Does anyone have consistent 'days off'?

[ticktock]

Hi everyone,

I re-started sns 5th June, was doing great until the Saturday when I jumped off the wagon headfirst into nandos... I cope fine in the week and work 24hr shift Sundays so fine then but Saturdays are hell! its the only day hubby and I are off work together and we always take kids out and do things, he is totally unsupportive and sulks if I say I dont want to go out to eat! yesterday was the same, had shake for breakfast then he buys kripsy kreme doughnuts and moans that its fathers day and pub doing a special meal he wants...yep I ate doughnuts, pub meal and a curry later for good measure! Not blaming him tho, I always want to go too!

Its my sons birthday next Saturday and we are going drayton manor and then pizza hut so I knew I would be having that day off, am thinking it might be better for me to just have every Saturday off... I dont really struggle to get back to 100% on Sundays and only plan on doing sns for 6wks as then we go to Ibiza for 2 wks.

So my question is, does anyone else have regular days off? will 6 on/1 off work? or would I be better trying the 5:2 diet? dont get me wrong I know you aren't meant to have days off and I know it will greatly affect weight loss, but if only doing it for 6wks and have plans...surely 6 on better than nothing? or is it damaging to yo-yo like this? any thoughts welcome

 

[porshe04]

I think it's going to depend on what you have on your day off. It's my sons birthday next Saturday too and my daughters yesterday so there's food everywhere and I did eat and went for a meal. I didn't drink any alcohol and that's a biggie for me, but also I only had protein and green salad. Still felt full and didn't feel I'd missed out like I would have done on packs. I think I'm realising that if sugar isn't in my diet I'm not craving anything. Not sure if I'll gain, lose or stay the same this week though!

 

[ticktock]

Well hopefully I wouldnt go too mad on days off, most likely 1 meal out somewhere, although pub lunch and curry sounds like a lot, in reality i only ate 1/4 of plate so throughout the day still not a lot of food, just not healthy choice and no good on meal replacement lol!I will see how weigh in goes on Wednesday...next Sat is definately going to be a day off but if I dont lose much weight this wk then I will try to not have any more days off! Thanks for advice

 

[Yazz]

You should tell your husband to be supportive!! You can always work around things, if you try. It was my wedding anniversary on Friday we went out for a meal. I had a lite bite steak (5oz) and salad (no chips, and picked out the tomatoes) it was lovely. I didn't feel deprived, it didn't 'spoil' a meal out. After putting everything I had into the meal planner, my cals were up (700) but I was still in ketosis. You could have a salad next week a Pizza Hut? The amazing thing about this diet, you shouldn't be on it for long, in my case I think 3 months (in total) I should be a goal weight. To me, I don't mind 'missing' the odd meal out, as it was them, that contributed to my weight gain. I think the most important thing is to pre plan things, don't just cave, and you should be fine. Good luck x

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[ticktock]

I agree Yazz, its a drastic diet but if you stick to 100% you can get to target in a few months (apx 5mnths in my case!) and the odd meal out of protein and salad definately wont hurt. That will hopefully be how I think after holiday

Only 41 sleeps until my holiday! I'm going to enjoy my sons birthday and eat what ever I decide to that day and then try my best to stay on track until holiday where I will again eat what I like, my aim is still to lose a stone before I go as thats what I usually put on after 2 wks all inclusive! I've already lost 6lb of it so I think its achievable, hopefully i'll come back my 'normal' weight and start sns again, not having a planned big break will help me to stick to it I think!

I'm thinking of the next 6wks as a starter diet...the 'proper' one starts after Ibiza Thanks for advice

 

[Yazz]

That's it, you just need your 'head' in the right place, and you can do it! Good luck x

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[Rach1001]

I've never understood people who have days off. It's all about adapting surely? I still go to Nando's but will go for something like Chicken Butterfly with salad for example.. But I guess if days off work for that person then they're stronger than me! Hate yo-yoing!
Agree about weekends though! I often do the protein meal if I really struggle X


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[Starlight]

If youre having a 'day off' with things like krispy kreme, curry etc then youre totally wasting your time on a VLCD. The minute you have things like that you restore all the water etc you lose in week one. By the time youve had your day off and probably gained several lbs in the process youll have to basically start again. Youre going to have to go back into ketosis and lose the water again, so in effect youll be on a cycle of gaining and losing the same weight. If youre only planning on being on it for 6 weeks bite the bullet and stick to it If you feel your weekend days off are more important then Id change to another diet.

 

[ticktock]

Thanks for opinions, I like most dieters dont set out to fail by having a day off, its always for a hundred reasons, too much to write on here so its just summerised by 'day off' which doesnt do it justice really. Its cravings, its pressure, its comfort, its excuses, its being somewhere where theres nothing on plan to eat and being there for whole day, its not wanting to miss out, not wanting to cause a fuss, not wanting to stand out, its not wanting my daughter to notice mommy not eating, its wanting to be part of the family and do what they do...really a million reasons why I fall off the wagon, I could beat myself up about it but so far I keep getting back on and surely thats the best I can do? If I was a perfect dieter that could stick to it 100% all of the time that would be fab, but thats not me of course I try to adapt to situations, boy do I try! but I cant say I succeed! if I had that mindset I most likely wouldnt have got fat in the first place! Makes me wonder how the people that dont struggle with such a drastic diet got fat to begin with tbh?! Some people have an easy journey and lose it with ease but then have trouble keeping it off...should they not bother trying again? I have never lost more that 20lb on a diet, I'm the type that struggle on the journey, I will most likely always yo-yo but believe me I dont want to! Every day is a struggle no matter what diet I am but for me and my life, Saturdays are a killer, hopefully I will figure a way around them after holiday...with friendly support perhaps... If I could find a way out of the cycle of dieting, failing, dieting I would sell it, havent found it yet but I will keep looking!!

The mind is a powerful thing, I've explained that this Saturday will be difficult and that holiday coming up, I could quit, I could do something else but I am trying again! today is day 13...ok only 11 days have been 100% but its early! I'll try to stick to it until Saturday and try to stick to it afterwards...try is all I can do really!

Thanks ladies, and good luck on your own journey. I wish us all success no matter how we go about it x

 

[Yazz]

I completely understand what your saying but I think Starlights point was, this particular diet isn't isn't tailored for 'days off'. Because your undoing the previous good days. This diet is about pre planning, I keep a meal bar, in my bag in case I'm 'caught out' being out too long. I'm avoiding days out, my friends and family (close) are supportive of my diet, so most things I'm alright. To me my weight loss is more important than going out socialising, for a few months. Even after this journey, I can't just go out filling my face every weekend, or I'll be back here. So I'll be choosing to still not go out every week (as I used to) and go maybe once a month. Maybe it's an age thing, because I'm 35, and I now know NOTHING is more important than, feeling happy in my own skin, to be able to go swimming with my children (I won't go because of my size) to me that's the important, at this moment in time, but maybe that is because my husband and family support me. Maybe you'd be more suited to weight watchers or slimming world? Or wait until after your holiday, when you can focus 100%? It's just my opinion, to me your wasting your money, to not be 100% if its not the right time mentally for you yet, it doesn't mean you won't get there in time x

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[noodles1609]

Can you stay low carb on these days off? If you stay in ketosis then it will make all the other days on plan count - I did this all the time when I wasn't quite ready to seek an alternative to the food I'd used as a comfort my whole life. I'm sure if I'd stayed on plan on all of those days that I'd be at target by now, but realistically, I would more likely be back at my top weight proving the failure of yet another plan. Or blaming my pcos, or the fat gene, or my big bones, or any one of the hundreds of excuses I've used a thousand times over. My "days off" have given me the head space to work on those triggers and see what I want to do about them. I've never been thin, I grew into the fat child I saw when I looked in the mirror, don't know why I thought that but do know its a thought that's been very well fed over the years.

It was only the threat of major surgery coupled with a niggling urge to work out how my OH could eat so little and not fall over that finally made me seek assistance in the right direction - I've educated myself in nutrition and metabolic pathways, and sought understanding of why I might get better results on one plan rather than another. I'm working on educating my head so it understands why I make the choices I do about food. It's a long process, but it took me over 40 years to reach this point, so a quick fix won't change a lifetime of habits. Why was I fat? I ate too much. Why is that different now? Cause I understand that I've fed my bodies thirst for 30+ years - put in a packet of crisps and a twix when my body just wanted some liquid. I really thought that thirst was hunger, no wonder I got so big. I also had no idea what full was, I just carried on til all the food had gone. It's only now I can see how little food my body needs and how much better I feel without that junk inside me can I actually begin to understand that it wasn't pcos making me feel so ill, it was my food intake. How will I maintain now? By recognising what my body needs being different to what my head wants sometimes, having strategies to cope with triggers, and being a good friend to myself.

Crack on with it girl, I think you're doing great, you're asking the curious questions that will lead you towards the right answers for you. And if you need a little nudge, pack a copy of the Beck Diet Solution in your holiday case and give it read through by the pool. It's been my bible

 

[ticktock]

Thanks, I think the main problem is timing, I really want to lose a stone before my holiday and then start properly once I get back, I keep confusing myself with this, keep looking at the long term goal and forgetting about the holiday break then next minute I am thinking its only for a few weeks so no need to take it seriously. Damn holiday! I really do feel 'in the zone' and this holiday is getting in the way!! If it wasnt for the fact that I will be having 2 wks off I am sure I would find it easier to plan around sons birthday and take bars out etc. My motivation is so strong sometimes that I have watched whole family have takeaway whilst sipping a shake and yet other times I just think whats the point and will break the diet to eat things I dont even really want just to please hubby or make things easier!

Like you Yazz, i'm in my 30's and main reason I want to lose weight is to be healthier, I think waiting until after holiday would be the best idea but cant help trying, if I could lose a bit before I go the more comfortable I will feel on beach! Hopefully I will stick to it a bit better once sons birthday out the way, I will try and stick to it that day too but know myself well enough to be realistic! Thanks for the tip Noodles, I would feel less guilty if I managed to low carb on Saturday, theme parks are terrible for food choices! but thats something I will try and do, and I will have a look for the book too!

2nd weigh in tomorrow, hopefully I will have lost a lb or 2! If i have stayed the same or gained then that will be a huge motivator to make me behave Saturday! x