Weight Fluctuations & Strategies

New research indicates it may not be a bad idea to let your eating habits relax during the weekend, so long as it’s done in moderation. In fact, long-term weight loss might be more effective if dieters focus more on stricter weekday diets and allow themselves room to cheat somewhat on the weekends - A strategy that researchers say can allow reasonable weekend splurges while not derailing one’s motivation and weight loss efforts.  In this new study, the self-recorded daily weights of 80 adults were evaluated for periods up to 10 months. Data revealed that for the 18 of 80 adults who lost 3% or more of their bodyweight during the weigh-ins, there appeared to be a pattern of weight gain over the weekends and weight loss during the weekdays, with subjects weighing the most on Sunday/Mondays and weighing the least on Fridays. This pattern seemed strongest in those who either lost weight or maintained their bodyweight during the study. In those subjects who gained weight during the study, this pattern was less reflective of their weight changes. Researchers concluded that weight variations between the weekend and weekday are normal and a focus of tightening up one’s dietary habits during the weekdays and loosening them somewhat during the weekend could assist many in achieving their weight loss goals and maintaining a healthy bodyweight longterm.