Cheating Is Good, Mmmmkay

So you've started your "diet", have successfully lost a few pounds and have discovered your weight loss/body tone groove. APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE. Way to go! Now if only you could stop those stuffed manicotti, fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, chocolate cake, cookie dough ice cream, cherry pie cravings. You've been tempted to gorge yourself on your favorite foods but you're afraid the pounds will pile back on and all your hard work will be in vain. Fear no more, mi amigo. Let me hip you to a little known diet aid: Cheat Day. Let me tell you...this day will save you more than you realize.

Now this doesn't mean have a free for all just because you've secured a spot in your regime for Cheat Day. You do need to manage this "reward" properly. Corey Ritter of Fitness Factor/Body Design encourages you to "go for it" when thinking about incorporating a cheat day. He also says that on your cheat day, you should still eat five meals a day making sure to eat some form of protein at each meal. The trick to managing your free for all day is to follow it up with a lean day. This "change up" kick starts your metabolism by getting it to work harder.

You're probably thinking how can that possibly be good for you, right? I thought so. Really it is a good idea both mentally and physically. Correctly managed cheat days help you mentally because you're no longer "longing" and salivating over foods you had to give up or wish you could eat. Physically it gives a big assist because now your metabolism is working harder, initially on your cheat day since those aren't foods it's used to breaking down, then on your "normal" days since your metabolism has now been revved up. Without cheat days your metabolism can become "lazy" since there isn't anything to shock it awake. Aren't you glad you now have a Cheat Day (personally my cheat day is in the middle of the week. This makes for a nice half way point for me) to thank for that sexy, toned new you and for staying on track? See, even cheating has its purpose.