Restrictive diets that allow for cheat days don't work.  They actually reinforce the very bad habits you're trying to change.  How? Cuz the diet itself makes you miserable and the cheat day allows you to go overboard doing what you've always done.  What do you think wins out in the long run? Yep. You revert back to your old habits because you're sick of the diet misery. Changing habits over time is the only real way to achieve consistent healthy results.