Cheat Meals and Cheat Days

Easiest way to explain this is that you're eating the complete opposite of your normal regiment. This doesn't mean to eat in the most unhealthy way possible but it's to the point where you're eating as if you have never worked out in your life.

There are cheats out there for vegetarians, vegans and those who are gluten-free. It can be done.

Cheat Meal:

• If you are eating pretty well, you can replace a meal or two with something you wouldn't eat on a "diet." Let's say your 2pm meal is chicken, fish, rice, and some sort of green vegetables. Well, take all of that out and hit up your local McDonalds or Burger King and get a few burgers and fries with pop. To me this is just a huge no since I don't care for much fast food anymore, but this would be one way of going about a cheat meal. Other way is to get an extra large pizza and with ice cream. Is this pretty unhealthy? Sure, but one time isn't going to kill you so relax.

Cheat Day:

• Alright, Cheat Day is "go big or go home." In the video above featuring Rich Piana (known for the biggest arms in body building) goes out and eats/attempts the 30" Pizza Challenge. This wasn't the only thing he ate that day. His normal cheat days consist of 1-2 quarts or ice cream either right in the morning or at night. Sometimes he does this as pre-workout or post-work out. Anyway, the pizza is a good few thousand calories regardless and he and his friend almost finish it.
• The next two videos might disgust you or make you extremely hungry, but in any case these are true cheat days. You have your 10k, 15k, 20k, and 30k calories challenge/cheat day. This is where you just consume as many carbs and fats as possible WHILE going to the gym twice in that one day where morning is legs and then towards the evening/night it's upper body. Keep in mind that some body builders get to the point where they are on a strict regiment and have to eat every 2-3 hours of full meals. Again, they're also doing twice a day work outs of at least 1.5hrs each. So if that's what you're wanting to go for, then have at it. Not my thing. I like eating 4-6 meals a days (some times if not on a cut) and going to the gym once a day.

"Bro, you're going to eat all that pizza and ice cream? You're on a cut though and a body builder!"

I love pizza, doughnuts, and ice cream just as much as anyone else. When it comes to eating such delectables, cheat meals and cheat days shouldn't be taken lightly. If you've been eating clean for a good while, like 2+ months with intense training, you can treat yourself to one of these. However, don't think just because you worked out pretty hard today you can just down a tub of ice cream. You wouldn't be doing anything to benefit your body since you worked out... to get rid of fat and/or build muscle. So why put all that sugar and carbs back in? To make this work, like I said, you have to have been working out/lifting for a good while with proper eating. With that said though, if your goal is to lose a lot of weight then these cheats won't and shouldn't apply to you... because you simply shouldn't do these.

To sum this all up, cheat meals and cheat days aren't bad to have on occasion. You should really only do a cheat meal once every few weeks or so. Cheat days are like once every month or few months. Just remember though, not everyone can do these. Restrictions could be allergic to something or your body will just not want to work after. Again, don't go overboard! Be smart when doing these. Plan them out. Find someone to do these with.