As I am sure others can attest that when you work full time Monday-Friday, Saturdays are a
welcomed day indeed! Since I began my "weight lose" plan on a Saturday, September 1st, Saturday is the beginning of a new week and my weigh in day. It does make me look at Friday night's differently in case my DH and I decide to go out to eat on Friday night but so far that has only happened once.
If you mean: do I take a day off from dieting, well, I am not following a diet plan per se. I am using the WW Flex Points plan as a tool to monitor my portions but I am eating the way I will eat from now into "my last days" so I don't "go off" my plan like I know I would have if I had been following a really strict food plan like I see some of you do. For me, this works and this is what I needed.
I am also following the "Wendie Plan", which is a variation of the Daily Target Plan where you have one day a week where you eat about 25% more than the other days. This has worked for me since my DH and I go out to eat once a week, Sunday dinner right after church. We have been doing that for eight years and it is a "ritual" that we both look forward to.
I think that I do eat somewhat differently on the weekends because they aren't as structured as the work week, if that is how I am reading your question. At first, this seemed to wreck havoc on my food plan but then I came up with something that helped me deal with it. On the WW Flex Plan you can "earn" up to 28 exercise points per week to add points to be used for food. I average about 45 exercise points a week because I am very active. I do NOT count the extra points towards my food plan but I do keep track of them and all of the points that I both eat and use. I have separate charts for both.
Since I have more free time to be more active on the weekends and since that is probably going to be the time that an unplanned invitation to eat out or eat something more than during my week, I use my exercise points towards that extra food at that time. I used to need more naps but in the past couple of weeks I feel like I don't need them any more! And, I have increased my hours of working too besides every thing else that I have been doing. I have also switched to exercising on my lunch break along with walking on my two fifteen minute breaks. It really helps me return to my afternoon feeling less stressed and that really helps me avoid any drops in blood sugar during the long afternoons at work.
That has really surprised me but I think it is a combination of eating healthy, exercising 6 days a week faithfully and taking herbal supplements for my immune system. If you're wondering when do I relax, I do. In fact, I have made it a priority to relax in the evenings after my DH and I have eaten supper. I like to read or watch a good movie or tv program. On Saturdays, since it is the one day a week that I can sleep in I try to allow myself to get up "whenever". I slept 12 hours last night. I am working on finishing up some painting and wallpapering so I will doing that today. I want to have it all done by Thanksgiving and then next Friday we will go Christmas tree shopping. I do think it is very important that you have balance in your life. Period. A time to work (or study). A time to play (whatever you consider play to be). A time to be quiet and reflective. A time to be silly and have fun.
I need a combination of structure and flexibility in every day. The weekends are different than the work weeks but they still do have that same rhythm. It took me a couple of months but I struck a balance that allows me to get what I need to get done and still have time to "do nothing" --which is important to rejuvenate yourself. I think any thing is good if it restores us so we can pick up where we left off the day before or the day after.
My plans for today are breakfast at my sister's, a leisurely walk, and a nap (I wish!). Then tonight is wine and a movie with another sister.
