Trainers use the term "cheat day" all the time. It's our way of making our clients feel better about sticking to their diet 6 days a week. Everything is easier in moderation. There are however, still rules that govern cheat days:

1. Plan it. Keep your cheat day the same every week. That way you won't be tempted to turn every attractive plate of food into a cheat. Keep yourself on track by making yourself wait -- it will also make you appreciate it all the more!

2. Don't go overboard. Cheat day is not your chance to eat an entire cheesecake, or hit the all you can eat buffet for dinner! Think before you eat and make smart cheat-choices. This is the day to allow yourself to indulge in the things you have been cutting out of your diet and miss. For me that means things like cream in my coffee or potatoes at dinner. Cheat, but cheat inteligently.

3. Drink your water. Keeping up your water intake will help curb your appetite as usual (making rule #2 easier) as well as help to maintain some healthy homeostasis in the body. For me at least, there is no doubt that I will consume more sodium and fat on cheat day. Water helps flush all that out so that I can more easily get back on track tomorrow.

My cheat day this week looks like this:

Activity: taught Belly Bootcamp class in High Park

Breakfast:
1 cup water

2 cups water
1 coffee with cream and sugar
1 BLT on a bagel

1 cup water

Snack (I was at Costco and those sample ladies MADE me eat their treats!):
1 crispy pita "chip" with salsa
1/2 piece bread with Nutella

Lunch (in the car):
1 cup water
1 Kashi raspberry bar
3 banana chocolate walnut biscotti "crisps" (literally the smallest, thinnest, healthiest "cookies" I found at Costco)

Snack (in the car):
2 cups water
1 cup baby carrots

Unwinder:
Rum and Coke Zero

Dinner:
All beef hot dogs and warm potato salad. YUM.
4 cups water