These days, it seems that "cheat days" have officially taken over fitness communities almost everywhere. Thousands of "cheat day" articles cover recipe after recipe on how to get the most out of your cheat day, but most of them seem to be missing the most important part: since when was the age old practice of eating in moderation considered cheating?
This is not one of those articles that's going to say that you should never eat anything that could be considered bad for you ever again. Absolutely not. All I'm saying is that how you choose your language about food affects your attitude toward food as well. There's a huge, linguistic difference between "eating in moderation" and "having a cheat day".
Cheating, by definition, implies that you are acting in an immoral, deplorable way while moderation implies that you are making the conscious decision to regulate your behavior. Cheat days also encourage very restrictive eating behaviors which have very negative physical, emotional, and mental effects.
These linguistic and behavioral differences could help explain why "cheat days" are occasionally accompanied by guilt and remorse. This is not to say that eating in moderation doesn't produce some of the same effects, but don't you think telling yourself you're "cheating" is only enabling this guilt? Eating should never be considered a guilty affair. If something or someone makes you feel guilty for eating, stay as far away from them as physically possible. You literally need to eat in order to survive and perform at your maximum capacity. Even if you are taking a day off from exercising, you still need to eat. Earning the right to eat does not arise after a workout. You earn the right to eat every single day just by being alive.
If you have been eating the right balance of nutrients including (but certainly not limited to) carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for about 70-80% of your meals, then eating a few pieces of pizza every once in awhile is not going to deter your weight-loss progress or change your generally healthy lifestyle overnight. However, the way you think of your food and yourself will inhibit your progress, lifestyle, and overall happiness. You are not cheating yourself, your fitness regime, or your lifestyle by eating in moderation, so calling it a “cheat day” is only a facilitator for guilt and the development of unhealthy and damaging eating habits.
Life is far too short to feel limited or entitled to only a few types of food. Instead, take some extra time to really appreciate what you are eating. Experience the textures as they pass through your teeth. Taste the flavors and dance with them as they saunter over your tongue. Think about how the food makes you feel. Think about the kind of energy the food gives you and what kind of mood it puts you in once you have finished your meal. Whether you choose to eat ice cream, pizza, Chipotle, sushi, or anything else under the sun, enjoy it proudly without guilt, without fear, and without feeling like a “cheater”.
