Weekends/Days Off = Bad Choices...

lukeout007
lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
edited November 12 in Health and Weight Loss
I've realized that on the days that I work I almost always make good choices but on the days that I'm off I struggle and usually end up way over my calories. Is anyone else struggling with this? Even yesterday I felt like I was making good choices all day until dinner but about an hour before dinner I added up everything and realized I didn't have enough left to eat dinner...so I ended up going way over.

Replies

  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    Sheesh...this is already way down the line. Bump.
  • kati37
    kati37 Posts: 61
    I am still at the point where I struggle period!! LOL But at first I thought the weekends were the hardest, but not anymore. When I am home and hungry I have more choices. When I am at work and hungry I have the vending machine.
  • AntShanny
    AntShanny Posts: 359 Member
    I know the feeling! I have a harder time on weekends when I'm off work...I'm single with no kids, so it's not like I'm running around having to do a million different things and can avoid the kitchen. I'm usually hanging out at home with nothing much to do except think what else to eat for my next snack or meal! And with the way gas prices are going I'm gonna be stuck at home on the weekends for foreseeable future...
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    I also tend to eat a bit more freely on my days off because I don't have work to occupy me. Since I've noticed that, I try to beef up my workouts on days that I know I'm going to splurge a bit. Maybe do 15 extra minutes of work outs or switch your off work out day to a day you know you'll eat better. This helps me feel a bit more even during the week and helps me stay closer to my calorie goal.
  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    I also tend to eat a bit more freely on my days off because I don't have work to occupy me. Since I've noticed that, I try to beef up my workouts on days that I know I'm going to splurge a bit. Maybe do 15 extra minutes of work outs or switch your off work out day to a day you know you'll eat better. This helps me feel a bit more even during the week and helps me stay closer to my calorie goal.

    I like the extra workout idea. I generally don't work out on the weekends so maybe this is the solution.
  • jaxbeck
    jaxbeck Posts: 537 Member
    I'm always way more healthier on work days, so weird. I tend to under eat fro most of the day on weekends because I'm busy with the kids, cleaning, running errands, ct. until I'm finally starving & eat something not so good for me
  • Always! during the work week I can plan what im going to eat and whatever I bring to work is what I eat. I also have more time to log on here. But when it comes to the weekend that is when I will go out to eat, order in, spend more time cooking/baking. I'm not trying to lose a ton of weight but I know that my weekends are the reason I have only lost 1lb since January. oooohhh well
  • brynnsmom
    brynnsmom Posts: 945 Member
    This is me, too. Workdays are very structured anyway so sticking to my eating plan is fairly easy. On the weekends I try to get additional exercise in to balance my extra intake. It's too easy to overeat and/or make bad food choices when you've got more time on your hands, social gatherings to attend, etc. Admittedly I did not do so well this past weekend but I am going to try, try again!
  • VLaaber
    VLaaber Posts: 30
    I soo have that issue, especially when the weather is cold and ****ty. Now that its getting warmer i push myself to go outside and enjoy it instead of sitting indoors and munching out on food.
  • Me too! It's like the sun goes down and my appetite rears it's ugly head! Out of control I tell you!
  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    I soo have that issue, especially when the weather is cold and ****ty. Now that its getting warmer i push myself to go outside and enjoy it instead of sitting indoors and munching out on food.

    I'm in the seattle area and the weather has been awful lately. In fact it was snowing (very lightly) this morning.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Since you are probably netting under your BMR, don't worry about it.

    This is just your own way to recover and keep the metabolism from slowing.

    If you already workout each day through the week, keep some rest days in there, just maybe not back to back, swap around workout days.
    Do your strength training right before the rest day for full benefit from it. Then the weekend rest day really feeds it, and the weekday rest day not so bad.
  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    Since you are probably netting under your BMR, don't worry about it.

    This is just your own way to recover and keep the metabolism from slowing.

    If you already workout each day through the week, keep some rest days in there, just maybe not back to back, swap around workout days.
    Do your strength training right before the rest day for full benefit from it. Then the weekend rest day really feeds it, and the weekday rest day not so bad.

    Eh...I workout 3-5 days per week but its almost all cardio. I'm doing C25K and using my wii fit. I really need to start adding in strength training. I'm almost thinking though that it would still be better to exercise on the weekends and then have a couple rest days during the week.
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    I've realized that on the days that I work I almost always make good choices but on the days that I'm off I struggle and usually end up way over my calories. Is anyone else struggling with this? Even yesterday I felt like I was making good choices all day until dinner but about an hour before dinner I added up everything and realized I didn't have enough left to eat dinner...so I ended up going way over.

    sometimes. but I also dont have your traditional weekend. I have Mon/Tues as a weekend. I hit the YMCA in the early AM. it's great less crowded, weights area pretty clear, lap lanes in pool are the same way, I usually spend 2-3 hrs there. I make up for the calories I may go over.

    I soo have that issue, especially when the weather is cold and ****ty. Now that its getting warmer i push myself to go outside and enjoy it instead of sitting indoors and munching out on food.
    I'm in the seattle area and the weather has been awful lately. In fact it was snowing (very lightly) this morning.

    Seattle area as well. I relish the cold weather. I work nights, hope it stays this way so if I get some downtime I can go outside with my Star Wars music and walk/jog out in it while pretending I am flying through space. :tongue: (yes I am a nerd/geek thanks for wondering)
  • Kat5343
    Kat5343 Posts: 451 Member
    Im just the opposite....I work for a group of physicians and the drug reps are ALWAYS bringing us food in. Today we had breakfast AND lunch. I am already significantly over my calorie goals. Ugghhhh
  • darylinny
    darylinny Posts: 146
    Since you are probably netting under your BMR, don't worry about it.

    This is just your own way to recover and keep the metabolism from slowing.

    If you already workout each day through the week, keep some rest days in there, just maybe not back to back, swap around workout days.
    Do your strength training right before the rest day for full benefit from it. Then the weekend rest day really feeds it, and the weekday rest day not so bad.

    Eh...I workout 3-5 days per week but its almost all cardio. I'm doing C25K and using my wii fit. I really need to start adding in strength training. I'm almost thinking though that it would still be better to exercise on the weekends and then have a couple rest days during the week.

    Weekend rest days are dangerous. I rest on Tuesday and Fridays! Add the strength training to mix it up, plus it will help with the cardio.
  • Noticed the days I consume alcohol all judgement and wisdom goes out the window. Used to go out all the time, even weeknights, now I save one night a week for drinking (usually a weekend) and I've cut back on my weekly calories tremendously, both from the alcohol calories and the bad choices I'd make when under the influence! haha :wink:
  • Myndi73
    Myndi73 Posts: 270
    I always struggle on the weekends. I typically am out and about with friends so we are eating out and drinking a lot. I do great all week long because I have structure. I wish I could get my weekends under control.
  • srogers01
    srogers01 Posts: 29 Member
    You've read my mind! I have this very issue...if my family asked me to order pizza on a Tuesday...I would flat out tell them no! but ask me that question on a Fri/Sat/Sun...I would most likely say yes. Sometimes I wonder if I'm sabotaging the good work I do during the week with the choices I make on the weekends?
  • fionarama
    fionarama Posts: 788 Member
    Do you pre -p;lan your meals. I think thats the key. P:lan out what you are eating for the next day, breakfast/lunch/dinner with a coup;le of snacks and don't eat anything thats off p;lan. And yup; alcohol is the other thing so if you can factor in the amount you will drink and decide beforehand how many.
  • Sarahmeridith
    Sarahmeridith Posts: 298 Member
    I feel the same way! But Sundays I allow myself to have a cheat day, I still eat a good breakfast but lunch and dinner are usually not the best, but it makes it a lot easier for me to continue to loss if I can still eat the good stuff (pizza fried chick ect...) on Sundays when Im out with my family.
  • Murphy15
    Murphy15 Posts: 142
    I do that too! It's so frustrating.
  • AMIS456
    AMIS456 Posts: 34 Member
    You said you are doing the c25k - I did this program too and I am now training for a half! What I do is I make Sat or Sunday my long run day so that I A. Get extra calories on one of my weekend days and B. This helps make me keep on track the other day because I know that if I eat terribly before I run I will have a crappy run. Reguardless of what workout you do try making one of the weekend days your big push day and give yourself an extra rest day during the week.
  • asamuels85
    asamuels85 Posts: 170 Member
    sure you are not alone!! one friend told me she pre-plans her weekend meals. I am going to start this and changing weigh in days to wednesday so i don't get so discouraged by the eating habits that were actually me just having a social life. starting out the week with guilt made me feel emotionally unfit on top of bloated and slow.. best wishes in the weekend warriors dept.
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Saturday is always a day that I eat whatever I want. It's just part of my routine.

    I used to be the type to eat all day long when I was at home with nothing to do.

    Two things that helped me get over that:

    1. I don't keep "bad" foods at home. The only foods I have in my house that don't have to be cooked prior to eating are fruits, vegetables, and yogurt. I'm not likely to binge on any of those.

    2. I don't stay at home all day. I'm kind of a morning person, so I get up early on weekends and days off, and I go out and do things that will keep my mind off food. I know it's hard because food is everywhere. I can't even go to Barnes & Noble and get a cup of coffee without them offering me a 500-calorie muffin or a cookie the size of my head. You just have to say no thanks and get the heck out of Dodge.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    you should be planning ahead of time
  • lukeout007
    lukeout007 Posts: 1,237 Member
    1. I don't keep "bad" foods at home. The only foods I have in my house that don't have to be cooked prior to eating are fruits, vegetables, and yogurt. I'm not likely to binge on any of those.

    I recently got rid of all of the bad foods I had hanging around. I found that its really a big issue for me to have them in the house. Unfortunately my pregnant wife craves sweets and will get things at the grocery store and eat it in front of me. It drives me nuts. I don't blame her...but it sucks.
    2. I don't stay at home all day. I'm kind of a morning person, so I get up early on weekends and days off, and I go out and do things that will keep my mind off food. I know it's hard because food is everywhere. I can't even go to Barnes & Noble and get a cup of coffee without them offering me a 500-calorie muffin or a cookie the size of my head. You just have to say no thanks and get the heck out of Dodge.

    This is kind of the other issue for me though. I am never at home on the weekends/days off. I'm always out doing something and then I end up having to eat cheap and fast...
    you should be planning ahead of time

    I don't spend my days off at home usually. Tough to plan exactly where I'll be when I really don't know.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    Can I just say... you just have to decide not to make bad choices.

    I know... it sounds way too simple but it really is that simple.

    Also, drink lots of water. Sometimes we get 'hungry' signals from our body when we're really just thirsty...
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