on my cheat day lol, which is basically my point. Breaks a great, but moderation is the key. About a year ago I got down to what I thought was about the lowest I could go. Now I think if I would have adjusted my cheat days at that point I would have gotten even more ripped. This is exactly why guys that have serveral shows around the same time dont' cheat much after their fist show. IF they did, they'd be setting themselves back big time for the next show..

Yeah I believe in one of my vids of Ronnie coleman they ask him how many Pizzas he ate last year. He said 1 and then started laughing and said ok I forget. I ate 2.

Who in the fuck nows what they really eat or don't eat. But the way I look at it for my goals I want to get bigger than I am now and I dont have very good genetics so whatever step I can take that someone next to me is not doing is just giving me the upper hand.

For example: If JoeBLow is on a cheat day and he piles down a large pizza, 20 wings, foot long sub with cheese and mayo and some mexican food. While I only cheat with whole nutritious foods but more of them or more carbs than I normally do. I figure its just one step ahead to even out the table for me.

But like I said eveyone has their own goals and their own motives.....

 

[goes4ever]

well I never will compete, dont want to. And I also want to enjoy life and least one day a week. No one will ever convince me, ever............that eating junkfood one day a week will hurt you. So what if it takes you longer to cut.

I am not a competitor, nor will ever be as ripped as one. I for one cannot mentally handle giving up all good foods. Fuck that, one day a week I will enjoy the foods I crave, By doing that, I can be super strict the next 6 days and will not cheat.

Everyone feels different about it. One day when you are old it wont fucking matter if you skipped that pizza on saturday or not......lol

 

[Jester]

That is what I do... I just eat less. Lately... my cheat days have consisted of relying mainly on protein shakes most of the day. The real break I get is from all the cooking and dish washing.... that brings back some sanity. It is nice to just rinse out the blender and chill in front of the Xbox or Tv for a change.... instead of washing dishes. I am a "clean freak"... I literally wash my dishes before I put them into the dishwasher..... so it can be time consuming.

 

[cylo]

just my .02 in here but, ive found *this is just me* but yes 4 the 1st 3 weeks or so it does keep me sane....but i can honestly say that ive 4got about cheat days & just skiped them all 2 gether....i think it makes me stronger....with me, if i can fill all my time up im fine....in bed by 9-10 after some ps2 & a shake & im good....
but 4 me i have 2 keep that routine or im lost

 

[goes4ever]

just my .02 in here but, ive found *this is just me* but yes 4 the 1st 3 weeks or so it does keep me sane....but i can honestly say that ive 4got about cheat days & just skiped them all 2 gether....i think it makes me stronger....with me, if i can fill all my time up im fine....in bed by 9-10 after some ps2 & a shake & im good....
but 4 me i have 2 keep that routine or im lost

your more of a man than me then, I can't give up cheat days