Cheat Meals

Q. My brother took me out to lunch and I had a chicken salad (which was good) and no dressing. However, I had about 4 oz. (1/2 cup) of clam chowder. Is that a cheat meal, how many do I have in a week?

A. I personally don't believe in cheat meals. You usually can't workout hard enough to make up for them. One cheat meal can be enough to wreck 2-3 days of progress if you are not careful. This time it looks like you did not go overboard.

Clam Chowder tastes so good because it's full of fat. As you progress, you will lose the taste for fat. In fact, the next time you eat fat, take notice of the soapy feeling in the roof of your mouth. Next time, simply make a better choice for yourself. In the meantime, forgive yourself and move on.

Other people will tell you that you can't deprive yourself constantly and you should allow a cheat meal once a week. This to me is like giving alcohol to an alcoholic only on Saturdays. Before you know it, Saturday becomes a big party day.

The point is if you do subscribe to cheat days, make it one meal and only once a week. And then, use it for foods that you have been craving and not a large portion either. In moderation, like a 4 oz bowl of clam chowder, it's really OK. But don't use the cheat meal to stuff yourself.

Konrad Roeder