Is an Intense Workout after a Cheat Meal Really Needed? Here is Your Answer

By Prashansa - 17 December 2019

It is good to make a conscious decision about food and even better to be informed about the nutritional value of the food items you eat. People have come to realize that taking care of nutrition is as important as being involved in physical activity and just sweating out in the gym for hours isn’t going to cut it if you wish to shed weight.

It is very normal to crave junk food and delicious snacks every once in a while so people try to establish healthy boundaries and keep a day aside to enjoy their favorite dishes, otherwise known as cheat meals.

Oily and fried food is often considered unhealthy so no matter how hard you try not to, you end up feeling guilty after eating from your favorite restaurant. You may also go one step further and try to burn off the excess calories by doing lots of cardio or pushing yourself more than usual but the fact is, it is not required at all.

Will you gain fat after one cheat meal?

Gaining weight is just as hard as losing it and this is one truth, people don’t easily accept. One pound of fat is known to have around 3500 hundred calories. To gain one pound of fat in a week, you will have to eat an extra 500 calories (other than your daily caloric requirement) to gain weight at the end of 7 days. Now, if you counting your calories properly, there is no way your weight will go up in one day due to fat deposition. Your weight may go up due to water retention and not because you gained fat.

The best approach to a cheat meal

Though one cheat meal will not ruin your progress and you can still continue with your regular workout routine the next day, you should not overindulge. Make sure you get back to eating healthy instead of dwelling and thinking you have ruined your progress.

To conclude, no, an intense workout is not necessary after having a cheat meal. One meal will not get in the way of your fitness journey, in fact, it will help you stay motivated and happy as you will still get to enjoy your favorite food while trying to stay fit.