The Truth: My Mega Cheat Days

I am pretty darn serious about my nutrition. 

I track my calories and macronutrient counts every day. I literally write down every single thing I eat. 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 3/4 cup of oats. There is no guessing. It is an exact science that, frankly, I enjoy calculating. And it’s obvious (at least, to me) in my body composition that I’ve done a great job. I have ridiculous self-control, and I owe it to my obsession with what I eat.

Except on cheat days.

Btw, the meta data for this pic says "Woman caught eating junk food," as if it's illegal.

I’ve made a post about this before; about the psychology of cheat days. But I have a feeling some of you just don’t comprehend how much of what I shove into my face on these days I’m allowed whatever it is my heart desires. Especially during bulking season!!! (Which is almost over, and I feel bittersweet about it.)

So here it is: my most recent cheat day menu, from what I can remember. I will give an approximate calorie estimate, but really, it’s anyone’s guess.

Valentine’s Day, 2015

12 PM: 12-inch Italian sub from Wawa. Includes mayonnaise and Pepperjack cheese.

12:30 PM: What must have been half a full size bag of BBQ potato chips.

5:00 PM: Mushroom Soup, bread, butter, 2 alligator bites, pretzel rods with mustard, wiener schnitzel, German potatoes, 1 Hershey’s Kiss, 1 glass of pinot noir.

6:00 PM: 2 shots of vodka in 0 calorie tea (for some reason, I still can’t get past drinking sugar).

6:30 PM: 1 entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s Americone Dream Ice Cream.

7:00 PM: 2 more shots of vodka.

7:15 PM: 1 large cookie.

8:00 PM: 1 cup (I guess?) of trail mix.

Calorie Estimate: 4750 calories (Approximately 2.5 workout days’ worth)

The Aftermath and Reasoning

How did I feel after this feast? Not gonna lie, I felt pretty awesome. Now, there are some times when I feel absolutely terrible after a cheat day, usually because I eat until I become sick. But like I said in my other post, I never feel guilty about eating it. Ever.

Some people say, “Everything in moderation,” and for me, that just doesn’t work. I can’t eat one piece of bread every day. I can’t have a piece of candy every day, or a cookie every day. It’s all or nothing. 80% of the time, I am 100% on target with my nutrition goals, including eating only the foods I have deemed “clean” for myself. But that 20% of the time, those days when I decide to cheat, I’m going to do it up.

It gives me something to look forward to, and it allows me to celebrate holidays and birthdays without having to sit in the corner, sadly chewing on a celery stick.

And besides some sluggishness and bloating the next day, I don’t really feel any repercussions. But I KNOW I would feel the effects of falling off the wagon entirely, which I might do if I didn’t allow these cheat days.

So there it is. My dirty little secret. Don’t tell my gym buddies!



Lift.Eat.Love.Sleep

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