weekend binges

I do the same thing. I'm a 30 year old male with a very busy life style from Monday to Friday. Unfortunately, when the weekends come around there are too many opportunities to eat out and drink. I do my best to avoid it, but I seem to have issues with cravings. I make it a point to buy absolutely no sweets or unhealthy snacks. I have a refrigerator full of fruits, vegeatables, healthy meats, yogurt, eggs, and water. For some reason, when Saturday hits, I want chicken wings, breakfast from the diner, and beer. I share your pain.

I know what you all are talking about. The weekends are terrible for me and watching what I eat/drink. If it wasn't for the weekends, I would be a skinny minnie. Not sure how to break the cycle.

I can relate there have been weekends where all I'm doing is running and the quickest (and sometimes the only place open at 1 am) is usually fast food.
Here lately it's been just the opposite, I have to remember to eat, but when I do, it's still fast food. So that isn't any better.

I guess when I'm home on the weekends and don't have my kiddos, if I have a "spare" couple hours, I'm sleeping in my recliner or wherever I can.:yawn:

I think everyone falls off the wagon a bit on weekends. It's hard to eat properly and stay on track when your schedule is different. I have a lot of down time on the weekends and it's hard for me to not cook things, and eat garbage.

Just try to stay on track better. One thing that helps me is pre-cooking all of the food I'm going to eat for the next couple of days. I'm not going to go out for fast food if i already have chicken breast and veggies cooked in the refrigerator.

Weekends have always been my biggest challenge, with wine and chocolate luring me into falling off the wagon.
However I put up a fight this weekend. I chose the lowest carb and callorie drinks on Friday, and worked out my but off on Saturday morning, and burned another 500+ dancing for over 1.5hrs at night. No drinks Sunday.
I was so scared to step on the scale this morning , however I was so glad to see that another lb was gone.
Eat it=burn it.

bump

Hoping more people respond to this thread with tips to help minimize the impulsiveness and crazy eating on the weekends.

I have found that logging my food before I eat helps me stay on track. I do stray on occasion but have noticed lately when I do it leaves me bloated and miserable!

My theory about weekend binging is our tendency (and need) to turn off our brains over the weekends. In general all of us work so hard all week long and have so much depending upon what we do or what we accomplish that on the weekends we need time to turn off and relax, and in so doing let our defences down. Unfortunately, with "no one" manning our brains what we choose as a "reward" only sets us back. I'm learning that the key is to allow yourself to unwind, but do so in a "mindful" way.

I have to physically disengage myself from my kitchen, which is difficult with my "open concept" living area. Therefore, I go up to my "office" and read, work out, look up something new and useful on the internet...etc. There are many times when I am a not successful, but I'm also learning not to beat myself up over it... As one of the other responders stated - we have to look at how we're choosing to unwind. There are alternatives - just slowly make the changes. And learn to forgive yourself.

A few observations:

1) A lot of secret dieters struggle with the weekends because they don't wasn't people in social situations to know they are dieting. Either be honest with people that you're trying to better yourself, or come up with some excuses...saving up, are before going out, the doctor wants me to cut back, stomach upset...

2) Like all addictions, you have to figure out your enablers and hardest habits...clubbing, certain sites, the movies...then future out how to fix it. Take half a meal home, no popcorn topping. Start slow and build on it. Forgive yourself for a relapse.

3)Weigh yourself Friday and Monday to see how bad it all really is. Part of your journey should be an experiment...when I eat X, my weight is Y.. When I drink booze, I feel better, then worse.


4) Chances are, your friends are also struggling with the same problem. Be honest and chances are you'll find someone who will make healthy choices, too.

Good luck, folks! Add me if you'd like!

Some dandy advice! I think I will take some of that....Thanks! :happy:

I eat what I want but in modified ways..... check out my diary..... if i want pizza and wings... then its a flat bread with veggies and cheese... and grilled chicken wings with the skin removed and tossed with a small amount of sauce instead of swimming in it..... my husband is a chef so he cooks what he wants and i have to control what I put in my mouth..... I want to not deprive myself of things.... so if i really want the mocha latte, ....I have to walk or jog or workout and earn the extra calories....instead of in place of a meal or blowing my calorie limit......add me as friend if you wish...

some great ideas everybody.Thanks I will be using them this weekend

While I agree that may be the case for some, I tell everyone I'm dieting. My girlfriend and I rely on each other heavily for support when we diet. The issue for me is that I go from a structured week to free-for-all weekends. While I do work around my house, it is not enough to fill my days. Do you think it would be a good idea to plan my weekend meals in advance to create that structure?

I agree completely. I'll be so good on the week days, but then the weekend comes and I am home bored, I'll binger eat. It's harder during the week to binge for me because I'm always busy going to school, or whatever. Then, the weekends come, and I just want to eat all day. Ah! It's terrible.