Weekend Gain - Getting Discourgaed

bwdcjk

I am sooooo tired of regaining weight on the weekends. I know that usually it's because of bad food choices on my part. But lately I have been continuing to work out on the weekends (even still driving in to my workplace to do it) and this weekend, even though my husband & I eat out every Friday night and I had a went to a patio party last night, I stayed under my calorie count both times and I still gained. I swear I would be at my goal weight by now if I didn't have to keep re-losing 2 - 3 lbs every week. Why am I gaining if I am still working out and staying under my calorie goal? That is the same thing I do during the week and lose. Heck I ate McDonald's for supper 3 nights last week and still lost weight (was under my calorie goal). I guess the only difference I can think of, the last two weekends, is alcohol. Over-indulging in a few too many beers last weekend is what made me more committed to not gaining on weekends anymore and I only had two 8 ounces beer-itas last night - so not over-indulgent but now that I think about it I did forgot to log those drink calories. Ok but still gonna put it out there...what else...in addition to no drinking...can I do to stop this weekend gain?

78Octane

Many will disagree with me on this, but if you are deadset on losing weight, you need to stop with alcohol consumption. Alcohol does nothing for you nutritiously, and is the first to burn off instead of fat. Sure, you can still lose weight while drinking beer, but don't be surpirsed when it takes double the amount of time.

mirandamayhem

Many will disagree with me on this, but if you are deadset on losing weight, you need to stop with alcohol consumption. Alcohol does nothing for you nutritiously, and is the first to burn off instead of fat. Sure, you can still lose weight while drinking beer, but don't be surpirsed when it takes double the amount of time.

I hate to say it, but I agree. Dammit! (But theres wine in the fridge, it's the first day of summer, and I'll discover a million other excuses to drink before the day is over!)

bwdcjk

I agree as well about the alcohol consumption but I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have drank since starting my weight loss journey on nearly 5 months ago. I am not in denial, I know it's a factor, but I also do not drink regularly at all in any way shape or form.

Barbellerella

Did you consider that you might be gaining and regaining the same water weight every week, not fat? Restaurants add tons of sodium to their food, even if you stay within your calorie goal, you could easily add 1-2 pounds water weight, that would take a few days to get rid of. I doubt its fat, it takes 7000 calories ABOVE maintenance calories to gain 2 pounds of fat.

78Octane

I agree as well about the alcohol consumption but I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have drank since starting my weight loss journey on nearly 5 months ago. I am not in denial, I know it's a factor, but I also do not drink regularly at all in any way shape or form.

5 months?

That is about -1.5 pounds consistantly per week. I would say that is a great accomplishment. You're doing something right. Drink on!

rebeccasedwards

I do the same thing. We eat out more during the weekends then I spend the first part of the week getting it off. I have being doing better about gaining the last couple of weekends. I exercise everyday to help at least an hour. Yes alcohol has calories. I've cut them out basically now.

lowpro1983

Also, make sure that you are logging as accurately as possible - when I drank alcohol before, I never logged it (thinking it couldn't make that much of a difference), but in actuality, it does matter. When you start to account for EVERYTHING that you consume, you might change your mind about consuming it. I agree with the sodium content too - if I know that I have gone over my sodium levels, I try not to get discouraged by what the scale says the next day.

I understand what you are saying though - the weekends can be tough. Consistency works.

Good luck!!!!

tlblood

Agree on the alcohol, but also make sure you are drinking tons of water when you eat out or eat processed foods to wash out the sodium that will make you retain water.

goldfinger88

There may be several things at play. You do need to stop the alcohol. It has nothing to recommend it and is full of calories and junk. Fit people don't need to drink.

Also, I don't know how often you weigh in. But once a week is all you need and it should be in the morning at about the same time each week. Weight fluctuates widely throughout the day and each day. You look young so you have hormones at play too.

Also, you may not be getting enough calories and you may not be eating quality foods. You need about equal amounts of good protein from meats, good carbs and fats.

Also, weight gain is seldom fat when it happens like yours does. It's water in most cases. So, drink a lot of water and green tea. Also, we tend to weigh more the day and the day after a workout. That's because water gets into the muscle.

mirandamayhem

My other thought was the water retention thing. If your food is significantly different at the weekend it could be enough to undo your hard work of the week.

onyxgirl17

You cannot gain or lose pounds in a day or two unless you are talking about overconsuming or underconsuming by 3500-7000 calories in one day. Some people I guess can do this but it's unfathomable for most, and you said you are not eating up to your MFP goal, so it's just water retention. It could also be you are either underestimating your calories or your metabolism is slower than normal.

bwdcjk

I had not thought about it being water weight rather than fat lbs so that makes me feel a little better. Also I am not as diligent about drinking water on the weekends. It's not so much that I drink something else, just dont drink as much of anything overall on the weekends. At work during the week, I always have a 32 oz glass of ice water on my desk that I am working on. Need to start doing that at home too.