Planning to cheat is something that everyone should do. I have been working very hard on maintaining strict nutrition so that I can burn off maximum fat. However, my adviser tells me that I need to have one planned reward meal every week. He has explained the numerous benefits that occur as a result.
The fact is that reward meals tend to make me feel guilty. It is a mental thing that I need to get past because the science behind the reward meal is definitely strong. The periodic increase in calories increases your leptin levels, which enables you to be more efficient with burning fat. The concept is sound, but it is hard on me mentally.
I need to get past the mental hurdle because I know I need the reward meals in alot of ways. When you spend weeks at a time eating the same thing, the reward meal enables a small amount of variety to creep into your diet. The reward meal also allows you to eat a meal with your family that matches what they are eating. Additionally, having the planned reward meal on the horizon makes it easier to stick to the healthier meal plan all week long. Thus, the benefits clearly outweigh anything else. Time for me to just get over it!
This week was my first planned reward meal. I prefer to call it a reward meal while others call it a cheat meal. To me, the more positive approach is better mentally. I wondered if I would wind up craving all sorts of bad things, but honestly I just ate my meal and felt satisfied afterwards.
If you are not currently including regularly scheduled reward meals in your plan you should definitely think it over. There are scientific benefits as well as mental benefits to the planned reward meal. You won't be sorry that you've included one on a weekly basis and will likely see your results skyrocket.
