I’ve written several times before about how much more difficult the weekends are for me in terms of making healthy choices. When I’m at work during the week, I pack my lunch and a few healthy snacks for the day, and that’s the only food I have access to while I’m at work for 10 hours. Yes, there is a vending machine in my office, but I’ve already taught myself to stay far away from that thing, so that’s not really a temptation for me anymore.
The weekend, on the other hand, is a completely different beast. I work 4 10′s (Tuesday – Friday), so that means every weekend is actually a 3-day weekend for me. Yes, I love that extra time at home with my family, but that also means an extra day of temptation, with a house full of food just begging to be eaten. For the most part, I’m making healthy choices on the weekends, but I have a big problem with grazing. So even if I’m snacking on something healthy like raisins or almonds, I’ll grab another handful every time I walk by the open bag, and before I know it I’ve added an extra couple hundred calories to my day. Yes, it is possible to overeat on healthy foods. Almonds, which I love, are a very calorie-dense food. That’s why the listed serving size is only 1/4 cup – which, if you count them out, is only about 20 almonds. A couple handfuls of those, and you’re easily looking at an extra 500 calories.
There are additional temptations on the weekends for me too. My parents live in another town about 15 miles away, and we go over there for a meal almost every weekend so they can see the grandkids. My mom usually makes at least relatively healthy meals, but not always. Either way, you can’t beat mom’s cooking 
And she always makes a dessert of some sort. My wife’s family lives close too, but her mom doesn’t like to cook much, so we’ll usually go out to eat with them. And while it’s certainly possible to eat healthy when going out to a restaurant, it’s definitely a lot more difficult.
Anyways, I’ve decided that I really need to work on getting a better grip on my weekends. I don’t like seeing myself make great progress all week, only to come to a screeching halt (or even backtrack a bit) on the weekend. I’m going to try hard to be very conscientious about what I eat on the weekends, and if I do go for a snack, I’ll pull out just as much as I want to eat, and put the rest away immediately, so hopefully the temptation to graze won’t be there. I’ve already been exercising both Saturday and Sunday nights, so I’ll keep up with that. When we go to my parent’s house for a meal, I’ll focus more on my portion size, so that even if it’s not the most healthy dish, at least I’m not eating as much of it. And I’ll work on passing on dessert more often too. When we go out to eat with my wife’s family, I’ll focus more on making healthy choices there as well, even if that means just ordering a salad.
On my weigh-in post last Friday, Craig left an interesting comment:
“I had an idea for a challenge…a “weekend challenge” to exercise Fri/Sat and Sunday and keep in a calorie limit with absolutely no “cheating”…we’d have to do it when all of us “regulars” don’t have any big social events going on….could be fun–and would lead to interesting weigh-ins I think!”
I think that there are a lot of us who struggle with the weekends, and I think Craig’s got a great idea for a challenge here. Is there anyone else who would be interested in something like that?
Photo by MasterChief1
{ 14 comments }
I’d be in for that challenge. I’d have to move my free-meal from Friday to mid week as to not throw off the weigh ins but I think that’d be a great way to really make sure we all stay on track for the weekend.
.-= Sean´s last blog… Working out in my Vibram Five Fingers =-.
It cost more, but only buy the small tiny individual servings of nuts and keep just a couple in the house. Your right you can have too much of a good thing.
I am sure your mom can agree to maybe only do desserts for the kids (assuming they are not chubby) or skip it all together except for once a month. Tell her it is hendering you because you love her stuff so much, she will work with you if you ask I bet.
Eating out you have no excuse, just don’t let the crew go to a place you have not already checked their menu online and found something appropriate for yourself.
.-= Twice the Man´s last blog… Check out My Newest Post on Men Getting Fit =-.
That’s a good idea about just buying the single-serving packages. I’ve also just been trying really hard lately to measure out a single serving, put the container away, and let that be it – that’s all I’m allowed to have. So far it’s working pretty well.
Hey! I’m interested in that challenge if you ever get it going. Also, I was wondering if you’re keeping a foodlog with a calorie count? This has been my number one tool for a long time now. But be careful, it’s easy to cheat on it also.
In a nutshell, here’s how I do it. I know how many calories I want to eat each day. I write that total at the top of the day and then subtract calories each and every time I eat something. When I get to 0, it’s water only for the rest of the day.
Space those calories out so you’re not stuck with water at 3 PM, but it really works. Hope it helps.
.-= Mac´s last blog… Weighing In For Thursday 2/18/2010 =-.
Mac, I’ve been using Daily Burn to keep track of my calories. It’s got a nice interface with a huge database of foods, and a pretty sweet iPhone app too. I also like how it shows what percentage of calories you’re getting from fat, carbs and protein. Right now I don’t have a specific calorie number in mind, I was just wanting to get a baseline idea of how much I’m eating, and if nothing else, make me more aware of what I’m eating.
I’m so in. Bring on the weekend challenge!
.-= 100 Pounds in a Year´s last blog… Thanks for Another Great Workout Pledge =-.
Count me in – weekends aren’t usually a huge issue for me – I do much better during the week. But then again – they can spiral out of control if I get too arrogant!
.-= Erin´s last blog… Leavin’ on a Jet Plane =-.
Sure, I’m in. I went to visit dad this weekend and I brought KFC extra crispy chicken. I know he and his wife likes KFC (and so do I). I just wrote it off as a 1,000 calorie meal and kept the rest of the day under control.
So, my point is that we should stage this challenge to keep daily calorie counts under control. What do you think?
.-= Frank Dobner´s last blog… The 25 Best Free Weight Loss Resources =-.
I’d be in for a weekend challenge as I’m exactly the same as you.
My snack of choice is peanuts sigh.
.-= AndrewENZ´s last blog… Weigh-in post #8 2010: Onderland! =-.
Of course I’m in! The weekends are a million percent tougher for me. I’m a good boy during the week!
.-= Craig´s last blog… Week 24 Progress & Perfect Ten =-.
I was surprised by the nature of almonds. I have small servings regularly. They’re a “healthy fat”. But any fat intake needs to be kept much lower than carbs and proteins. Nutrisystem says a single serving is 12 almonds. It’s a food easily confused as a diet food, being in those handy trail mixes, but it’s really not, like you mentioned.
.-= David´s last blog… Arnold says to do cardio =-.
I am SO in for this weekend challenge! I had the same problem this weekend – just too much food. I had a huge appetite and I think subconciously I felt like I ate well all week so I “deserved” to eat whatever I wanted on the weekend! Like you, there is always a family gathering, and a meal out, and sometimes it’s just so hard!
Hmmmm. I just commented on Craig’s blog about not really knowing when the effects of a bad eating day show up on the scale…I only weigh myself once a week on Sundays. The last two weekend’s I had a bad eating day, and still showed a loss on Sunday…anway…this challenge sounds great! Weekends do seem to be the hardest for me to stick to the plan (I’m doing Weigh Watchers) and even more so to get in some exercise. I’m up for the challenge!!!
.-= Mary Lutz´s last blog… Menopause? Me? No! I’m Too Young for That! =-.
(raises my hand] OOOOOOHHHHH! OOOOOOHHHHH! Count Me In, my weekends are not good at all. Ok well some of my weekdays are too but I’m up for a weekend challenge.
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