5 Tips To Enjoy Your Cheat Day

This time of year while being special is always a bit more stressful than anyone would care to admit. Maybe you have been nice this holiday season and stuck to your diet and workout routine, bravo to you! Maybe you have just done the best you could with the time you had and gotten a few work outs in and made more good food choices than bad, bravo to you! But tomorrow is Christmas Day and everyone deserves to just set aside everything and enjoy the day with family and friends.

There is no need to worry about every little thing you put in your mouth or how you are going to get a workout in before all the fun begins or worse after all the fun. Many diet plans and trainers encourage Cheat Days, a day where you can have whatever you want without any of the guilt. These Cheat days are usually once a week or maybe every two weeks, but they are to help you make good decisions in the here and now knowing that you can be “bad” in the future.

Here are 5 tips to help you enjoy your cheat day during the holidays:

1. Do not cheat the whole day. In most instances it is suggested that on your cheat day you start off with a small but healthy breakfast usually the same breakfast you would have on a non cheat day.
2. Avoid processed foods. Sure on your cheat day you can have whatever you like, but still try to stay away from processed foods. If you are craving a cupcake why not make them at home have one (or two) and take the rest into the office so as not to be tempted on non-cheat days. Hamburger you drug of choice skip McDonalds and grill one up for yourself.
3. Make a list(and check it twice). On non Cheat Days when you are struck with a craving write it down; keep adding to that list with each different craving. By doing this you acknowledge the craving, can make a healthy choice knowing that shortly you can indulge in that craving as much as you want. Plus keeping a list helps to remind you of the foods you love so you don’t waste your cheat day on good food, but enjoy GREAT food.
4. Workout in the AM: Try and get in a workout in the morning before or after your healthy breakfast. It will give you the mental break of worrying about how you are going to burn off all those calories.
5. Stop thinking: The beauty of a Cheat Day is that you are allowing yourself to indulge in your favorite foods sans guilt. Enjoy this day for what it is a break from the regime of always having to make the healthy and right choice. Remember tomorrow you will be back on the wagon so enjoy being able to be naughty.

If you are not a fan of a full day of cheating you can opt in for a cheat meal a few times a week. Christmas Day is the perfect day cheat all day, or for that one big meal so that you can enjoy your seasonal favorites with out guilt. Leaving you more room to enjoy the wonderful company that comes with all that cheat worthy food.