How do you guys manage to stay on track during weekends?

Weekends are tough, especially because that's when I socialize and indulge. Three things have helped: 1) weekend workouts. Gives me more calories to work with. 2) checking restaurant menus and making decisions before I go out. 3) don't buy into the theory of free days. There are no free days! Free days make people think its ok to have whatever and how much they want. Don't be afraid to treat yourself every once in awhile (the more you deny, the weaker it makes your will), but set your limits before you indulge and log the calories first! Good luck on your fitness journey.

I go to the gym first thing each day so I get that out of the way.

As far as eating during social occasions, I don't deprive myself, but I don't overdo it either. Why does it have to be "all or nothing"?

I workout Monday through Friday and count calories Monday through Saturday.

On Sunday, I don't count or exercise, but I don't go crazy either.. I just let myself eat the extra slice of bread or have a bottle of beer or glass of wine or maybe dessert, but I don't binge.

I think if I deprived myself completely I would end up cheating a little every day, so if I give myself a day off from worrying about it all then I feel rewarded for my efforts.

Planning a head.
I don't get take aways, being poor and such, but on days I know I'm going out I try to pre-log in the morning when I wake up.
Starting the day with focus helps me stay focused the rest of the day.

I also mainly sleep on my weekends, so...you know, it's a struggle. >.>

I agree, it is super hard on the weekend. I'm really lazy so if I don't have something pre-prepared, I'll binge on junk.
My first rule is that I don't buy junk. No biscuits. No chips/crisps. No chocolate (i buy Cacao powder & would have to make brownies from scratch). No processed junk. So it's hard to get a quick fix. The worst I could do is make a low fat chai latte or hot chocolate, or a spoon of peanut butter & that's not too bad.

Every Sunday, I cook 2-3 (vegetarian) meals and some veg side dishes and prepare quinoa or brown rice. Then I make up a weeks worth of portion controlled dishes so that I don't HAVE to cook when I get home late and don't feel like cooking at all.
I also have a juicer so I can make a healthy juice, or fresh fruit on hand for a quick snack.

The same works for the weekend. I can either cook enough to spare through Saturday and add something else to it to make it feel a bit 'cheaty' on the weekend i.e. have a healthy dinner and make a protein dessert (see www.proteinpow.com for awesome recipes).
OR I buy Weis icecream bars which are very little calories each and my husband have one Saturday & Sunday for dessert.
Its a lovely treat but each bar is portion controlled and I think around 180cals so not naughty at all!

I also know the healthy take out options (Japanese is very healthy... Indian is not) so I make the right choices where I go.
If i'm going to a restaurant for a friends birthday/function, I check their website ahead of time and decide based on assumed calories once punched into myfitnesspal, what i'm going to order- then I am not tempted to give in and grab something super-size or unclean.
Believe me, it's all about willpower. and my problem is I LOVE FOOD!!!
Hope this helps.

I just go with it. I just stay at a deficit during the week which will allow me to loosen the reins a bit during the weekends. I don't gorge myself, but I allow myself that chocolate bar and the pizza. I also make sure I'm getting a good workout in on those days and drinking lots of water.

Easy, it's just another day. Nothing should change on a weekend.

So my question, how do I stop piling crap into my mouth EVERY weekend, how do I break this habit? I don't know how to eat in moderation, it's all or nothing.

You listed chocolate bars. I would suggest taking one, breaking it into thirds and giving the parts to a supporter of your plan. Ask them to only give you one each day. Commit to not buying more.

I workout in the pool swimming laps at six am every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This reminds me how much food "costs" in terms of my weight.

If you are eating well five days a week, then you have half the battle licked. Tell those around you that you're in food rehab and to not eat tempting stuff around you. You're an addict, so they need to take their drugs (junk food) away from you.

I had to do the same. Research foods and journal them BEFORE they go in your mouth.

If I know I'm going out on sat. or sun., I journal the whole meal on Friday, so that I know what adjustments to make during those days. Then, the only thing is sticking to your decided plan and portion size.

Friend me if you would like to. I'm glad to help along your path.

Jan

Actually I'd suggest just not buying the crap you put in your mouth & try some damn willpower. If you can't even stop buying it then why bother asking how to stop eating it?

Because we live in a world where this stuff is abundantly available. We have to conquer it's power over us. We do that by not saying "never" but saying, "this much and no more, right now".

Actually I'd suggest just not buying the crap you put in your mouth & try some damn willpower. If you can't even stop buying it then why bother asking how to stop eating it?

Because we live in a world where this stuff is abundantly available. We have to conquer it's power over us. We do that by not saying "never" but saying, "this much and no more, right now".

It may be available but you are not forced to buy it. That becomes your own doing. No point in asking how to stop eating it if you can't even not buy it.

Actually I'd suggest just not buying the crap you put in your mouth & try some damn willpower. If you can't even stop buying it then why bother asking how to stop eating it?

Because we live in a world where this stuff is abundantly available. We have to conquer it's power over us. We do that by not saying "never" but saying, "this much and no more, right now".

It may be available but you are not forced to buy it. That becomes your own doing. No point in asking how to stop eating it if you can't even not buy it.

It's not always that easy when you live with others who will buy it and have it in the house.

My partner used to be a body builder too and he has the mindset that I can eat whatever I want in the weekends because that's what he used to do when he was training, It's really hard to turn down food that has been made for you by someone who means well but has no idea.
It has taken me a lot of small changes to get me to the point where I can have all those bad treats in my house and only indulge in moderation. I still struggle on the weekends but I try to exercise more and have those treats but in much smaller servings. I will occasionally have takeaways but a small portion and plan my other meals and exercise around it. The biggest battle is getting over the all or nothing. I've tried just eating clean and it doesn't work for me. I restrict nothing from my diet even during the week but try to create a balance. Small changes work better long term than just cutting everything out. I think those that are "on a diet" are way more likely to gain it all back than those who make positive lifestyle changes over time. I have a sweet tooth and will never stop eating lollies and chocolate so I don't try. I restrict them to what my calories allow and make sure i'm eating good things as well. and getting plenty of exercise.

One thing that I do, in a home with my husband, two teen boys and a nine year old daughter (who tend to eat whatever they choose) is to make sure that on weekends, I put my workout as top priority.

We might have family commitments -- that means I need to swim laps for my hour at 6 or 7 am.

As soon as I've finished my swim, a switch gets flipped that says, "THIS is why you're eating right."

At that point, even the most tempting things (and I won't post them here and risk triggering you all), become less attractive in light of preserving my routine.

Sure, I could workout again, but it's not good for me, at this point, to put two hours in the pool just to allow binges. That makes the exercise a purge and cuts down the time I have for muscle recovery.

Jan

Actually I'd suggest just not buying the crap you put in your mouth & try some damn willpower. If you can't even stop buying it then why bother asking how to stop eating it?

Because we live in a world where this stuff is abundantly available. We have to conquer it's power over us. We do that by not saying "never" but saying, "this much and no more, right now".

It may be available but you are not forced to buy it. That becomes your own doing. No point in asking how to stop eating it if you can't even not buy it.

It's not always that easy when you live with others who will buy it and have it in the house.

My partner used to be a body builder too and he has the mindset that I can eat whatever I want in the weekends because that's what he used to do when he was training, It's really hard to turn down food that has been made for you by someone who means well but has no idea.
It has taken me a lot of small changes to get me to the point where I can have all those bad treats in my house and only indulge in moderation. I still struggle on the weekends but I try to exercise more and have those treats but in much smaller servings. I will occasionally have takeaways but a small portion and plan my other meals and exercise around it. The biggest battle is getting over the all or nothing. I've tried just eating clean and it doesn't work for me. I restrict nothing from my diet even during the week but try to create a balance. Small changes work better long term than just cutting everything out. I think those that are "on a diet" are way more likely to gain it all back than those who make positive lifestyle changes over time. I have a sweet tooth and will never stop eating lollies and chocolate so I don't try. I restrict them to what my calories allow and make sure i'm eating good things as well. and getting plenty of exercise.

Yeah it is. Try living with 2 adult males. Easy to not eat it. There is constant ice cream, chocolate & chips. Hell... there is even always my fave cookies. Have not touched them once. Easy.

Using the fact others buy it for themselves & then that forces you to eat it really is a pathetic excuse. Once again.... you are not forced to eat it at all.

To be honest, I SUCK on the weekends due to a lack of planning.

For example, I was out of town all day on a one day road trip. I ate terribly.

Had I planned better, I could have avoided it.

I have gotten better in regards to the weekends but it is easy to fall into an eating pit.

Damage control works for me; I might go over but I am not blowing my intake out of the water.