The HUGE weekend binge: Dieters consuming HALF their weekly calorie intake in just TWO days

Sticking to a healthy diet during the week seems to be no problem whatsoever.

But it seems come the weekend, our diets are thrown so far out the window that many of us are consuming HALF of our weekly calorie intake in just two days.

Without the daily working routine to keep us in check, three-quarters of slimmers wind up having major lapses between Friday night and Sunday.

And it seems it's those Friday night post-work drinks are where it starts to go awry for many, with boozing kicking off the massive calorie binge.

Despite women only needing 2,000 calories a day, many get through as many 8,000 in a weekend blowout - indulging in 2,500 on a Friday night, a whopping 3,500 calories on a Saturday and 2,000 on a Sunday.

But while the new research will leave many of us recoiling in horror at the truth about our weekend binges, Elizabeth Cooper, nutritional therapist at Nuffield Health, says she's not at all surprised.

“As a Nutritional Therapist I’m not shocked," she told Yahoo Lifestyle. "The weekends are when most people have time to dedicate to dining and socialising, so it isn’t strange that this is when the most calories are consumed.

"However, I think it would be shocking to the individual to see the number of calories, and worth of those calories they are consuming. Some foods like nuts are high in calories but very good for the body so are valuable, however, other foods and/or drinks such as fast foods and alcohol contain a high number of empty calories, sugar and fat."

The survey, by Forza, showed that women ate less on a Sunday - owing to their guilt for the past two days of binging.

Men, however, had fewer qualms about a third day of excess, with more than half consuming 10,000 calories.

This typically broke down as 3,500 calories on a Friday night, 3,500 calories on a Saturday and 3,000 calories on a Sunday.

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A Sunday roast with second helpings, accompanied by beer, wine and a dessert, worked out at 1,500 calories.

Research also showed that a weekend meal out with friends of family contributed to a 'blow-out,' but the biggest weekend diet danger was revealed to be snacking in between meals.

Losing the resolve they've kept up in the week, more than half of dieters raided the fridge at weekends - largely owing to them being at home most of the time.

Lee Smith, Forza Supplements managing director, said: "They should start calling them WEAKends - because Friday night to Sunday exposes all our dieting weaknesses.

"There is a real temptation to snack at weekends - lots of us can't keep out of the fridge, particularly when X Factor and Strictly are on.

"For many people, the two days off are Saturday and Sunday but they go way too far."

Takeaways were another trap for slimmers, with 70 per cent having fattening meals delivered; while alcohol also contributed to the weekend binging.

So is there any way of giving ourselves a 'treat' once a week, without seriously overdoing it?

"The ideal way to approach nutrition is to avoid the dieting mind-set," Elizabeth explained.

"Depriving yourself of something you want to eat will mean you want it more, [while] eating a range of balanced healthy foods that you enjoy will mean you don’t feel deprived and help you avoid over indulging on particular days."

She continued: "Our attitudes to food are sure to change at the weekend when we have time to contribute to making nice meals or eating out.

Many of us spend the weekdays juggling work and life and food becomes more about convenience than enjoyment. Keeping a food diary is a great way to understand what you’re putting into your body and can make it easier to start making small changes like taking the time to eat away from your desk or planning lunches in advance.”

Roasts on a Sunday, big evening meals, snacking on crisps and biscuits while watching Strictly and X Factor plus the break in routine were all revealed as factors for the binge.

Top five reasons we put on weight at weekends:

1 The weekend blowout
2 Easier to maintain diet discipline when we are at work
3 Snacking in front of TV shows like X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing
4 More alcohol
5 Big meals with family or friends such as the Sunday Roast.

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