Ode to Easter -- Cheat Days :)

Is any holiday a source of unease and anxiety?  Chocolate bunnies and Grandma's super cheesy potatoes have you in a tizzy?  Take heart.  REALLY.

Cheat days are allowed, and in fact encouraged by many dietitians, trainers, and fitness enthusiasts (and ME).  Allowing yourself a period (a day, a meal, a treat) is a welcome break from the restrictions that you have placed on yourself, and honestly can be just what you need to keep you on track.  I do understand that this may sound counterproductive.  But I believe that there is nothing like making the choice to remove many foods that you've always loved from your diet and sticking to it, to make you want to sit down and EAT every food you've ever removed from your diet.  Better to allow yourself a meal, or a day, or treat that you have been sacrificing, then to go completely off the rails.

This is another important point to remember.  On severely calorie restricted diets for long term periods, your body will respond by slowing your metabolism (the exact opposite of what you really need) and this may cause you to store what you are eating as fat unnecessarily.  Some of the causes of weight loss plateaus are the opposite of what you may think.  The person in question is not eating ENOUGH calories so their metabolism stalls and their body starts STORING fat instead of eliminating it.  The end result is a double blow.  You are miserable because you are restricting yourself beyond what is necessary and your efforts are not being rewarded.

I just ran across a few most interesting articles that could absolve me of all guilty cheating.  :)
It may actually HELP you to cheat, within reason.  The extra calorie jolt that you'll get from a cheat may trigger an increase in a hormone called leptin.  This helps your body to realize that it is NOT starving and will in fact kick start your metabolism, helping you to release fat that you may be holding onto.

I am definitely not encouraging periods of calorie restriction and long periods of cheating.  That kind of behavior can lead to more serious or permanent metabolic issues.  I also realize that some folks feel the need to completely restrict themselves from those foods that they have trouble controlling and "cheats" may not be something that they are comfortable with.  Only some experimenting and getting to know your own body will tell what will work best for you.

In closing:
1)  Make sure you are getting enough calories!!!
2)  Do not feel guilty about indulging, and rejoice in it, but keep vigilant for your health's sake!