Hmmmmmmmm. Good questions, dude.

For me, I usually don’t take a cheat day until my body is kind of begging me. But obviously you have to be careful with this because those with an addiction to food will convince themselves that their body is begging them at every waking moment, lol. I will say that when I’m really on my diet, my desire to further my streak or push my results kind of keeps me off cheat days for the most part – that isn’t to say they should be avoided by everyone, however.

Next, I don’t believe one should abstain completely, but I do think that there are substances in some foods that when we adequately examine what they do to our bodies, are not worth their consumption – even one day every week or what have you. Additionally, some things like MSG and Sucralose (to name only 2 of the plethora), leave us craving them so much more the next day. For me, anyway, this usually leads to a 72-hour cheat day if I’m lucky. hahaha. Now maybe I’m just weak, but I’ve heard similar accounts from many different people.

To combat this, I try and limit even what I have on a cheat day (again, not the right approach for everyone). I try and view some foods I really need to dodge, the same way I see most of the stuff in the aisles of Toys R Us: Colorful, inviting, looks to be beautifully packaged by Michaelangelo himself but made of fuckin plastic i.e. NOT FOOD.

Now, if I am to completely abandon what I’ve said above my favorite junk food’s gotta be, Popeye’s chicken, Krispy Kreme’s, some sort of All You Can Eat Sushi (not necessarily junk), and some sort of chocolate hehehehe (yes, probably all in the same day)…

Generally, my approach to cheat foods is that it’s just not worth it, but like Spencer said that may not be for everyone. I think Ying and Yang is at play here, and if you have too much rigidity it can lead to inflexibility and then an unintentional break from routine and loss of control. In that case, it’s much better to have a planned release valve or vice of some sort, obviously within reason as you don’t want no rigidity or control.

For me, I usually don’t cheat with food because that’s one of my cornerstone habits, but I will have a drink or two or a puff of ol Mary Jane or something else that suits me better. For some it’s food, for others it’s video games etc.

I think a key thing here that I’ve learned over the years is to pay attention to your intuition and really feel out what your body needs. I also think it takes practice to distinguish drug-like cravings from healthy needs.

Lots of what you said there Matt, was awesome. One thing stuck out to me in particular, actually.

“I also think it takes practice to distinguish drug-like cravings from healthy needs.”

That’s a hugely important point. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m someone who really does love to go overboard when its time to have a cheat meal. In fact, with certain foods and at certain times, its probably closer to a drug-like craving, as you put it, than just really craving a particular food or meal.

How would you suggest someone approach that kind of relationship to some foods? Thanks matty!

It’s a good question and a hard one. Honestly, taking note of how you feel AFTER doing this activity seems to be pretty telling.