I really struggle on the weekends.

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  • megginanderson
    megginanderson Posts: 276 Member
    Somebody_Loved wrote: »
    My problem is that I am diligent and spot on with my deficit during the week, and then I obliterate it during the weekend with alcohol and the subsequent food choices.

    I "officially" weigh in every Friday. The past few Fridays I have weighed in around 137 (137.4, 137.2, 137.8). Then I go overboard on the weekend and bloat up to 143-144 come Monday. Work hard during the week to get down around 137 again on Friday. Then repeat. And now here I am again on another Monday, angry with myself. I would have been to goal months ago had I stayed consistent.

    I know what I'm doing wrong and that I can't expect to reach my goals without putting forth the effort and changing my lifestyle. I'm hoping writing it out will help hold me accountable. And any advice from someone who's been in a similar situation would also be much appreciated. Thanks!

    Story of my life, and why it took me 2 years to lose 80 pounds. Habits are hard to break. I'm definitely better, but something in my head clicks when Friday rolls around. I of course also don't believe in 100% of the time eating perfect, but I wish I could stick to just 1 meal. Let's make a plan to change.
  • Somebody_Loved
    Somebody_Loved Posts: 498 Member
    @megginanderson - Exactly. I really like the earlier suggestions of looking at my calories throughout the week and "banking" the extras for the weekend. If I did this and legitimately tried to stay within my caloric target, I'd be SO much better off. Let's do it, it's nice to know I'm not the only one who struggles with this.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I get together with friends and what not most Saturdays...this usually involves good food and drinks...because I know it's coming, I plan accordingly...I usually eat a pretty solid breakfast and a light lunch...often just a garden salad along with some kind of lean protein...then I have plenty of room to indulge Saturday evening.

    When I drink I also tend towards lower calorie options...in the summer I prefer vodka and sparkling water with lime...I will occasionally have a beer or two, but usually a lite beer of some kind...more often than not though, I will opt for a glass of wine these days over a beer.

    Where food is concerned, I try to focus on protein and veg when I'm drinking...

    It is quite possible to have a social life and be reasonably responsible with your diet as well.
  • Somebody_Loved
    Somebody_Loved Posts: 498 Member
    @cwolfman13 - Thanks for the reply! That's exactly what I'm going to put my effort into. I have a lot of plans this weekend due to the holiday, and I'm going to focus on pre-planning healthy meals so I can indulge a bit more in the evenings.
  • 2wise4u
    2wise4u Posts: 229 Member
    I do the same and workout during the week because the gym is literally across the street from work but on weekends, I rest/run errands/clean house but don't hit the gym and eat more than I do during the week. I may try to keep the same/similar eating habits on the weekends as I do during the week to see if I can maintain and/or lose that way. Great post because it's making me rethink my own routine.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Also, I'd strongly suggest making regular exercise on the weekends a part of your lifestyle if you haven't already. I hit the gym most Saturdays to lift and Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week because it's the day that I can really get out there on my bike for a couple hours or more and ride.

    Pretty much any nonsense I get into on Saturday night I can ride off Sunday morning. Work hard, play hard...
  • nutmeg86rb
    nutmeg86rb Posts: 16 Member
    I have the same dilemma. Between eating out and not in the same routine...it messes with me by the time mondays roll around (and pants don't button) I know the best course of action is plan & prepare ahead but weekends are for lounging...right?!
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    I try really hard not to eat my exercise calories back during the week and I hoard them like a miser for the weekend. This way I can drink my beer and eat at maintenance on the weekend and still have a decent loss for the week overall.
  • pasandoval
    pasandoval Posts: 37 Member
    Try at least one morning weekend exercise session to make you feel better about living your life on the weekends, which you should do guilt-free anyway! Or maybe try joining a weekend rec sports league (if you're that type) so that yon can combine exercise with socializing.
  • carakirkey
    carakirkey Posts: 199 Member
    Somebody_Loved wrote: »
    I don't consider the weekends "cheat" days, they just happen to be days that I have plans with friends and are more social. I don't want to cut them out while I'm losing weight as I plan to continue to go out while maintaining my weight. Instead, I want to learn how to go out on the weekends in moderation.

    I definitely agree about being more selective for when I go out, though. I have a tendency to go out on Friday and Saturday for the sheer fact that it's the weekend. I can definitely get better about that.

    Agreed. This is long term lifestyle for me, and I don't plan on giving up my friend and social time. My suggestion would be to try and have more 'active' social time. Play a sport, walk, rent a kayak or paddleboard with your friends. Work for that beer! Your friends may be on board with that plan too;)
  • Somebody_Loved
    Somebody_Loved Posts: 498 Member
    Thanks everyone for the helpful responses, I feel much better. I am going to plan healthy meals for the weekend, bank some calories for the nights I know I'm going out, and make it a priority to get a great workout in both days. Thanks again for all the help!
  • felblossom
    felblossom Posts: 132 Member
    I used to be in the same boat, and I had a lot of social events that I "had" to attend, which included a lot of both food and drinks. Almost weekly I went to fancy pats three course dinners with table serving and no portion control, also with drinks, beer, wine etc served at the table. I was also very lightly active, mainly walking for exercise. I still managed to slowly, but steadily, lose weight! A bit of self-control goes a long way; turning down dessert, or the refill of the wine-glass, drinking a glass of water instead of going for beer number two. It might slow you down, but having a social life shouldn't stop you from reaching your goals. :smile:

    These days my social life is slightly less intense, and I look at weekends as a great opportunity to get out and stay active! I get up and get a work-out in, then do a run or a long walk and still have time to kick back, relax and go out with my friends with a couple of extra calories to do so :)
  • runrun87
    runrun87 Posts: 46 Member
    Same here! You're definitely not alone. It's hard for me to order a salad or grilled chicken when everyone else is eating pizza and nachos haha. Stay strong! :)
  • zdyb23456
    zdyb23456 Posts: 1,706 Member
    I don't drink so I don't have this problem, but when my husband is home we tend to eat out more often on the weekends, which can totally derail the diet for me.

    I do try to limit the number of times we eat out - maybe go out just once on the weekend and find something else that's fun to do the other evening? Even eliminating 2 nights out per month could save you a considerable amount of calories.

    On the day we are planning to eat out I do cut back earlier in the day - eat a lighter lunch or even eliminate lunch and we go out for an earlier dinner. I may throw in an extra walk or run an extra mile more than I normally would too.

    I do agree that you need to find ways now to deal with socializing - it's not like you are never going to socialize again just to maintain your goal weight!
  • jodienjayden
    jodienjayden Posts: 32 Member
    Somebody_Loved wrote: »
    My problem is that I am diligent and spot on with my deficit during the week, and then I obliterate it during the weekend with alcohol and the subsequent food choices.

    I "officially" weigh in every Friday. The past few Fridays I have weighed in around 137 (137.4, 137.2, 137.8). Then I go overboard on the weekend and bloat up to 143-144 come Monday. Work hard during the week to get down around 137 again on Friday. Then repeat. And now here I am again on another Monday, angry with myself. I would have been to goal months ago had I stayed consistent.

    I know what I'm doing wrong and that I can't expect to reach my goals without putting forth the effort and changing my lifestyle. I'm hoping writing it out will help hold me accountable. And any advice from someone who's been in a similar situation would also be much appreciated. Thanks!

    I could have written this myself! Same here! I started in November at 209 and have made it to my goal weight of 135. I don't stay there though. I do great like you, during the week. Then on the weekends I endure a bit alcohol wise and food wise and end up Monday weighing 141 or sometimes more. I think today, in fact I have finally come to terms with it that I am happy with my weight. I want to enjoy the weekends, and I am just not going to sacrifice them, haha. I'll continue being good during the week though.
  • QuallyLeShay
    QuallyLeShay Posts: 37 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    SueInAz wrote: »
    Have you given any thought to eating different calorie allotments on weekdays vs. weekends? Sure, you could just eat at maintenance on the weekend but you could also choose to eat 100 less calories each day on the weekdays, since you have the discipline to meet your goals those days. That would then give you an extra 500 calories for the weekend. You'd still have to maintain a little discipline but it would give you a little more wiggle room for some weekend fun while still working toward the same goal.

    This^

    Zig-zag your calories. If you eat small a couple days a week....you can bank those calories for the weekend.

    Why have I not done this?! I'm so good during the week and the weekends come and Monday I'm back to losing the same 3 lbs. I'm gonna try this!
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