What's your strategy?
prettynotpretty
Posts: 193
One of the struggles I've had in the process of losing weight is conquering the...WEEKEND.
We all tend to do great through the week--we hit our calorie goals, get our work outs in, drink all our water--but then the weekend comes along and BAM, it all goes out the door. Once we're thrown off our routine...we get off track a bit.
So...being the determined person I'd like to think I am...I wanted to figure out a way to not let my weekends screw it up for me. What I decided was that Monday mornings would be my weigh-in day/time. First thing. This has totally helped me in getting through my weekends without going off the deep end. Knowing that I have to weigh myself Monday morning, I am way more inclined to get my work outs in and stay under my calorie goals on the weekend because I want to see that number on the scale go DOWN come Monday morning. It mentally puts me in a place where I'm being conscious of what foods I choose while on the go and it forces me to find the time to exercise.
I noticed that many others have the same struggle, so I wanted to share that little tip--maybe it might work for someone else.
With that being said -- What are some tips or awesome strategies that you all use to help you get through this process? Or any weight loss tips in general. All advice welcome, we all have room to learn much more than we already know.
We all tend to do great through the week--we hit our calorie goals, get our work outs in, drink all our water--but then the weekend comes along and BAM, it all goes out the door. Once we're thrown off our routine...we get off track a bit.
So...being the determined person I'd like to think I am...I wanted to figure out a way to not let my weekends screw it up for me. What I decided was that Monday mornings would be my weigh-in day/time. First thing. This has totally helped me in getting through my weekends without going off the deep end. Knowing that I have to weigh myself Monday morning, I am way more inclined to get my work outs in and stay under my calorie goals on the weekend because I want to see that number on the scale go DOWN come Monday morning. It mentally puts me in a place where I'm being conscious of what foods I choose while on the go and it forces me to find the time to exercise.
I noticed that many others have the same struggle, so I wanted to share that little tip--maybe it might work for someone else.
With that being said -- What are some tips or awesome strategies that you all use to help you get through this process? Or any weight loss tips in general. All advice welcome, we all have room to learn much more than we already know.
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Replies
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Oh wow! That's a great strategy because the weekends are so cruel to me. I have no strategy , but I will try that. Thanks so much!0
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I have to avoid going anywhere with my husband and kids. It's always ice cream or some other evil. I am not one who can just splurge one day and get back on track. I tend to fall right off the wagon.0
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I have to avoid going anywhere with my husband and kids. It's always ice cream or some other evil. I am not one who can just splurge one day and get back on track. I tend to fall right off the wagon.
Oh, honey I know! Ice cream is a tough one. Do you have frozen yogurt places? Those can be better options. Kids size w/ a fruit topping? It's really good, and while it's not REAL ice cream, it tends to hit the spot for me.0 -
Good strategy! Keep it up your doin great and will continue to do so. I just dont get hungry anymore, I have had to bump up 300 calories because I was only eating 900 calories a day. This has also caused a complication with my vitamins because my extra calories come from leafy greens and its taking my iron too high. ill figure it out after today just gotta get through this damn speech! Keep up the great work. you are already beautiful inside and out, once you get where your comfortable you will undoubtly shine brighter than the stars (not the fake hollywood ones)0
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We have frozen yogurt places here. But they still ruin me. I am totally weak. I can't say I am not ashamed of how easily I can ruin my whole effort.I have to avoid going anywhere with my husband and kids. It's always ice cream or some other evil. I am not one who can just splurge one day and get back on track. I tend to fall right off the wagon.
Oh, honey I know! Ice cream is a tough one. Do you have frozen yogurt places? Those can be better options. Kids size w/ a fruit topping? It's really good, and while it's not REAL ice cream, it tends to hit the spot for me.0 -
I so struggle with the weekends. It seems like all my hard work during the week is completely negated by my poor weekend decisions.
I recently started running so doing my long runs on sunday gives me the motivation to stay on track on friday and saturday. Setting a fitness goal on the weekend helps me fight the urges so that run isn't so hard.
I like the idea of doing a weigh in. Mighy incorporate those into a monday night routine! thanks0 -
Good strategy! Keep it up your doin great and will continue to do so. I just dont get hungry anymore, I have had to bump up 300 calories because I was only eating 900 calories a day. This has also caused a complication with my vitamins because my extra calories come from leafy greens and its taking my iron too high. ill figure it out after today just gotta get through this damn speech! Keep up the great work. you are already beautiful inside and out, once you get where your comfortable you will undoubtly shine brighter than the stars (not the fake hollywood ones)
Thank you, you're very sweet! Get enough calories to fuel your body my dear 0 -
I so struggle with the weekends. It seems like all my hard work during the week is completely negated by my poor weekend decisions.
I recently started running so doing my long runs on sunday gives me the motivation to stay on track on friday and saturday. Setting a fitness goal on the weekend helps me fight the urges so that run isn't so hard.
I like the idea of doing a weigh in. Mighy incorporate those into a monday night routine! thanks
I so struggled with them too--before I decided to use the Monday weigh-in strategy. It might not work for everyone, but it did for me. We can handle those weekends!! Psshh they don't have any power anymore!! Good luck girl!0 -
I joined a group on here and their weigh in's are mondays, so this strategy was happily forced on me. It does work!!!
On a related note, it helped me resist temptation all weekend. I actually sat next to my daughter as she ate a foot long coney, fries and cherry vanilla Dr Pepper.0 -
We have frozen yogurt places here. But they still ruin me. I am totally weak. I can't say I am not ashamed of how easily I can ruin my whole effort.I have to avoid going anywhere with my husband and kids. It's always ice cream or some other evil. I am not one who can just splurge one day and get back on track. I tend to fall right off the wagon.
Oh, honey I know! Ice cream is a tough one. Do you have frozen yogurt places? Those can be better options. Kids size w/ a fruit topping? It's really good, and while it's not REAL ice cream, it tends to hit the spot for me.
It's so easy to do! For example..I have this problem with peanut butter. I can't even have a little, because I will devour large amounts of it. It's inevitable. I love it--and it rules me. Sometimes, it's better to not have any at all, as sad as that can be. Just keep your goal in mind and remember that the ice cream is only in front of your face temporarily. It will be eaten up in a few minutes, and gone. Choosing not to eat it only adds to your strength. You can do it! 0 -
I joined a group on here and their weigh in's are mondays, so this strategy was happily forced on me. It does work!!!
On a related note, it helped me resist temptation all weekend. I actually sat next to my daughter as she ate a foot long coney, fries and cherry vanilla Dr Pepper.
Great Idea! I gain everything I lose during the week on the weekends.0 -
I joined a group on here and their weigh in's are mondays, so this strategy was happily forced on me. It does work!!!
On a related note, it helped me resist temptation all weekend. I actually sat next to my daughter as she ate a foot long coney, fries and cherry vanilla Dr Pepper.
WOW! Impressive! You rock! Hmm..maybe I need to join this group?0 -
It seems like there is always some kind of "special" occasion that I could use to justify eating a ton. Holidays, bridal showers, family outings, a date with my husband, or dinner guests, it all seems to happen on the weekend. And our family has had a Friday Night pizza and movie night for so long, and no one else wants to say good bye to that.
So I try to log my weekend ahead of time, planning on not being perfect. I log the treats I want ahead of time, as well as the meals I think I might have. Sometimes, we end up having different treats, but if I plan for them ahead of time, I can usually adjust portions of everything to make it not as bad as it would have been had I not been recording. And often times, when the treat that I already logged and gave myself permission to eat is in front of me, I realize I no longer want it the way I did when I "couldn't" have it. So I make a slightly better choice, or skip the treat, and by the end of the day my food diary shows me under on calories instead of the overage that showed at the start of the day.
I am not perfect by any means, and definitely still have treats on the weekend, and pizza on Friday night. But I almost wish I had a second diary going, the food diary of what would have been had I eaten every bite of food and treat that I would have justified in the past. That would show that even if I don't lose weight on the weekend, I maintained instead of gaining, and that is on the right track (even if it slow).0 -
That's such a great strategy. I am so bad on the weekends because that's usually when I see my family and friends. The week is mostly dedicated to schoolwork and gym time so it's much easier to stay on track! Being around people who work out and try to eat healthy helps though. If I'm with my sister on the weekends, I do worse since we are celebrating being together, but since she is a health freak too, I don't do nearly as badly as I would with my friends (who are all not health conscious whatsoever.) It's definitely a "surround yourself with positive influences" kind of thing for me.0
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That is really a good idea. Thanks for posting this!0
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It seems like there is always some kind of "special" occasion that I could use to justify eating a ton. Holidays, bridal showers, family outings, a date with my husband, or dinner guests, it all seems to happen on the weekend. And our family has had a Friday Night pizza and movie night for so long, and no one else wants to say good bye to that.
So I try to log my weekend ahead of time, planning on not being perfect. I log the treats I want ahead of time, as well as the meals I think I might have. Sometimes, we end up having different treats, but if I plan for them ahead of time, I can usually adjust portions of everything to make it not as bad as it would have been had I not been recording. And often times, when the treat that I already logged and gave myself permission to eat is in front of me, I realize I no longer want it the way I did when I "couldn't" have it. So I make a slightly better choice, or skip the treat, and by the end of the day my food diary shows me under on calories instead of the overage that showed at the start of the day.
I am not perfect by any means, and definitely still have treats on the weekend, and pizza on Friday night. But I almost wish I had a second diary going, the food diary of what would have been had I eaten every bite of food and treat that I would have justified in the past. That would show that even if I don't lose weight on the weekend, I maintained instead of gaining, and that is on the right track (even if it slow).
I like your strategy of planning ahead. I think the appeal of things is much greater when we cannot have them. So, I believe you when you say, once it's in front of you you end up not wanting it or eating less of it. Great way of thinking, and awesome job on being able to incorporate foods you love within your calorie limits!! You go girl!0 -
That's such a great strategy. I am so bad on the weekends because that's usually when I see my family and friends. The week is mostly dedicated to schoolwork and gym time so it's much easier to stay on track! Being around people who work out and try to eat healthy helps though. If I'm with my sister on the weekends, I do worse since we are celebrating being together, but since she is a health freak too, I don't do nearly as badly as I would with my friends (who are all not health conscious whatsoever.) It's definitely a "surround yourself with positive influences" kind of thing for me.
You hit it on the nose! You are who you surround yourself with! If you're around someone who eats healthy, you will too. If you're around people who eat crap, you'll be more inclined to join them. I DEFINITELY agree with you--surround yourself with positive influences! Brilliant!0 -
Thanks for the tip!! Monday weigh ins might work for me. I need to do something to keep myself on track on the weekends, I blow all the hard work I do during the week out the window on the weekend. Going to try doing Monday weigh ins!0
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Weekends are hard. I love the Monday morning weigh in. I just try and modify. If I know I'm going out for lunch I make sure my breakfast and dinner are normal weekday meals. I skip the frys, the sodas etc. That being said I'm not perfect but I don't expect my life to be perfect. I do my best. And I try to get good workouts in and some walking too.0
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Thanks for the tip!! Monday weigh ins might work for me. I need to do something to keep myself on track on the weekends, I blow all the hard work I do during the week out the window on the weekend. Going to try doing Monday weigh ins!
Good luck girl!! I hope it helps Weight loss is totally mental (in my opinion), you can do it! 0 -
Weekends are where I slack too but i do try to get it at least one strenuous workout session over the weekend. Tho this weekend I spent about 8 hours on yardwork so thats all i did. I need to get back on track!
I dont usually bother logging my food on the weekend but i try not to overdo it. Last night i took my daughter to see a movie and she and I shared a popcorn and each had an Icee. So that was "dinner" for me. I dont even want to know how many calories that was!0 -
doesn't really matter for me. everyday is pretty much the same. i'm here and some days some of my kids are in school.
but I home school my oldest, and I'm almost always home. the few times I am out or with family I do like canuck, above me, and
use moderation. make the best choices I can, and try to only eat what is worth it to me. Once a year gumbo is on that short list
just enjoy myself and eat less rice.0 -
That's better than my idea...weigh in on Friday's right before I mess up 0
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That's better than my idea...weigh in on Friday's right before I mess up
Lol...yes. I think it might be 0 -
I have such a hard time on weekends... especially when my kiddos are gone cuz we like to let our hair down and have drinks and such... we go dancing and hiking and so the excersize part isnt what I worry about... but I do like my drinks... LOL... and I KNOW that kills me.... its not every weekend tho so I dont fret about it too much.... My hardest thing is staying on track when everyone is home. During the week... everyone is gone at work and school so my breakfast and lunch routine is diff than theirs and then we all do dinner together. On the weekends I tend to want to munch on whatever they are all eating more..... Its hard but little steps and increasing will power will help us all prevail!!! 0
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I'm getting into the groove of calorie counting, and it's really helped me make choices on the weeknd. While I still splurge, I do keep a ballpark of what I eat and it's almost always within my calorie goal which has been really nice.
I'm usually doing errands, or housework, or meeting with friends so I actually don't eat as often as I do throughout the week when I'm just sitting at my desk. The ability to go outside when I want a snack, does wonders for my temptation.0 -
I either stay busy or read in bed.
This works because I don't allow food in my bedroom. Admittedly, my kids are grown now, but when they were small, starting around 1st grade for the oldest one, we'd have a reading time for at least a couple of hours (the younger child played quietly instead of reading before he learned how, or I'd read aloud to him). Restful for me and good for them (both my kids liked reading, though).
Don't read on if you are easily grossed out:
The reason I don't allow food in the bedroom is the time I was on an ER rotation during nursing school and (I warned you) we had a child come in who had a cockroach stuck deep in her ear. According to that ER doctor, it was not all that unusual to have roaches prowl your bed if you leave any crumbs behind...and ears look like good places to hide! OMG I will never eat in bed again, EVER, or even have food in my bedroom. We had to wash that insect out and it took forever because you can't just jet water into the ear, and that thing was wedged deep in the wax and stuck in the ear canal.
While my house is clean, with no bugs (and it's a lot easier to keep them out of your house than it is an apartment), this is still something that really left a big impression on me, and not something I ever want to personally experience!0
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