Why Cheat Days Are The Magic Bullet For Weight Loss Success

Americans have many diet and weight loss options to choose from. But these choices don't seem to be making a difference to the ever-expanding American waist line. We continue to get fatter year after year. The problem with most diet programs is that they set you up for failure right from the beginning.

Most diet plans have very limited food options and unrealistic calorie restrictions. When you feel deprived you are more likely to stray from whatever program you are trying to follow. So for long-term success you'll do better on a program that acknowledges that you do actually live in the real world. A nutrition plan that allows you to have "Cheat Days." Here is how Cheat Days work.

Cheat Days are immensely important to your overall success. Let me explain. First of all when I refer to cheat days I'm referring to the nutrition aspect of your program. Whenever you engage in vigorous physical activities (Cardio and Resistance Training) you always want to give yourself on day off each week. So that break from exercise is not considered cheating. You can still be active on your rest day, just avoid your normal structured exercise. It's fine if you want to stretch or do low-level cardio (hike, walk, bike ride).

Cheat days serve two important functions

1. Cheat Days allow you to eat your favorite foods.

This allows you to deal with any emotional or psychological attachments you might have with specific foods. It also allow you to eat really tasty food and satisfy some cravings. Also you avoid any sense of deprivation which typically leads instantly to quitting any healthy eating plan.

2. Cheating will help you to avoid plateaus

Our body is designed for adaptation. And our body adapts quickly, in as little as 4-7 days. So if you eat the same way every day, your body will adapt and will plateau quicker than if you add cheat days to your program. Nothing shakes up your body like consuming high-fat, high-calorie foods after eating healthy for six straight days.

Here are the Rules for cheating (I know Oxymoron)

1. If you are trying to lose weight cheat one day each week

2. If you are at your goal weight cheat two days each week

3. Plan your cheat day to coincide with any social event you have (so your cheat day may vary from week to week)

4. Indulge in your cheat foods only after eating your normal healthy meals.

(Note) you can attempt to cheat all day if you like, but you'll feel really sick (you'll only do this once)

5. Eat your cheat foods outside of your house or workplace (don't have tempting foods available to you on non-cheat days)

John Preston has been a Certified Personal Trainer since 1993. He is the Owner of Fitness Know How Headquarters http://www.fitnessknowhowhq.com and the Author of "Secrets Of A Personal Trainer".

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