How to stop bingeing at the weekend

Hi all. Please please please can you give me some suggestions on how to be good at the weekend? I feel so stupid asking this as the answer is very clearly "stop eating so much" but come Friday night/Saturday I literally have no self control. This is really hindering my weight loss as all my hard work at the gym and watching what I eat during the week just gets counteracted by my eating at the weekend, and I have only lost 2lbs in over 3 months.

Thanks in advance :)

Replies

  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    What I notice right off the bat is that you don't log your food consistently, and when you do log, your calories tend to be very low. If your diary is accurate, I don't think you're eating enough, and that may be contributing to your need to binge.
    I recommend making sure that your weight loss goals and calorie goals are sustainable. What is your height, current weight, and goal weight? You may find that if you give your body more fuel, you'll feel more satisfied overall and won't feel the need to go overboard on the weekend.
    Once you find a calorie amount that is right for you, my other piece of advice is to log everything you eat every day. If you're giving your body the proper fuel and nutrition it needs and still feel like you want to binge on the weekends, logging everything may make you more conscious of what you're actually eating and might slow you down a bit.
  • ffhsanfran
    ffhsanfran Posts: 63 Member
    schedule non-food related activities, at least think about them even at a bar or restaurant outing. Eat regularly, don't skip meals, small portions and snacks, before or after exercise. exercise is good. but don't make it your ticket to overcompensate. Stay cool.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Up the protein early in the day to keep you fuller for longer?

    I prefer run super-compliant during the week and cut myself a little slack at the weekend. But it is only a little slack, not a full on binge. It's all about the weekly average for me.

    During the working week the psychology of not really eating much during the day and going for it in the evening also helps me as I will tend to snack late (on everything, not just protein bars ;)). I understand some people don't get on with this pseudo-intermittent fasting thing but I can't imagine it any other way now.

    I honestly could not have done this before I had a period of limiting the processed carbs. I know it's controversial but I do think there is some mileage in a bit of carb restriction helping to curb cravings.
  • Alpina483
    Alpina483 Posts: 246 Member
    I honestly could not have done this before I had a period of limiting the processed carbs. I know it's controversial but I do think there is some mileage in a bit of carb restriction helping to curb cravings.
    +1
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    I'd say plan your meals and leave yourself a few hundred extra calories for going out or extra treats. Exercise a little more so you can eat a little more.
  • katorihanzo
    katorihanzo Posts: 234 Member
    Plan your meals. Sit down on Thursday night and log everything you're going to eat Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Leave yourself a few hundred extra calories in case you end up having a couple beers or eating fries instead of a salad, but otherwise STICK to it. After you've planned, it just comes down to willpower. If you still binge, you'll know you're just currently not in the right frame of mind to be dieting. You need to be motivated enough to grab an apple instead of a chocolate bar.

    And if you DO go over, go for a run.
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  • London1990
    London1990 Posts: 15 Member
    What I notice right off the bat is that you don't log your food consistently, and when you do log, your calories tend to be very low. If your diary is accurate, I don't think you're eating enough, and that may be contributing to your need to binge.
    I recommend making sure that your weight loss goals and calorie goals are sustainable. What is your height, current weight, and goal weight? You may find that if you give your body more fuel, you'll feel more satisfied overall and won't feel the need to go overboard on the weekend.
    Once you find a calorie amount that is right for you, my other piece of advice is to log everything you eat every day. If you're giving your body the proper fuel and nutrition it needs and still feel like you want to binge on the weekends, logging everything may make you more conscious of what you're actually eating and might slow you down a bit.

    Thanks for your reply :) My intake for Monday to Thursday is accurate, and I've updated Friday and Saturday to show what I ate.

    What do you think I should set my intake to?
  • London1990
    London1990 Posts: 15 Member
    Thanks to those who have said about planning meals, that's a really good idea. During the week I have structure as I know what I'm going to have for breakfast and lunch, so I will def start thinking about what I'm going to eat at the weekend in advance.
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    Hi there,

    Had a look at your diary - you're definitely leaving a lot of calories on the table in the week. Which will leave you hungry and craving come the weekend! Perhaps try and eat a little more in the week - hit your calorie target and eat back your exercise calories.

    I found this link very useful, to work out my calorie intake: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet?hl=road+map&page=13#posts-16457000

    Good luck!
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    Those 2 pounds in 3 months should be motivation enough for you. You're spinning wheels.

    I really dislike the word 'should'.

    This comment is just critical and unhelpful. Why bother posting anything at all?
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    what helps you succeed during the week? is it the fact that you are at work and have your time and mind occupied? and coupled with the fact that you probably pre-log and pre-package all your meals, you are probably doing great 5 days out of 7.

    Five days out of seven. hey, thats pretty good. thats like, 71% on point. thats awesome. i know people that struggle to have ONE good day.

    maybe you can mentally allow yourself to have one cheat meal. Maybe on Friday night, to celebrate the end of a long work week, you enjoy some drinks and a relatively unhealthy meal?

    also, i'd like to point out that at 1,200 daily calories, you aren't giving yourself a lot of room. what is your loss per week set at? i bet it's set really really low, and that you'd probably do better mentally and physically at a higher calorie intake.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Hold yourself more accountable for what your diary shows. I enter everything I eat accurately (if you just filled in for the last couple days, for example, I highly doubt you took the time to weigh everything and remember exactly what you ate those days) and I know that if I go over, it will slow my weight loss... and the pleasure of eating something for 5 minutes just isn't worth that.

    It's worked for me. But the diary is a tool you can use in your advantage too. I know at the end of the day if I can have a treat (and most days, I can!) because I've entered everything correctly and I have some calories left. This way I don't even feel the need to binge.
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  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    You were slamming members the other day because they have been here for 2-3 years and have thousands of posts and have helped plenty of people.

    You guys expect a medal because 80% of your posts are helpful and 'only' 20% are sarcastic, rude and unhelpful?

    No. Drop the 20%.
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  • Every time you feel a binge coming on, grab some air-popped popcorn. Make sure you always have some made.

    Or meditate and do yoga. I don't know how or why but that's stopped me from even desiring unhealthy snacks!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Hi all. Please please please can you give me some suggestions on how to be good at the weekend? I feel so stupid asking this as the answer is very clearly "stop eating so much" but come Friday night/Saturday I literally have no self control. This is really hindering my weight loss as all my hard work at the gym and watching what I eat during the week just gets counteracted by my eating at the weekend, and I have only lost 2lbs in over 3 months.

    Thanks in advance :)
    Your weekends are habitual. Like most people, you look forward to the weekend to "relax" your efforts, which includes calorie control. Till you break that habit, it will continue.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Oi get a room you too!

    OP: you're starving yourself during the week. The weekend is your body playing catch up + some damage due to the pyschological restriction. I'd ease off the deficit (maybe aim for 1b/week loss and a few hundred more per day) and get into the mindset that this is a 24/7 game. You can undercut a bit during the week so you have a few leftover calories to splurge for the weekend - then your overall weekly intake will be roughly on point.
  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    Those 2 pounds in 3 months should be motivation enough for you. You're spinning wheels.

    I really dislike the word 'should'.

    This comment is just critical and unhelpful. Why bother posting anything at all?
    I actually agree with that. I didn't lose anything the first 6 months of the year, but I did get back to my exercise habits. Since the end of June, I've been able to be more consistent with my calories, and I've lost 8 pounds. I'm sorry if that rate of progress is not sufficient for you. Oh wait, no I'm not. I'm actually thrilled to be 8 pounds down while eating an amount that keeps me sane and continuing to get stronger with my lifts.

    OP, I personally find that restricting a lot on the weekdays leaves me with little willpower to stick to a careful budget on the weekend. 1600 calories a day? Nope, can't stick with it. 1800? Sure, no problem. Just gotta find the level that works for you.
  • Hi London1990!!

    I'm just starting out with this "seriously" this week, and found the weekends are definitely my pain point. Particularly because I don't have a plan on Saturday and Sunday, as a previous poster mentioned it may be a good idea to set up a plan for the weekend.

    I looked at your diary but only for the last 7 days - do you not drink anything? I noticed no beverages or water was logged. What are you drinking with your meals?

    Also I didn't see any exercise logged. Make sure you are doing SOMETHING active every day - even if it's just 15 minutes of walking, it's something. If you are being more active, you might be more willing to eat more calories.

    Don't starve yourself throughout the week because, like everyone else has been saying, you'll cave on the weekends. I just started logging on Tuesday, and found myself staying under but usually around 200-300 calories. Some days you were 500+ below goal.

    I don't really like fruits and veggies so it's been hard for me to incorporate those, and I LOVE pasta but I have been trying to avoid pigging out on like I was previously. But find the fruits and veggies you DO like and add those in to fill in some extra calories or to be a better snack to stave off cravings.

    I really think if you incorporate some activity you'll see better results. Good luck!!!
  • *nevermind my comment about exercising, I see it on a few days there... my bad!
  • burtnyks
    burtnyks Posts: 124 Member
    I would say try to plan your eating ahead of time, either the night before or in the morning so you keep on track. I've also learned that losing weight is all a mind game. How bad do you want it? If you are not committed then you will just keep spinning your wheels. Planning definitely helps me keep from falling off the bandwagon. Good luck!
  • enidite
    enidite Posts: 92 Member
    I have just looked at a few days in your diary so I might be wrong. But I have noticed that there are hardly any fruits and vegetables. That may be one of the reasons why you are so hungry. Veggies and fruits are low calories and high in fiber, they will help you stay full (along with proteins)
    Good luck.