Who Else Struggles on the Weekends?

maanders
maanders Posts: 39 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
From Monday to Thursday I have a pretty set schedule and routine and manage to eat well and get my workouts in.

Then, the weekend rolls around and I get completely derailed. I find that mostly this is due to social events...which generally revolve around food and drinks. I want to take part and hang out with my friends and family, but need to be able to stick to my diet plan. I will lose two pounds in a week, then gain them back over the weekend. Wash...rinse...repeat. So frusterating.

I can usually fit in exercise on the weekend, so that part is not a problem.

Anyone struggling with the same thing or have any advise?
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Replies

  • _rachel_k
    _rachel_k Posts: 243 Member
    I'm the same way. I can do well on Saturday but by Sunday I have all these cravings for chips and breads and I try to eat in moderation but fail

    Instead of focusing on falling off the tracks on the weekend I try to focus on working hard because fat loss is really hard for me and I get frustrated/defeated easily
  • MittnMom162
    MittnMom162 Posts: 10
    I tend to get like that too!!
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    I have been doing this for a long time and have lost a lot and gained a little.

    My weekend eating is the determining factor of whether I will lose weight or maintain.

    If I am on track all week, but eat too much on the weekends, I maintain. If I stay on track 6.5 days a week, I lose. If I'm off track all week, I'll gain.

    A day or two definitely makes a difference.
  • florentinovillaro
    florentinovillaro Posts: 342 Member
    I have the same issue, not so much on Saturdays but on Sundays. My workout schedule is Cardio M, W, F, Weight Training, T, THU, S. I designated Sundays as a cheat and recovery day so it rarely bothers me anymore. I hope this helps you.
  • spoiledpuppies
    spoiledpuppies Posts: 675 Member
    I tend to do better on weekends actually. I end up so distracted with a non-routine schedule that I'm not thinking about what to eat so much. And time flies on weekends since I'm not working! It helps that my husband is very supportive, and while we do go out to eat pretty much every weekend, it's only to places where I feel okay about the food calorie-wise. Maybe become busier with non-food related activities?
  • rockmama72
    rockmama72 Posts: 815 Member
    Yep. It bites. I'm trying to exercise more on weekend days, like hikes and long yoga classes.
  • Gingerspice45
    Gingerspice45 Posts: 137 Member
    Weekends usually make or break how much weight loss I have for any given week due to being social and eating at restaurants. I also like to live a little and eat what I want at least one day a week. I have been just figuring in the weekends as just times I will eat more and have been doing well so far this time that way. I'm losing an average of 2 pounds a week so far.
  • Laughter_Girl
    Laughter_Girl Posts: 2,226 Member
    I have struggled on the weekends in the past but don't any longer. I allow myself a free day on Saturdays (my Sabbath), which allows me to relax from the stress of counting calories. I generally have my usual healthy breakfast, a nice hearty late lunch, and always end the day with a sweet treat. On Sundays, it's right back to all day healthy eating.

    When I'm with my friends and family, I use that time to enjoy their company. If we're planning to go out to eat, I plan in advance. Plan what you're going to eat in advance along with how much. Remember, you are the one in control of your health.

    Wishing you all the best. You can do it!!!
  • tiffaniannette
    tiffaniannette Posts: 19
    I also really struggle on the weekend. Like you I can get exercise in without much problem but food is hard. What I have started doing recently was really planning what I'm going to eat. Know what snacks im going to have and take them with me when we go out to run errands or meet up with anyone. And if we end up a restaurant I stick to something of the "light" menu, almost every one of them has one these days. If I can't find something with lower cals then I order something I can remove bread from and eat the rest. One other thing I have been doing is a meal replacement shake or two on the weekend. I like the GNC Total Lean ones. I do them during the week too but its helpful to turn to that real quick and take it with me out than to get hungry out and stop for fast food.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    Very much so. We don't go out often during the week, so weekends are our 'fun' times, which usually includes eating dinner out several times.

    I have improved the last couple weekends though. I've been planning out my days better, and sticking to it.
  • jsj024519
    jsj024519 Posts: 400 Member
    It is tough for me as well! But you gotta do what you gotta do in order to reach your goals!
  • JustMeee333
    JustMeee333 Posts: 233
    Definitely the weekends have always been a struggle for me. Right now though, I seem to be struggling every single day! :grumble:
  • jayrudq
    jayrudq Posts: 475 Member
    Eat less and work harder during the week. Many people aggregate their calories for that very reason. They either want more calories on the weekend in general or are saving them for a cheat day or meal. You could also do 5:2 which reduces your calories twice a week and people feel there are added benefits to this approach.
    Dieter know thyself.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I tend to do better on weekends actually. I end up so distracted with a non-routine schedule that I'm not thinking about what to eat so much. And time flies on weekends since I'm not working! It helps that my husband is very supportive, and while we do go out to eat pretty much every weekend, it's only to places where I feel okay about the food calorie-wise. Maybe become busier with non-food related activities?

    This. I wake up late, so "brunch" can be like 600 calories if I please. And then I manage to get much more exercise on weekend days than during the work week. So I often feel like Sat and Sun I can eat "whatever I want" (within reason and my MFP cals/macros that is)
  • maanders
    maanders Posts: 39 Member
    What I have started doing recently was really planning what I'm going to eat. Know what snacks im going to have and take them with me when we go out to run errands or meet up with anyone.

    This is really helpful. I should start taking planned snacks with me.
  • maanders
    maanders Posts: 39 Member
    Glad to know it's not just me. I actually did really well last weekend just planning out my food, taking my own snacks to a football party, picking restaurants with low calorie options, etc.

    Another weekend hurdle to tackle coming up soon though!!
  • cclarkcts
    cclarkcts Posts: 97
    Weekends are the worst for me too.. I tend to not even log them... ugh. I need to break this habit.. Sunday family dinners are NEVER healthy!
  • ejtj1234
    ejtj1234 Posts: 80 Member
    I am the same way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • bonemelanie
    bonemelanie Posts: 2 Member
    I absolutely do!

    Because I am so strict with my dieting during the week, I tend to let myself go 'wild' on the weekends.... All I can do is try to reign it in as much as I can. The weekend is my biggest challenge. ;(
  • crazybookworm
    crazybookworm Posts: 779 Member
    Thankfully, I don't. I think it's because I always follow the keys: Portion control, Moderation and Substitution. That way I never feel deprived, and I don't feel ravenous come the week. I keep my exercise routine the same throughout the weekend, too.

    I also live by the 80/20 rule(for food and everything else in life!) If I am doing everything healthfully and well 80% of the time, then I have 20% of wiggle room for anything that may happen. For example, a friends birthday bash filled with great food and cake, etc.

    :smile:
  • kbkeats
    kbkeats Posts: 103 Member
    Ugh I'm the same way.
    What I try to do is wake up late, then do yoga at home right away. This will usually take me to at least a "brunch" hour so I'm already down to 2 meals for the day. I ALWAYS make sure I have hummus and cauliflower cut up for the weekend because it feels more "sinful" than my weekday carrot sticks
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    For some reason, the weekends are when it is easiest for me to stay on track. Part of this reason is that I have the time to hang around the gym for two hours or so and get an extremely high calorie burn.
  • maanders
    maanders Posts: 39 Member
    I tend to do better on weekends actually. I end up so distracted with a non-routine schedule that I'm not thinking about what to eat so much. And time flies on weekends since I'm not working! It helps that my husband is very supportive, and while we do go out to eat pretty much every weekend, it's only to places where I feel okay about the food calorie-wise. Maybe become busier with non-food related activities?

    This. I wake up late, so "brunch" can be like 600 calories if I please. And then I manage to get much more exercise on weekend days than during the work week. So I often feel like Sat and Sun I can eat "whatever I want" (within reason and my MFP cals/macros that is)

    I would give my right arm to sleep in on the weekends!! So, jealous! Seriously though....thanks for the advice.
  • maanders
    maanders Posts: 39 Member
    Weekends are the worst for me too.. I tend to not even log them... ugh. I need to break this habit.. Sunday family dinners are NEVER healthy!

    Oh, I log mine! I think it's important to be honest with myself even if I am bad. And, logging the bad somehow makes me more honest with myself.

    I feel your pain though..
  • YorriaRaine
    YorriaRaine Posts: 370 Member
    I do eat more on the weekends as well. I'm just starting out on mfp but I plan to leave myself a little bit of calories each day so that it will even all out by the end of the week. To me the weekly deficit is more important than the daily.
  • DeeVanderbles
    DeeVanderbles Posts: 589 Member
    I get the same way. I have been prepping and portioning out my snacks a week at a time, to include weekends. I find if I have something healthy around that I don't have to take the time to measure and weigh, I'm more likely to eat it.

    I tend to sleep in on weekends as well, which derails my whole food schedule for the day.

    As for parties, if you know the person well, ask if there will be a veggie and/or fruit tray. If not, offer to bring one. Then at least you know you'll have decent munching options.
  • AJWriter
    AJWriter Posts: 15
    I find it terrible at weekends. I have to keep really busy to ward off the cravings. I currently have a book that I am reading (The Stand by Stephen King), A book that I am writing (2nd book in my Odes & Rhymes of Life & Times Series), A Professor Layton game that I am playing on my DS, a room that I am decorating and a TV series that I am following (Breaking Bad - series 1-5 catching up with the world on this one). But I do find that when sitting in the evenings in front of the TV I do crave a nibble or 2. Currently, I am having what I call 'A Day Off Everything' once a month to coincide with the worst day of the month for a woman and this all seems to help. Plus I am rewarding myself with a massage every 3 months too. It's good to have rewards otherwise life will seem rubbish.
  • refuseresist
    refuseresist Posts: 934 Member
    I struggle in the week because I seem to want to eat everything in sight when I am bored...don't know why.
    My job is soooo boring sometimes
  • kk_140
    kk_140 Posts: 518 Member
    I struggle on the weekends because my fiance and I go out a lot to eat. Its hard to order the salad rather than the jumbo bacon cheeseburger! I have made it easier on myself by allowing an extra bit of calories on those days that we eat out. Like 200 to 300 calories extra on Saturday and Sunday. That way I get to eat a few nibbles on his burger and still not feel like I ruined everything! Or have 2 oreos while he eats a whole row of them lol.
  • MissBabyJane
    MissBabyJane Posts: 538 Member
    I'm the same. The week is great, but the weekend is when my family cooks these amazing meals and I'm home and it's so haaaard to resist. Great lunches, desserts etc. :X

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