From October, 2020 until well into January, 2021, I stuck steadfast to my intermittent fasting schedule with a full vegan menu and absolutely no prepared or restaurant food. I knew that I would someday incorporate ‘cheat days’ into the plan but I had a fear that if I took these ‘food vacations’ too soon, it would mess me up too much.
To tell the truth, I don’t find it much of a big deal. What I eat on a daily basis is amazing and I eat plenty of it during my one of two meals per day. But, it was the social aspect that started to play on my mind.
Meal time is family time. That is simply human tradition. By not taking a break and having a guilty restaurant meal once in a while, I was denying myself and my family that little bit of a celebration of life.
It was decided that every second Saturday would be a potential cheat day for me. This was chosen simply because my wife the nurse has every second Saturday off.
But, I was still worried about falling off a cliff. So, to alleviate the effects of a less than perfect meal on my body and mind, I decided that the cheat meal would be my only meal of the day.
I’ve played around with 24 hour fasting a bit in 2021 and I really don’t even notice the extra hours tagged on. Physically, nothing has changed for the worse. In fact, I would say I feel even better only eating a single meal. So, surrounding my cheat meal with 24 hours of fasting sure helps the body cope with the food shock.
Of course, it’s not like I’m going out and getting McDonalds and a bottle of Coca-Cola! I’m talking what most would consider healthier alternatives. Everything is still vegan with possibly a bit of cheese thrown on top. No sugary desserts. No sugary drinks.
I’m pretty sure, though, if it wasn’t for the social aspect, I wouldn’t bother at all. My meals are tasty, highly nutritious and filling. If I’m on the go, I’m good with either skipping a meal or taking a handful of nuts and some raw veggies. It’s all good – I just never really get that hungry feeling anymore…