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November 5, 2011
Last Friday Night
David asks a good question:
Hey. April. I've been trying to CR for several weeks and failing. The problem I have is Friday night. I have always used the weekend as a time to eat and drink whatever I like. Do you have any strategies that have helped you when you socialize or when you are not working?
I'm pretty dialed in during the busy work week, but the weekends and holidays are a problem. Thanks!
First, I'd have to say that the holidays are not the greatest time to start CR.
Second, what do you mean by failing? Are you losing weight slowly but steadily? You don't have to eat the same thing every day or the same number of calories every day to do CR. For years I was very successful keeping very low calories on most days then having about one day a week when I'd go out for a big meal and not worry about it. I maintained a low weight and felt great.
I'd say that is you want to maintain that fun socializing when you don't worry too much about calories, just cut your calories on regular days back a little to make up for it. It's easier to be a bit hungry on weekdays when as you say, you're busy. You don't have to maintain an average every day, shoot for a weekly average.
As long as your slowly losing weight until you get to the point where you're happy, you're doing fine.
Some people find it stressful to bounce up and down. If you are one of those people, then you need to come up with strategies to not eat so much when out. I find that eating a bit before hand really does help. It's amazing how social pressure seems to disappear if you've had twenty grams of almonds just before going out. Also minimized liver damage if you drink on something other than an empty stomach.
Posted by april at November 5, 2011 5:14 AM
Comments
Katy fans hello! I think I share your enthusiasm for age-inappropriate (may I say that?) teeny music... And I really had to laugh about your social pressure comment! Hey David, I have also "failed" at CR several times, (I can't believe that I am in the weight loss phase AGAIN?) but I am getting better at it, at CR that is. For me, I noticed that I primarily have to shift my thinking. Especially in social situations. We recently planned several meetings for the advent season, involving my arch enemy, gluten-containing cookies. What I noticed was really interesting to me: even just thinking about the meetings, picturing myself sitting around the others happily munching on christmas bakery got me so frustrated that the day after I caved and ate some real garbage cookies that were around for just a regular meeting. I never do that! I feel that there is a lot to be gained in realizing triggers and than actively changing your response to them. We all have different challenges to meet, but if you know what you want in advance and can really picture yourself doing it and feeling comfortably before, during and after the event in question, that might help perhaps? Since I am working on that for myself, I am very interested in how others are handling such situations.
Posted by: Marianne at November 5, 2011 6:42 AM
Hey! Thanks for the quick response. By failing, I mean that on a day off I overeat as a "reward" for having a good week. It is a bad habit I have developed over time.
On the weekends I also find myself engaging in negative self talk. I often think "Well, i am 41. What's the use of doing CR now?" "Will there really be a substantial benefit?"
I think what I need to do is develop a more active social life and replace my overeating as a reward with something more positive.
Thanks!
David
Posted by: David at November 5, 2011 3:45 PM
I would think it would depend on what you're overdoing it with. Maybe try ordering a veggie platter with salsa for diping instead of the deep-fried chicken wings with fat-fest dipping sauce, low-cal beer instead of the regular, drinking water in between drinks of wine. Those things will allow you to go to the bar with your friends but consume hundreds fewer calories & much less fat.
Posted by: Judith at November 6, 2011 8:01 AM
David
Go low carb in addition to the CR and the hunger will go away .........and do not be fooled.....saturated fat is your friend ..... enjoy it under your calorie linit restriction.
Posted by: Dave at November 8, 2011 2:48 PM