The "Cheat Meal"

Today was very strange.  I eat small meals, usually some kind of lean protein and veggies, every 2-3 hours and have so much lasting energy throughout the day.  But today something felt off.  I went to the gym and pushed through a workout which was:

- 10 minutes on the stair climber, 1 minute intervals speed 4 and 8 

- 6 x 10 walking dumbbell lunges

- 3 x 10 leg extensions

- 5 x 12 calf raises

- 30 minute run, incline 5 speed 4.3-6.3

I worked up a great sweat but afterward I literally just felt tired.  Not like the sleepy kind of tired, physically exhausted tired.  I was kind of freaked out at first, because usually once I get warmed up I have tons of energy and truly enjoy my workouts.  Today I just felt like I could make myself move.    Sometimes, after eating so clean and healthy for an extended period of time, your body hits what is referred to as a "plateau".  All your progress you have been seen for a while just kind of stalls.  Today, I believe I had hit a brick wall.  The problem: I had worked out hard for the past two days and my body needed a stronger fuel source then just chicken and veggies to rebuild and repair.  The solution:  The beautiful, glorious cheat meal. 

 

Let me explain how/why cheat meals are so beneficial being as brief as possible..

1)  90-10 Rule - basically you eat "clean" (nothing processed, greasy, fried, sugar coated, "unnatural", chemicals added..you get the idea) 90% of the time, and the other 10% you get to indulge in the foods you love the most, because hey, your human.  You would loose your sanity if you never got to touch a cheeseburger or pizza everr again.

2)  Your metabolism - Eating a cheat meal after eating clean for a extended period of time will literally kickstart your metabolism to a whole new level, allowing your to bust through any plateau and start burning fat and building muscle quicker then before.

This is a great page to learn more about all the science behind why cheat meals can prove as helpful for your training and how your body utilizes the calories you ingest during a cheat --- http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/sclark60.htm

I have a cheat meal usually once every week and it is usually frozen yogurt.  I load up the toppings and Im set.  Today's cheat though, was epic.  I had gone 3 weeks without a scrap of bad food and my metabolism was showing it.   Slow and exhausted.  Perfect time for a fix.  My friends and I went to a local wing joint.  I had a chicken and cheese quesadilla, two pieces of buffalo chicken pizza (with ranch!), and a couple of fries.  Ohhhhh yes it was DELICIOUS.  But heck no I didn't stop there.  Afterward, we went to an amazing ice cream place called Cold Stone Creamery where I had oatmeal cookie ice cream mixed with cookie dough and cake.  Yes, pieces of actual birthday cake.  It was my best cheat yet.  I ate everything too fast to take a picture for you all.  Do I feel guilty? Nope.  Do I feel full? Yes, but it was worth every bit.  A cheat meal is perfectly okay once in a while.  Just make sure the size/frequency of your cheat meals are tailored to fit YOUR GOALS.  I work out 5-6 days a week, weight training and cardio, and I find that one cheat meal a week works best for me.  However, everyone is different.  Like I always say, please make sure you do your research there's plenty of helpful information out there.

Anyways, thats my rant about my amazing cheat meal tonight.  Im about finished sipping on my green tea, almost ready for bed, and 110% satisfied.  I cannot express how much better I feel.  Listen to your body everyone, its so important.  And no guilt!!  Tomorrow is a new day and with all those junk food cravings out of the way, you will feel more then ready to continue on your way to fit! :) 

Goodnight!