I absolutely hate to use the word “Dieting”. It has such bad feelings attached to it and if you looked it up in the dictionary it might as well have “torture” alongside it.

I also hate it when people ask me “How can you be on a diet all the time?” Whatever gave them that idea? I’m never on a diet, EVER! Does bacon and eggs for breakfast sound like dieting to you? How about Steak on the grill? Chocolate Cake?

If you remember last week I talked a little bit about how I never deprive myself of anything I want and if Chocolate Cake is on tap, well, by golly, bring it on. This goes along with my theory that a treat, favorite food or “not so healthy” food really can be an integral part of any healthy weight loss plan. Actually, it can help you accelerate your results.

Now, let’s make sure not to misinterpret the data I’m about to share with you and take it too far. “Well, Isabel said Chocolate Cake was good for me and that’s why I’m eating it for breakfast.” No, sorry. It doesn’t work that way. Some people, unfortunately, have used the concept of “planned cheat day” incorrectly and have ended up stopping their fat loss process, just because they did not apply this theory the right way.

The most important question here is:

“How can we appropriately plan and use a cheat day or cheat meal without sabotaging our weight loss results?”

First and foremost we all have to remember that it is not an “eating free for all”. Just because you had something a bit “off the charts” on Saturday doesn’t mean you should turn it into a 3 day binge. That’s where many people go wrong. They forget that this method is a way to help their metabolism, not a total mess up or even a reason to give up on your healthy eating plan.

Second, I think this is a great tactic and method to use to combat all of those social situations we all encounter on a weekly basis. Do you really have to go and seek out cakes, cookies, and pizza? Of course not, they’re everywhere whether you are looking for them or not. However, one of the hardest things about following a healthy way of life is dealing with social situations where everyone else is eating the party food and you’re not.

This is why I almost always use my cheat meal for my weekend social events. For example, this weekend I have my nephew’s Baptism on Sunday which will be followed by a huge reception at a Spanish restaurant (need I say more?). Should I carry lettuce and chicken in my pocket? No. Sunday will be my planned cheat meal and I will be able to participate in the party along with everyone else. I could go on and on about all the social gatherings I’ve had in just the past few months where there was food all over the place: my brother in law’s wedding, the last business seminar and dinner I attended, Easter Sunday at my family’s house. I ate whatever was there without any stress. No, I didn’t hide in the corner stuffing cookies down my throat. I simply enjoyed the meal that was served, followed by dessert and then was back on my usual plan the next day.

I really do think this little tactic has helped me stay on track consistently with healthy eating and enjoy life all at the same time. Not to mention, the fat loss results are there. Is it the metabolic response? Maybe. Is it the mental component that tells me I am not deprived? Maybe. Whatever it is, it works and I am still super healthy and lean and that’s all that really matters to me.

Hopefully you were able to watch the great videos I shared with you from fellow fitness author Joel Marion. He has got this theory down to a science (literally!) He has spent 6 years and read 308 research papers on the regulation of human body weight and metabolism (wow, talk about doing your homework). Science is really nothing without tangible results and it’s the incredible fat loss results of his clients that speak for themselves. He teaches them (and now you) exactly how to take the theory of a planned cheat meal and use it to your advantage. Yup. No feeling guilty and no deprivation. It is actually an important part of your fat loss plan.

I’m a true believer in collecting the best nutrition and exercise information and learning from many credible sources and I highly recommend you do the same. The information Joel shares in his program (especially Chapter 2) is a perfect addition to your health, fat loss and nutrition library.

You can read it here:
http://cheatyourwaythin.thedsp.info

In health and happiness,

Isabel De Los Rios
www.TheDietSolutionProgram.com