Plan Your Cheat Meal

Often people ask me the question, “Do you eat right all the time?” My response, “No!” One of the keys to keeping it real with a healthy lifestyle of fitness for myself is allowing a cheat meal or cheat day once a week. I plan for this meal just like I plan for my other meals during the week. Below are my top four ways to plan a cheat meal.

1. Decide what you want your cheat meal to be for the week as you plan the rest of your meals before going to the grocery store. Lack of planning can make the cheat meal more miserable than rewarding. Remember to only set aside or purchase what you need for the cheat meal. If you and your spouse are  going out to eat then only order the right amount of food for the both of you. Don’t get a to go box as this will tempt you to cheat again the following day. If you are making it a cheat meal at home then only plan for you and your guest and send the rest of the left overs back with them.

2.Make it fun with your spouse as you plan this meal. Post it on your fridge and make it a reward for all the hard work you put in during your workout week. I like to put mine right beside my P90X workout schedule.

3. If you workout on the day of your cheat meal then try to do it in the morning. Eat right for your regular snacks and lunch and enjoy your cheat meal in the evening. I usually eat my cheat meal in the late afternoon or early evening around 5:30 or 6pm. This gives my stomach extra time to digest my food so I can work out the next morning.

4. Lastly, Don’t feel guilty for giving yourself a cheat meal. Don’t step on the scale. Don’t go do a bunch of crunches after you throw down! If you are eating right and working out all week then your weight will be fine. I usually eat 90% right and 10% not so right. That is the formula that has worked for me over the past 3 years and I’ve managed to keep 65 pounds off in the process. Hope this helps.