Comments on: Why I Don’t Agree With “Cheat Meals”

By: Jordan Younger

Jordan Younger — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 20:41:53 +0000

In reply to Cayla V. Cayla, what an incredible comment to receive. Thank you so much for reaching out and for sharing a slice of your story with me... It means a LOT, and it's so true that we are not alone in this process. There are so many people struggling with similar rigidity and perfectionism that manifests itself in all sorts of nasty ways. It sounds like you are very self aware and beautiful inside and out, and you've GOT this. <3 <3 Sending you so much love!!! So lucky to have you reading. Xox

By: Cayla V

Cayla V — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 12:39:52 +0000

This article really resonates with me. I struggle every day with the mentality of keeping my life in very black & white terms. Meaning I’m 100% into eating clean & healthy, and exercising hard every day, then one thing will slip me up (aka, LIFE) and I go tumbling down into the rabbit hole of binge eating, shame and guilt. I’ve been trying to achieve comfort in the “gray” area, where I am balanced in my eating & exercising–but goodness is this a hard thing to achieve after years of regimented routines. Especially now that I have a live-in boyfriend who can eat giant hershey’s bars like there’s no tomorrow. . .its wonderfully refreshing to see so many people who struggle with the same issues. Its even more refreshing to see strong, beautiful women renouncing highly regimented “healthy” lifestyles because they’re not sustainable. And here I thought I was just a huge failure because I can’t seem to achieve absolute perfection in my diet every day. What a relief!

By: Jordan Younger

Jordan Younger — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 21:52:19 +0000

In reply to Sophie.

Exactly, Sophie!!! So glad that you agree, and I agree it is such a sensitive topic… brings tears to my eyes, too — we should never view the food we nourish ourselves with (or indulge in) as “cheats.” It’s al FOOD, fuel, for the soul and for the body. Yes, I would love for you to include the post in your next link love! What an honor! Xoxox

By: Sophie

Sophie — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 00:15:33 +0000

THANK GOODNESS someone has said this! As someone currently in recovery from anorexia and orthorexia, seeing terms such as “cheat day” literally brings tears to my eyes. I do not have anything against people wanting to “clean eat”, but I resent the terminology used and the connotations they bring. For example, that any food that isn’t raw is somehow “dirty”, or that like you said eating what you want is a “cheat” – suggesting it’s wrong.

I hope you don’t mind me including this in my next “link love” on my blog? So glad i read!

By: caththehealthygirlguide

caththehealthygirlguide — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 05:17:56 +0000

I have been trying to find the words to write about “cheat” foods , so often interlinked with the words “good foods” and “bad foods”, and how our perceptions of everything, including the foods we use, change when some aspect of life is out of balance…. Thank you!

By: Adam Trainor

Adam Trainor — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 10:07:01 +0000

I do prefer the term treat day rather than cheat day. I think people feel that because on Friday/Saturday night because they want to steer away from their regular diet and indulge on the bad stuff that tastes so good they feel like they are cheating themselves. So your telling me that out there, there is a fitness and nutrition plan encouring people to indulge in treats for 45 minutes of their “cheat day” rather than throughout the day? To me I would feel much worse trying to cram all the bad treats in a 45 minute timescale. You can still treat yourself to something that is not in your daily diet and still reach your fitness goals by having treats in moderation. Like you said we can’t cut treats out all together. There is recipes all over the internet and blogs were people have shared treats that are still good for you.

By: Lane | Modern Granola

Lane | Modern Granola — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:42:22 +0000

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!! This is perfection in every way! Thank you for being such a great example of how to treat our bodies with love and celebration. It took me a while to learn to really live this, but once I did, I never looked back. What freedom!
xx Lane

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 21:33:49 +0000

I love this Jordan! Printing it off and sending it to friends.

By: B. Jordan

B. Jordan — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 03:51:24 +0000

In reply to Mi Li & Aishavari. Glad you can relate. It's a pleasure to learn about ourselves together.

By: Mi Li & Aishavari

Mi Li & Aishavari — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 03:01:08 +0000

In reply to Mi Li & Aishavari. It helps a lot to think about it that way, because we personally tend to get fixated on a particular part and forget to incorporate the other parts of us when making decisions (( including what to eat )) Thank you for your patience, by the way, in explaining. (:

By: B. Jordan

B. Jordan — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 02:13:52 +0000

In reply to Mi Li & Aishavari. Yet another excellent question, Mi Li & Aishavari! In my experience, it becomes overly dissecting when we place more focus on the layers, or a particular layer, than we give attention to the relationships between each aspect of ourselves. The relationship between the imagination and the intelligence for example, is the most important thing to know about either of them. Same goes for the relationship between our hearts (ethical concerns), and our bodies (nutrition concerns), and our minds ('treating' ourselves).