I suck on rest days.

MrsSchimmy

Holy hell.

Here's a little back story:
I decided to take a full week off from any workouts to help my hip heal. My hip has been bothering me for a couple months now and is the result of overcompensating for a minor ankle sprain towards the beginning of summer. I have bursitis in my hip so it's painful to run so I stopped and have been using the elliptical and stationary bike to get my cardio in. I still lift but leg day isn't anywhere near what it used to be due to pain.

So now we are back to my week off from workouts. It's Wednesday.
I've been this way for awhile, I seem to be HORRIBLE at sticking within my caloric limit or even eating good, whole foods on my rest days. This week is no different. Pretty sure all that I want are maple bars and peanut butter.

I usually hear about people who have an easier time with their nutrition on rest days but I'm the EXACT OPPOSITE.

I'm beginning to feel like I'm in the minority that thinks/acts this way. In fact, I don't know anyone else like this.

It's crazy that I'm sorta self-sabotaging.

I'm ready for Sunday to come as my hip is feeling a bit better day by day. I just want to run and let my mind free again. With this hip pain, I can't.

Can this week be over yet?

Chrisparadise579

I totally know the feeling! I am the exact same way on rest days, I always crave the most junk. Im not sure why but I think it has to do with not feeling like im going to screw up my workout. Usually i just incorporate a healthy sweet snack like protein cheesecake into my macros and that does the trick.

paxbfl

Wow are we on the same page! I was training for my first marathon when I hurt my hip flexor and couldn't run at all. I deferred the marathon to next year, started resting more and switched to the elliptical and started riding my bike again. The problem is, I'm not getting the same calorie burn as I get when I run (and obviously not getting any burn on rest days) - but I'm still eating the same as when I was running 10+ miles.

One thing I've noticed... eating sugar and simple carbs causes me to want MORE sugar and simple carbs (like pasta or bread). After a hard workout it's fine to eat these things, but I'm becoming more aware of the consequences of doing that - in an hour I will want more cookies, candy, pasta and bread and before you know it I've blown my calorie goals because my workout isn't enough to compensate.

So I'm trying to be better, focusing more on lean protein, complex carbs and veggies. But it is definitely a challenge!

Kalikel

You may wish to consider making lifestyle changes instead of just portion adjustments. If you turn bad habits into good ones, you won't be reaching for treats because 1) They won't be in the house and 2) It will no longer be your habit.

Total diet overhauls are extremely difficult. Most who try do not succeed. It may not be for you!

Just some food for thought.

paxbfl

Total diet overhauls are extremely difficult. Most who try do not succeed. It may not be for you!

Well, ok... but if someone want to keep eating poorly, they have to either eat less bad food or be able to burn those calories. Otherwise they will not be able to lose weight or maintain their weight loss.

I try not to judge people who are successful. I know people who eat only whole foods and carefully weigh every morsel of food. I know people who eat fast food and work out like crazy. I know someone who drinks beer every day and doesn't work out, but cut back on how much he eats. All these people have successfully lost weight. So all of these approaches work.

For me the long-term answer is flexibility. I eat healthy whole foods as often as I can, but I recognize that fast food, beer, and sugary treats are still going to be a part of my life. My workouts help offset these slips, but to the OP's point, injury changes the equation and forces you to save those calories elsewhere. It's all a balancing act!

DAM5412

For me the long-term answer is flexibility. I eat healthy whole foods as often as I can, but I recognize that fast food, beer, and sugary treats are still going to be a part of my life. My workouts help offset these slips, but to the OP's point, injury changes the equation and forces you to save those calories elsewhere. It's all a balancing act!

Love this...wish more people saw nutrition and lifestyle as organic and therefore always changing, instead of set in stone.

MrsSchimmy

Im not sure why but I think it has to do with not feeling like im going to screw up my workout.

This!! YES! I, too, don't deprive myself and have a "treat" every single day.

One thing I've noticed... eating sugar and simple carbs causes me to want MORE sugar and simple carbs (like pasta or bread). After a hard workout it's fine to eat these things, but I'm becoming more aware of the consequences of doing that - in an hour I will want more cookies, candy, pasta and bread and before you know it I've blown my calorie goals because my workout isn't enough to compensate.

So I'm trying to be better, focusing more on lean protein, complex carbs and veggies. But it is definitely a challenge!

I get this. I've always been a bread lover. My grandfather calls me the "bread lady" due to my love of bread when I was younger. I've refined my habits but still enjoy some good, dense, bread. It's horrible, really.

You may wish to consider making lifestyle changes instead of just portion adjustments. If you turn bad habits into good ones, you won't be reaching for treats because 1) They won't be in the house and 2) It will no longer be your habit.

There lies the problem, sorta. I HAVE made lifestyle changes. I lost all my weight within 6 months of having my 3rd child and I've managed to keep it off for 3 years. So I'm not COMPLETELY self-sabotaging but I am certainly making it harder on myself. I eat whole foods about 85% of the time and allow myself a small "treat" every day. With that said, we don't really have treats in the house and it is only a "habit" (which I hesitate to say it is just that as I don't act like this EVERY rest day...) on rest days.

For me the long-term answer is flexibility. I eat healthy whole foods as often as I can, but I recognize that fast food, beer, and sugary treats are still going to be a part of my life. My workouts help offset these slips, but to the OP's point, injury changes the equation and forces you to save those calories elsewhere. It's all a balancing act!

And again, THIS! I, too, am right where you are at. Like I said, I don't deprive myself. I tried that once for a short time and it led to insane binges of the "treats" and only set me back several steps. Now I have found a better balance but this is my first injury since I started this whole process 3.5 years ago.

I'm not a fan of rest days as it is .... but add in that I want CRAP on those days just makes it worse. And it's not insane amounts of crap. It's not eating out of boredom. It just pushes me over my cals for the day, which really bites!