Falling off the wagon on weekends?

Bride2B1103
Bride2B1103 Posts: 37 Member
in Motivation and Support
Does anyone else find themselves essentially "starting over" come Monday morning? Between drinks and that late night pizza, I find myself just letting go on Saturdays after an awesome and healthy week...which only leads to depression come Monday am! Any one else do this? I'd love some tips on how to stay motivated on the weekends. Any tips on how to stay focused would be awesome!!
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Replies

  • Nurse_krissy
    Nurse_krissy Posts: 102 Member
    I do the same thing (hence the reason I'm on MFP first thing this morning!) Since I'm at goal, I've laxed up a little bit and have just come to accept that my weekend will be less than stellar and have tried to make better choices within the wider range. I also step up my exercise more (2 hrs at the gym vs the usual 1 hr) to help compensate. If it's going to happen, I feel it's better to embrace it and not beat yourself up. Just don't get the "all-or- nothing" mentality to where if you have a couple Oreos, you consume an entire package since you "already screwed up"! :)
  • Libbyly
    Libbyly Posts: 175
    I always have a "cheat day" at the weekends. it used to be two cheat days. I found logging everything - even the really bad stuff helps. it makes you more aware of just how bad you're being.

    Logging is key. I'm getting better - Instead of a whole day - I might have a bad meal....hope that helps.
  • kym117
    kym117 Posts: 315 Member
    I always have a "cheat day" at the weekends. it used to be two cheat days. I found logging everything - even the really bad stuff helps. it makes you more aware of just how bad you're being.

    Logging is key. I'm getting better - Instead of a whole day - I might have a bad meal....hope that helps.

    ^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^
    We are all tempted at weekends and we all deserve a day off now and then but I must admit if I have been really bad I log every mouthfull into the database, it shows you how far you have gone and makes you not be in a hurry to get there again.
  • iFeelBrandNew
    iFeelBrandNew Posts: 263 Member
    definitely not the only one... i dont even want to get into what i ate this weekend. i will let you in on a little secret however, brisket nachos are TO DIE FOR....

    and that was only a SNACK. shame...
  • claireyf12
    claireyf12 Posts: 106
    i am always over on a saturday but i allow for this and plan over the rest of the week i.e. saving a few cals during the week, i have a takeaway every saturday, its working for me so far!! :)
  • Shelbert79
    Shelbert79 Posts: 510 Member
    My cheat day is Friday, no working out and eating whatever (but with a little more portion control than I used to have). I do end up working out double time on the weekend just because I have more time to do so. I've decided not to beat myself up because i'm not perfect, if I keep dwelling on the 'bad' days I'm afraid I'll give up entirely and I refuse to do that. Good luck!
  • MelissaGraham7
    MelissaGraham7 Posts: 406 Member
    I do usually eat more on weekends but I do log it, do try to stay cognizant of what I"m doing, and make sure I also exercise a lot more on weekends. I save my long runs/walks for the weekend plus some biking as it will also give me some extra calories for that dinner and a movie or special treat of frozen yogurt. Live life but stay aware. ;)
  • Donnacoach
    Donnacoach Posts: 540 Member
    Weekends are my weakest times. Between going out to eat with family or celebrating one thing or another. It's frustrating to say the least. I guess the important thing is to remember that on Monday you will get right back at it.
  • InTheNameofCosplay
    InTheNameofCosplay Posts: 7
    Uh. I did this BADLY this weekend. I really need to learn how to let my healthy habits roll over into my decisions at parties and such. I REALLY goofed between Saturday and Sunday. Ugh.
  • SAMSON25
    SAMSON25 Posts: 58 Member
    I've struggled with this also. What's helped me is to construct my weekends the same as my weekdays..i.e. eating times, snacks, etc. Also, stay busy! It keeps your mind off of it and avoid mindless eating
  • chachita7
    chachita7 Posts: 996 Member
    Yup that is me... but without the regret... hells the way I see it is eating healthy 5 out of the 7 days of the week is really good for how it used to be... I have pretty good self control during the week - but with chips, ice cream and other yummies at the house it is sorta kinda but not really hard - I make the decision to enjoy and know that each day is a new chance....
  • karendsmith
    karendsmith Posts: 167
    I'm guilty of the same weekend screw ups.. I just try to make sure I exercise a bit more and if I have a drink or two, its the low cal kind. My husband and I went out for lunch on Saturday, I ordered a garden salad since I worked hard at the gym earlier that morning, he ordered crab dip appetizer along with his lunch meal. Soooo tempting, and he kept offering some to me. I could have devoured the whole bowl of it, but instead, just to satify my craving, I limited myself to 3 bitefuls. Then I asked him to pass it on to the other side of us, out of my reach!
  • shaX07
    shaX07 Posts: 28
    i am always over on a saturday but i allow for this and plan over the rest of the week i.e. saving a few cals during the week, i have a takeaway every saturday, its working for me so far!! :)

    I'm pretty much in the same boat. It's pretty much a given that we will all have weekends where we just go a little overboard, or simply eat some stuff we wouldn't necessarily eat while on a weight loss regiment. I also try to compensate for this during the week. Whether it be some extra exercise, or a little more caloric restriction for a few of the weekdays, can certainly make up for a poor weekend day.

    I've actually found it helpful to throw in some intermittent fasting to help counter-act the poor weekend choices. Though fasting isn't recommended for everyone, I find that if I fast 1 day in a given week, it makes it very easy to maintain a caloric goal that encompasses a 2 pound per week loss even while eating pretty much anything that comes my way in the weekends, so long as I meet my caloric goal on those other 4 weekdays.
  • beckers80
    beckers80 Posts: 133 Member
    bump
  • Lize11e
    Lize11e Posts: 419
    Keep logging and if you see your calorie total start to get scary, get out and do something. Walk, jog, do some yardwork, anything to get in some exercise. I tend to drink too much on the weekends and I love pizza. I've opted for thin crust frozen pizza instead of Papa Johns and I drink only light beer now. I actually stay very close to my suggested caloric intake on the weekends. Most of the time, even a little below. Hope this helps! :drinker:
  • EvEboEvie
    EvEboEvie Posts: 115 Member
    UGH... I JUST got finished writing a status about this very thing... I work so hard during the week only to undo much of it on the weekend. Thank God I kept up with my workouts... I haven't weighed myself this morning, but I'm hoping it's not so bad this week.
  • cheetahmama2
    cheetahmama2 Posts: 9 Member
    This is awesome advise! I find myself doing the same thing, but I'm starting to ad a little exercise on the weekends to help out.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    Not really. Sometimes Ill eat about 1300 calories but thats because I'm spending time with my boyfriend and am not picky about what I eat. Recovering from an ED, so a "normal" day is 750 cals for me. I dont get depressed when I go over anymore, though. Progress!
  • laurasimmons
    laurasimmons Posts: 575 Member
    I was doing the same thing for months which is why I am no longer at my goal weight and have to re-lose some weight. It's hard but you just have to do it. Luckily this week I managed to and was able to record a loss for the first time in months. That is what will help me to stay focused! I hope!
  • adriana_hackney
    adriana_hackney Posts: 232 Member
    Yep...I have the same problem. I eat super healthy all week and then lose it come Friday or Sat. My dh works all week and is off on the weekends. I think HE is the problem...lol...I don't get depressed I just start over, but I would sure like to quit sabotaging myself.
  • Chris_acc_can
    Chris_acc_can Posts: 83
    Doesn't happen too often, I usually have 1 cheat day every once and a while. This weekend I had 3 conseuctive cheat days. Hockey playoffs, UFC and a family event that yielded enough cookies and sweets to end world hunger really spiked my calorie intake.

    Today, I'm back on the wagon, mainly because over the course of the weekend I consumed every oz. of junk food in my house, only leaving fruits and vegetables.
  • Maude_Lewbowski
    Maude_Lewbowski Posts: 395 Member
    Does anyone else find themselves essentially "starting over" come Monday morning? Between drinks and that late night pizza, I find myself just letting go on Saturdays after an awesome and healthy week...which only leads to depression come Monday am! Any one else do this? I'd love some tips on how to stay motivated on the weekends. Any tips on how to stay focused would be awesome!!

    Mondays are always depressing, I don't have one of those jobs I love to go to so I allow myself one day a weekend to let loose. Not entirely come undone but, have fun. It also helps to have support here and have a work out partner. I find mworking out with someone holds me accountable and makes me not want to let them down or waste their time. It's good motivation
  • Behappy_Healthy
    Behappy_Healthy Posts: 19
    Actually, i find myself being healthier at weekends, and i even exercise more... Week days are the hardest for me actually! haha... I have to wake up at 5 and I come home at 3-4, and of course, because I have lunch between 9 and 12 o'clock, I would always find myself hungry so I just go to bakery, and then my whole day is a huge fail...
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    I'm in the same boat as everyone else. I think the weekends are harder, at least for me, because I don't have the same structure as I do during the week at my job.

    However, when I know I'm going to be struggling, or eat something I normally wouldn't, it gives me motivation to amp up my workouts on the weekends - or at least make sure I don't miss them. I feel better knowing I got in a good workout, even if I go over my calorie goals.
  • joytron
    joytron Posts: 103 Member
    Thanks for posting this.

    I have the same problem, though for me it's that I tend to drink quite a bit on the weekend. Food stays (roughly) the same, but ahhh, the drinks! I live in Tokyo, where it is perfectly legal to drink outside, and weekend activities with my circle of cohorts quite often start with late a.m. drinks in a park somewhere. Have gotten better with this since starting MFP (about 6 weeks ago), but still.

    The fasting thing mentioned above sounds intriguing. Does anyone else have any insight/experience with that type of thing?
  • bmkx0
    bmkx0 Posts: 308
    i don't always do bad on the weekends, but this last weekend was a different story :(
  • mogletdeluxe
    mogletdeluxe Posts: 623 Member
    I relax at weekends, but whilst 'relax' in the old days would have meant near enough consuming my bodyweight in junk food (I'm an ex-binge eater), whereas now it'll be a little of what I fancy.

    I'll have a Chinese takeaway, but I'll turn it into a social event and split it with my friends (bonus; great company and fewer calories!). Or I'll make my own pizza, or buy a frozen one rather than get a takeaway. I exercise at weekends, so I remain rather unapologetic sometimes about the old crispy beef/bottle of wine combo :)
  • cms721
    cms721 Posts: 179 Member
    If you are really doing well with eating and exercise during the week - take a "cheat day" lunch, dinner, or large snack. Just dont do all three. We will all go nuts and wind up worse than before if we dont "cheat" a little. Work out harder/longer on sat morning to have drinks on saturday night.
  • bsgkid
    bsgkid Posts: 72 Member
    My issue is not the weekends per se, but social times, which generally fall on the weekend. I so want to feel 'normal' when I go out with friends to a restaurant and/or a movie that I end up overeating. :drinker: If I know ahead of time, I eat lightly through the day to save my calories for eating out. But when it's an impromptu get together, I struggle with it. The solution to become a hermit to stay on my diet isn't working so well either....:grumble:
  • Fourmenandalady28
    Fourmenandalady28 Posts: 87
    Now, this is something that I struggle with. I lay around more on the weekend watching tv and "relaxing" so I was thinking just before I saw this post that since I am not doing much on those days and Lord knows it's like a rat race for me on the weekdays maybe I will just make my weekends low carb and have a cheat meal during the week when my metabolism can handle it.


    Lawanda

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