My Cheating Heart

 

 Though I wasn’t on any diet or following any super strict eating program I still made up myself a cheat day. I really looked at it more as a day of reward. I was feeling pretty good about the strides I was making. I was losing weight, I was definitely eating better, so there was definitely cause to celebrate.

 I had read in many different articles and books that if you are dieting, having a cheat day is healthy and beneficial as it will heighten the chances of success. Again I wasn’t on a diet plan but I did put a great deal of focus on eating better. My having a cheat day came about by following Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I follow The Rock on Instagram. I was never a huge fan or anything but I like the man and a lot of things he does off screen. He has in a number of ways inspired me while on this journey. Rock posted pictures of his cheat day meals. He posted pics of what he called the sushi train which consisted of incredible spreads of sushi. I honestly would have probably chosen pizza for my cheat day if not for The Rock.

 My cheat day isn’t weekly nor bi-weekly it’s more when I can afford it. I do love sushi and those pictures The Rock posted looked to amazing to not follow suit. Sushi is a very healthy meal when compared to a pizza. It's a good source of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids thanks to the fish it's made with. Sushi is also low in calories – there's no added fat. Of course there are some cons but it’s a cheat meal, a reward. I thought to myself a hearty sushi meal was a good way to go.

 Though early in my journey I felt it was a perfect time to set up my cheat day. Sushi was voted to be my official cheat meal which I would indulge in about once per month, twice if I could afford it but I would be happy with once for sure. All good things in moderation. One can pretty much choose whatever they desire for their cheat days. I’m saying though, I wouldn’t go for the gallon of ice cream or bucket of KFC chicken but that’s just me. I rather cheat by eating something that at least has some health benefits oppose to something that is totally unhealthy. 

 My first sushi train cheat meal was awesome. I felt proud of my accomplishments and progress. I really felt I deserved every bite I took. The amount of gratitude and appreciation was just as amazing as the food. When we indulge on a daily basis we tend to take things for granted. I like the reward day idea because it makes it special and makes me look forward to working my ass off towards the next one.

 No one sticks to a diet 100% so to allow a cheat meal now and then is just being smart it helps avoid the whole guilt trip thing. A lot of people quit over taking themselves on the ole guilt trip after a slip. So, what better incentive to stick to your healthy diet or health plan than knowing that you have a cheat meal waiting at the end of a good stretch of hard work?

Certified Holistic Health Coach and Aaptiv trainer, Kelly Chase believes that “You should have a cheat meal one to two times per week.” She is an advocate for the 80/20 lifestyle, which is, “eating, exercising and living a positive lifestyle 80% of the time, and indulging in not-so-clean treats 20% of the time.” (This is more than fair though I am shooting for more of a 90/10 lifestyle for myself). With an indulgent reward acting as the light at the end of the tunnel, people find that they are more motivated to remain healthy that 80 percent of the time. Plus, that meal will definitely taste all the more better knowing that you’ve earned it!

 There you go. If you are going to cheat, cheat on your diet not your spouse or your taxes.