How do you maintain your social life?

marissalea93
marissalea93 Posts: 55 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey everyone!

So I've noticed that I do really amazing during the week with my nutrition and workouts. However, when the weekend comes, a little social drinking, or a meal out with friends can completely blow my diet. How do you balance your calorie intake on the weekends, without staying at home and spending your Saturday night on the treadmill?
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Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I don't have friends, so it's not a huge deal for me. But generally speaking...

    1) self control. Don't drink as much, drink diet soda or water, etc Choose healthier meals, half orders, etc.
    2) plan your day around your activities... ie save your calories so you can enjoy yourself when you do go out.
    3) do some extra cardio to give yourself some extra calories for you night out with friends.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    I have two young kids, a husband, a dog and a house to take care of and I work full-time.

    That is my social life.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    I just don't have friends.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Well, I am very socially active. I go out to eat a lot and drink plenty.

    I look at my diet on a weekly basis. I try to create a large enough deficit through out the week that one or two weekend days won't kill me.
  • sjayleen
    sjayleen Posts: 18 Member
    just dont drink. lol i rather eat my calories than drink empty calories.
  • love2read1220
    love2read1220 Posts: 26 Member
    Great question - I have a similar problem. There are a lot of great local restaurants where I live so IDK the calorie count. A friend wanted to go out to lunch today and I hesitantly agreed.. and then was glad she cancelled!
    My plan for today's lunch was to eat at my desk and have tea with her... not the best plan but that's what it was.
  • wolverine66
    wolverine66 Posts: 3,779 Member
    Hey everyone!

    So I've noticed that I do really amazing during the week with my nutrition and workouts. However, when the weekend comes, a little social drinking, or a meal out with friends can completely blow my diet. How do you balance your calorie intake on the weekends, without staying at home and spending your Saturday night on the treadmill?

    Really?

    That shouldn't blow your diet (i don't really like the word "diet" either, but that's a topic for another day).

    There are two easy ways to go here - 1) account for future calories ahead of time. eat a little less on Friday morning to give you extra that night. or 2) don't worry about it because 1 day of slipping up when you've nailed it 6 other days, is probably not going to hurt that much.
  • andrewj87
    andrewj87 Posts: 74
    Exercising self control and having friends who are also fitness/health concious and not raging alcoholics has helped.
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    I just don't have friends.

    :laugh: this.

    well I have a few now.. and I just say no to the stuff they try to feed me. I'm dating and I just have guys take me to restaurants with healthy options. And I will ask where we're going ahead of time so I can scope out the menu if possible. It's a lot of will power though. Honestly I do worse with the cookies in the break room, then I do going out to eat. As for drinks.. I'm too broke to drink.. problem solved. LMAO
  • ganzelly
    ganzelly Posts: 302 Member
    I defintely stress some about going out with friends or my husband, but I try to plan ahead as much as possible. I"m a beer drinker, but honestly one good beer can last me a night, I like it room temp so I drink it slowly. So I don't usually drink too many calories. Then I try to always know the restaurant, try to skip appetizers and dessert, eat half my meal (take the other half home for later) or choose a healthy meal when I want to eat a whole meal. I eat very healthy early in the day if I need to (cereal for lunch, etc) and try to have a larger deficit early in the week so that the week evens out. I also usually double up workouts on saturdays just because I want to and that gives me a larger amount of calories to work with. And I try to go out only one time a week, it gets stickier if I go out more than once. Hope this helps.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    I don't.

    I'm serious about body recomp, so if friends want to hang out, we go hiking or running. I don't go out to eat anymore, and If it would be super rude to not go (like a brother's birthday dinner or something) I bring an option that is good for me and my goals to share, or I just eat beforehand and go just for the company. Sure I get weird looks, but idgaf. I'm doing this for me, not for the approval of anyone else. :flowerforyou:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I have a 16 m.o. and a 3.5 y.o....I know not of this "social life" you speak of. Sometimes my buddy brings his kids over to play and we have a couple of beers...that's about the extent of it.
  • WhiteRabbit1313
    WhiteRabbit1313 Posts: 1,091 Member
    Well, I have learned to eat light during the day and plan ahead for EXACTLY what I will eat/drink when out with friends. I used to drink a lot more, but on just 1350 calories/day, one glass of wine gets me tipsy these days. Two has me hammered. Haha!

    But yeah, you CAN have a social life and stay within your budget; you just have to plan for it.
  • cuinboston2014
    cuinboston2014 Posts: 848 Member
    I have a similar problem. There are a few things I try to do to counteract it:

    1. Try to find places to hang out/get together that don't revolve around food/drink. I feel like this is a struggle in Wisconsin in winter btu it can be done. You can also try to go to a tapas place and just eat a little less that everyone else is. YOu can try so much and have a massive amount of portion control if your self control is there!
    2. If I know I'm going out, I preplan depending on where we go. I also will eat a super light breakfast and lunch. Then I'll typically try to have one higher protein snack before we go (i.e. peanuts) to help fill me up before we go.
    3. If we're going to be out all night I switch drinks between one glass of water and one alcoholic drink. I stick strictly to rum and diet coke or wine.
    4. I try to workout a LOT more on the days that I am going to be going out, although this doesn't always happen.

    I realized that if I eat a deficit all week and on the weekends I'm at maintenance I am perfectly fine with that because I can sustain it.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I avoid social interaction like the plague unless it's with people I like and know really well, and that's a short list. But I can't avoid family dinners, work lunches, travel, etc., so my strategy is intermittent fasting. It works like a charm when you know you're going to use an entire day's worth of calories in one meal. And since I do it every day anyway, it's not a big deal at all for me.

    Beyond that, I think just have to establish your priorities and don't give in to pressure from other people (whether it's actual pressure or merely perceived on your part). It doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. One meal and a drink or two are not going to sabotage your goals if you are truly working hard during the week. But you also can't make bad decisions all weekend long and blame it on having a social life. It is possible to spend quality time with your friends and family without stuffing your faces with crap and getting wasted.
  • BeanCounter3
    BeanCounter3 Posts: 158 Member
    Your looking at my social life.......
    Seriously, though I tend to stay away from friends until I'm comfortable being able to execute some self control. I do let them know about it though, so they don't think I'm blowing them off. And then by the time I start hanging out again, they're all aware of it and it isn't a big deal
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I avoid social interaction like the plague unless it's with people I like and know really well, and that's a short list. But I can't avoid family dinners, work lunches, travel, etc., so my strategy is intermittent fasting. It works like a charm when you know you're going to use an entire day's worth of calories in one meal. And since I do it every day anyway, it's not a big deal at all for me.

    Beyond that, I think just have to establish your priorities and don't give in to pressure from other people (whether it's actual pressure or merely perceived on your part). It doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. One meal and a drink or two are not going to sabotage your goals if you are truly working hard during the week. But you also can't make bad decisions all weekend long and blame it on having a social life. It is possible to spend quality time with your friends and family without stuffing your faces with crap and getting wasted.

    Agreed on all accounts.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    I should add that I try to burn a ridiculous amount of calories (1500-2000) to start off my weekend usually (Saturday morning cycling). That way I don't feel like I am doing "as bad".
  • Iron_Lotus
    Iron_Lotus Posts: 2,295 Member
    What's a social life?
  • LifeItself
    LifeItself Posts: 44
    I start with a light beer or two, and pretty much forget or don't feel like eating after that. So i keep like a 1 beer=1 wing ratio and it works out great :bigsmile:
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    I start with a light beer or two, and pretty much forget or don't feel like eating after that. So i keep like a 1 beer=1 wing ratio and it works out great :bigsmile:

    I start out with a microbrew and then forget to eat at all after a wing or two. I then drink a bunch more microbrews,forget to log, get dehydrated and am down two pounds the next day. I just try to eat semi-normally the next day instead of succumbing to hangover food. It never seems to impact my weight for the week. I just make sure I work out before I go out on Fridays and then I make sure I get a workout (even a walk) in on Saturday.

    I only go out every once or two weeks and I'm way happy to spend my cals on beer instead of food and I don't even attempt to log them.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I am also friendless but I still get hammered on a disGUSTingly regular basis.

    On the face of it I am a pathetic individual.

    But, hell, I'm a slim pathetic individual!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I work around stuff (FTR I'm at 1,410 calories right now)

    If I'm going out to dinner, I usually eat a very small (150-250 cal) breakfast and lunch in preparation.

    If I am planning to drink on a Saturday night I will get in a longer bike ride and/or hike during the day.

    My best friend loves to go out for coffee one night per week. I eat a normal breakfast and lunch that day and then, instead of getting a 350 cal latte, I either order a protein smoothie and make it my dinner or I get plain brewed coffee and a small pastry and then eat a salad or something else healthy when I get home.

    ETA: If I'm going out to dinner somewhere reasonably healthy, for example a place where I know the nutritional facts & I'm gonna order fish or a tortilla-free burrito bowl, etc, I eat a normal sized breakfast and lunch and pre-log.
  • Briargrey
    Briargrey Posts: 498 Member
    It's a matter of choices and balancing. Work out more, eat less during the week, create a bigger deficit, chose to eschew some of the drinks, plan ahead. I eat out frequently, often at local restaurants that don't provide calorie counts - so I weigh everything at home and work on 'training my eye' so I know approximately the portion sizes I'm getting at the restaurant of whatever it is - I then do my best to overestimate what I put into my mouth there, and I tend to add in a couple extra tablespoons of butter or oil to help account for the hidden calories I know I didn't catch (things that come in sauces or were part of the cooking process we don't see).

    I limit my alcohol consumption and drink a lot of water while sipping whatever I've ordered to drink. When I was at corporate headquarters in Florida earlier this year, I read up on calorie counts in different drinks so I had an idea what impact that dragonberry mojito might have and whether or not I felt it was worth it for the daily calorie count (it totally was).

    So choices and balancing. Plan.
  • soehlerking
    soehlerking Posts: 589 Member
    You're 19. I guess telling you not to drink is a little ridiculous...I gained most of my weight from alcohol in college. I know it's fun, but you'll have just as much fun (and no hangover) if you drink less (than I did) and/or mix your beverage of choice with diet-whatever and sip it instead of shooting it.

    Why am I even posting on this? Friday nights are half a bottle of wine with my sweatpants and Netflix. :)
  • pugsleyjean
    pugsleyjean Posts: 135 Member
    I opt for a lighter option meal when going out for dinners. Usually most places have an under 600 or so calorie menu and I can always find something that I like. When it comes to drinks I order vodka/water and then add my favorite mio to it. Less calories than ordering other drinks or Ill stick to a light beer. I always make sure to get some exercise in before I go out so then I can eat/drink my calories back.
    Ill still log everything even if it is 8 beers and 2 shots. more fun to see how a night out can add up. :drinker:
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Hey everyone!

    So I've noticed that I do really amazing during the week with my nutrition and workouts. However, when the weekend comes, a little social drinking, or a meal out with friends can completely blow my diet. How do you balance your calorie intake on the weekends, without staying at home and spending your Saturday night on the treadmill?

    Really?

    That shouldn't blow your diet (i don't really like the word "diet" either, but that's a topic for another day).

    There are two easy ways to go here - 1) account for future calories ahead of time. eat a little less on Friday morning to give you extra that night. or 2) don't worry about it because 1 day of slipping up when you've nailed it 6 other days, is probably not going to hurt that much.

    THIS.

    and what the other lady who said she was serious about body recomp- if they want to go hang out- they go do things- like running- or hiking- they dont' go out "fooding" or "drinking"

    I personally work 3 jobs- I'm incredibly busy- I keep my house in tact (or try) and I live with a grown man- who is as mentally mature as a 16 year old- and no I"m not kidding. And no we aren't dating- so it's even more of a chore because I can't have an intelligent conversation with him about it- he's 30 years old- he's a grown *kitten* man- he should be able to realize that keeping house doesn't do itself.

    Anyway - point is I'm fcking busy. I don't hang out much. But when i do I either just know that it's going to be a big calorie day and I account for it over the next two or three- or I just use some self discipline and don't go over board- I log everything I can RIGHT THERE. I don't wait till after- it's not that rude to whip out your phone and plug something in- 90% of the people take phone calls and texts while they are out. Or do it when you hit the bathroom.

    They get used to it- I log in front of whoever I'm with- I don't care. Counting calories isn't a dirty secret.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    With 2 young kids my social life revolves around skinny lattes and soft play!

    When I was younger and didn't have kids, I used to go out a lot and drink a lot. I didn't put on weight. I went to university in France for a year, you can bet I drank a LOT! English students abroad, oh dear lol.

    If you're eating out, just choose healthy options like chicken with veg, and maybe go for lower calorie drinks like vodka and tonic.
  • fpelletier
    fpelletier Posts: 365 Member
    Just plan for it, if you're know you're going out, hit your exercises early and eat light during the day. Enjoy your night and try to make good choices. If you have to have something higher in calories, eat half and take the rest home or share with a buddy. Nothing wrong with indulging without going overboard.

    I still go out with friends, Mexican restaurant even, do you know how evil that is?? lol However, I eat a few chips & cheese dip, try to pick a healthy dinner and enjoy. We also talk a lot, so I eat slower, get full faster, and usually end up with some left over to take home for lunch the next day.
  • schonsdragon
    schonsdragon Posts: 102 Member
    I have an an active social life, in addition to a busy day to day life, and have no plans on cutting it back. What I do is make a plan on how I am going to handle things such as: if I am going to drink what and how much, if we are going out for dinner what foods I am willing to eat for that meal, etc. Does this means that I never change my mind and don't follow my plan? I am human so I will change my mind, I will misjudge things, I will make mistakes but that is part of life but it does help going in with a plan and then picking myself up when I don't do well. I want to live a healthy active life not one where I am a prisoner to it.

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