My Thoughts on “Off Meals”
Another question I get frequently is “Do you ever eat bad,” to which my response is, “HECK YEAH!!!!” If I never did, it wouldn’t be as easy to remain so lean. Here are my thoughts on “off meals”.
1)WHATCHA CALL IT?? I prefer to call them “bliss meals.” A “cheat meal” has such a negative connotation and makes me feel like it is something I should not be eating at all. I think that’s part of the reason why people beat themselves up over their off meal. The bottom line is it tastes good and I’m going to enjoy EVERY bite of it without the guilt! 2)OFF MEALS ARE GOOD. After adhering to such strict nutrition during a competition season like I do, what would be considered “junk” for others is actually good for me because my body needs the shock of higher fat/sugary foods for a short period of time. It’s sort of like rebooting your computer after it has been running continuously for days. It needs a break to continue running effectively. Think of junk food for a competition body as the same.
3)ENJOY THEM. Remember, that your ability to adhere to a nutritional plan is mental. If you beat yourself up over a few brownies , a slice or 2 of pizza, and a liter of pop (soda), then you don’t even get to enjoy your meal because you are so worried about its caloric value and all the cardio you’ll have to do after. Forget about it and enjoy the dang meal!!
4)WHEN TO EAT THEM. You have to learn what works for you. Preplanned bliss days don’t work for me b/c it is too structured for my off season. If I want to eat it I do, then I make nutritional changes throughout the day (if I eat it early) or the next day as necessary (if I eat it late). Many people do preplanned off days so they can structure their week accordingly. I’ve also see people do rotating days. Try different methods and see what works.
5)MODERATION?? I was taught that “moderation is key.” Unfortunately “moderation” of certain foods has never been my strong point. When it comes to “bliss meals” I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. (Not the best quality, but it’s me.) I’ve learned that I can’t buy an entire pack of cookies and just eat 3……..the whole pack always seemed to disappear! (LOL). What I do is only buy what I will eat during that one meal. It does make it a bit more expensive, but it is only an occasional thing. If I order a pizza I eat what I want and give the rest away (never throw away b/c I don’t like to waste). I can’t bring gallons of ice cream, big bags of chips, or multiple king-sized anything into my house. It just won’t work. And the hide it in the back of the pantry trick doesn’t work either. My “food weaknesses” just can’t be in the house, or if they are, it just makes it more difficult for me. If moderation works, for you great. If the tempting food has to be in the house, maybe you can try and ask others to not let you know when they bring it in or to keep it out of your sight.
Like I said before, learn what works for you through trial and error. Don’t hold something as a definitive truth just because someone else said it worked. Be a skeptic, try it for yourself, and come to your own conclusion.
Good luck!
November 4, 2009 at 10:20 pm
now sure what i enjoyed the most the writing or the picture yummy. great work again thank you Jumper11. I too hate the word "cheat" feels like i’m doing something bad. i call it reward meal did i do what i committed to do for the week or short term goal set? if so then i reward myself and really it’s not an all out splurge it’s simple like barbeque sauce or a bowl of honey nut cheerios or a double chicken sandwich from subway dry with all veggie.
November 4, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Wow, that was a change, from the lean and clean to the holla@cha honey buns
I’m totally with you, if it is in the house I’ll eat it, so I don’t bring it home unless I plan on a little “bliss” as you call it 
Great post!!!
November 4, 2009 at 10:57 pm
It’s great to hear that someone we look up to is a real person and not a robot that always does things perfectly. Thanks for that Jumper. Hey, I have a question about "land of clean". I was serious about using that as a grocery list and I wanted to know how many weeks/days of food was that? How many meals per day for you also? Thanks sooo much for every blog you write!
November 5, 2009 at 12:26 am
now I want a donut, dangit!..lol
I too cannot keep any "treat" foods around…really don’t understand how people with kids can avoid that food when it’s in the house..I’d be tearin into it!
November 5, 2009 at 7:07 am
Preach preacher girl!!
I’ve learned through lots of trial and error that trying to schedule an off meal day (as you so eloquently put it) just never worked for me. I went from once a week to once every two weeks, etc. But like you said life has a way of just mucking up schedules. So basically I’ve compromised. When i do have an off meal, its usually altered in some way. For example: If i choose to sneak into McDonalds for that acursed third pounder, knowing how hard it is for me to shed fat, I leave off the mayo and cheese. Still delicious, and satisfying, just not as detrimental. I feel good, stomach is happy, all is well with the world. As always, great post shorty.
Peace!!
November 5, 2009 at 7:18 am
wow, you truly are an inspiration and your words shed some real light on me today! thnx = )
November 5, 2009 at 9:27 am
Well said…. brownies sound great for my off meal this week! Yum, Yum!
November 5, 2009 at 9:58 am
have you tried the new peanut butter oreos?
November 5, 2009 at 10:02 am
Did you just say pb oreos?! Pedi, you shut your mouth!
November 5, 2009 at 11:16 am
RENEW: I like that "reward meal"! Sounds positive, like something you want to work toward. And I’m with you, I tend to splurge on simplier things now b/c back in the day I would have eat that whole rack of doughnuts in the above picture. They would have said, "Ma’am, can you please leave the store now b/c you are embarassing yourself!!" LOL
November 5, 2009 at 11:18 am
CRZYHORSE: Yeppers! I either have to eat it out of the house, give it away, or just not bring it in.
And BTW, I like that "hollaatcha honeybuns!!!"
November 5, 2009 at 11:27 am
XNEWSOME: Thanks my friend. I’m all about honesty. Alot of people say, "Well I always eat clean b/c junk food is bad for you and you should never eat this and that and blah…blah…blah…WHATEVER!!" Well I’m human and I srew up….ALOT. That means I over eat at times, binge eat at times, slip up on my nutrition at times, and eat tons of garbage at times…..but I learn from it and keep on steppin!
At the end of the day that’s what I think it is about.
As for the the Land of the Lean…..I eat 7 meals/day(b/c I usually get up around 4am ish). The bagged food in the picture was 6 days worth of food, but I did not bag all of the food that was in the initial "food spread" pic. I’m still eating on all of that food that was in the picture and haven’t cooked since then. Hope that helps.
November 5, 2009 at 11:29 am
ARMEDANDFAB: I know some parents who buy their kids the junk food that they themselves do not like, so they are not even tempted. I think that’s a pretty good idea. and some people just don’t even let their kids get started on any of that stuff unless it is a special occassion.
November 5, 2009 at 11:31 am
LEX: I"m with you. If I get the urge to munch, I usually do, and then I’m done. No beating my self up over it or anything, just keep eating well for the rest of the day.
Gratzie my friend!
November 5, 2009 at 11:32 am
I had to through a little "laura talk" in there
Of course it still wouldn’t sound right coming from my mouth :p
November 5, 2009 at 11:37 am
JBUNTON: Thanks a million hun. When I first started training in ‘03 and would have an occassional indulgence, one of my friends who is very health conscious always use to shreik, "Are you going to eat that?" Like I was NEVER suppose to touch any food that was not 100% healthy. I initially thought that is what people did……and they DO, but they rarely maintain a manageable weight b/c they are so extreme.
I had to learn through trial and error that it is great to have the junk too, but you’ve just got to do it right. Forget the nay-sayers. I’m allabout having my cake and eating it too….but just not every day!
Glad you were encouraged!
November 5, 2009 at 11:39 am
DAMIEN: Ohhhh brownies!!!
The last time I tried to make some brownies at home, only half of the batter made it in the oven b/c I had eaten most of it from the bowl……Now I"ll just go to a bakery and get a one and call it a day.
November 5, 2009 at 11:40 am
Now that’s the best news i’ve read all day. You don’t have to beat yourself up over an "off meal" as long as you don’t make it and off meal day, meaning pigging out on them all day
November 5, 2009 at 11:41 am
FRENCH PEDI: I saw them in the store and had to just keep walking right past them. LOL.I don’t think you buy those in the little packs yet.
November 5, 2009 at 11:42 am
WAYNE: Speak it brutha wayne!!
November 5, 2009 at 11:45 am
btw please leave a comment on my blog for today. You will love it trust me
November 6, 2009 at 1:37 pm
two words for ya….oatmeal cookies!!!
November 6, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Give me two dozen to go-please! Mix n’ match-lol.I am not a big candy guy or cookies or ice cream.I love some red vines once in awhile at a movie or smothered butter popcorn .
November 6, 2009 at 8:19 pm
DOBEE: I’ve got more words for you…..Oatmeal raisin cookies with Pillsbury cream cheese cream icing in the middle…..ooooooo shut yo mouth!!! That’s what i use to eat for lunch in high school.
November 6, 2009 at 8:20 pm
INSIDEOUT: I could go for the vines and popcorn. We can make that work too. But it’s got to be kettle corn.
November 9, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Wow. First, you look so amazing. Thank you so much for saying that you do "cheat". I’m new to this, and when I finally managed to get fit it was purely because of eating way less than I should and working out even when I shouldn’t. I finally broke down. I’m sort of at a loss as to what to do… I don’t want to starve myself again, but even for my age my metabolism isn’t that great. And I am totally one of those people who eats all or nothing lol. That made me feel better to hear you say that, so thanks again! You’ve inspired me.
November 10, 2009 at 6:55 am
JESSICA: Glad you found the blog helpful. I feel like a lot of people get in shape and then forget how hard it was to get there b/c the healthy lifestyle has become so routine. Girl, let me be the first to tell you it was a struggle. Mentally and physically. Don;t beat yourself up to bad if you slip up. Enjoy it, live guilt freee, and start right the next time. Please message me if you have questions and best of luck to you hun!
BLESSINGS, LB
November 10, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Good blog. I’m not a nutritionist, but I kind of feel like having an off meal is letting my body know to relax. "Rebooting" is a great way to put it.
November 10, 2009 at 7:39 pm
COCOA: I agree completely. 2 weeks after one of my shows I ate 3 jars of peanut butter in 4 days and lost 3 lbs….LOL! How’s that for fat doing a body good! Now I just wish it worked like that all the time!
November 11, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Amen, girl! I hate the word "cheat".
November 12, 2009 at 9:18 pm
CHINA: I second, third, fourth, and fifth that!
November 13, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Jumper, once again you have out-done yourself with your awesome penmanship and I love that pic, you got some killa calves girl. I have a bag of bite-sized Reese’s cups hidden in the back of my freezer so whenever I’m having chocolate withdrawals with severe symptoms of moodiness I already have them on deck. On other days it just seems like to much hassle to dig through all the frozen foods and get frost bite for one or two morsels of chocolate. But like you said when I do have an "off meal", I enjoy them and I know I have to do to get back "ON" again.
Thanks for keeping it real, blessing!
know what I have to do
November 13, 2009 at 11:04 pm
MS_TEE: Thanks a million for the calf compliment missy!
You’re good for keeping those reese’s in the freezer…..I would have probably tried to keep them in a deep freezer and almost kill myself falling in there and suffocating and freezing to death all over some RESSES!!! LOL. 
I’m glad you know how to enjoy a "off meal" guilt free. You go girl!!