Is the weekend killing your diet?
Most of us look forward to the weekend and the count-down to Friday afternoon. Many also look forward to that "treat" because they've been "good" all week. The weekend "treat" is certainly OK and deserved in moderation, however the "treat" should NOT last an entire weekend. Many times we feel like the entire weekend is a time to break away from our weekly routine of proper nutrition and the daily regimen.
We all want a "treat" and we should certainly allow that in moderation and within a certain time-frame. The weekend problem begins when we do not restrict our nutritional intake and tell ourselves "I'll get back on track Monday". The problem with this is that you'll most likely eliminate any "good" you have done during the week by indulging throughout the entire weekend. The weekend should have a nutritional plan no matter what comes up or is planned. Make sure you have a back-up plan or a resource for a well-balanced meal or at least a not-so-bad snack. Be aware of the types of alcohol (if you consume) you are choosing as a wine is a much better choice over high calorie mixed drinks. Be aware of any high calorie snacks as those tend to go unnoticed as they seems so small until you add them all up!
Enjoy your weekend, have fun, relax, BUT make sure you either have a plan and or calculate when that "treat" has come and gone. We can not deprive ourselves of the foods we enjoy as long as we understand how frequently is appropriate within a diet. Make sure your nutritional radar is working for those 2.5 weekend days and your diet will work as planned.
We all want a "treat" and we should certainly allow that in moderation and within a certain time-frame. The weekend problem begins when we do not restrict our nutritional intake and tell ourselves "I'll get back on track Monday". The problem with this is that you'll most likely eliminate any "good" you have done during the week by indulging throughout the entire weekend. The weekend should have a nutritional plan no matter what comes up or is planned. Make sure you have a back-up plan or a resource for a well-balanced meal or at least a not-so-bad snack. Be aware of the types of alcohol (if you consume) you are choosing as a wine is a much better choice over high calorie mixed drinks. Be aware of any high calorie snacks as those tend to go unnoticed as they seems so small until you add them all up!
Enjoy your weekend, have fun, relax, BUT make sure you either have a plan and or calculate when that "treat" has come and gone. We can not deprive ourselves of the foods we enjoy as long as we understand how frequently is appropriate within a diet. Make sure your nutritional radar is working for those 2.5 weekend days and your diet will work as planned.
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Comment by Jennifer Cochran-Biederman, MS, MA on April 13, 2008 at 3:41pm -
For me the biggest "weekend" challenge has been making sure that I don't drink too many calories. Even having a glass or two of wine with dinner on Friday and Saturday night can really add up if I'm not careful to adjust my caloric intake elsewhere or squeeze in an extra workout. It wasn't until I was reading over one of our pages on wine calories that I really began to realize how much these empty calories can inconspicuously pack on a few extra pounds over the course of a few months. This page will also point you toward some excellent resources that offer tips for how to drink wine without sacrificing your diet as well as some tasty wine alternatives.
Not a wino? There's also a great page on the calories in beer,
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Comment by Bob Pressley on April 13, 2008 at 3:03pm -
Wow! Congrats on your 65 pounds!
It's very easy to loosen up on the weekends and allow yourself more than a "treat" which is how many find themselves at a weight loss plateau or having a tough time losing weight at all.
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Comment by Jolyn on April 13, 2008 at 12:43pm -
You've certainly given people like me a wake-up call, Bob. I've thought this way for years -- weekends are a time to let loose! Although I've lost 65 lbs. in the past year and a half, as soon as I relaxed the diet a bit, that old weekend freedom idea kicked in again.
Another wake-up call I had this week was on AOL News. I can't find it now, but it warned that one piece of New York style cheese cake has over 1,000 calories -- and that's without any topping!
Thanks for the reminder that weekends hold calories too.
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