When It’s OK To Cheat: The Importance of Cheat Days and Days Off from Exercise
I love Sundays. I love them because they are (typically) my day of rest…and my day to cheat on my diet.
We all need a day or two a week to rest our muscles and let them heal. And even the strictest amongst us could use a cheat day now and again. What’s the case for each you ask? Well…
The case for: Cheat Days
We all have our vices. Mine is ice cream; I could eat it all day every day. But because of that, I don’t keep it around. I don’t keep it in the house and I will rarely go to the amazing Frozen Yogurt stand down the street.
However, once in a blue moon, I will treat myself. This past Sunday, I indulged in some delicious Edy’s Double Churned (Hey! Why not save on the fat and calories if you’re going to indulge?!) and it was blissful. So what did it teach me about cheat days?
Cheat days give you something to look forward to
I was craving ice cream all week, so being able to pick up a tub was very fulfilling. It makes all of your healthy eating worth it knowing that you’ll get to indulge on your favorite sweet or salty snack.
Cheating doesn’t mean over indulging
Binging on your cheat day could put a damper on your diet, so be careful. You need to continue to watch your portions, even when you cheat.
Cheat in a healthy way
I have a sweet tooth, so sometimes having just a spoonful of peanut butter sprinkled with a few chocolate chips (what my roommate affectionately refers to as “spoony pops”) does the trick.
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The case for: Days off
A day off from the gym won’t kill you; actually it will help you. And here’s why.
Your body needs rest
You’ve probably heard that your muscles need the time to recover after a workout; hence the reason why you shouldn’t exercise the same muscle groups 2 days in a row. Your abs are actually the only muscle in the body that you’re able to work out multiple days in a row because they able to recover that quickly.
Your mind needs rest
I don’t know about you, but after a day off from the gym, I’m ready – mentally – to get back out there the following day. While I may not be physically exhausted from exercise, sometimes you need a mental break to truly appreciate what you’re doing.
What are your favorite ways to spend your cheat days or days off?