I recently decided that it was finally time to get serious about my weight loss. I seem to do really well until the weekend comes along. Does anyone else have a problem sticking to their diets on the weekends? Staying within my points during the week doesn't seem to be a problem, but when the weekend comes along it becomes really tough to stay on track. Anyone have any suggestions to help keep things on track over the weekends?
I totally know what you mean. I do well during the week, I am sure it has to do with my work schedule. Keeps things on track. I am proud of myself, I did well this weekend, but it is harder to keep from munching on the weekends. This site has helped, I log on when I think I want to eat and read some posts for inspiration.
What I've had to do is treat weekend days like any other day, namely, the same rules hold. I eat in the same way--I avoid the idea that because it's a weekend it's a "free" chance to "act out with food." And I track everything I eat.
This weekend has been not so good--I was out of town and had to eat out two of three meals--and I went over what I would have liked on calories. But, I entered every single last thing into my tracker because I really need to be aware of days like that! I expect I won't lose weight this week as a result, and at least I'll know exactly why.
Other than that, it just takes the same old boring force of will to stay on track! But, we can do it! Keep going, don't give up!
I told myself from the beginning that I would treat the weekend just like any other day. I menu plan for the Sat/Sunday exactly like Mon-Fri. If I go out to dinner on the weekend, I try to make good choices and limit the size of my restaurant entree by immediately putting half in a togo container.
I definitely find the weekends more difficult. But I plan them out the same way as a weekday. The kids are home, as is DH. Work schedule is different. My whole routine is different. So, I definitely find it MUCH, MUCH more difficult to stay on plan. But that is totally irrelevant. No one said this was going to be easy. I don't want to ruin a great weeks worth of staying on plan just because my routine has changed. So I've just got to muster up some extra will power. Not always easy - but doable. There is no way to successfully lose weight and then keep it off IMO by going off plan every single weekend. No way whatsoever.
I really think the weekends can make or break the whole week. I choose make (usually that is )
I agree with what others have said above. I treat weekends just like any other day - they are planned and tracked. If I'm going out to eat, I try to find out as far as possible in advance and decide what I'm going to eat before I get there and make it fit into my calorie level for the day. It's the only way, in my opinion!
I agree with the other posters, I count calories too, I do treat myself to something , sometimes on the weekend( this Friday night it was a piece of dark chocolate, but I stayed within my calorie intake), also I don't eat out, if I have to I just order a salad and eat something more at home. The weekend also is a day I try and get out and do something( this weekend I went to the zoo, and in N.C. the zoo is on the side of a mountain and a 5 mile walk ( one way), I have gone hiking in the mountains, ect. IF you live in a city , like NYC, you can go window shopping and walk for miles. There are times I will eat a little more in calories, but I don't beat myself up and try and do better the next day.
cheryl
I'm just the opposite-I tend to eat very little on the weekends. DH and I are constantly on the move. I have to force myself to take a break and eat something. I have to go to work to relax.
I'm like Janny O...I tend to eat less on the weekends. Even though I am sitting home, usually nothing really appeals to me to eat. I don't eat out on the weekends generally, but occassionally I say to heck with it and just eat whatever I want. This weekend was a little of both. I didn't really eat too much Saturday, but a friend and I met up and went window shopping for about 6 hours. We stopped off at a pizza place and ordered a small pizza to share. It was thin crust with cheese and canadian bacon. I ate 3 slices and took the 4th home for dinner. That was all I had Saturday plus lots of walking. Then Sunday, I only ate a plate of spagetti with 2 bisquits...yes i did say 2 bisquits and a slice of red velvet cake. Oh...and I had a serving of Pringles chips. But again...that was all i had on Sunday. I tend to only eat once a day on the weekends.
Weekends are my downfall. It's been awhile since I had an on-track weekend, and that's bad. I'll start off the day good, and I keep myself busy. As soon I stop, my brain tells me I'm hungry but I had just eaten a couple of hours ago. It's like I have constant munchies. I just need to have more discipline and learn when I'm actually hungry instead of my brain trying to deceive me.
give yourself a break once in a while.. just because you eat something bad during the weekend doesnt mean it has to ruin your entire week. i always take sundays off
the problem for ME is that i'm eating so close to my optimum level during the week that even one weekend day of 'taking off' negates all the hard work of the prior week... i have to string 'clean days' together week after week in order to lose any significant weight...
I'm with you, LadyBug--same for me! I can't really afford to go too high on any single day, or I stall out on weight loss. That said, I can plan some "treat foods"--just have to make sure I stay within my calories somehow (or decide against the food).
Boy can I relate, I do great until I have days off. Not necessary a weekend because I work night shift, but have a heck of a time with days off. My hubby eats anything he wants, and I find I crave what he has And we always go out to eat on my days off. I find that if I have one bad day I can wreck my whole week.
Is is really possible to gain five pounds in one day? Even if all you had was popcorn and a hot dog at the movies?
I can easily gain 5 or 6 pounds in one day and then my mood is black and it is harder to get back on track.
I hate days off
Weekend Eating
And I track everything I eat. 
But, we can do it! 
Keep going, don't give up!
And we always go out to eat on my days off. I find that if I have one bad day I can wreck my whole week.