Cheating…
In: Blog
29 Oct 2009So i feel like alot of people are up in arms after hearing my comment about cheat meals. I will come back to this point in just a second but i want to lay some ground work so you know what i am thinking.
First of all lets talk about why I do the things i do.
I drink Coffee black for the caffeine.
I drink Tequila on the rocks for the alcohol.
I eat beef, barely cooked and with little seasoning for the nourishment.
I lift heavy weights so i can be strong.
To me this all seems pretty simple. I think it is important for people to shift their perspective to why they do something. Bottom line, we eat for nourishment so why muddy the waters with food that won’t nourish you? I don’t want you to think that i am perfect with regards to nutrition so here is my reasoning for not allowing/ liking cheating.
Would you cheat on your taxes? (those that would probably aren’t checking my blog so i’ll assume everyone tries to be legit)
The word cheat, to me, is a big negative and makes people feel guilty. Have you ever been accused of cheating in a sport or even a family game of monopoly? It doesn’t feel good. I hate the word, especially when it is used in regards to diet. It gives what you did a negative feel and only sets you up to feel like a failure. I would never encourage someone to cheat on their taxes, so why would i tell them its ok to be unhealthy. If you can’t stick to a healthy diet (when i say diet i mean what you eat on a daily basis over a long period of time, not what you find in “diet” books) you need to shift your perspective and quite using food as a crutch.
I don’t want anyone to feel like i never have a vanilla shake, or go party my ass off occasionally, because i do. I just don’t set out to cheat, nor do i see this as cheating. I have curbed the craving for these things by being disciplined. I no longer crave that sort of stuff. I now dream about steak and bacon…
Shift your perspective, don’t cheat, its never ok.
If you do something, do it for a reason. If you enjoy training and don’t care about seeing results then do the same with your eating. If you train for a reason, and you should have a defined goal, grab a little focus and get down to business.
Drink your coffee for a reason, train for a reason and if you are gonna eat something, eat it for a reason.
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20 Responses to Cheating…
Louise Smith
October 29th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Thank you for this!! I needed this reminder today!
dave
October 29th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Well said. I have always been a bit skeptical of “diets” that are extreme enough that you need to cheat in order to stay on them. Also, black coffee is best in life.
Jacob "BullFrog" Tsypkin
October 29th, 2009 at 7:48 am
I like this perspective Dutch. For me, it’s easier to plan my non Zone Paleo meals in advance, because it allows me to optimize my training (I always have them on the 3rd day of a cycle, post WOD, so that I don’t have to train the day after eating poorly.) I think I’ll refer to them as free meals from now on.
Good post.
Dan
October 29th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Solid post Dutch. I agree, the word “cheat” meals is a bad connotation and can lead to bad habits. That is why I have been telling you “TREAT” meals is much more user friendly and does not make you feel like you slept with your best friend’s girl or something like that.
Lastly, if you are drinking Tequila on the rocks for alcohol, that is just wrong. There is no way any good or enjoyment can come from that nasty ass drink.
Bring on the Coffee Cake
Bri
Marshall
October 29th, 2009 at 7:55 am
I drink beer because it gets me going in the morning.
Ben
October 29th, 2009 at 8:38 am
I agree with Dutch. After six months of eating mostly (80%) Paleo, I no longer have cravings for junk food. In fact, I know how bad I feel after eating junk food that it doesn’t even become an option for me. If I stick to meat and vegetables, my workouts are great, my energy is high, and my body composition is lean. Cheating is no longer desirable. If I want to eat something outside of my daily diet, I’ll look to real foods like almond butter, heavy whipping cream, coconut milk, berries, avocado. When I think I’m craving sugar, I’m really craving fat. And I drink my coffee black.
Richard
October 29th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I follow your blog because I get inspired.
Thank you Dutch.
dutch
October 29th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Marshall,
You are 25. This is now considered a problem…
Friday, Oct. 30th: “Cheating” on a Diet « SouthBaltimore CrossFit
October 29th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
[...] Oct. 30th: “Cheating” on a Diet To use the word cheating to describe dietary deviations gives a negative connotation to an action that is a decision. You [...]
Aaron Arehart
October 29th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I don’t know about tequila… how about Maker’s Mark? Seriously though… great post Dutch. Thanks.
Miguel Garza
October 29th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Weird, I was just saying this today at the gym. I feel that people schedule these “cheat” days or “cheat” meals and now have it apart of their schedule. Someone asked me how strict I am with my diet, and I told them I try to eat right/well at every meal. I’m not a fan of scheduling “cheat” days or meals. I think deviations from diet just happen.
Anu
October 30th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Is it really scheduling a “cheat” meal if you know that you’re going to a social event on Friday where you’ll have suboptimal food choices and so you’ll be extra careful with your meals the rest of the week?
I am guilty of calling my deviations “cheat” meals..so I’ll refer to them as”deviations” from clean eating instead.
A thought provoking post.
Edward Stedman
October 30th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I think the bottom line here is that it is most important to have a mind-set and attitude that each and every day you are going eat the most optimal food that you possibly can.
However, we are all going to find ourselves in situations where we have to make due with what is before us. Most of my friends and family do not eat like I do (Paleo). However, I’m not going to be rude, or so annal about my diet that I don’t eat what they serve when I am a guest in their homes.
Do the best you can, don’t plan on “cheating”, and be prepared for the times that come along when your choices may not be “optimal.”
Ted
October 30th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Word!
John
October 31st, 2009 at 11:45 am
Dutch, could you cover the topic of nutrition some more in your blog. I think we all agree that it is the most important thing you can do interms of setting yourself up for success. Maybe you could talk about Paleo, zone, or just eating quality whole foods no matter what “diet” you subscribe to.
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Nick B., CrossFit Affliction
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I gotta say after being strictly Paleo for over 9 months now the cravings I had for all things Italian and filled with Pasta and Pizza are now completely gone. I will say this, my new cravings are for seriously large quantities of meat and it only gets even worse when these pieces of meat have large portions of crispy fat on them. My only downfall on a “cheat” situation would be that my wife loves to eat ice cream, more often something from Ben & Jerry’s and it does, every now and then, get hard to say No to that.
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