Ahhh Weekends!
 

Ugh I hate weekend sometimes! I feel like it is so much harder to have control over what I eat or don't eat, because of the company that I keep. (Example: Skinny friends, high metabolisms)
Also weekends are difficult because the structure that I am used to throughout the week is compromised....

So the question dear friends, how can I make weekends easier when it comes to eating? (especially out) Any hints, tip and suggestions??

Plan ahead and stay busy!

For me since I am doing a low calorie diet, I carry my calorie intake diary with me every where I go. This way I don't forget what I am taking in while out with friends and I also take my calorie book that has restaurants in it if I go out to eat (my boyfriend also has an app on his iTouch that has this too). I try to be busy and walk around or exercise more if I think I falling off of the diet a little.

Drink water. Order water as your drink at the dinner. Drink a full glass before your meal arrives. This helps me to feel more full faster so that I can eat less of the meal that is brought out. I have also seen it suggested to immediately ask for a take home container and cut the meal in half and put half away before eating. That way it isn't on your plate for you to keep picking at as you are sitting there with it.

Smart suggestion, wildbeanerz. It takes a little practice, but with practice it can become a habit.

The other thing about weekends is you get to DO something other than what your boss wants you to do, so plan at least 1 outing over the weekend. A walk through a local park, a trip to a lake to swim and play, a pedal along bike trail, something that will keep you moving and away from the lure of fast food. Take water and maybe an appropriate snack. But keep the focus on the activity or destination.

After 6 months on fitday weekends are getting a bit easier to control. I have found a lot of it is a state of mind. I used the weekend as an excuse to overeat or drink too many calories. I have stopped doing that and they are much better. I got fed up with gaining back what I had lost during the week.

Remind yourself of your goals, visualize what it will feel like on Monday to step on the scales, up 3 pounds, or the same or even down! This weekend my scales rewarded me for my dilligence.

If you fall off track, pick yourself up, and get back at it. Most of the gain will have disappeared after 3 days. Just ask yourself if you want to keep undermining your efforts each time temptation rises. Once you say NO it's easier to keep saying no. Mary

I agree with Mike about planning ahead. I find it easier to have an idea of what I'll have for meals and snacks on the weekend, similiar to how I plan meals/snacks during the week. It also helps to keep fruits and veggies pre-cut in the fridge. I'm more likely to grab celery than chips if the veggies are ready to eat!

And staying busy helps a lot. I eat out of boredom on the weekends so it helps me to get out of the house for the afternoon. I visit the library, plan to spend a few hours getting sun by the pool, just whatever keeps me out of the kitchen. When I'm just sitting around, I keep looking at the clock to see if it's time to be hungry yet so I have an excuse to eat. If it's been a couple hours since I late ate, I think I should be hungry and I let the clock dictate when I eat, as opposed to waiting until I'm actually hungry (regardless how much time has passed since my last meal/snack).

I also find that I like little treats more on the weekends, so I might splurge a little (calorie-wise) on a special meal for myself. For example, I'll make a homemade lower cal, lower fat mac n cheese or some potato soup. It's comfort food that takes a little while to make, thus keeping me occupied, and I control how much I make so I'm not at a restaurant staring at a double portion size with the temptation to eat it all.

When I go have plans to go out, I like to have input on the restaurant that is chosen and if you have time, check to see if they have a website with a menu. I'm much more likely to stick to healthy options if I have time beforehand to scrutinize the dishes. And you're more likely to cave to a craving if your friends are also getting unhealthy dishes or calorie-laden drinks...so order first and you shouldn't be as influenced by your dining companions.

I admit, weekends are always my biggest battle, but I take my type A personality and use it to my advantage to plan and prepare. Best of luck!

Wow, great suggestions you guys! This is something I struggle with too. I go out to eat a LOT, especially on weekends in the summer. Like a lot of you, I'll have a really great week (read: full of structure) and then backpedal between, say, 6pm Friday and 6pm Sunday.


I've been trying to overcome my fear of asking for exactly what I want at a restaurant -- like "making trouble for everyone involved" by requesting steamed veggies instead of fries or a chicken breast sandwich without a bun. Sometimes it doesn't jive with my Midwestern sensibilities, but I'm trying to change my attitude about it and speak up more often. This goes for pushy friends and moms too (i.e. "a little ice cream/extra helping of dinner/another beer won't kill you..." This is my life, especially in the summer -- I'm constantly offending people and making them hate me by saying "no" to food :)). Other restaurant-related habits I'm trying to break are eating everything on my plate, ordering the largest amount of food for my dollar (often some of the least healthy stuff on the menu), and the feeling of obligation to drink beverages or share food that someone else has purchased for me/the group (where I hang out, this often happens at the end of the night when everyone is a little bit loosened up -- a round of shots or a late night pizza run, for example). Again, I associate this with Midwestern attitudes, but its probably a lot more universal than that.


The times when I'm most successful are times when I plan ahead by looking at the menu for a new place (like wannabefitgrl's suggestion) or psyche myself up about ordering something healthy at our usual haunt (which thankfully has several pretty healthy options). Like grocery shopping, I'm also at my best when I don't go out to eat when I'm STARVING(!). Sometimes I'll even eat a super healthy mini-meal beforehand and order something small that takes a long time to eat at the restaurant, like bruschetta or steamed mussels. I'm also most successful when I limit myself to a plan that's not toooo stringent (like having one or two beers at the bar instead of just water) and then stick with that moderate expectation NO MATTER WHAT. I find that when I break down my resolve beyond that, however, its all over.

I'm glad you all got me thinking about this subject -- hopefully I'll still have this thread in mind tomorrow evening (yay Friday!) as the weekend gets going.

Cheers everyone -- here's to a healthy, fit, and FUN weekend!

Weekends are the bane of my life, I so look forward to fri eve, home from work and winding down, which usually means a glass of wine. Then I am out with friends and temptation is all around and my son comes over for Sunday dinner, more food and wine. Monday comes and I am full of self loathing for my lack of willpower. However I have been getting better and some of the ideas here are definitely worth trying, like ordering first before I see my mates choosing all the yummiest, calorie laden dishes. Recently we have been going out for tapas and I find this good as we order mostly chicken or veggie ones and I let the others eat more than me by going slowly and no one notices as we're all talking. Wine makes me hungry, one glass is ok but sometimes I just pour that next glass without thinking and then it's hunt the snacks time. There will be no wine tomorrow evening as I am entertaining on Saturday and am trying to save up some calories. I am making a favourite pudding, which is pretty high so my intention is to make a smaller one than usual so I will have a little slice and hopefully there will be no leftovers. Whatever you do this weekend, have a great one.

Sailor, I'm likewise a midwesterner and hate to trouble people but I figure if they hate me for being healthy then so be it! What's going to draw more criticism from the waitress, asking for steamed veggies or an extra helping of mayo?

As for the pushy family, etc., I've always struggled at work where co-workers try to pressure me to eat unhealthy so as to justify their choices. But eventually they learned that I wasn't going to succumb to the temptation of ordering chinese on Fridays and now they don't even ask if I want to get some. Beat them over the head with it enough and they'll learn to back off!

I have been really trying to work out my problems on the weekends as well. I am the same as you. During the week, for breakfast and lunch, I eat pretty much the same thing every day. (Yes, I might be a little OCD, but I like my routine and it is easy.) On the weekends with the structure gone, I can end up eating like crazy. Then I don't record it on fitday and then I eat more. Then, of course is the self-loathing, at the beginning of the week.

What I have started doing is weighing myself on Fridays and Mondays. Friday gives me feedback about the week. Knowing I am going to weigh myself on Monday can help me from eating too much.

Food and friends are meant to be enjoyed. My mantra is "enjoy your food". Order what you want and make sure that you eat it slowly enough to enjoy it. If you can, don't eat all of it, and take some home to enjoy again the next day. Keep track of what you eat and make sure to put it into fitday. If your calorie count is higher than you would like then try to add more activity in.

So, how did you do?
 

Well said wannabefitgrl -- sometimes we get in our own way when it comes to making the best decisions. It's all too easy to make it seem like it's up to someone else. Also, rmdaly, I think your idea of Friday and Monday weigh-ins is perfect. I'm not usually big on weighing myself, but my sister's wedding is coming up in two months and I really want to stay on track (there's just something about having to stand in a group fitness instructors and former gymnasts that gets your motivation humming along again...). That means not letting the weekend get the best of me, so that idea is spectacular.

Thinking about this thread truly kept me aware of my habits through this past weekend. And though its not quite over yet, I think all went pretty well. I kept myself pretty under control, limiting my weekend splurges to a small ice cream cone, a piece of gorgonzola and caramelized onion focaccia bread and one(!) beer. Pretty decent in my book. For me, it's one for the "win" column any time I can keep my calories at 1500 on a Saturday that includes social events.

I found that what helped me out this weekend was heading to the farmer's market early on Saturday morning. I had been away too long! I was "good" on Friday night knowing that I'd want to get there early before the crowds. Since I live in Minnesota (and we've had a really cold spring), it is only now getting really interesting and colorful. The peppers were ready, there was an abundance of flowers for sale, the tomatoes are truly ripe and there is a lady selling currants this year. I love currants! Even though I was surrounded by food, it was (mostly) the best kind of food. After several weeks of high-stress "work mode", I was reminded of how awesome it is to eat real food that's from the same place I'm from and that's in season right now. What a concept! Everything smelled so good and looked so...I don't know...perfect, that I was really inspired to hold it together despite plans to go out with friends on Saturday night. Plus, I walked away with a TON of fresh veggies, a cup of coffee, a loaf of foccacia bread and a little tub of spun honey only down about 20 bucks!

How did everyone else do this weekend?

It was a good weekend despite visitors and try to feed kids. It is too hot to eat today so I'm hoping for the scales to be down monday despite a bit of beer, wine and ice cream. I have found using my protein shakes on the weekend helps keep me from unplanned eating. Made pulled pork but managed to keep my serving reasonable - and added a spinach salad. Tons of exercise in and on the water plus a workout at the Y should make for good results tomorrow. I like the monday and friday weight in idea. Mary

I blew it this weekend. Next weekend I'll be at the beach with family and friends. We always go to a favorite Mex. place one night (where I have too many chips) and there is a donut place we go to every year. (I'm going to have 1!... only 1). They melt in your mouth.... seriously.

So I'm thinking about how to not have any other bad calories while I'm there. I want success next weekend.