99% of people who follow a restrictive diet regain all the weight they lost within one year, according to research analyst Datamonitor
Indulging your sweet tooth when on a diet might not spell disaster for your fat-loss plan. Indeed, it might be the key to getting into better shape. People who eat chocolate several times a week are slimmer than those who only eat it very occasionally, even though it’s high in calories from sugar and fat. Other factors, such as daily activity levels, were also included in the research, published in the Archives Of Internal Medicine journal. It’s thought that having a little bit of what you fancy isn’t just good for you mentally because it gives you a brief time-out from your diet, but it might also help you to continue to burn fat by spiking levels of the hormone leptin, which tells your brain you are getting enough energy so it continues to release fat from cells to burn as fuel. Just don’t make every day cheat meal day.
ASK THE EXPERTS
Can diet cheaters sometimes prosper?
We asked three top fitness experts for their take on a break from the meal plan
Photography Getty
A tactical cheat meal stokes your metabolism and eases diet boredom, says outdoor training expert Andrew Tracey (wayofthenomad.co.uk)
“Prolonged periods of calorie restriction trigger hormonal changes that eventually slow down fat loss. A tactical inclusion of your favourite high-calorie ‘cheat foods’ on a regular basis tells your body that it’s no longer in a restrictive mode and keeps your metabolism healthy, creating a more sustainable diet plan. That’s the key to continued success.”
Finding a sustainable and healthy way of eating is the secret to success, says Matt Warner, head of personal training at Ultimate Performance Manchester
“A cheat meal will not derail body composition improvements for most – although cheat days or cheat weekends are a different story! If you plan and prepare meals to hit your health and fitness goal – and stick to your plan – you will make great progress, but remember that ultimately the best plan is one you can adhere to for life.”
A cheat meal gives you a mental and physical boost but you need portion control, says Shaun Stafford, performance director at City Athletic gym in London (cityathletic.co.uk)
“When planning a cheat meal you should try to be sensible with portion size. Instead of having a whole takeaway to yourself, share it with someone – and you don’t have to eat a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s just because you’ve opened it! This approach will prevent you going overboard, while providing a psychological boost that’ll keep you on track.”