Let’s face it, nobody likes counting calories. Nobody likes eating the same meals day in and day out. Which is why one of the most difficult parts of losing weight with nutrition is motivation. 

Everyone struggles with motivation, especially over a long period of time.  Oh, and what about cravings? How do you manage those over a long period of time? 

The struggle is real!

That’s why God invented cheat meals. Cheat meals gives us the motivation to get through those X28 Challenges and meal plans. It gives us something to look forward to. 

Better yet. What if we told you that you could cheat, guilt-free, and it's ACTUALLY good for you?

You read that right. GOOD FOR YOU!

After a cheat meal, the body increases its metabolism, causing you to burn calories faster. This is caused by increased levels of leptin, a fat cell hormone responsible for maintaining energy balance in the body.

By throwing  a cheat meal into your clean eating regimen, you trick your system into thinking food is plentiful and that it’s ok to burn through fat.

YASSSSS!

 Now, we aren’t saying go all out. Cheat meals, like most things in life, need a plan. 

Plan for a time when you’re most likely to be craving fatty foods, such as a weekend dinner. 

This way you can fit it around your calorie intake that day. Using the X28 Fitness calorie calculator is great for this. Plus it’s great to have something to look forward to, giving you that extra motivation to do well during the week.

A cheat meal not only feeds your soul but is good for your mind as well. By not restricting yourself, you improve the chances of sticking to a healthy diet. 

To maximise your results for cheat meals, try not to binge too much. Have what you want but don't overeat.

One key tip - plan for extra water the day after your cheat meal. This will help with digestion and depending on the cheat meal, you could be consuming an excess of salt that you are not used to and water will help flush that out. 

An ideal diet is not about restriction but about making healthy choices.

Now, kill your week and plan your cheat meal!