Many of us nowadays are a lot more health-conscious. We try to eat healthy food, exercise daily, and only allow ourselves to enjoy a cheat day on an occasional basis. But we may feel guilty after an occasional pig-out. The question is: Should you feel regretful after eating high-calorie food?
It is important to note that even the healthiest eaters take a day off to eat for pleasure. Whether your reason for a strict diet is to lose some weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle, know that cheat days are good for you. When you satisfy yourself with occasional cravings, you’re giving yourself a break. This gives you enough fuel to move on and successfully continue your regular clean diet. So if you’re craving for that cheesy pizza or ice cream cake, don’t feel guilty about calling your favourite store that offers ice cream cake delivery. If you’re still feeling a bit remorseful, here are a few things that can help you recover after having a tasty treat on your cheat day.
Drink up lots of water
Most food that we eat on cheat days has lots of sugar, salt, and fat. To flush out these things out of your body, make sure to hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more. Drinking at least two litres of water after an eventful day can help you bounce back to your strict eating regimen.
Hit the snooze button
If, during your cheat day, you end up staying up late, making sure to catch some sleep. Studies show that people who have only a couple of hours of sleep usually eat more calories that next day. If you fail to get a long, good night’s sleep, take an afternoon nap. This will help you reset your mind and body and recover.
Do a 20-minute extra cardio
After a cheat day or even a cheat meal full of sweets, you can get that sugar rush. So why not use that extra energy to do something productive? Go on and exercise a few minutes more than your usual workout, go out for a jog, and feel that fresh air. You can even go on running some errands.
Don’t skip your breakfast
We often hear that the most important meal is breakfast. This is true. But many who go on a cheat day thinks that skipping breakfast is an excellent way to compensate for their binge-eating the other day. But eating a healthy breakfast is good for you as it allows you to start on a healthy eating routine by making the right food choices early and throughout the day.
Load up on your greens
Some of the best food includes dark and leafy green veggies. Go on and indulge in your favourite leafy vegetables. Piling up your plate with at least half of vegetables can make you feel fuller for an extended period, thus helping you eat less for the rest of the day.
It is essential to understand that you need and deserve a break every once in a while. When you finally learn how to eat in moderation, you’ll feel less guilty about having a cheat meal or even a cheat day. One pro tip to consider is making Sundays your cheat days. This way, you’ll feel more obliged to start anew and eat healthy again on Mondays.
