Dearest readers, I don't know about you but here in Toronto I can already feel fall coming a little too early. It's getting colder, classes are starting soon, and everyone is trying to squeeze in one more party before it's back to reality town haha. For those of us who are on a long-term diet, or those who partied hard and want to start one now to get skinny for a Caribbean vacation or the holidays, even these last party days of the summer are a bit of a challenge.
Personally, I am on a low carb diet (it's more like a lifestyle now) just like many other people; those of you who tried it and got into ketosis know that it works wonders- fat loss, health and power all combined in one approach. Yet, for many of us low-carbers, there's still a lot of confusion about the nature of that one single piece of dieting treasure- the cheat day. Unfortunately, most of my friends who are on low carb diets have been doing the cheat day wrong due to some really bad information they got online, thereby making their weight loss journey longer and more difficult than it ought to be. So, I am taking this opportunity to explain the myth and fact of the low carb diet cheat day, as well as how to do it right so that everyone who reads this may benefit :) I'm nice like that.
The low carb cheat day myths are all over the net. Most of them are spread by gym rats and meatheads who exercise way more than most of us and therefore neutralize most nutrition mistakes they make (and suggest to others as the "right way to go"). They tell you that it's important for your long-term weight loss goals and your sanity to take one day per week to literally gorge on whatever you like to eat, cheat just that one time and then go right back to dieting the next day. Sounds very appealing, doesn't it? You eat whatever you want for one day, then go back to dieting all week long until next time. Best of all, it works! Except, IT DOESN'T.
The reality of following this advice is scary for those who want to lose the extra weight as fast and efficient as possible. Eating anything you want on the cheat day gives most of us a blank cheque to gorge on carbs, because that's what we miss the most on a low carb diet. The problem with this is simple- YOU CAN NEVER GO CARB CRAZY ON A LOW CARB DIET, NOT EVEN ON A CHEAT DAY! Low carb is low carb, always (until you lose the weight and then you can eat more balanced foods since it's just maintenance thereafter). This is the number one rule to follow, otherwise the diet won't work. So, if you follow this wrong advice, your diet is almost totally doomed.
Here is what needs to be done. When you want to have a cheat day on low carb, you go crazy on calories but you keep your carbs low. Many hardcore low carb dieters keep their carbs at 20g or under per day. Most people agree that 50g or under per day is fine for low carb (considering most regular eaters do 150-300 grams per day- sheesh). You keep to those limits, yet you go for as many calories as you can handle. This means if you want your salad extra juicy, add all the dressing and oil you want. If you like marinated chicken, eat three times the marinated roasted chicken drums you normally do. Whatever floats your boat, as long as your carbs are under control :) You want three racks of ribs? Go for it. By now, I'm sure you get what I'm saying. This is the way the low carb diet cheat day is really done.
Now that I shed some light on how to do it, you go right ahead- the weekend is almost here and that's when most of us have our cheat days. I think mine will feature a pile of barbecue chicken drums wrapped in chicken bacon lol. Enjoy :)
Personally, I am on a low carb diet (it's more like a lifestyle now) just like many other people; those of you who tried it and got into ketosis know that it works wonders- fat loss, health and power all combined in one approach. Yet, for many of us low-carbers, there's still a lot of confusion about the nature of that one single piece of dieting treasure- the cheat day. Unfortunately, most of my friends who are on low carb diets have been doing the cheat day wrong due to some really bad information they got online, thereby making their weight loss journey longer and more difficult than it ought to be. So, I am taking this opportunity to explain the myth and fact of the low carb diet cheat day, as well as how to do it right so that everyone who reads this may benefit :) I'm nice like that.
The low carb cheat day myths are all over the net. Most of them are spread by gym rats and meatheads who exercise way more than most of us and therefore neutralize most nutrition mistakes they make (and suggest to others as the "right way to go"). They tell you that it's important for your long-term weight loss goals and your sanity to take one day per week to literally gorge on whatever you like to eat, cheat just that one time and then go right back to dieting the next day. Sounds very appealing, doesn't it? You eat whatever you want for one day, then go back to dieting all week long until next time. Best of all, it works! Except, IT DOESN'T.
The reality of following this advice is scary for those who want to lose the extra weight as fast and efficient as possible. Eating anything you want on the cheat day gives most of us a blank cheque to gorge on carbs, because that's what we miss the most on a low carb diet. The problem with this is simple- YOU CAN NEVER GO CARB CRAZY ON A LOW CARB DIET, NOT EVEN ON A CHEAT DAY! Low carb is low carb, always (until you lose the weight and then you can eat more balanced foods since it's just maintenance thereafter). This is the number one rule to follow, otherwise the diet won't work. So, if you follow this wrong advice, your diet is almost totally doomed.
Here is what needs to be done. When you want to have a cheat day on low carb, you go crazy on calories but you keep your carbs low. Many hardcore low carb dieters keep their carbs at 20g or under per day. Most people agree that 50g or under per day is fine for low carb (considering most regular eaters do 150-300 grams per day- sheesh). You keep to those limits, yet you go for as many calories as you can handle. This means if you want your salad extra juicy, add all the dressing and oil you want. If you like marinated chicken, eat three times the marinated roasted chicken drums you normally do. Whatever floats your boat, as long as your carbs are under control :) You want three racks of ribs? Go for it. By now, I'm sure you get what I'm saying. This is the way the low carb diet cheat day is really done.
Now that I shed some light on how to do it, you go right ahead- the weekend is almost here and that's when most of us have our cheat days. I think mine will feature a pile of barbecue chicken drums wrapped in chicken bacon lol. Enjoy :)