Is this unhealthy?

[Ducati]

I eat sensibly and healthily during the week, cycle to work and play football Fiday nights. I'm pretty fit and not overweight..........however, come Saturday I eat as though I'm about to face my last meal - and its rubbish as well, kebabs, Chinese, Pizzas, Crisps etc..., all washed down with lager and vino.

Is it OK to eat like a pig for one or two days out of seven?

[natalie_1982]

I'm no dietician/ nutritionist and I'm sure they would say that 'binging' is not good for you, however I am exactly the same as you. 

I eat fruit for breakfast, salad/ JP for lunch and healthy dinners, drink 2 litres of water a day and don't drink or smoke.  Come Saturday morning that's all out the window and I eat like a pig.

My theory being that I work hard during the week and I need to reward myself or else what would be the point in being good all the time?  Well Mon-Fri at least.

[kick3m0n]

ditto no dietician, but I think you have to look at your whole lifestyle.  Look at the balance over the week.  For the most part, your good habits and diet will outweigh your bad, so generally speaking, you should have no health problems from your 'pig out' sessions.  The only danger would be binge drinking (if you did drink to excess at weekends).  This can lead to health problems, as the excessive amount of alcohol can be very tough for your system to deal with, and if recovery time is only 5 days (till the next weekend) then problems can occur over time.  At least during the week you are giving your body the best recovery possible, by exercising and eating well.

[Scarlett]

I agree that you should look at the overall picture, which seems to be good, but remember that we tend to get more health problems as we get older, and young, fit bodies deal better with binge eating and drinking than older ones do. Just be aware that you may not be able to keep it up forever. My Dad used to drink 12 pints on a Saturday night in his 30s (he is proud of this!) but now, a quadruple bypass later (in his 50s), he can barely drink a couple of pints.

Could you not binge on just one day a week rather than two? Or could you eat healthily during the day and just eat and drink what you like in the evening?

Despite all the "You are what you eat" type theories, my Grandad always believed in "Everything in moderation", and he lived until he was 96. Could you also find another way to let off steam on a Fri and Sat night? Go bowling or take up some extreme sport, and THEN go for a drink??

[Ducati]

Blimey, I don't think I'ver ever managed to drink 12 pints in one evening.

 

Right, here's what happened last Saturday;

 

7am - walked dogs: probably a mile or so.

8am - fed baby daughter, loaded her into pushchair and walked into town to go food shopping (wife works Sat mornings) - about three miles round trip.

11am - Had shredded wheat at home.

2pm - marmite sandwich.

3pm - An hours blast on motorbike.

4pm - walked dogs: probably a mile or so.

7pm - baby in bed and ordered a chinese - a BIG chinese - all the bad stuff as well, sweet and sour, duck, so lots of it is deep fried.

9pm - seconds of Chinese.

11pm - marmite crisps watching match of the day.

Thoughout the course of the night, had three budweisers, and we shared three bottles of white wine.

Got up the next day and felt fine.

Tonight we are having grilled trout, boiled rice and roasted courgettes and carrots.

So, my Saturday was very very naughty, but as its just one day a week, would it have an averse effect on my health?

[Scarlett]

Just out of interest, what did your Chinese consist of, and did you share it with one other? Just trying to get an idea of quantity.

[Ducati]

Myself and my wife, although she's a tiny little thing and hasn't got a huge appetite.

Quarter crispy duck, salt and pepper king prawns, barbecued spare ribs, sweet and sour chicken, chicken in yellow bean sauce, chilli garlic squid, lamb with ginger and spring onion, special fried rice, singapore fried noodles, stir fried vegetables and prawn crackers.

A veritable feast!

Obvoiusly I didn't eat all of it - I wouldn't be able to move for a week - there was some wastage.

[natalie_1982]

My God.  I shouldn;t think you'd be able to move again, ever, had you managed to eat all that by yourself!

I shouldn't think it's very good for your body, but how boring would we be if everyone had chickpeas for dinner everyday?  I think it's good to let yourself go and indulge (within reason).

[Scarlett]

I think the fact that you are even asking if it will affect your health is a majorly good sign. You are well aware of what is not great for your body, and what food is. You ate barely anything on that Saturday during the day- Shredded Wheat and a Marmaite sarnie!! No wonder you needed the feast by 7pm. And you did lots of exercise. Plus you ate proper food on Sunday. You could always eat a bit more at lunchtime- try and get some veggies or salad in there, and maybe you wouldn't need to eat quite so much in the evening. But if it's only one day a week- or really only one meal a week, I wouldn't beat yourself up about it.