A cheat meal or a cheat day can help replenish your glycogen stores by increasing the number of calories and carbohydrates you are consuming. This can provide you with the energy you need for a strenuous workout; but going overboard on your cheat day can, of course, also set you back a bit with your weight loss goals.

How bad does a cheat day set you back?

A cheat meal consisting of a double cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake can set you back over 2,000 calories. “Once you've added in other meals and snacks, it literally cancels out half your hard work in meeting your calorie and exercise goals all week,” she says.

Do cheat days ruin progress?

Will a cheat meal ruin my progress? Lets start out plain and simple, a cheat meal will NOT ruin your progress, assuming all else is right with your diet and workout plan. ... The goal of your cheat meal should not be to ingest as many calories as possible, but to enjoy a delectable food that you can't eat every day.