Shabbat is so hard!!

shosh413

I love shabbat so much... but it's so hard to lose weight because of it!

I do so well during the week... but then shabbat comes and its all downhill...
1. I can't use the fitness app because you can't use electronics on shabbat...
2. i usually go to peoples houses or my mom will have people over and make a not normal portion amount of food.... then for dessert everyone always has a ton of cakes, cookies, and candies...
3. people stay a long time at the table and after a while when really yummy incredible food is sitting in front of you how can you not pick at it...
4. my mentality that gets me going with this app is if i stay under the calorie count i will 100 percent lose weight... because i don't know how many calories i'm consuming my "what's the point" attitude comes along and i say i might as well enjoy myself and have another bite.... another bite... another bite

meh

chris1816

What is Shabbat and how can I get in on this tons of cakes thing?

shosh413

lol every friday night- saturday is the sabbath (or shabbat). I basically have a thanksgiving dinner every week... funniest thing is saturday night my gym is packed because everyone always overeats on shabbat

WickedBean

What if you scaled back your portions - stick to veggies or smaller portions of everything. Get a notebook, write down what you ate so on monday you can log everything with accuracy, do not be afraid to get out the measuring tools and weigh/measure your food - it may be weird at first but it will get better.

This is your life, you are going to have to learn how to incorporate Shabbat into your lifestyle because it will not just go away. Also, one day will not ruin anything. If you plan for it (you know its coming every week) so in the morning go for a walk/run w/e outside and get some exercise, enjoy your day and then at night go for a walk or something. Maybe not burn all the calories and bring you under calories but it will help.

Shannota

Hmm, that sounds yummy. If your family tends to have the same foods every week, you could plan ahead and check on calorie counts. Maybe push away from the table and take a walk with the family, or just move to the couch...anything to get away from the too yummy foods. Or I guess you could keep a little notebook and write down whatever you eat and then plug it all in the next day. Then you would know how many calories you had anyway...then maybe cut down a bit throughout the rest of the week to make up for it?

dittmarml

I feel your pain.

The only thing that worked for me was to cook for myself. I'd make plenty of something healthy and "potluck" it out if we were at someone else's house, then eat on it - or have it there at the home. Desserts are deadly so I resorted to ordering off the internet - then I discovered Haagen Dazs!! - their U.S. retail grocery products are all OU-D Kosher Certified and their mango sorbet (actually all their sorbets - the latest being their cabernet blackberry - delish!) - are fat free!! So I'd just make sure I hit the grocery store on the way home on Fridays...also Whole Foods sells Ginger Snaps that are almost fat free and Kosher - etc.

Since turning vegan, one really great thing is I don't have to even think about diet anymore -

Good luck!

chris1816

lol every friday night- saturday is the sabbath (or shabbat). I basically have a thanksgiving dinner every week... funniest thing is saturday night my gym is packed because everyone always overeats on shabbat

This explains the crazy awesome feasts I would go to every other week or so at my Israeli friend's place in high school. I think the only thing that countered the awesome eating and drinking in high school was all the rugby I played and the weight lifting.

My advice? Enjoy yourself, to a point.

You clearly have a goal to lose weight and get fit in your mind so just take things in stride and be sensible. Figure out calories to portions as best you can beforehand but don't stress about making up for it after the fact. Learn the art of dinner conversation and taking small, slow bites. Focus on keeping yourself distracted and not stressing about the food. Sample a bit of everything but don't over do it. You're ultimately in control and if you want to get there, the only person that can take you is you.

Don't stress too much over this fitness *kitten*, life is life, once you take the focus off of it you'll find that eating right and being sensible is just an afterthought; not the main event.

Romans624

I agree that maybe you should bring some of your own calculated food. Then, when you get there, choose say 8 foods you want. Then start eliminating foods, or halving the portions, so maybe you have a 1/2 or quarter of a small/medium plate. Make deals with yourself. I'd be kinda miserable watching everyone eat goodies, so I guess try to fill up on the healthy stuff, work out often, and enjoy some of those goodies. Since your plan appears to be moderation, there's no problem with that. Just watch your calories really well the rest of the time and decide day to day what is important to you.


I wish I had a feast like that every week (inner pig talking)... lol.. at the same time it does make it a lot more challenging, at least in the beginning, I am sure.

lisasch67

So I don't do Shabbat, but when Friday rolls around I end up at Happy Hour. What can I say, I like drinking and I like eating and I like doing both with my friends. Inevitably I don't track things because I have had a few drinks and forget exactly what I've eaten and drank. I used to beat myself up for this and I used to deny myself happy hour, but then I was feeling sorry for myself at home on a Friday night, and not laughing with my friends. So I compromised.

I scaled back my portions. I scaled back the drinking. I switch to light beer after the first two drinks. I go wicked hard in the gym Friday mornings. I also go wicked hard in the gym on Sundays or Sat if I am not hungover. I also try to keep my calories low during the week. I haven't lost weight quickly living this lifestyle, but I have lost weight. And for me sitting at home alone skinny and lonely isn't as fun as having just a little padding and being out with my friends.

I get that Shabbat is religious and different, but get in a big calorie burn Friday morning and Sunday if you want eat what's there or just scale back portions. It's really up to you. I get the I'm not tracking so I'm eating whatever mentality, but you can definitely enjoy Shabbat and lose weight..

shosh413

thanks everyone!!! Your suggestions are great!

shosh413

I took your sorbet suggestion! Before shabbat i bought an 100 calorie for 1/2 a cup sorbet and ate it while my family ate a dunkin hines cake haha. it helped though thank you!!

ralevin

So I just saw this after doing a search for "Shabbat." I'm not even sure if the OP is still on MFP, but I thought I'd reply anyway.

I have the exact same problem, but have come to an "understanding" about it.

The easy (and obviously not true) answer is "Calories don't count on Shabbos," but in all seriousness, many people believe in having a cheat day. I strive to be good during the week. Shabbos dinner is in my control usually (we have a little one, so we're always home for it), and for lunch I do my best to be smart. If we're having lunch with close friends, I'm comfortable asking how something was cooked. Whatever we bring is usually okay for me as well. If I'm not close with our hosts (rarely), I look for the most "real" food..... non-breaded chicken, plain-ish veggies, etc. I don't like many kugels, so that helps.

When dessert rolls around, I enjoy one or two (or three or four, if it's the duncan heins double fudge pareve brownies).

Then, when shabbos ends, I assess the damage, and plan my workouts accordingly.

Feel free to friend me. I'm always looking for other jews to shoot these ideas off of.

knitwit0704

I get this soo much. It is so so hard!