6 mos later - in same boat. HOW TO STAY GOOD ON WEEKENDS?!

I'm the same at work (trucker) I eat cereal for breakfast and lunch but when at home (days off and weekends) I can't stick to it and then find it hard to get back on track at work.

I use the runtastic apps to log exercise, I only track at times where normally I would be exercising, ie when I walk to shop instead of driving or when purposely keeping busy doing jobs instead off sitting and watching TV it's amazing how it builds up, I try not to eat my exercise otherwise what's point doing it

Also, I highly recommend that you pre-log your food. I log mine in the night before (or at least earlier in the day). It's my plan for what I'm going to eat. Then I edit as necessary (because I'm human!). So this Friday night I'll pre-log my eating plan for Saturday (we don't have any major plans, so I'll eat everything at home, similar to what I would eat during the week). Saturday night I'll pre-log Sunday's typical breakfast. It gets tricky with lunch and dinner because we will go to my sister-in-law's house for Mother's Day and I don't know for sure what I will eat, so I won't pre-log that. But the rest of the weekend has a solid plan that I can stick to.

MickyMo wrote: »

I like structure. At work I am a clock watcher. I eat breakfast at the same time, lunch normally at the same time, etc. When I'm home and with 5 kids, I'm all over the place - sometimes literally. But what I've realized is that having a few cocktails Saturday night is making me much more hungry the next day. Sundays become so depressing because all I do is sit home, watch TV and eat. The kids are all out of the house and at their Dad's and I'm left alone, feeling fat and unmotivated.

Don't sit at home ... go outside! Go for long walks. Go hiking in the hills. Get a bicycle and go for long bicycle rides.

Or this ... on Mondays, look up what's on in your area the next weekend. Around here, once or twice a month we've got fairs and shows and all sorts going on. And of course there are markets every weekend.

Check with your local Tourist Information place to see if there are guided tours of things in your area ... especially walking tours or other active tours. Some organisations take people on cycling tours. Others take groups out in kayaks. In my area there are several archery clubs which have beginners classes on weekends ... if I ever get a weekend free where I'm not busy doing something else, I want to do that!

Basically ... make a point of getting out of the house and doing different things ... especially active things.

MickyMo wrote: »

I like structure. At work I am a clock watcher. I eat breakfast at the same time, lunch normally at the same time, etc. When I'm home and with 5 kids, I'm all over the place - sometimes literally. But what I've realized is that having a few cocktails Saturday night is making me much more hungry the next day. Sundays become so depressing because all I do is sit home, watch TV and eat. The kids are all out of the house and at their Dad's and I'm left alone, feeling fat and unmotivated.

I know how you feel. I have a lot of family and there is always a family party or event on the weekend with plenty of alcohol and fatty foods. It's really tough to stay focus but you have to try and keep your discipline on weekends. I can't tell you how many times I've felt dumb taking my own snacks and being criticized by family and friends because I'm eating a hamburger wrapped in lettuce. But you need to stay true to your goals. Don't hide it, embrace it. As for cocktails I usually will have a small amount of liquor to relax with friend's or family, ever now and then I'll lose control. When i drink too much i hydrate more then usual the next day and force myself to be active so i can get back on track. And when you feel lonely and depressed get up and force yourself to be active. You'd be surprised what kind of hobbies you'd fall in love with. It doesn't even have to do with exercise. It's all about keeping your mind busy.

joe3052 wrote: »

I know how you feel. I have a lot of family and there is always a family party or event on the weekend with plenty of alcohol and fatty foods. It's really tough to stay focus but you have to try and keep your discipline on weekends. I can't tell you how many times I've felt dumb taking my own snacks and being criticized by family and friends because I'm eating a hamburger wrapped in lettuce. But you need to stay true to your goals. Don't hide it, embrace it. As for cocktails I usually will have a small amount of liquor to relax with friend's or family, ever now and then I'll lose control. When i drink too much i hydrate more then usual the next day and force myself to be active so i can get back on track. And when you feel lonely and depressed get up and force yourself to be active. You'd be surprised what kind of hobbies you'd fall in love with. It doesn't even have to do with exercise. It's all about keeping your mind busy.

I like what joe said about being surprised about what kind of hobbies you'd fall in love with. They don't even have to do with exercise. If you don't feel like going outside on Sundays and being active, then try taking up a hobby that will keep your hands occupied, like knitting or crocheting! This way you'll be reaching for a ball of yarn instead of a burger or some other food. You could also be productive with that time and make cute gifts for friends and family! (blankets, scarves, hats, etc.)

Sometimes I've even re-arranged furniture and cleaned for a few hours. Time flies by when your busy and even if your not do a real physical activity it's still good for your mind and heart. Feel free to follow me, I track my activities and nutrition daily and sometimes I go over but hey we're human. I believe failure only makes you stronger in the long run.

Yeah, I enjoy drinking on weekends also. I tried to switch to lighter options (vodka and tonic.) It's those tastey beers that get me (love blue moon!)
I've still been able to take off 22 pounds in the past two months (60 in the past year and a half) with drinking on weekends (I try not to go overboard. )

I like the advice of eating how you would during the week. That has helped me greatly! I try to eat salads and super healthy things all week. Mixing them up with a few different dressings or thin N trim turkey, veggie burger, etc. I did that for awhile till the point where I would believe anything other than it was a treat!

Now on weekends I will make a side of shirataki noodles and some marinaded chicken. Then it feels like it's a reward of sorts because I been eating salads for dinner and turkey sandwiches on wheat all during the week. The good thing about it, is that the reward was still healthy!

I have become pretty accustomed to salads. I think it gets easier and easier the more you practice. It took me a long time to get into the swing of a life change of eating poorly (my parents always made bad things). Fell off the wagon so to speak plenty of times. Especially going out to restaurants with other people! I'm so use to ordering salads now. The only thing that upsets me is when a place says they don't have oil and vinegar dressing (i'm like really.)

Sorry, I'm rambling on, but practice makes perfect! We are creatures of habit. You got this! You're on MFP so you're in the right direction already!

MickyMo wrote: »

I like structure. At work I am a clock watcher. I eat breakfast at the same time, lunch normally at the same time, etc. When I'm home and with 5 kids, I'm all over the place - sometimes literally. But what I've realized is that having a few cocktails Saturday night is making me much more hungry the next day. Sundays become so depressing because all I do is sit home, watch TV and eat. The kids are all out of the house and at their Dad's and I'm left alone, feeling fat and unmotivated.

go do something....

in my previous incarnation..prior to getting my *kitten* together a few years ago, I spent weekends doing pretty much nothing...sitting around watching movies or t.v. or sports and drinking beer and eating and chain smoking cigarettes.

Now my weekends are my prime time to be active. Weekends are when I can fit in a long ride on my bike...or a hike in the mountains...or spend a little more time in the gym lifting. Weekends are when I like to throw the kids in the bike trailer and take off down the trail to the zoo...get a good 25 mile round trip with a couple hours walking about the zoo. Weekends are a time when, instead of sitting around the house drinking wine, my wife and I hop on our bikes and do a little tour of our village which has 4 wineries and do a little wine and bike tour. Weekends are also when I do most of my big work in the yard or any other major projects that tend to get me moving.

Moral of the story...use your weekends to get up and go. I don't remember the last time I sat down and watched more than 30 minutes of television...it's been a long time.