How did you fare over the holidays?

crb426

Just out of curiosity, I'd like to hear about how we handled ourselves through the holidays and what the outcome was.

What was your original plan going into the holidays?
What did you actually do?
Did you gain, lose, or maintain?
What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over?

cwolfman13

i planned to enjoy myself and i did. i usually gain 8-10 Lbs every winter. it comes right off in the spring when i start racking up the miles on the bike.

crb426

Original plan: Adjusted MFP to lose 1 pound a week and planned to keep logging. Lots of work-outs to make up for any indulgences.
Actual experience: A couple buffets, many big dinners, some holidays treats. Still tried to keep in mind what I was eating, but didn't beat myself up for indulging. Didn't log for a few days over Christmas. Felt very full for several days. Worked out less than usual.
Final weigh-in status: Still managed to lose a pound - have no idea how!
Next step: Re-committed to logging and meeting my calorie goals.

melonaulait

My weight was at the lowest possible number so far right after Christmas. But I have the advantage of not really celebrating Christmas.

Anyway, my plan was to eat anything I wanted, and I did. I especially wanted to fit in mulled wine, traditional Christmas pastries and some great chocolate. I got to eat all of those, too!

srecupid

Lost a single pound instead of 1.5. Stayed on track every day but, christmas eve when i went hog wild on oberweis ice cream cake and homemade cookies.

strong_curves

My original plan was to eat all the foods, my hubs made a fantastic xmas dinner and there was no way I was depriving myself! What did I do? I ate all the foods and didn't worry about it since I knew I was going to go right back to my "plan". I did gain some water weight, about 2-3 lbs but already it's gone.

What am I going to do now that the holidays are over? The same thing I've been doing since it's obviously working.

CalorieCountChocula

Thursday morning the 24th, 229.9lbs. Saturday the 26th 238.7lbs. Because that makes sense. 231 this morning. It's mostly BS because there's noooooooooooooooo way I ate 3500 calories over my TDEE for the 2 days. Christmas Eve I only had two meals. Christmas one meal. Whatever though.

Dreysander

My original plan was to not log the whole week of Christmas and to eat all the food.
I logged most days and I still ate a good amount of the food.
I gained 5 lbs, most of which is now gone.
Back on track.

neohdiver

crb426 wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, I'd like to hear about how we handled ourselves through the holidays and what the outcome was.

What was your original plan going into the holidays? Ignore calories, but keep within normal blood glucose ranges by limiting carbs
What did you actually do? What I planned - but since I don't actually enjoy much that is calorie dense unless it is bread or sweet fat, I ended up staying within my normal calorie cap. I did manage to have several small pieces of Godiva chocolates
Did you gain, lose, or maintain? Lost 1.2 lbs
What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over? Same old, same old.

sgarrand

Original plan: Buffet on Christmas Eve, eat whatever on Christmas. Back to plan after.
Actually did: The original plan above.
Gain / Lose / Maintain: I gained 3.8 pounds according to the scale. 2.6 of that is gone, the rest will follow soon.
Plan going forward: Keep on truckin' with counting and keeping calories where they need to be. No New Year's festivities here. Goal is to see 170s (183 now) and see where it goes from there. I could maintain the low 180s at 6 feet tall but I want to see what my body is capable of.

owensy12

I got down to my lowest weight before Christmas, and only gained 2 lbs. Quite impressed!

vivmom2014

No plan going into the holidays. Was not going to avoid any treats.
Stopped logging around Thanksgiving.
Have not weighed, probably up a couple pounds, but clothes fit fine.
Plan going forward is return to maintenance calories and maybe log again. Not sure.

Pawsforme

Original plan -- Maintain weight.

What I actually did -- Lost a pound.

What I'm doing now -- Still trying to figure out maintenance calories.

tracie_minus100

I planned on enjoying myself and not counting anything on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, then getting back on track on Boxing Day. Which is exactly what I did. I avoided the scale for a few days because that was better for my mind. I weighed myself this morning and was up less than half a pound from what I was before Christmas. I would consider this a great success.

ReeseG4350

crb426 wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, I'd like to hear about how we handled ourselves through the holidays and what the outcome was.

What was your original plan going into the holidays?
What did you actually do?
Did you gain, lose, or maintain?
What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over?

I had no plan. I made English toffee - nuts and all - and felt as though I tried to eat it all myself. Had a cookie exchange at work and got to sample SO many different kinds of sugar concoctions. I only ran my 5k three times instead of five. I logged my daily food and exercise but made no effort to 'control' my calorie consumption. What happened? No big surprise, I didn't lose weight. Didn't gain weight either, though. Actually found myself slipping into another size smaller in pants! Still trying to re-establish the 'old' habit of a morning 5k and a controlled dietary regimen of around 2000 calories while simultaneously adding yoga to my schedule to help my neck and lower back.

So... what happened? Not much. I enjoyed the 'down time' with no regrets.

Francl27

My plan was to limit the damage, and I honestly didn't do too bad, it was just bad timing because I had a wedding between Thanksgiving and Christmas too, and they ALL fell during my usual 'less hungry' days when I typically keep a big deficit, so it looks like I've gained 3-4 pounds overall in the last 2 months... so I'm back to a 300 calorie deficit to try and lose at least some of that before PMS strikes again...

ReeseG4350

By the way...
Congratulations to all of you who have learned to enjoy the holidays and accept the inevitable 'gluttony'. You will enjoy life so much just being able to do that! Again, CONGRATULATIONS!

starwhisperer6

I didn't really have a plan so I guess you could say I followed it very well! I ate what I wanted, but I worked just as much as usual so there wasn't much time to sit around eating. I am down half a pound without having consistently logged for two weeks. So now back to work to lose the last 8 pounds

ivy6154

Better than usual, but Ive just started watching my calories..quite the revelation!

Sumiblue

I didn't log or restrict but tried to be reasonable. Lost .5lb between Thanksgiving & Christmas. Got right back to lifting as soon as I got home from visiting family & friends. I'm now up .5 lb (post Christmas) from my lowest and hope to lose this week as I'm back to logging & regular exercise. Not bad, really.

salembambi

the holidays arent even over yet

ask me this weekend

i ate a tonne of food though and plan to tomorrow as well

ki4eld

What was your original plan going into the holidays?
My plan was to stay on my diet as it was. My doctor's plan was to increase my calories to maintenance.

What did you actually do?
I increased my calories closer to maintenance, because I don't really have a choice except to do what the doc says.

Did you gain, lose, or maintain?
I've lost 4lbs since Thanksgiving. I should have lost 10 if I'd maintained my deficit.

What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over?
My doctor has me in maintenance until May 1st, so that's what I'll do. I want to keep losing, but I knew the last 50-75lbs would be over 2 years.

shadow2soul

What was your original plan going into the holidays?To enjoy myself and maintain my weight
What did you actually do? Enjoyed myself.
Did you gain, lose, or maintain? Plan was to maintain, but I actually lost 2 lbs.
What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over? Trying to maintain a weight range of 121.5 lbs - 126.5 lbs.

VintageFeline

What was your original plan going into the holidays? Go hog wild Christmas day onwards being mindful of what that means exactly for me now within the parameters of my new habits. Was going to work out Boxing Day(day after Christmas here in the UK). Not log From Christmas day until the Sunday.
What did you actually do? Did not go hog wild. Had no seconds of main dinner or pudding. Ate slightly larger portions the following three days and a box of chocolates. Didn't log. Did not work out until the Sunday but still hit 3 work outs that week so all good.
Did you gain, lose, or maintain? 2lbs over usual fluctuations but it's likely just water due to increased carbs and sodium.
What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over? Got back to it Monday as planned. Have banked some calories for tomorrow so plan to be in my usual deficit this week.

Kimegatron

I lost some ounces. I planned on being in a small deficit or at maintenance.

shadowfax_c11

What was your original plan going into the holidays?
Maintain current weight if possible. Adjusted my goal to a .5 pound per week loss but allowed myself to go over to maintenance. I planned to fully enjoy all of the goodies but continue to log and keep an eye on things.

What did you actually do?
Pretty much the above. I ate a lot of cookies.

Did you gain, lose, or maintain?
I gained 6 pounds. Took of two this past week so currently up 4 pounds.


What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over?
I set my weight loss goal back to 2 pounds a week. All of the high calorie treats are gone. Time to get back to the business of losing weight.

I have no regrets. Even with the gain I am 30 pounds lighter than I was last spring and 40 pounds lighter than I was this time a year ago. Looking to lose 40 more by this time next year.

Gska17

What was your original plan going into the holidays? To enjoy myself within reason.
What did you actually do? Ate everything in sight! I tried to only splurge on "high value" foods I prefer. Like cheese.
Did you gain, lose, or maintain? Gained four pounds!
What are you going to do now that the holidays are (pretty much) over? I need to start running again (hopefully the snow will taper off soon) and just get back to tracking.

ninav1980

sign up for a marathon taking place January 17th and you wont have any issues gaining during the holidays lol

VintageFeline

Cheese! I did not eat any cheese at all. This is a gross festive oversight. Thankfully I live very close to a delightful cheese shop where I can correct this wrong quite swiftly. I feel a cheese binge coming on.

riffraff2112

I worked really hard in late November and early December to accommodate to many expected meals, parties, snacks that were coming our way. Late December was tough, but at least all the hard work gave me some leeway and I am still in my acceptable window (about a 7 lb range I allow myself).
Now to get back to a routine !

Bshmerlie

My plan was to eat what ever I wanted and just stop when I was full. I lost a pound each week from Thanksgiving until now.