Eating at maintenance level on weekends

zinatara

I was in a really good place a few years ago and on good way to my wanted weight loss. But of course I fell of and gained back the weight.

So now I'm trying again and my previous attempt is helping me because I have the knowledge and I don't have to learn everything like I had to the last time. But I also want to change some things so I have a better chance at success this time.

To get to normal BMI I have to loose 30 kg. That will be my goal for now. And I think realistically it should take me between 1-2 years to get there. I plan to eat at a 1000 calories deficit in the start, but will probably reduce that to 500-750 calories deficit when I'm getting closer to my goal. I also have a goal to have at least 10000 steps every day on my Fitbit.

But I'm wondering if I could eat at a deficit on weekdays and have weekends off. I would still log and not eat more than I burn, but it would give me the freedom to have a small chocolate or a nice dinner on saturdays and sundays. Has anyone had success doing it this way?

I have kids and a husband that are not overweight, but we make healthy dinners on weekdays anyway. But I don't think they would like to spend two years without favorite weekend dinners and I don't think I want to prepare food I can't eat.

cmriverside

Sure, lots of people eat a bit more on weekends.

Why can't you prepare food everyone likes and just eat less of it?

cwolfman13

I've been in maintenance for awhile, but when I was losing I typically ate maintenance on weekends or at least one day on the weekend. Just note that weight loss will be a bit slower than it otherwise would...I personally didn't think it material enough to bother dieting 24/7.

zinatara

I could do that, but I know that eating a very small portion will be harder on me. It's more about having some freedom and not feeling like I have to make sacrifices all the time.

cmriverside

zinatara wrote: »

I could do that, but I know that eating a very small portion will be harder on me. It's more about having some freedom and not feeling like I have to make sacrifices all the time.

When you cook for the family and you are preparing something that you feel you'll have trouble eating moderately, why not start your own meal with some low-cal vegetable soup or a small side salad? Make a side of vegetables that you particularly like and have a large serving with your [whatever]. It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing.

Iheartrunning36

I haven't gone on maintenance but will eat back 50% of my workout calories sometimes. I still maintain a deficit. I save it for special times, like my son is headed into surgery soon. We are having a BBQ for him, I chose chicken instead of hamburgers, a salad over fries, fruit over pudding and at the end I am eating two cupcakes. Lol guilt free. We actually can eat a lot if we just learn to substitute and know when to splurge. I think maintaining is a great break from the grind of the battle with weight loss, but make sure you eat quality food still....sometimes people maintain by loading up with junk and go back to cravings, sugar is addictive so just be careful when you do maintain.

livingleanlivingclean

I eat less during the week so I can eat more on one day of the weekend without going over my weekly weight loss calorie goal... It works for me as I don't mind being a bit more restrictive with calories during the week, and don't notice a small amount cut off each day.

scarlett_k

Do whatever helps you stick with it

TavistockToad

What do you cook on a weekend that is so majorly calorific that you cant fit it in your weekly goal?

I eat less monday to thursday so i can eat more at the weekend.

kshama2001

Sure, you could do that. I too like to eat more on weekends, but I exercise more to get those calories.

MegaMooseEsq

I've got a similar goal as you, which I'm aiming to achieve in 2 years (I'm 7 months in and on track so far). I've been tracking over the course of a week: right now I'm at an average 300/day weekly deficit with the goal of getting that to 500 over the next couple of months. Five days a week I eat about 700 under, one day I eat right around maintenance, and one day I eat roughly whatever I want. It's slow, but it's 100% livable, and that is by far the most important thing for me. Also, I don't count exercise calories since I really only get moderate exercise in at this point. I'd probably reassess if I were working out more strenuously.

LotusCass

I eat at maintenance often 1-2 days a week, usually to allow a couple of extra glasses of wine. I've lost 20 lbs in 13 weeks eating this way. It makes it much easier to continue long-term this way.

kgirlhart

zinatara wrote: »

I could do that, but I know that eating a very small portion will be harder on me. It's more about having some freedom and not feeling like I have to make sacrifices all the time.

On the one hand I get what you are saying. But on the other hand how is eating separate meals from everyone else in the family more of a sacrifice than eating smaller portions of foods you actually like? But to answer your question, yes. You can eat at maintenance on the weekends and eat at a deficit during the week and still lose weight. I just might take a little longer. The main problem I see with that is that I think the mindset of eating "healthy" during the week and "bad foods" on the weekend is a problem. But that is just my opinion.

MegaMooseEsq

kgirlhart wrote: »

The main problem I see with that is that I think the mindset of eating "healthy" during the week and "bad foods" on the weekend is a problem. But that is just my opinion.

I think it really just depends on what works for the person. I enjoy going out to eat (and OH MAN was I doing it too much the last few years), so I've worked my way to one "careful" night out and one "go modestly nuts" night out. I could see someone else really enjoying a weekend brunch, a couple of fast food lunches, or a family meal like the OP mentions. It's less about "bad foods" as "sometimes foods".