Weekends kill me...

2chubby4now
2chubby4now Posts: 93 Member
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
I am dreading the weekend. MFP has taught me that I eat way too much and of the wrong things on weekends. I am in the kitchen more because the family is home. There is always a birthday celebration or some event. Even if I don't have nasty treats at hand, someone brings some or I end up substituting too much of something else. Then I spend the first part of the week "repairing" my weekend slips ups. I squeeze in as much exercise as I can, but I can see a bad pattern developing. This is what I have learned about me. Now, I need strategies. Anyone have any suggestions?

Replies

  • 3kidsin3years
    3kidsin3years Posts: 116 Member
    I feel the same way a lot of the time. What about taking some healthier alternatives with you when you go, or if it's a potluck, make sure you take something healthy that can be a go to for you, instead of the bad stuff? It's probably just going to take patience and practice, I'm far from perfecting it, but always trying. Maybe, too, exercise more on the weekends, that way you "have room" for a little bit of the bad stuff? Good luck, we're all a work in progress! =)
  • ChunkyMonkey207
    ChunkyMonkey207 Posts: 96 Member
    I know this sounds silly,but I take Saturdays off.I come and log in,and weigh...but it's my "treat day".I try not to go overboard and eat all day.But if I want a burger and fries...I have it.That way I have all week to work it off.Good luck finding what works for you~
    Amanda
  • shar140
    shar140 Posts: 1,158 Member
    Sorry, I don't have any suggestions because I seem to have the same problem!! So I am curious to read other responses...I know when I keep myself busy with other non-food related activities, I do better, but when I am just home doing chores or whatever...UGH!
  • raychybabe
    raychybabe Posts: 121 Member
    I think preparation is the key - if you have a meal out somewhere, check on the restaurants website to see if they have nutritional info and see what choices fit into your allowance. Try and prepare for the weekend beforehand and have plenty of snacks around. If people are going to drop in, politely ask them not to bring over cookies etc because of your new healthy eating regime, I'm sure they'd understand!

    I'm bad on the weekend too, as Im left to my own devices, and my time isnt structured as I'm not at work. If you indulge too much at weekends, you just end up feeling low and guilty by monday and like you said, trying to fix things, which isn't the way to stick at something.

    I'm doing things like not drinking wine/beer with meals, instead having lime and soda or diet coke, and missing out startersdesserts. If I know I have a special event, I'll try and go to the gym earlier in the day to give me a bit more leeway later on.

    Overall, I think its preparation! I definately eat more when I haven't prepared, havent planned.
  • aaronfahs326
    aaronfahs326 Posts: 15
    i totally know how you feel. its really hard bc it feels like everyone esle i know doesnt have to work so hard to look the way they do and to be healthy. i have been fighting urges by drinking something when i get hungry, it fills my stomach and puts me more at ease. if you really want to do it you will find a way. dieting is a struggle no matter how bad you want it... you just have to find YOUR motivation =]
  • RubyA2011
    RubyA2011 Posts: 66
    Im the same too... ive been trying to log on and do more exercise on a weekend but the next few are killers! just hoping i can be a good girl lol
  • Jess22542
    Jess22542 Posts: 66
    I have the exact same problem! I am good all week, but as soon as the weekend hits, all bets are off. A few thins I have learned to help minimize the damage:

    1. If you know ahead of time you are going to a restaurant, go online and try to find calories counts. As I'm sure you've learned, sometime things you think are low cal turn out not to be! Plan the meal you will eat in advance and don't let anything change your mind. If you wait to find out later when you add it to MFP, it's too late. And follow the normal rules: get the dressings and sauces on the side, split something with a friend, avoid appetizers and desserts.
    2. Stay away from the birthday cake! I know it's hard, but just say "no thank you". Keep a chocolate granola bar or something in your purse to help with the cravings.
    3. If you have a cocktail, pick one that you won't drink incredibly fast. A martini or something will take longer to drink, so you will have less of them. Stay away from margaritas and other sugary drinks. but remember, you're always looking at least 100 calories per drink 9often more). So keep it to a minimum.

    I always go over one day of the weekend, but I try to go over only 100-200 calories, not 800! I also try to end the day 100-200 calories under goal during the week so that I stay under goal for the week after my splurges. I work out most days, so this isn't too difficult.

    Good luck!
  • MZNIKKIBOO
    MZNIKKIBOO Posts: 190
    THEY ALWAYS KILL ME TOO!! WHAT I DECIDED WOULD BE BEST IS PUTTING FOOD IN ADVANCE FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY/DAYS. THIS EVEN HELPS ME THROUGHOUT THE WEEK! ANOTHER TIP I USE TO MAKE SURE HAVE HEALTHY FAMILY MEALS THAT STICK TO MY GOALS SO ILL PUT IN FOODS/REMOVE UNTIL I GET THE PERFECT COMBINATION. ITS ACTUALLY BROUGHT A BIGGER VARIETY OF FOODS IN MY HOME ALSO AND HONESTLY MY FAMILY LOVES WHEN I GET IN THE KITCHEN AND COOK UP YUMMY MEALS FOR EM AND AT THE SAME TIME ITS STICKING TO MY HEALTH PLAN! IM STILL NEW TO THIS BUT JUS A COUPLE THINGS I PLAN ON USING TO HELP SO THOUGHT ID SHARE. ;-)
  • haolegurl07
    haolegurl07 Posts: 43 Member
    I know for me personally. The weekends are always the hardest. Mainly because they lack structure. During the week I have a steady routine. And on the weekend, I don't usually have steady plans. People always want to go out to eat or have junk food. My suggestion though is, if you're invited over to places, ASSUME they are going to have crap for food. Bring your own healthy snacks. You can make it fruit, or 100 calorie snacks (dump them in a zip lock baggy if you don't want the attention), fresh veggies, etc. If you need to have a "dessert" pack yourself a low calorie pudding or something. Those are all things I do when I go to friends house or family. You HAVE to plan it out. I know if I go anywhere I may be tempted, I have to be prepared!

    Hope that helped! Good luck to you!
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    I make it a point to move more on weekends - take advantage of the extra time to get out of the house and move. Also, either with one of my late week dinners or Saturday afternoon, I make a bunch of healthy stuff for us to graze on - three bean salad, an extra casserole, baba ganoush or other healthy dips.
  • ItsLessOfMe
    ItsLessOfMe Posts: 374 Member
    I have the SAME problem...For the last few weeks I started LOADING up on veggies and protien 1st and eating slowly. My family has dips, cakes, and carbs galore on the weekend. Usually when it comes time to eat the sweets and junk I am truely satisfied with what I've eaten. Plus my body is used to eating healty.

    I'm not gonna say its easy but it is a mind set. If you arent ready mentally these weekends will tear you up. Its like instead of looking forward to the weekend I was dreading them.

    Hope this helps.
  • atashap
    atashap Posts: 85
    SAME HERE!!!! I used to think that mondays were designed just to make up for weekend OOPS, but lately I have been trying to put in a really good early morning saturday workout that way by the time I am finished I have worked so hard I dare not eat anything that will but that work in vain. Also I usually save all my new outfits for Saturdays because putting them on and seeing the newer more improved me every Saturday in the mirror gives me more motivation to stay on track. But you will find what works for you just stick with it and remember that its all gone be worth it .:wink:
  • Angel1066
    Angel1066 Posts: 816 Member
    I take the weekend off while still logging what i eat but during the week i am very strict with myself, i still workout at the weekend and try to more than i normally would during the week. This seems to be working for me at the moment.
  • melcowenfitness
    melcowenfitness Posts: 221 Member
    You're already ahead of the game because you have figured out what isn't working for you. Now you just have to figure out ways to make the weekends work in your favor. Several good suggestions already on your thread, and here is what I do:

    I tend to save my weekly cheat meal for the weekend. I make it a cheat meal instead of a cheat day because it's what works for me and because I figure I work too hard the rest of the week to let one day stand in the way of my progress.

    Logging everything into MFP has also made me realize how many calories, bad carbs, and fat are in something like a stupid cupcake. I always think, "What the heck did I bother eating it for? It wasn't all that.... and I usually get a little upset stomach after".

    Now, there are definitely times when my cravings overcome me, so I figure that is my body's way of telling me to eat something that it's lacking.... so if I go for chocolate, etc. I have a small piece just to satisfy the craving. It also helps to take one bite, put the fork down, and see if I think it's worth eating any more. If it's not as tasty as I had hoped for, I quit eating it...

    This is a totally different mindset than what I used to have and I can tell you that I never feel deprived - mainly because I love that I can eat well and still maintain the weight loss I've worked so hard for.

    Once you find what works for you, you can have peace over food.
  • Redness82
    Redness82 Posts: 134 Member
    I was just thinking the same things.. and was going to post something similar to this soon. I do really well during the week, even if I don't exercise, I usually stay under my calories. Weekends.. bets are off. I don't have the structure and consistency that I do during the week.

    I am a teacher, and especially now, the weeks and weekends get busy.. I actually do summer school so that I still have some consistency and structure in my day otherwise, I would be completely unmotivated.

    Although one thing I noticed about my gym is that on Sundays, it is dead! And I like to be there when the least amount of people are there... SO I just need to motivate myself.
    I did just order ChaLEAN extreme, and hope that when I am too lazy to leave my house, I still have an option at home!
  • raychybabe
    raychybabe Posts: 121 Member
    I got invited to a meal last week at an italian restaurant for a friend moving back home. I was very restrained and drove so I'd have diet cokes and not wine, skipped the bread (wheat gives me IBS so i try and avoid it anyway), waited patiently for my pasta bake (yes it was covered in cheese, but no side orders) and then skipped dessert. My friend on the other hand had garlic bread, steak and chips, chocolate cake and half a litre white wine!
  • 2chubby4now
    2chubby4now Posts: 93 Member
    Thanks everyone! Some great suggestions which I will try. It was nice to know I am not the only one who struggles with this.

    Enjoy your weekend!
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