How do you guys cope over the holiday season?
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dragon_girl26 wrote: »VeganRaptor wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Thanksgiving is one day...Christmas is one day...I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and celebrating...they're pretty irrelevant to the whole. You can enjoy yourself and not "go mad" either. I never eat to the point that I'm going to pop...but I enjoy myself...a good plate of food and some good drink. Two days doesn't mess anything up...it's two days...get out of the minutia.
Yep 2 days, makes no difference. Make it 2 months another story.
I think the issue is that lots of people end up being invited to endless Christmas/holiday parties!
Well, that and the endless parade of food that shows up at the office/workplace over the holiday season. Still, if you can limit your celebrations to the main days and pass on the daily barrage of treats and excesses, that's a good start.
Increase exercise to accommodate the increased calorie load.1 -
I stay on plan most days, but eat what I want on Christmas and thanksgiving. If I don't loose those weeks, fine. It's all about enjoying the social things and food that's truly worth it.0
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Eat everything in sight, realize that there is really only so much "damage" you can do to your weightloss in the period of a couple of days and then get back to it afterwords.
Or you could moderate a bit, that is fine too. I wouldn't moderate to the point of being a nuisance to hosts though or to the point of not enjoying yourself.5 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Curious what your definition of "junk food" is OP and what kind of parties you'd go to where nothing but that is on the menu? Personally I don't view any foods as "junk" and I believe in working in all foods in moderation.... My Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, while calorie dense and delicious, are hardly what I would call "junk food". Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, yeast rolls, pies and assorted other delights... none of that is junk food. Why would you pass on those things? As others have said, it's also one day or a handful of days out of the year. Enjoy yourself. Passing up food prepared by a host and going "hungry" just doesn't sound like a pleasant or sustainable attitude.
Junk food, a selection of deep fried fayre. Cocktail sausages, battered chicken goujons, scotch eggs, sausage rolls. Certainly wasn't any green beans and sweet potatoes, that's why I passed.
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I lose weight leading up to Christmas, then either lose or maintain over Christmas.
Since we've got about a week off work over Christmas, and since it is the middle of summer, that's an excellent time to get in a lot of exercise. I start ramping up the exercise ... well ... about now, and come Christmas I'm getting in some good bicycle rides, long walks, plus weightlifting. I might throw a water sport into the mix too.
As for Christmas eating ... about the only thing I like in advance are mince tarts, so I incorporate them into my daily total. And then Christmas eve and Christmas day we'll eat more. I'll have a good serving of pavlova!!
And also ... the pre-Christmas parties here tend to have huge trays of fresh fruit and raw veggies, plus a few cakes and meat pies. So I load up on the fresh fruit and raw veggies, and then maybe have a small bit of cake.1 -
I lose weight leading up to Christmas, then either lose or maintain over Christmas.
Since we've got about a week off work over Christmas, and since it is the middle of summer, that's an excellent time to get in a lot of exercise. I start ramping up the exercise ... well ... about now, and come Christmas I'm getting in some good bicycle rides, long walks, plus weightlifting. I might throw a water sport into the mix too.
As for Christmas eating ... about the only thing I like in advance are mince tarts, so I incorporate them into my daily total. And then Christmas eve and Christmas day we'll eat more. I'll have a good serving of pavlova!!
And also ... the pre-Christmas parties here tend to have huge trays of fresh fruit and raw veggies, plus a few cakes and meat pies. So I load up on the fresh fruit and raw veggies, and then maybe have a small bit of cake.
This is interesting, In the UK we have mince pies which I presume are the same as your mince tarts. They are the staple over Xmas and almost forced upon you. One small mince pie contains between 200-300 calories and 2 or 3 bites later its gone so easy to go over board on them.
The parties here in the UK contain damn all that is healthy, over Xmas its all miniature finger food such as cocktail sausages and sausage roll, a selection of breaded chicken thingys all made from processed crap, endless chocolate sweets and the aforementioned mince pies.0 -
eat free on the holiday but not for the season.1
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dave_in_ni wrote: »I lose weight leading up to Christmas, then either lose or maintain over Christmas.
Since we've got about a week off work over Christmas, and since it is the middle of summer, that's an excellent time to get in a lot of exercise. I start ramping up the exercise ... well ... about now, and come Christmas I'm getting in some good bicycle rides, long walks, plus weightlifting. I might throw a water sport into the mix too.
As for Christmas eating ... about the only thing I like in advance are mince tarts, so I incorporate them into my daily total. And then Christmas eve and Christmas day we'll eat more. I'll have a good serving of pavlova!!
And also ... the pre-Christmas parties here tend to have huge trays of fresh fruit and raw veggies, plus a few cakes and meat pies. So I load up on the fresh fruit and raw veggies, and then maybe have a small bit of cake.
This is interesting, In the UK we have mince pies which I presume are the same as your mince tarts. They are the staple over Xmas and almost forced upon you. One small mince pie contains between 200-300 calories and 2 or 3 bites later its gone so easy to go over board on them.
The parties here in the UK contain damn all that is healthy, over Xmas its all miniature finger food such as cocktail sausages and sausage roll, a selection of breaded chicken thingys all made from processed crap, endless chocolate sweets and the aforementioned mince pies.
No one forces food on me. I buy a package of 6 mince tarts each week, leading up to Christmas, and my husband and I have 1 each, each night for 3 nights. Each one is maybe 200 cal and I can easily fit that into my calorie limit.
As for parties, we'll probably have 1 where I work. Maybe 2.
There is a work Christmas dinner, but I haven't signed up for it this year. The last couple years it was disappointing so unless I see a menu and like what's on it, I'm just not interested. Two years ago, the place they chose ran out of the vegetarian options by the time about 1/3 of the people had been through the line, and only provided enough desserts (a small slice of cake) for about half the people. Last year, the place we went was kind of strange. They took absolutely forever to serve food and again, only provided a tiny bit of vegetarian choices. I went in thinking I'd take a diet break and splurge ... I left feeling absolutely starving after having had a few glazed carrots and a bit of sweet potato.
I'm Canadian, and used to having quite a bit of food on hand at Christmas, but I've been living in Australia for about 8 years now, and tables groaning with food just doesn't seem to be a thing.
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For me party food is not worth the calories. The type of pastry covered, breaded, deep fried, high calorie food that can add up to hundreds in few bites is nit what i want to eat.
Last year i tried to put a few things on my plate, i nibbled and put them down. I ripped them up and i crumbled them. I made it last evening and i left a few on the plate. It looked like id eaten but i hadnt really. By the time i put the plate down all the rest of the food was gone.
Othertimes i just say im not peckish yet, ill have a bite in a bit if i feel like it. I make sure they know im happy though. I also nurse my drinks.
I hate that people think you are a party pooper or uptight if you dont eat and drink to excess. Thats never been fun to me - seeing my friends is whats fun.1 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »Eat everything in sight, realize that there is really only so much "damage" you can do to your weightloss in the period of a couple of days and then get back to it afterwords.
You obviously don't know how to "eat" properly
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I eat mainly everything minimize breads and just eat way smaller portions than I used to. The point is to feel satisfied not bursting.0
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dave_in_ni wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »Curious what your definition of "junk food" is OP and what kind of parties you'd go to where nothing but that is on the menu? Personally I don't view any foods as "junk" and I believe in working in all foods in moderation.... My Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, while calorie dense and delicious, are hardly what I would call "junk food". Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, yeast rolls, pies and assorted other delights... none of that is junk food. Why would you pass on those things? As others have said, it's also one day or a handful of days out of the year. Enjoy yourself. Passing up food prepared by a host and going "hungry" just doesn't sound like a pleasant or sustainable attitude.
Junk food, a selection of deep fried fayre. Cocktail sausages, battered chicken goujons, scotch eggs, sausage rolls. Certainly wasn't any green beans and sweet potatoes, that's why I passed.
The menu I listed was for the sit down portion of my thanksgiving meal but cocktail foods like you describe or common at holiday parties, American Football Bowl parties, etc. All of that, including the pies and sweets you mentioned in your other response, can be enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. People have given you strategies for how to mitigate the calorie hit or how to have good perspective about the holidays, but if the issue is that you think there's something wrong with eating those types of foods even on rare occasions like the holidays then I'm not sure how to help. Eat before you go I suppose, but I'm more inclined to agree with your spouse and friends, it's the holidays, why not enjoy yourself a little?
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Last year I took a couple weeks off my deficit as a planned diet break. And stopped logging entirely for four days. Mostly because I actually went to a friend for Christmas so wanted to indulge (I usually do Christmas solo as I have no family).
I gained maybe 2lbs? New years day I was back to logging and lost that 2lbs in due course. It's no big deal as long as it doesn't turn into stuffing my face for months on end. I also just don't have the appetite I used to, which is a bit frustrating sometimes when I give myself permission to indulge and my efforts end up pitiful!4 -
When I'm invited to a holiday cocktail party, I always make sure I don't arrive ravenous and want to eat ALL the things! That way, I can have a bit of this or that, enjoy every bite, and not be tempted to stuff my stomach or my purse.
I also don't drink, so I'm happy with a glass of soda and no one has ever tried to force food or alcohol on me.
Not and live.
Even if it's Christmas.
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dragon_girl26 wrote: »VeganRaptor wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Thanksgiving is one day...Christmas is one day...I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and celebrating...they're pretty irrelevant to the whole. You can enjoy yourself and not "go mad" either. I never eat to the point that I'm going to pop...but I enjoy myself...a good plate of food and some good drink. Two days doesn't mess anything up...it's two days...get out of the minutia.
Yep 2 days, makes no difference. Make it 2 months another story.
I think the issue is that lots of people end up being invited to endless Christmas/holiday parties!
Well, that and the endless parade of food that shows up at the office/workplace over the holiday season. Still, if you can limit your celebrations to the main days and pass on the daily barrage of treats and excesses, that's a good start.
Yep, limit the overeating to a few days. No need to eat a cookie or piece of candy day for the next 2 months every time you pass a copier at work where the treats are staged.1 -
Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (when my family celebrates) and Christmas Day - I don't track. Three days don't have a huge impact and it's good to relax and enjoy the time with family.
Parties, cookies, etc. - I track and adjust my day to allow them. When I was losing weight (pregnant now, so not losing), I would allow myself to eat up to maintenance if it was a particularly important party (maybe 2 days over the month). But overall, I was in a deficit for the month.1 -
Portion control and willpower. Eat the foods you know you can have, continue exercising, and if you want that slice of pie then skip the potatoes, rice, and rolls at dinner. Just don't go overboard, a day you will be fine.0
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VeganRaptor wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Thanksgiving is one day...Christmas is one day...I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and celebrating...they're pretty irrelevant to the whole. You can enjoy yourself and not "go mad" either. I never eat to the point that I'm going to pop...but I enjoy myself...a good plate of food and some good drink. Two days doesn't mess anything up...it's two days...get out of the minutia.
Yep 2 days, makes no difference. Make it 2 months another story.
I think the issue is that lots of people end up being invited to endless Christmas/holiday parties!
I agree with this. Atypical food/drink options & disrupted exercise schedule is a double whammy.0 -
VeganRaptor wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Thanksgiving is one day...Christmas is one day...I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and celebrating...they're pretty irrelevant to the whole. You can enjoy yourself and not "go mad" either. I never eat to the point that I'm going to pop...but I enjoy myself...a good plate of food and some good drink. Two days doesn't mess anything up...it's two days...get out of the minutia.
Yep 2 days, makes no difference. Make it 2 months another story.
I think the issue is that lots of people end up being invited to endless Christmas/holiday parties!
I agree with this. Atypical food/drink options & disrupted exercise schedule is a double whammy.
I find it easier to exercise more as I am off work for 2 weeks (excluding Christmas day itself of course).0 -
dave_in_ni wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »Curious what your definition of "junk food" is OP and what kind of parties you'd go to where nothing but that is on the menu? Personally I don't view any foods as "junk" and I believe in working in all foods in moderation.... My Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, while calorie dense and delicious, are hardly what I would call "junk food". Roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, yeast rolls, pies and assorted other delights... none of that is junk food. Why would you pass on those things? As others have said, it's also one day or a handful of days out of the year. Enjoy yourself. Passing up food prepared by a host and going "hungry" just doesn't sound like a pleasant or sustainable attitude.
Junk food, a selection of deep fried fayre. Cocktail sausages, battered chicken goujons, scotch eggs, sausage rolls. Certainly wasn't any green beans and sweet potatoes, that's why I passed.
OMG...
...I'll be at your house this Christmas.
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trigden1991 wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »Eat everything in sight, realize that there is really only so much "damage" you can do to your weightloss in the period of a couple of days and then get back to it afterwords.
You obviously don't know how to "eat" properly
Although I don't like what you said here, I do like your shoulders.
So there's that.0 -
Before I eat a treat someone is offering me, I ask myself if it will be worth it: when I'm finished, will I say to myself, "Yeah, that was worth the calories" or "I wish I'd saved the calories for something better". Cheap *kitten* Christmas cookies and store bought treats that are nowhere near as tasty as things I could prepare myself (I'm a pretty good cook) aren't worth it to me. As a consequence, it's not hard for me to say no.
Another rule is: I'll take a small portion of something and enjoy it, telling myself: if I want more when I'm finished, I can get more. A good percentage of the time I'll find that the original portion was enough for me, and I don't need to go for a second portion to feel satisfied. And if I do go back for more, it's a conscious decision and I don't feel guilty for doing so. But I only go back for more of things that are really, really good.
There was a Hallowe'en potluck at work -- I made a pan of very good gingerbread with lemon icing. I had one medium sized piece, enjoyed it, and passed on everything else because I knew my gingerbread was better than the other offerings on the table (almost all of it store bought). I decided before hand that whatever was left over, would be left in the kitchen for others; I would NOT take anything home.1 -
In the past I would eat all the things.. sometimes save more cals for a special meal or move more.. but even if I gain a bit, after the holidays when I get back to routine it usually comes off again. Never had an issue.
These days however I am usually bulking or pregnant during the holidays so yay 0 -
I tend to load up on my favorite lighter holiday foods (turkey and cranberry or beef tenderloin and horseradish, roast veg, etc) and try not to go totally nuts with the things that I could easily overeat to the point of making my stomach hurt (rolls, cornbread, desserts). I do make sure to eat some of my favorite holiday-only foods.
If I end the meal/party/day feeling comfortably full and not overstuffed, I consider it a success no matter what I ate. Most years I do my best to log and I'm usually not over by all that much - 1000 cals or so at the outside. It's not that big of a deal for a couple of days.0 -
by remembering WHY I am here and sticking to my protocols. Not to let the evil temptation creep in. I allow a few days staying lower under my caloric level before having a huge holiday family dinner... same with birthday cakes etc...0
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I try to limit cookie baking to once a week.0
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thanksgiving is one day, Christmas eve is two, Christmas day is three, new years eve is four. That is four days, not a season. I eat whatever I want on the holiday. The rest of the time I eat my usual. exercise as usual. sleep as usual. It helps that I'm mostly working, as usual.0
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There was a Hallowe'en potluck at work -- I made a pan of very good gingerbread with lemon icing. I had one medium sized piece, enjoyed it, and passed on everything else because I knew my gingerbread was better than the other offerings on the table (almost all of it store bought). I decided before hand that whatever was left over, would be left in the kitchen for others; I would NOT take anything home.
If I PM you my address will you be my almost Secret Santa?
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Just enjoy, but don't sit beside the food table.
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VeganRaptor wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »Thanksgiving is one day...Christmas is one day...I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and celebrating...they're pretty irrelevant to the whole. You can enjoy yourself and not "go mad" either. I never eat to the point that I'm going to pop...but I enjoy myself...a good plate of food and some good drink. Two days doesn't mess anything up...it's two days...get out of the minutia.
Yep 2 days, makes no difference. Make it 2 months another story.
I think the issue is that lots of people end up being invited to endless Christmas/holiday parties!
I get invited to a lot of parties all year 'round...I take it a little easier with other meals those days to accommodate...and beyond that, a part of any sorts doesn't mean you have to go bat *kitten* crazy with stuff...0
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