Bec Hardgrave: This is why you should never bother with ‘cheat days’ if you’re trying to lose weight

A fitness coach has revealed why she does not subscribe to diet culture’s practice of ‘cheat days’.

Bec Hardgrave, 27, from Brisbane, is a nutritionist and personal trainer who regularly makes healthy versions of her favourite fast food treats.

The health guru recently claimed that restricting your food intake during the week and and ‘indulging’ on weekends can do more harm than good.

She revealed that people are unlikely to see results because they end up blowing a whole week’s worth of calories on one ‘cheat day’ over the weekend.

Bec instead recommended people indulge in one food every day that brings them joy.

‘So, you’re heavily restricting yourself during the week by eating plain foods like steamed chicken and broccoli, and hating life only to have a couple of cheat days on the weekend?’ she asked in a video.

Bec provided two reasons that explained why such a practice was a bad idea. 

‘The chance of you going back into Monday, after having a crazy indulgent weekend, to your chicken and broccoli diet is slim to none.’

The fitness coach revealed that her ‘cheat days’ used to last whole weeks.

‘Heavily restricting yourself and pushing down all those cravings – will just send them through the roof by the weekend.’

‘Not only is that going to completely blow out your whole calorie target for the week, but you’re also not going to feel very good.’

Bec now dedicates 20 per cent of her daily calories towards something that is going to give her complete enjoyment and satisfy her cravings.

‘Eat one thing each day that’s just going to make you happy,’ she said. ‘It doesn’t need to be low calorie or high protein.’

Common examples of every day indulgences include a chocolate bar, an ice cream after dinner, a taco, or a side of chips.

This means you’re not going to blow out your whole week’s worth of calories in one day and you’ll actually enjoy your life a little bit more!’

The health guru recently claimed that restricting yourself during the week and and ‘indulging’ on weekends can do more harm than good

Many thanked Bec for her excellent advice and promised to follow it.

‘You’re officially my unofficial nutritionist,’ one woman said.

‘Thank you Bec – great insight!’