Weekend Dieting Strategy For Long-Term Success

When you’re just starting a weight loss diet, there’s a temptation to be very strict about what and how much you allow yourself eat. But a study of Portuguese adults published in the Nutrition Journal suggests being less rigid on weekends is a behavioral strategy that can help promote long-term success.

One hundred and eight subjects who took part in the Portuguese Weight Control Registry were asked whether they were more or less strict about adhering to their diet on weekends compared to week days. Those who said they were less strict on weekends were more likely to not regain lost weight after a year. Re-gain was defined as a fluctuation of no more than 3% of total body weight.