Who says you have to deprive yourself of all deliciousness to stay fit? You can enjoy foods you love without adding pounds. In fact, research shows that after a cheat meal, the body increases its metabolism, causing you to burn calories faster. This is caused by increased levels of leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells and responsible for maintaining energy balance in the body.
But don’t just take our word for it, movie star and super-buff ex-wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson proves you can actually have your cake and eat it too. If you scroll through The Rock’s Instagram, you’ll find plenty of fitness inspiration. But he is #goals for so much more than his mind-blowing workouts — he’s also legendary for the INSANE cheat meals he consumes every Sunday night ahead of his Monday sweat sessions.
One of his cheat meals is 12 Pancakes, 4 Pizzas and 21 Brownies–all in one sitting.
Yup. You read that right. After 172 days of a “strict & intense 7 meals a day diet” for the titular role of Hercules, The Rock indulged in a (as in singular, one) cheat meal to end all cheat meals. To start, he devoured 12 pancakes and followed with four double-dough pizzas. For dessert, he polished off 21 brownies, washed down with an entire gallon of milk.
Another one of his famous cheat meals is 6 Sushi Platters and a Plate of Cookies
As much as we’d love to join The Rock in polishing off this epic platter of sushi rolls, we’re not sure we could handle the huge “hunks” of wasabi mixed in his soy sauce. After finishing this spread, The Rock helped himself to an entire plate of a dozen cookies.
Now, you may not need as many calories in your cheat meal as The Rock, but here are a few cheat meal suggestions on how you can do it too:
Allow for two mouth-watering, indulgent sweets each week. And focus on quality—a scoop of really great real ice cream, a rich cookie or coffee drink. Budget about 200 to 300 calories for each.
Give yourself two nice “splurge” meals a week. This is your time to have the non-diet foods you thought were completely off limits—such as slices at your favorite pizzeria, or a filet with mashed potatoes. The only caveat: Use portion control. Limit yourself to two small slices of pizza with a side salad, order small cuts of meat, and eat just half of creamy, cheesy sides.
You can still enjoy wine, beer, or a cocktail—but you’ll need to cut back if you’re trying to lose a pound or two a week. Figure out your weekly average, and cut that by one-fourth; that’s your maximum number of drinks each week.
You can enjoy some every single day: Have two or three tasting squares—about 75 calories worth of chocolate. And buy the really good stuff. Choose great-tasting chocolate, and you’ll be able to eat smaller amounts and be satisfied.
With all the extra toppings, restaurant salads can easily add up to 700, 800, even 900 calories. But who wants a bowl of…
…naked lettuce? Instead, load a plate (not a bowl) with dark greens, some protein to fill you, and whatever fresh fruit and veggies you like. Cheat by adding two or three one-tablespoon servings of the fattening stuff (dried fruit, nuts, seeds, cheese, bacon crumbles, croutons, fried tortilla strips, or avocado). Dress your salad with one tablespoon of a real vinaigrette or oil and vinegar—fat helps satisfy you and unlocks some nutrients in your salad. Now, dig in.
If bread is your weakness, then eat it the best way you can: If the basket on the table is filled with stale, cold slices or squishy sandwich-style stuff, you’ve got a good reason to ask the waiter to take it away: That bread won’t make you happy. But when you’re offered a hearty, artisan loaf with a dense texture and crisp crust, treat yourself to a small slice. Gild it with a teaspoon of olive oil or butter and enjoy every wonderful bite.
No need to camp out by the crudités during a party. Scan the buffet, making note of your favorite hors d’oeuvres. Go back, and choose only two or three higher-calorie appetizers. (Want chips and dip? Count out seven chips, and dip—don’t scoop—into the guacamole.) Fill up on veggies and fresh fruit, and save room for one sweet treat at the end. You deserve it!
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