I don't know for sure but I suspect it's something like this:The weekend is when they have time to finish their assignments, use their tools, practice sticking to their diets, exercise without being prompted, share the cleaning chores, be present while being together, be authentic, live fearlessly, call home as the woman they are now, and continue journaling their emotional journey.
In practice the weekend is time to sleep til they are annoyed by someone else waking up, sit around gossiping, eat whatever is easy to fix, clean compulsively for some women, send e-mail to anyone who will listen to you moan about the other women, gossip more, take a nap, complain about being bored and dread the upcoming week.
I'm sure they do (play tennis and go swimming) but it's probably not shown because it is 'too positive.' The show seems to want to only feature/showcase the 'conflama' and drama of the ladies problems to keep it's ratings up. Guess they are afraid we wouldn't tune in to see 'happy' people doing normal things like playing tennis or taking a swim instead of some whacky, contrived assignment? The women are having fun with each other but it isn't being shown. They quickly learn how to (circumvent?) the process (say what needs to be said, do what needs to be done).Which is why I have grown a little tired of the broadcasted negativity. It's not the total truth, it is just what we are being fed, what we are expected to swallow on a daily basis. After editing, the women are reduced to one-dimensional characters which in real life they are not. All we can see about Kelly is her meanness, all we can see about Kim is her dysfunctional childhood and dysfunctional personality.
The women are being paid to perform for the cameras, the editors, the producers, and the audience. They aren't being paid much, but they are being paid. They cry on cue, regurgitate psychobabble on cue, have immediate breakthroughs/insights on cue. They all deserve an Emmy! They are all performing.
Most seem to be performing and expecting some return/payback other than their own healing...like gaining an audience for a business or a career? If you are trying to start a business who couldn't use daily, national to 4 million viewers for a 4-month period? Most of the ladies have something to sell and so they are willing to come on camera and perform like animals.
The only loser is the viewer who has to try to make sense of all the half-truths. I WANT TO GET PAID, TOO!