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To some, “<a href=/articles/2017/11/snack>cheat day</a>” is a glass of wine with dinner once a week, but to others it’s <a href=/articles/2017/12/alcohol-wellness>mimosas</a> and <a href=/articles/2016/04/vegetable-brunch-recipes>brioche stuffed French toast</a> on Sundays.Although Olympians and professional athletes often describe bacchanal cheat days in interviews, non-pros might do themselves a disservice by consistently going with the latter <a href=/articles/2014/01/cheat-day>interpretation</a>. That’s because the body will compensate and keeps things stable to prevent weight gain or loss when you eat a bit below your caloric needs or a bit above, says Ryan Andrews, RD, a coach with Precision Nutrition. “The concept of a <a href=/articles/2015/09/what-a-healthy-diet-isnt>balanced diet</a> has become distorted, and the cheat day is a good example,” adds Nicole Groman, RD.An easy way to shift your thinking: While eating healthfully all week long, have a regularly scheduled cheat meal instead of a full-fledged cheat day, Andrews suggests. “I would challenge people to think about the difference between eating a bit more than usual on Saturday night versus an <a href=/articles/2014/01/cheat-day>all-out cheat day</a> with forced overeating," he says. "It's when one meal becomes a day that things often spiral out of control.”

(Re-)introducing: the cheat meal

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