To think most people don’t have huge ‘pig out’ days once a fortnight?

[Deeryme1]

Went for brunch with a friend earlier who, when we came to order, said she was still feeling full and bloated from her ‘pig out’ day yesterday. I asked what that was and she said ‘oh once a fortnight, DH and I have a complete pig out day, it’s great. We start off with bacon sarnies in the morning, followed by a McDonald’s for lunch and then loads of crisps/ chocolate/ sweets etc.

I was like oh right and she said ‘do you not ever have a day sometimes where you just eat anything and everything you want?!’ And I said no, not really. She rolled her eyes and said ‘no wonder you’re so skinny’

The thing is, I eat a bar of chocolate pretty much everyday and if I go out for a meal (once every 2-3 weeks) I’ll always get at least 2 courses, sometimes 3 and I don’t care what I eat on those occasions, so I’m hardly an Angel in terms of food. However, no, I don’t ever really let myself have a day at home where I just eat whatever the hell I want for a whole day. I WOULD put on weight.

She seemed shocked and like I was uptight for not doing so, but I don’t think a regular pig out day like that is the norm for most people, is it? Or am I just really uptight?

Oh believe me, I probably have more days where I'd take more food / more indulgent food than those where I am really averse, but on the latter days I just couldn't enjoy a 'scheduled' binge. I'd be saying to DH 'knock yourself out, but I'm not up for it.

I'd say your method of seeing how you feel & acting accordingly is actualy pretty close to how I feel. (I do genuinely love low carb, fish, salads. Which is probably quite good because I also like cheese & wine....)

Everyone does things differently. I count calories, so I'd rather factor in something small every day than a whole "pig out" day once a fortnight but each to their own.

I fancy the sound of that pig out day. Mine would be:
pancakes and syrup
Massive tiger stick with butter and cheese and tomatoes.
pizza and cheesecake for tea.
ice cream and sweeties in between.

sounds a great idea.

Three courses is definitely pigging out in my books. Desserts are very indulgent after a starter and a main, and presumably wine. A completely unnecessary 500+ calories with tonnes of sugar.

Once every two weeks? Yeah I probably pig out that often but I don't diarise it. It will either be a hangover or period

At least once a month I do so. I'm £123. You don't feel deprived if you give yourself a treat day. I also make sure I have 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables every day.

Three courses is definitely pigging out in my books. Desserts are very indulgent after a starter and a main, and presumably wine. A completely unnecessary 500+ calories with tonnes of sugar

🤣

😂😂😂

Whats wrong with self indulgence?

Life isn’t all about control and discipline and being uptight.I’d scarf a pud in that situation.

Dies the phrase ‘mealy mouth’ still exist? Bet meals out with you are a laugh.

I think pig out days probably become necessary when you restrict yourself too much otherwise.

If you don't like feeling over full then i can't see the pleasure in over eating

I’d be pretty startled if an adult told me they did this tbh

Ha, I don’t disagree with you. I love a three course meal and wine! But it’s definitely pigging out.

An indulgence every now and again is fine, and makes life more fun.

Teeny tiny competitive under eaters assemble.

Ha, I don’t disagree with you. I love a three course meal and wine! But it’s definitely pigging out

No, it’s just a normal way to eat when in a restaurant.

@JustABitLonger

its not being an under eater to not want to pig out to the point of feeling sick and bloated, ffs

Perfect summary of the OP (and great username)

It isn't much different to someone planning a big boozy day/night out every couple of weeks. Hedonistic binges are not an unusual part of being human, whether it's food, drink, sex, whatever.

Sounds a bit like me ex sil. Slated us for having takeaway on a Saturday night because they rarely ate them as they’re unhealthy but would go out for dinner at leat 2/3 times a week. How is that any different? We heave one takeaway a week. Watch what I eat the other 6 days and exercise most days but because she’s going out to eat she seems to think that’s not as bad. Considering she would have at least 2 courses 🤷‍♀️Why do people find the need to judge others eating habits

I think theres a difference (at least psychologically, surely?) of going out for an actual meal once or twice a month, and giving yourself permission to effectively binge on rubbish once a week which is regular.

there's some evidence to suggest a day of high carb when surrounded with several days of low carb e.g. one day a week or fortnight of whatever you want can actually help the body to maintain a good weight

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carb-cycling-101#the-science

although obv it depends on how you do it.

We start off with bacon sarnies in the morning, followed by a McDonald’s for lunch and then loads of crisps/ chocolate/ sweets etc.

I wouldn't say "most people" do this. But I also think that if you have a day like this once a fortnight and eat healthily the rest of the time then it's not going to do any harm and won't make you fat. It's not more fattening than a bar of chocolate every day. If that's something they enjoy and it works for them, then there is no need to get judgey about it. I find it odd that she is so surprised that you (and other people) don't have a day like that, but that's the only thing I find particularly surpising about it.

I wouldn't enjoy a day like that. I think McDonald's is pretty vile and wouldn't enjoy eating "loads" of crisps/chocolate in one day. I basically eat what I want every day, which leads to eating everything in moderation rather that holding back then binging on unhealthy stuff for one day.

And 3 courses isn't "pigging out"!! That's ridiculous. It depends entirely on what those courses are. They could be extremely small and light. If we go out for a meal in a nice restaurant then we will usually have three courses (though often share dessert). Not because we want to "pig out" but becaus we want to try out a wide range of nice food! We generally follow a "rule" that we can't order the same dish so that we can share/taste more things.

I think theres a difference (at least psychologically, surely?) of going out for an actual meal once or twice a month, and giving yourself permission to effectively binge on rubbish once a week which is regular
I agree with you.
It seems an entirely healthy outlook to have a neutral approach to food, eat things in moderation and when you have a meal out then you enjoy it without guilt.

The idea of having a set day for binging where the whole purpose is to stuff your face with all the food you deny yourself the rest of the time doesn't seem like a healthy attitude to food

My everyday diet is, by taste not virtue, low carb and mostly low-processed - stuff like cheese with salad, stir fried veg etc. I don’t bother with snacks because I’m in a job where snacking isn’t easy. But if I’m out with friends or family, I’ll happily have a cake with coffee, or eat several courses with wine, carbs, petit-fours etc. I don’t consider it ‘cheating’, just enjoying a social occasion, but I wouldn’t want to eat like that all the time. In the same way, I generally enjoy spending evenings quietly catching up on work, reading or watching TV, but if I’m out with friends, we might go to a show or the pictures.

I think it's weird to have a day where you religiously eat whatever you want, but not that it's weird to have those days at times.

I have times (yesterday) where I'll be super hungry for crap and I'll indulge, but it doesn't happen all the time. I also tend to eat what I fancy most days, but I rarely fancy loads of crap.

I'm not overweight.