Ever feel like you work so hard
during the week to lose a lb, and then go to weigh yourself on Monday and find
that you put it back on? Still
want to have that glass of wine or dessert on the weekend but feel like its
destroying your diet? Well it’s
not that one glass of wine or small dessert, but maybe those 3 or 4 glasses of
wine over the 2 days plus handfuls of chips, etc. Most of us don’t realize how much we give in on the weekends
and how many extra calories we ingest.
A 2008 study at Washington University School of Medicine found that
dieters consistently gained weight on the weekends while losing weight during
the week because they ate more on weekends. Think of it this way, it takes 3500 deficit calories to lose
a pound, and it takes about an hour of cardio to burn 500 calories (500 x 7
days = 3500 calories). 5 glasses
of wine or 4 beers equals around 500 calories as well as 2 slices or pizza or 1
large dessert! So think wisely on
the weekend, treat yourself but in moderation and plan ahead. Planning on having one glass of wine
for dinner that night? Then plan
on getting in an extra 10 minutes of cardio, extra yard work, etc. Going eat out with friends? Know where you are going and be
familiar with the menu. This way
you know what the healthier options are.
Planning makes a world of difference!
Estelle L. Benoit, RD, LDN
Source:
realage.com