Weekends are a no, no!

SloRunner25

I can totally relate. Ended up having a glass of wine and 3 beers and just going buck wild on some nachos on Saturday night. :noway: This week I loaded (and I mean LOADED) the house with good foods and a treat (dark chocolate covered cashews...nomz!). Here's hoping this weekend will be different! :drinker:

Reecebullet

My weekends used to be an issue as well, but mine were because of where I was on weekends (went out drinking with friends). Cut that back to once a month instead and I've had no issues.

On weekends, remind yourself why you want to get healthier and why that's more important than eating/drinking more than you need.

DedeeMarie

Weekends are hard for me too, because I eat at odd times or eat out or drink out more.

I try to keep myself honest by doing two official weigh-ins - Friday and Monday mornings. That way, I weigh in on Friday morning and I feel good about my loss going into the weekend, and all weekend I think - I gotta keep doing well if I'm going to be a success on the scale Monday morning too!

I also try working out first thing on the weekends, so that way I feel good all day about what I've done so far and then I don't want to mess that up either!

As for the actual eating part, I do try to eat a late-ish breakfast. On weekdays I eat at 8 am, and on weekends I try to eat around 10 if I can hold out that long. That helps me too because I feel like I stay up later on weekends and if I eat an early breakfast I feel like I either snack all day or eat a fourth meal!!

Also with eating - if I know I'm going out to eat with a friend, I try to plan ahead. I try to go in knowing what I'm going to order, and if it's not the healthiest thing, then how many calories it is - so I can try to work around it.

It does suck so hard - but you can't be good for five days and then ruin it all on the weekend!! Good luck!

Some great tips here! Weekends are my major problem too! I think it has a lot to do with our routines M-F and then we don't really have one on the weekend so its like my mind has lost control! lol But I like the weighing in on Friday and Monday thing. And eating later in the mornings...That is so true because we do stay up later at night (good tip)

kingkoopaluv

I designate my cheat meal for Sunday so its easier to get through the weekend knowing you have a cheat meal coming up....I think everyone who is human should have 1 - 2 cheat meals a week, it keeps you sane!

gauchogirl

I allow for this by eating really light and using intermittent fasting during the week. I basically aim for around 1200 each M-Th, about 2400 on Friday and 3000 each on Sat and Sun. This is 13,200 for the week, which is the equivalent of 1885 per day, which is still a deficit for me, so I still lose. And I don't drink alcohol though, so I don't have to worry about that taking any of my calories.

Nissi51

This is one if the reasons people see little to no results. No doubt about it- weekends are TOUGH!!!

Really, you need to make a choice and PLAN. You cannot go into the weekend without deciding what you will have and won't have! Give yourself a treat, but know what the treat(s) is/are and STICK to the plan! Also, start considering Saturday and Sunday as part of your week, those two days are just as important as all the others. At the end if the day...it's how bad do you want to achieve your goals?? No one ever died from saying no to a cookie.

I jUST posted below on my page this past Saturday as I knew it would be another challenging weekend:

"Good Morning! It's challenge time: the weekend (the last set!). On average we take in 10-20% additional calories over the next two days and its usually fat and alcohol that make up the calories. It's the two days that often negate the efforts made during the week.. and then we wonder why the scale aint moving or the pipes aint piping! Let's PLAN to win and not wait until Monday to "get back on track"! Strategically consume your treats and extra calories so that train keeps moving - right on track! Consider saturday and sunday as part of your week in terms of nutrition and end strong - its like the last set!!! Have a great weekend everyone & lets get er' done!!!!"

tinydancer4

Me too!! I'm always a lot more happy and carefree at the weekends as I don't have to work - sometimes that translates into thinking I can just eat whatever I want. I find making sure I'm a little bit under during the week helps, so I can save up a few extra calories for the weekend.

Also, I find if I can avoid drinking too much alcohol I'm usually ok - but once I've had that 3rd glass of wine, I've no willpower to resist that cake!

Feel free to add me if you want weekend support.

rumplesnat

Plan ahead. Eat a bit under calories a day or 2 during the week and bump up your exercise a few days if you know you'll be indulging a bit over the weekend to compensate. Continue to get activity in on the weekend and track to keep yourself aware.

Fefe_Marie

Okay, so here's what I do. MFP's goal calories for myself is 1310. On days that I work out, I usually try to eat around 1400, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. I usually work out mostly during the week, so I give myself more leeway on the weekends. That can mean, I don't work out, I go a little bit over my goal, I don't eat home-cooked meals (i.e. I get chinese food, or pizza), OR a combination of all of those!

In my opinion, the key is to "cheat" in moderation. If you're craving something that is not normally in your diet, then go ahead and have it. BUT just make sure that you don't go overboard. Also, something that helps me, is planning. I knew I was going to a happy hour, so I looked up the restaurant, found the wine that I was going to have and added a generous amount to my diary. Then I worked the rest of my food around that.

That being said, it seems to me that this is something that most people struggle with! Just this weekend, I had late night eating, no exercise and a Red Robin wrap that sent me 900 calories over, to contend with! (If I would have known that it was that many calories, I wouldn't have eaten it!) Trust me, you are not alone!

jofjltncb6

Is it because you're trying to adhere to too great of a daily calorie deficit?

thedietpilot

While I look forward to weekends because of the time off from work, I HATE weekends for the challenges they provide to my dieting efforts. I'm used to being able to track my food when I'm eating at home. But eating out at restaurants or at other peoples' homes is a challenge. And it is hard to say no to all the unhealthy foods (since there are rarely any "healthy" foods on the menu) when out at social gatherings.

During the weekdays, it's easy to stay within my daily calorie goals, but on weekends, I faithfully continue to track, only to find my numbers doubling or tripling my daily calorie limit. I HATE seeing MyFitnessPal tell me that "if every day were like today, I would be X pounds HEAVIER"!

Need some advice / help / motivation with this regard.

lizfiz50

I say go for portion control and avoid grazing! I mess up on both those things.... like this weekend for example! feel like I undid 3 weeks of progress on 2 days!

Nicolee_2014

I'm the same & sometimes it goes into the week as well :grumble:

squatsandlipgloss

I have the same, but I don't find it to be a problem. If I am really strict during the week, I can easily lose weight on and on even though on weekends I eat like *kitten*.

glovepuppet

calculate your maintenace calories. if you eat up to there then you won't ''undo'' progress. you just won't make progress for those two days. 5/7 days isn't a bad ratio.

jdhoward_101

Weekends are definitely the worst for me too, as i have no routine to keep me in check.

I try to plan what i'm doing before the weekend; the people i'll be seeing, the places we'll be visiting, the pubs, the restaurants, etc. This way i can think about and plan exactly what i'm going to eat, or at least how many calories i should save for each 'occasion'.

Otherwise i just try and keep as busy as possible, even if it's just tidying the flat or finding an excuse to walk up to the supermarket, to keep my mind off of all the yummy things i could be eating, (i do manage to exercise self restraint pretty well once i'm in the supermarket), and burn calories at the same time.

lauren3101

You don't 'need' a cheat day. I hate the term 'cheat day'.

I often find the weekends easier as I am normally quite busy so in truth I forget to eat sometimes, then I end up with my whole days allowance for dinner - happy days! There are plenty of ways you can watch the calories though.

1. Save some over the week! As long as you are hitting your weekly deficit it doesn't matter when you eat them (although I would recommend not seriously undereating Mon - Fri). Saving 200 a day gives you an extra 1000 over the weekend - more than enough for a meal or drinks out.
2. If you are going for a drink, switch to spirits rather than beer/wine. It's much lower in calories.
3. Get an extra workout in on the day and earn the extra cals.
4. If you are going for a meal, pre-plan. Take the time to look up the menu and the calorie counts if they are avaliable, or if you are going for something generic like a curry, google the low calorie options. There's plenty of info there to help you.
5. If you are going to something like a party where you know there will be food, eat dinner before you go. I normally find I am most tempted when I let myself get hungry.

Hope some of those help.

coreyreichle

If it's an overly concerning issue with weekends, just make up for it with exercise. Ate a feast on Friday night? Do a 10 mile bike ride. Hit up the club Saturday? Go for a 5 mile walk on Sunday.

redrumrhapsody

Usually my weekend slides off with a combination of eating horribly, alcohol, and lack of motivation to exercise. Best way I've been trying to curb those is if I go out, I look up the menu before I even get to the restaurant and choose what I'll order and be the first to order so no one else's choice sways me. I still indulge a bit, but instead of drinking pint after pint of microbrews like I usually do, I've been getting things like cucumber mojitos or vodka club with a splash of juice and fresh fruit for flavor. As far as weekend exercise, EVERYONE deserves one day to rest. If I wake up lazy on saturday I just tell myself "just today then I have off tomorrow'

Weekends are rough but it's all mind control. You got this!!!

fakeuntilumakeit

Enjoy your treat day just don't go stupid crazy overboard, I've cut out alcohol which makes a big difference for me so I don't feel so bad if I eat more chocolate, or have the odd takeaway. I struggle with being good on the weekend but have found it hasn't decreased my loss for the week.

Good tactic, if your out with friends say in a pub/club then hit the dance floor solid for 30 minutes, you'll fancy water rather than that wine and will have done a good workout. If its the bbq, fill up on all the salad stuff first, you'll probably feel too full for the bread/pasta binge. If you've got time with the kids (get to the park and join in the runabout with them). Shopping about town, you'll be surprised how far you've walked without thinking about it.

I used to feel guilty, but found my weigh in has remained stable so even with a big buffet binge, my hard work in the week has paid off, it is far more than I used to do . I can be good all week purely because I know I can have treats on the weekend. A permanent diet is NOOOOOOOOOOOOO fun. If your in it for the longhaul then you'll probably find eating correct portion size in the week will make you more aware of not overeating as much as maybe you would have before starting a healthy lifestyle. At least that's what I tell myself

csuhar

One thing that helps me (and frustrates me, at times) is that I don't have a lot of ready-to-eat food. There's pretty much nothing I can simply unwrap and eat. Because there is preparation involved, it forces me to think "do I REALLY want to eat this, or is there something else going on".

It doesn't stop me from eating, but it does force me to think about it some more.

xjckemx

I get to the weekend and its like a switch goes on" eat as much as you can"!!! The only way I can kinda of make it better is by saving a few calories from the week. I tend to keep eye on the weekly total now rather than daily. Whilst losing I never went over weekly total despite having bad weekends. However I'm trying to maintain and I've put a llb on already!!! But I love my weekends where the rules are relaxed!!!

thedietpilot

calculate your maintenace calories. if you eat up to there then you won't ''undo'' progress. you just won't make progress for those two days. 5/7 days isn't a bad ratio.

Good suggestion! Calculate what my "maintenance calories" would be for the day, and try to stay under that, on the days on which I anticipate that I'll be in a precarious social situation with exposure to all kinds of bad foods.

thedietpilot

I get to the weekend and its like a switch goes on" eat as much as you can"!!! The only way I can kinda of make it better is by saving a few calories from the week. I tend to keep eye on the weekly total now rather than daily. Whilst losing I never went over weekly total despite having bad weekends. However I'm trying to maintain and I've put a llb on already!!! But I love my weekends where the rules are relaxed!!!

Hmm... I did discover that MyFitnessPal lets you track weekly calorie goals as well as daily. This might be an interesting approach to consider.... to at least ensure that you stay within your weekly target by having some really good days during the week to offset the really bad days during the weekends. Interesting idea!

bunnies26

Weekend here....I feel it is my first hurdle. I always used my weight watchers points to binge on alcohol during the football games.

michybeans

I think this is one of the biggest struggles living in North America with our food culture, and trying to lose weight at the same time! A few of my friends and coworkers make fun of me for my healthy eating choices (yeah, mature, right) but I just remind myself I am the only one in my body and what I am working for. It helps a bit. I do feel a bit like I'm having no fun but I just try and remind myself what I'm working towards... Hope that helps.

Also I think a big thing that helps me is trying to plan meals as much as possible. If you know you are going out later that night with friends, have a light breakky and lunch to help absorb some of those extra calories later... Or if friends suggest going out for dinner, suggest going for a walk afterwards or something active... I don't know, just some thoughts.

Remember to keep your eyes on the prize!

bunnies26

Thank you so much for the advice, support, and encouragement. It really helps. I feel "lighter" just being fully commited to my choice!:bigsmile:

veggiehottie

Yes. Weekends. I work my *kitten* off all week and then "erase" all of the hard work over the weekend. One big vicious cycle. Grrrrrrrrr!

bunnies26

What they were saying above about staying under a "weekly calorie" goal seems like a good idea......