Anyone else trying to lose weight?

[aliantha]

Let's keep this discussion going.

Weekends are a bad time for me to stay on a diet. What are everyone's strategies for avoiding those extra strategies on the weekend, when you may be hanging around the house or going out to eat or party?

We just talked about this today at Weight Watchers! At least the part about the "going to parties" strategy. The "hanging around the house" part is easy -- don't bring crap food into the house. (At least, it's easy when I follow that rule. )

Party strategies we came up with: eat a little something before you go; drink water (it'll fill you up); watch the alcohol, both because of the caloric content and because after one or two, your willpower goes right out the window; don't park your butt right next to the food; if you do overindulge, get right back on the wagon the next day; do more exercise to (help) make up for what you ate (and drank). Did I miss anything?

[DukkhaWaynhim]

I allow one cheat day a week; for example, this coming (Superbowl) Sunday is a cheat day. Cheat day means I get to eat anything I want within a single three hour period. The three hour limit is important - I only do it once a week, so if I really stuff myself, it makes me feel like crap, so I tend not to overdo it. Nothing I can eat in three hours can undo 6.8 days of goodness; however, cheat day gives me the chance to eat a little bit of the foods I've been craving, to get past it without fetishizing the food for too long (yeah - my whole family is kinda freaky about food... I'm the black sheep who can run for an hour and still talk during and afterwards).
Cheat day is also a great reminder that it's just food. I can't believe I survived eating all the junk I ate for so many years. I can only hope I am undoing at least part of what I did for a 15 year stretch of my life.

The most important thing about cheat day is that you've already paid for it with 6.8 days preceding it. Don't use your body like a credit card. Don't float yourself a calorie loan. The interest is egregious.

If you are more social than I, (I AM in IT, remember ) and have more than one special social function a week - well, you have to be strong. It's easy to succumb to peer pressure when everyone is having a piece of cake, or a donut, or any of the million sugary fatty nothings that accost us in daily life - however, if you've spent any time counting calories, you can pretty accurately estimate what is in that bad goody, and you have to ask yourself:
Is it worth it? Have I already financed this treat by exercising 2x to burn this off in advance?
Is eating this item so important to this social function that I have to ignore my health-goals? Usually the answer is a resounding no... but even if you have a moment of weakness, just like if you ever accidentally bounced a check - it's not the end of the world, you just have to budget better to avoid paying for it again later.

dw

[Wyldewode]

What I'd add about parties is eat a healthy and substantial meal before hand. And drink a bunch of water. That way you're not tempted to overdo it. Also, when I go to a party I try to make something healthy I can take. And when it is time to eat, I put my own dish on my plate, and then fill it up with healthier options. And you can have a treat--just make it a tiny (enough to satisfy--maybe two bites?) portion. Hope this helps. . .

[aliantha]

Oh yeah! There was something along those lines, too. If you know you're going to want to go back for seconds, because that's just what you *do* at parties...only take half as much the first time as you plan to eat.

We also talked about food pushers -- you know, the folks who aren't satisfied unless you've got something on your plate. Coping mechanisms ranged from taking something you know you don't like and pushing it around all night, to taking something and then dumping soda or something on it so you won't eat it.

And if you're up against an alcohol pusher, you can get a club soda (or tonic water) with a twist, which is zero calories but makes it look like you're drinking booze. I used to do that when I was a reporter and had to cover post-election parties.

[MsMary]

Great ideas!

ali:
I've heard that about water filling you up, before. That only works for me up to a point, but I guess it's better than nothing.

DW:
Allowing yourself one cheat a week with a time limit is an interesting concept. I've never heard of doing that before. I am not sure whether it would work for my life, but the thinking behind it makes sense to me.

Mina:
Eating before the party. Good point. I have a tendency to not eat so much so that I feel I can allow myself to try the different foods available if I want to, without feeling guilty. But I do have to control myself and remember to eat fewer of the more calorie-laden options and stick to the healthier stuff. I tend to gravitate to fruit and veggie platters, and skip (or go easy on) the heavy dressings that are often served with veggie platters.

I do like a little drink if I go out to a party, and I know that adds empty calories.

I don't really have that many weekend parties to go to, anyway, so party food is usually not the issue for me on the weekend. But these are good thoughts for when there IS a party or event involving lots of eating and drinking.

[exnihilo]

Guinsess--it's the drink that you chew.

Certain people object to that remark...

[MsMary]

So, how was the weekend? I think I did pretty well, even though I ate out (Thai food) last night.

[aliantha]

I think I did okay. I weighed the same thing this morning that I had on Friday. Went out to eat unexpectedly on Saturday night, but it was a Thai place, so I picked something stir-fried (which is usually pretty safe) and relatively heavy on veggies. And then I tried to go easy for the rest of the weekend. No Super Bowl party invites for me, so it was easy to stick with the program. You?

[Wyldewode]

Guinsess--it's the drink that you chew.

Certain people object to that remark...

[exnihilo]

My wife put me on a diet. I've lost 5 pounds.

It really sucks.

[Wyldewode]

Hmm. . . she loves you, wants to keep you around for a long time, you went ona diet and have lost 5 lbs. This sucks how?

[Cail]

It was from his wee-wee.

That would suck, and not in the good, fun way.

[exnihilo]

Hmm. . . she loves you, wants to keep you around for a long time, you went ona diet and have lost 5 lbs. This sucks how?

I can't eat what I want! That's the part that sucks.

But, I do need to lose the 5lbs and considerable more to boot.

It's all good.

[storm]

Two words...Nutrient Timing.

...i would just like to point out that when y'all are going full tilt on "cutting out all the crap"...if you feel the need to eat something not on the diet, do so after you workout. Insulin sensitivity is at a premium after resistance training (due to the microtrauma), so junk after a session is like damage control because a lot of those macronutrients are going to get converted into muscle glycogen before liver glycogen and you have a lot less risk of spillover.

[Wyldewode]

It was from his wee-wee.

That would suck, and not in the good, fun way.

[MsMary]

Two words...Nutrient Timing.

...i would just like to point out that when y'all are going full tilt on "cutting out all the crap"...if you feel the need to eat something not on the diet, do so after you workout. Insulin sensitivity is at a premium after resistance training (due to the microtrauma), so junk after a session is like damage control because a lot of those macronutrients are going to get converted into muscle glycogen before liver glycogen and you have a lot less risk of spillover.

Hmmm... When I google nutrient timing I sure get a lot of hits with hype about it. I am not sure that it's really accurate, though. Doesn't really ring true to me, from what I know of physiology and nutrition.

[emotional leper]

This thread has become to racy for me.

[DukkhaWaynhim]

Don't know much about nutrient timing, but it makes sense that your activity just before/after eating would have some effect on how your body treats the latest meal; e.g., I'm a big believer in the no-food-within-3hrs-of-bedtime rule. It worked pretty dramatically for me, and I sleep better because of it.

Benchmark - DW is now consistently below 200lbs! Not too bad for a 6'2" guy, eh? My goal is 180-185, which I am assuming I can achieve and maintain without looking or acting like a man-waif

dw

[Cail]

I don't want to break your heart DW, but I'm 6'2", was 225lbs 14 months ago, I'm now 180lbs, shooting for 175lbs. I look nothing like a waif.

Oh, and I'm 5 months from being 40.

If I can do it, anyone can.

[DukkhaWaynhim]

No offense taken. Other than the occasional tennis match, I've never been anything close to athletic, so I'm pleased with myself already, and it just keeps getting better!
I'm not training for marathons, or looking to climb plastic rocks, though - I just want to live a long time, feel good, look good, and have lots of energy. If I can rock that at 175, 180, or 185, that's cool - whatever works. My wish list includes having a six-pack long enough to photograph it for my own personal record book - but I doubt my lifestyle will support a long-term six-pack. Maybe a 2-liter