The fitness industry evolved over the last few years making healthy lifestyles more accessible.

Yet somehow, the new standard for “healthy” managed to be less attainable.

New fitness terms have found their way into our everyday lives including the idea of a “cheat day”. So what exactly is a cheat day and do you even need one?

The problem with the idea is that it implies you are eating forbidden foods.

Once you separate foods into “good” and “bad” categories, you are more likely to feel guilt and shame after consuming the latter. This could potentially lead to you obsessing over your cheat day, overeating, and then trying to starve yourself the following day.

It is unrealistic to eat 100 per cent good food, every day. Cheat days lead us to put pressure on eating perfectly, leaving us feeling guilty when we slip and indulge in a treat. This creates an unhealthy relationship with food, instead of eating a balanced diet that allows for guilt-free slip-ups.

Cheat days may have a massive impact on our bodies: with sudden increases in blood sugar and insulin you will end up craving even more simple carbs the next day.

Your cheat day may end up becoming a cheat week or make you completely give up your diet plan. So, how you do stay on track with your fitness goals without overindulging with a cheat day or completely falling off the wagon?

Drop the yo-yo diet: the vicious cycle of restrictive dieting; gaining and losing weight.

Yes, you may lose weight in the short term, but be honest with yourself. Is this sustainable?

Instead of the newest trending diet, start investing in your body. Think less diet, more fuel.

Eat a balanced diet that allows for the occasional treat and enjoy it instead of feeling guilty and potentially giving up altogether.

We aren’t perfect and our diets aren’t meant to be either. Instead of rewarding yourself for being “good” all week with “bad” food, let’s start seeing food as just that.

•Cassandra Matcham is a Yoga Alliance-certified yoga instructor, studio and group fitness manager at Alchemy Fitness. She specialises in accountability and goal-setting to help clients reach their full potential. Follow Alchemy Fitness on Facebook: AlchemyFitnessBermuda or e-mail info@alchemy.bm.