Days Off?

runningfromzombies

Everything in moderation! Go a little over, not a LOT over. My birthday was last weekend, and at my weigh-in before the celebrations began, I had hit a plateau--I gained half a pound rather than continuing the usual 1.2-1.5 lbs/week loss. And after a weekend of celebration and going over my usual limits--and returning to the gym for two days of normal exercise--I had busted out of the plateau and lost another 1.2 pounds. It's okay to indulge once in a while. Just don't go too crazy!

kristilovescake

My birthday is coming up and I plan on taking the day off of eating healthy and I probably won't exercise. I'm going to track my calories and make sure I level it out the rest of the week (for example, if I eat 500 calories over my goal, the next few days I'll eat less calories even it out). Remember than gaining or losing weight doesn't happen in a single day. One important thing to remember is to let yourself indulge in moderation. If you give up sweets 100% then you are more likely to binge eat and completely over-do it. I think anything in moderation is good. I eat a lot of sweets for being on a “diet” (seriously, I can’t help myself), but I make sure I log every bite and incorporate it into my allowed calories and exercise more if necessary.

If you really want a piece of cake, have it, but make sure you work out more or eat less the next couple days to compensate.

Happy birthday

Nikstergirl

Personally no, but then I am not dieting. I made a lifestyle change. I don't splurge by eating out and ordering anything on the menu and having dessert, etc... I make myself stay within my calorie goals. If the food doesn't fit in the plan, I don't eat it. That doesn't mean I don't go out to eat, but before I order I check out the nutritional info to make sure it will work for my daily limits.
For me, I know that if I went all out one day I would start making excuses for doing it over and over again. I did that for years. I figure an alcoholic in reform doesn't get a freebie day because it would be disastrous, so.....

My thoughts exactly!!!! I will admit to a night of drinking where I didn't log everything... but that was once in four months!!! I only lost .2 that week, but this week I stayed really close to my goal (under most days) and lost 3.2!!!! Totally worth it... staying under, not the drinking!!!!

meribethd

I definitely take days off sometimes. Usually it's Saturdays. But what that means is not that I'll eat everything in sight and sabotage myself. Rather, I'll allow myself a couple of indulgences that are just too calorie rich for everyday--Ben and Jerry's, homemade cookies, maybe a couple pieces of pizza and a glass of wine. Maybe I'll go to Starbucks. That sort of thing.I don't go all out for every meal (breakfast is usually the same as every day), and I often exercise, too. I'm still aware of what I'm eating. It's just a day for me where I don't have to write everything down and can be a little more free with what I eat.

I do this for a variety of reasons. First, a day off every once in a while can keep your metabolism going. Second, this is a lifestyle thing for me--I'm not giving up pizza or brownies forever. Allowing myself these foods occasionally makes me less likely to binge on other days.

But you have to do what works for you!

Chrissyvk

I definitely take days off sometimes. Usually it's Saturdays. But what that means is not that I'll eat everything in sight and sabotage myself. Rather, I'll allow myself a couple of indulgences that are just too calorie rich for everyday--Ben and Jerry's, homemade cookies, maybe a couple pieces of pizza and a glass of wine. Maybe I'll go to Starbucks. That sort of thing.I don't go all out for every meal (breakfast is usually the same as every day), and I often exercise, too. I'm still aware of what I'm eating. It's just a day for me where I don't have to write everything down and can be a little more free with what I eat.

I do this for a variety of reasons. First, a day off every once in a while can keep your metabolism going. Second, this is a lifestyle thing for me--I'm not giving up pizza or brownies forever. Allowing myself these foods occasionally makes me less likely to binge on other days.

But you have to do what works for you!

I agree with Meribeth.

a_stronger_steph

Happy birthday!!! I hope you enjoy it!

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago and I'll be honest... I went way over. My partner took me out to a really, really fancy restaurant and we got the tasting menu with wine and dessert. And you know what? I don't regret a bit of it. But then again, I'm a mild "foodie" and love my alcohol, so I like to be able to splurge every now and again.

And in the end, it didn't affect my loss that much! So I say do whatever will make YOU feel best!

Again... happy birthday!!!

court428

Well...I survived my birthday, and even had nearly 400 calories left over! I ended choosing a restaurant that I knew had calories listed on their menu. So I went to Carrows and had a delicious Charleston Chicken Salad. OMG! It was delicious. And I had a bowl of melon with it. It was a delicious dinner and the salad was only 530 calories, I couldn't finish though, way too big. And I got to have a nice piece of carrot cake. I did do my biking exercise in the morning. All in all it worked out well for me and I woke up today so proud of myself and ready to take on another day!