We’ve always avidly believed in cheat days.
But we weren’t QUITE sure if this was because we had done extensive research into nutrition and weight loss, or we just wanted pizza really badly.
Well, now obesity expert Nick Fuller, a research fellow at Sydney University, has finally answered the age old question.
Yes, cheat days are effective.
Hallelujah.
In fact, studies show that “gradual dieting” or losing weight slowly has a far greater success rate overall, meaning that balancing out your weight loss plan with some treat days could contribute to a greater long term loss.
Writing for The Conversation, Nick explains that cheat days help keep motivation levels high and ultimately help people reach their targets.
He describes a programme called the ‘Caloric Titration Method’ whereby the participant is encouraged to lose 1% of their body fat, before going into a period of weight maintenance.
He writes:
“First the individual loses 1 per cent of their body weight, and is then encouraged to maintain their new weight for about a week.
“This period of weight maintenance allows the individual to eat more or perhaps exercise less than they would while trying to lose weight.
“The goal is then to achieve another decrease of 1 per cent in body weight, followed by another ‘break’.
“This approach is challenging the body to redefine its baseline body weight by having frequent breaks along the way”.
Now THAT sounds like something we can do.
