Inner Voice Fitness Cheating Isn't a Dirty Word: How Cheat Days Can Be Good for You

Cheating Isn’t a Dirty Word

How “Cheat Days” Can Be Good for You

An abundance of information is available about “good foods” and “bad foods” in discussions about weight loss and nutrition. And people often speak about “cheating” on their diet. Do these stern, emotionally loaded words really have a place in talking about a healthy diet? Cheat days and so-called “bad foods” can actually be very good for your diet and weight loss goals.

Avoid Feeling Guilty or Deprived
How can cheat days or cheat meals fit into a healthy diet? Used properly, they can enhance your quality of life and make it easier for you to achieve your big-picture nutrition or weight loss goals. Cheat days can help you avoid feelings of guilt and deprivation, emotions that can derail your best efforts. Negative feelings about “cheating” or “bad foods” can be extremely counterproductive when you’re attempting to improve your diet or lose weight. Depriving yourself of “bad food” can lead to a swift downward emotional spiral and frustration about what you eat, or what you’re missing out on.

Feeling deprived can also make it difficult to stick to your overall plan. Recent research suggests that personal willpower is a “trainable” resource [1], a muscle that needs to be developed like any other muscle. You might exercise a great deal of willpower to avoid having one cookie, for example. But having one cookie a day might prevent you from melting down and consuming the whole box in one disastrous sitting! Then guilt will follow, you give up completely on your diet and fall off the “nutritional wagon” only to start fresh again a few days later. Too many vicious cycles like this might tempt you to abandon healthy eating and weight loss out of despair.

Planning for Healthy Eating—and “Cheating”
You need a plan to cheat. You also need to remember that cheating is best when done in moderation and with the guidance of an experienced nutrition coach. To start, pick one cheat day per week. Gradually strive to get down to one cheat meal per week as you strengthen your willpower muscles. Healthy eating plans are especially tricky around holidays, special events, or while traveling. Therefore, planning ahead and accommodating for these times and when eating in unfamiliar locations will mean that you, not the food, will be in control.

Many people feel understandably reluctant to entertain the very idea of cheating when it comes to good nutrition. How do you know what’s best for you? Fitness and nutrition experts can help you make a realistic plan for healthy eating, one that gives you the power over cheat days and bad foods. Inner Voice Fitness designs these plans for you and gives you the support to stick with it. We can make a powerful difference in your overall fitness and nutrition goals. Here’s how we do it:

Evaluation and planning: Inner Voice Fitness meets with you to evaluate your fitness level and learn about your schedule and your lifestyle. Then we develop personalized nutrition plans for you based on your goals and constraints.
Technology that works for you: We provide intuitive mobile apps and software that analyze your diet, recommend nutritious foods, and help you make informed decisions—including the smart way to cheat.
Healthy eating no matter where you are: If you eat out frequently because of travel or minimal time to cook, you may have a tough time figuring out where to find healthy menu options. We teach you how to select healthy choices, no matter what your situation. We can even help you find restaurants with great options when you’re on the road.
Help on demand: You have constant access to a dedicated coach who will answer diet questions and give you motivation and support, above and beyond what any other service provides. Inner Voice Fitness provides the accountability you need to build your willpower and reach your goals.

Let Inner Voice Fitness provide you with unparalleled support and nutrition planning, making “cheating” a healthy part of your dietary strategy.

For a free initial consultation and to find out more about our 3-month introductory trial click below.

[1] “The Science Of Willpower,” IDEA Fitness Journal, Source

REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES

EXCLUSIVE TO INNER VOICE FITNESS,

including TRAIN WHILE YOU TRAVEL™

Customized reports detailing exercise venues that match your workout needs such as gyms, running trails, tracks, and swimming pools
Exercise programs designed exclusively for your travel constraints
Healthy eating options and restaurants at your travel destination
Exercise and nutrition best practices during travel specific to your goals and needs

WHY CHOOSE INNER VOICE?

Experience – We hire only experts with advanced degrees in exercise and nutrition, elite personal trainer certifications and knowledge of the corporate world and the demands of that lifestyle.
Services – You will have nearly on-demand contact with your consultant, who knows you intimately and employs the latest technologies (e.g. Smartphone apps, state-of-the-art equipment for health/fitness measurements, GPS tracking for running/biking) to make sure you get the best workout possible to achieve your goals.
Relationships – Although most of our exercise and nutrition advising will be remote, we require at least two in-person visits per year so we can accurately track your progress and provide you with real data to show your health and fitness improvements. Our “concierge” level of service is unique to this industry and our low client to trainer ratio gives you unprecedented access to your exercise/nutrition consultant.

Inner Voice Fitness services are unmatched by any other fitness and nutrition company or service provider.