Dreading the Weekend

I try to stay slightly under calorie goal during the week in order to save a few for weekend splurges. It's pretty easy when I make lunch my first meal of the day and don't start the hunger cycle too early.

Then on the weekends, I typically get in longer workouts, and I delay my meals knowing that we'll end up going out and having something yummy for late lunch/early dinner. If I'm really hungry after my workout, I'll eat a yogurt or small snack <100 calories to make it until our big meal.

Fast food doesn't have to blow your macros. A small burger/small fry/diet soda at McDonalds = < 500 calories.
As for eating out, I usually get what I really want and just eat half/take half for later.

Best of luck in finding a weekend routine that will help you be successful.

That's why I weigh-in on Fridays. That way, I have Monday through Thursday to try and compensate if I blow it on the weekend.

I do fine if I stay at home on the weekend but when I go out with friends its very easy to just eat whatever is around instead of taking the time to make something different so that I can stay on my diet.

Plan plan plan. Plan your weekend activities, plan your weekend meals, plan your weekend exercise. That's the only thing that keeps me in check.

This - planning helps

example: 2 weeks ago I new I was going to the movies and I Want that buttery popcorn, so I fit in an extra long workout and was still under my calories. Last week I had a Girls Night Out (first one in 7 months), again woke up extra early and worked hard on an extra workout. Again was under my calories and I lost weight both weeks!

Yep, planning is key. I'll even log everything on Friday to make sure it will fit, that way I'll know if I need to make any modifications.

Anything you gain over a weekend is just water. I've been maintaining for about 6 months and Friday I usually weigh in around 180 Lbs...by Monday I'm usually weighing in around 184. It's all water and bloat because I like to cut lose on the weekends. It's not fat...because science dictates that gaining 4 Lbs of fat in two days is pretty much impossible considering I'd have to eat about 14,000 calories above my maintenance calories to do so.

You have to remember that weight isn't static...it's always fluctuating. If you're eating stuff like fast food, you're introducing more sodium into your diet than normal...this causes water retention. If you're eating more carb heavy than usual, you're going to replenish glycogen (energy) stores that have been ddepleted. You have to realize and remember that fat is only one fraction of your bodyweight...so much else goes into it.

There are times when I have to eat out too, but I plan for it. I look up the menu on line and check the nutrition info for calories. If we are eating at McD's, I get the grilled chicken sandwich without mayo because it is still tasty. I add a side salad with Paul Newman's Own Light Italian Dressing, (God Rest Your Soul, Paul Newman, and thanks for giving us healthy, tasty choices while helping the sick!). If I'm feeling particularly wicked, I will have a cone.

Tonight, I am meeting my kids at Olive Garden. Luckily, I think that OG has the blandest, most boring, Italian food ever cooked, but since my kids love it, I am going. I am skipping the bread sticks and salad, which is mostly lettuce and not worth the calories in the dressing, and having the Chicken Lasagna Primavera, decaf coffee with cream, water with lemon and 4 Andie's Mint Patties. The breadsticks will be the only real temptation, but I'm happy to forgo them for the chocolate. I've eaten at O'Charlie's and McAllister's as well and still stuck to my program.

I am German too, and love the bread and meats, but will skip them most of the time unless I plan a cheat day. I can have a few good German cookies, a chocolate or a piece of yummy cake or pastry from my German bakery if I plan for it, and still stay within my calorie range.

Our German has wonderful rye bread that I have sliced thin for sandwiches and toast. Yummy!

I am an all or nothing personality. Weekends used to be difficult but I found if I logged everything and saw bad numbers it would pi** me off and make me want to eat good.

If I'm going to be out at lunch time I plan a healthy lunch to stop at or I bring a roll-up for the car.

I don't have trouble with weekends. I just have to pace myself.

I find it's the exact opposite for me! Friday-Sunday I am super active, and eat right around my calorie intake. But from Mon-Thurs at work, I fail. I work in a bakery in the basement though, so no one can see me snack on everything I make lol.