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Will one cheat day on keto make me gain weight?

Some departures from the Keto diet have worse consequences than others. Let's look at the worst possible scenario. One feature of this scenario would be binging (or overeating) on a cheat day. Even if you pick healthy cheat foods, overeating can lead to weight gain and digestive issues.

carbmanager.com - The Right and Wrong Way To Take Cheat Days on Keto | Carb Manager

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Can you have a cheat day on Keto? Is it a good idea?

If you’re like most people eating a low-carb diet, these questions have probably crossed your mind. The Keto diet can be fairly restrictive, and it’s natural to crave forbidden, carby foods—especially if these foods are your favorite foods. A cheat meal on Keto can be something to look forward to. A tasty reward for all your hard work.

Cheating On Your Diet

There’s something strange about the concept of “cheating” on your diet.

To cheat, according to the dictionary, means to deprive or influence someone through deceit or fraud.[*] But diets aren’t people. They don’t have feelings, and they can’t be deceived. When you eat a bowl of pasta on Keto, you aren’t fooling anybody. (Except yourself, perhaps). You’re making a conscious decision about what to eat. It’s you, not the Keto diet, that lives with the consequences of your food choices. If you’re honest about that, you can make better decisions about food.

Why Do People Take Cheat Days?

No matter how you slice it, everyone is searching for a path to greater happiness. This basic principle explains why people take cheat days. If you take a cheat day on Keto, you believe it will bring you more satisfaction than adhering to your normal regimen. It’s that simple. This logic applies to most any Keto cheating scenario. Here are four examples: Eating a piece of cake at a family gathering to be polite. (Underlying reason: Not wanting to feel the discomfort of saying no to relatives). Impulsively snacking on chocolate covered almonds. (Underlying reason: To relieve stress). Stopping at a fast-food joint because you didn’t pack anything Keto-friendly. (Underlying reason: To alleviate hunger). Planning out a full-day of pizza, pasta, and bread indulgence. (Underlying reason: You believe eating those foods will bring you happiness). But just because you intend to increase your happiness (or decrease your discomfort), it doesn’t mean the net result of cheating will be positive. The net result on your health, happiness, and overall well being depends on the actual consequences of the cheat meal or cheat day. So let’s examine the consequences—both good and bad—of taking cheat days on Keto.

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