I am always conscious about what I eat and how much I eat, because I do not want to revert back to my unhealthy eating patterns. I am too hard on myself, and I would never want you to do that. If you are craving some snacks, snack a little bit. That’s not cheating. That is called being human. Just remember, portions are very important. But if others are making smores one night, don’t sit there and not make smores! Have one! But don’t resort to the mindset of, “well, I already messed up my diet so who cares now,” and have five! That is what hurts you. Live your life. If you are craving something, have it. Maybe even try a healthy alternative for a dessert.

There is a huge difference between “cheat days,” and “cheat meals.” On a cheat day, you eat anything and everything you want. A lot of times, food is our best friend. But it can also be our enemy. Here, that is the case. If you eat healthy the whole week, and then unhealthy for one day, you may end up consuming more calories in that one day than you ate that whole week. For cheat meals, you may swap out one meal with a less-healthy, more caloric meal.

But is a cheat day, or cheat meal doing anything for your health? Having the mindset of “cheating” does more harm than good for your mental and physical health. Guilt is something that bombards our minds when we are done eating two times our daily intake for one day. Or, the only thing you can think about is when that next cheat day or what your cheat meal is. Your goal may shift and instead of looking for the outcome, you are looking for that pocket, to go back to your old ways. I speak about this with experience. I am not a big fan of “cheating.” This is because, in the end, you will have eaten thousands of calories, be bloated, and filled with guilt.

Do whatever makes YOU feel good, before and AFTER.

So, should you“cheat” every once and a while? Yes. You should enjoy your life. There is always room in your diet for a soda here and there or an ice cream run. But remember, you can substitute that to guilt-free seltzer and frozen yogurt. You are human, you are allowed to enjoy your life.

My advice?

Keep a food diary. Write down what you have had each day. You are the one that can tell if it is too much, too little, or just right. Just remember, its all about moderation, balance, and portions.