Myth #3 that is keeping people from losing weight is one that I have a hard time wrapping my brain around, but I will share it. This myth is that we should have a cheat day. Dr. Furhman thinks cheat days are aiding in sabotaging our weight loss efforts. Personally, Saturday is my day to eat (and drink) whatever I want. What Dr. Furhman suggests is that because most overweight people are actually food addicts, having a cheat day, loaded with sweet and fatty foods, creates a situation in the brain that causes people to binge. He claims that most people can’t just have one day, any more than they can have just one chip! He believes that by eating the right sweets and treats (like his black bean brownies which I have never tried making, but just might…) we can satisfy our cravings without taking 2 steps back, each week. I do know, for me, after a Saturday of indulging it takes till about Tuesday for the scale to return to where it was on Saturday morning. That alone is frustrating, I admit.
So while Furhman’s philosophy makes perfect sense to me scientifically, emotionally as well as realistically, I think everyone needs to splurge a little in order to stay committed to the long term goal. One of the ideas I really like is to have a cheat meal, instead of a cheat day. Eat and drink whatever you want on your Saturday night dinner out, but don’t bring any treats into your home. So, if it’s ice cream you have to have for dessert, do it on the outside and savor each bite. Then, Sunday morning, start drinking a lot of water and fill up on fruits and veggies to help detox from the night before.
Tomorrow I will share the 4th (and hardest for me to share) myth. Not hard because I don’t believe it….just hard coming from me.
To my SilverSneakers people…Ellen hopes to be back tomorrow for class. She sees the doctor today and I will let you know in the morning if it will be her or me, but it will be one of us! There will be NO 8:30 low impact on Friday morning, but Ellen should be there Friday for her 10, and I will be there for my 11:30. I will keep you updated each morning.
