LIVING THE LIFESTYLE Friday 05/12/2017

TimDumez

Everyone says it, but just how do you do it? How do you take the guidelines of the WW program and turn them into a lifestyle you can live every day...from now on? That is what we are here to explore. Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion. Newbie? Join in! Veteran? Join in! Your thoughts may be just what someone else needs to hear.

Monday - Jimb376mfp (Jim) & 88olds (George)
Tuesday - Podkey (Biker Bob)
Wednesday - GadgetgirlIL (Regina)
Thursday - misterhub (Greg)
Friday - TimDumez (Tim)

Today's topic:
There are 4 seasons (5 if you count the six week period including thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year week as a season) each year... And for whatever reasons (excuses???) many people have problems keeping their weight under control in one or more seasons each year. Some can't seem to lose during this time. Still others have trouble even maintaining during certain seasons. And yes there are those who seem to gain weight in a particular season year in and year out...

We know our history! Hopefully, we know our triggers! We also know our level of activity each season. And if we're honest with ourselves, we know too the level to which we allow ourselves to celebrate holidays and special events, especially during the different seasons....

#1: Which season is the most difficult for you and into which category mentioned above do you fall?

#2: Assuming that you do know your triggers and also assuming that you do realize your level of activity in each and every season, what will you do differently, the next time this particular season comes around, to keep you from getting the same result?

gadgetgirlIL

#1 Fall followed by summer

#2 The trigger for these seasons is that I have teaching responsibilities during the summer and fall semesters so my workload dramatically expands. Last summer I let stress get the better of me. Same with fall.

This is really a good thing for me to ponder as I'm in danger of being out of range for my official WW goal weight. I can't afford any further scale creep. I have finally seemed to have gotten back to my normal activity level the past 3 days. Activity for me helps to cancel out some of the stress and makes it easier to stick with my calorie goals. I go on vacation at the end of next week so am hoping to bottle up some of the relaxation that I will experience during the 4 days I'm away so that I can maintain my momentum when I return.

TimDumez

I had mine already to post and got interrupted with an emergency phone call. I deleted it by accident. I'll have to come back later to re-write and post my response.....

TimDumez

I'll go ahead and answer question #1 now. Then I'll come back later and answer question #2...

My most difficult season WAS that 5th season, the holidays...

My 2nd most difficult season IS Summer...

Hopefully, inquiring minds want to know! lol

See you all later this evening.....

misterhub

Winter. I like stick-to-your-ribs comfort food in the winter. Which is fine, but requires me to be very conscious of my portions.

TimDumez

I was able to come back sooner than I thought!

#2 The trigger for these seasons is that I have teaching responsibilities during the summer and fall semesters so my workload dramatically expands. Last summer I let stress get the better of me. Same with fall.

That 5th season mentioned above, "the holidays", HAD always been a total disaster for me over the years whether dieting or not. I treated them as if I was in New Orleans celebrating Mardi Gras! I ALWAYS went COMPLETELY off the rails! Until, that is, this past 2016 holidays. I did not gain 1 pound let alone the 10-20 pounds which I customarily gained over those short 6 weeks. That is not to say that I didn't overeat either a little or even a lot a couple times. But I think that I may have finally discovered that a couple over-indulgences don't have to translate into a food orgy causing me to completely give up, as I had done so many times in the past. As so many GoaDies have taught over the years, you make adjustments to take care of those food decisions either before they happen or after.

My 2nd most difficult season IS Summer! You may have noticed that I used a different verb here. That is because Summer is still a struggle for me, simply due to it's scope. It is a much longer time period than the holidays and there are waaaaaaaay more opportunities to either succeed or to fail: vacations, banquets, fancy dinners, weddings, parties, picnics, etc., etc., etc., I will be applying many of the tricks that my fellow GoaDies have mentioned over the years to handle those upcoming situations, such as, don't arrive famished, limit alcohol, survey buffets before making wise decisions, have comfort food but emphasize fresh veggies and fruit, and others. I guess the thing of paramount importance is to have fun but be mindful. I don't have to do what most others appear to be doing. I can have fun and remain responsible..... YMMV

Out_of_Bubblegum

I've NEVER thought about this before... nor analyzed if I gain more weight across any time of year...

If I gain a pound or two in the holidays, it is rarely more than 1-2 lb at worst, and most years, I don't gain during the holidays.. but if I do, it comes back off with my regular routine after.. so I don't really consider that an issue.

So... if I have to pick a season, it would be summer.

Triggers - Family vacation, because that is almost guaranteed to be an interruption in training, plus extra restaurant food. Work travel and extra family time while my daughter is out of school often eats into training as well.

I'm planning to find a way to get in at LEAST 50% training activity for this year's vacation though (just need to do it in such a way that DW doesn't file for divorce), and my daughter is really enjoying hiking, so planning on doing at least weekly hikes once she's out of school.

MurpleCat

I've thought about it, and certainly every season has its challenges. But I can't say that any one season is worse than the others.

Murple

myallforjcbill

Historically Thanksgiving/Christmas has been the toughest. I haven't given much thought to why. I do tend to relax my drive a bit more and do like to cook stuff we don't normally eat.

DavidKuhnsSr

I have been in maintenance for almost eight years. That is a balancing act, with what you eat and how active you are bit parts of the equation. Winter seems a bit tough, for me. At least winters like 2017. We had endless rain, and I have turned into a bit of a rain wimp, in my old age. My activity level dropped to near zero, and I gained ore than 10 lbs. since November. This isn't a matter of a few holidays, it has been a slow, steady failure to adjust my intake to match my sedentary season.

88olds

Winter

I think the cold makes me want to eat more.

I moved to Key West, January, 2017.

goldenfrisbee

Definitely Season #5
Not much that I enjoy doing outside once it gets cold. So the combination of a more sedentary time plus all the holiday goodies makes it my most difficult season.

imastar2

#1: Which season is the most difficult for you and into which category mentioned above do you fall?
Season #5 Is the worst season for me for sure. Thanksgiving moving right into Christmas then New Years.

#2: Assuming that you do know your triggers and also assuming that you do realize your level of activity in each and every season, what will you do differently, the next time this particular season comes around, to keep you from getting the same result?

After 6 plus years running this race I pretty much have fallen into a pattern. Thanksgiving I pack it in usually the one big meal then I'm too stuffed to want anything else that day. I jump right back on plan the next day and let nature take it's course. Then repeat the same for the Christmas Day Holiday. January 1st not so bad because I eat the traditional Pork or Ham and greens with Black eyed peas. January 2nd back on the program. I have lost weight in some of these seasons.

minimyzeme

Initially, I think Winter was more challenging for me due to consistently darker days and often-challenging weather--snowstorm after snowstorm. However, I've come to realize that the seasons, with their inherent holidays, really come month after month and I've come to accept them as part of the normal weight loss territory.

The 'off-times' are training for me for when the customary norms of pigging out happen. "Enjoy in moderation" is where I try to live these days. In its own weird way, I actually enjoy the challenge of thinking my way through plan-friendly eating on those pigfest days. I find I can enjoy some of the favorite foods without absolutely stuffing myself. If I've navigated my way successfully by developing and sticking to a strategy, I also feel better about having executed my plan when I come out the other side of whatever occasion it is. It's the whole 'mindfulness' thing in action.

As for the seasonal stress eating, I try to be more mindful about that too. I can't change the weather. Eating doesn't really make it better. I do still have the somewhat Pavlovian response to eat under stress and for those times, I have low-point stuff on hand: fruits, veggies and lean proteins.

All in all, seasonal and holiday challenges are just part of a day in the life for me. Thanks to GOAD and my meetings, I think I've found ways to work them without too many setbacks.

TimDumez

Thank you to all who responded to Friday's LTL thread!!!

podkey

1) summer usually more.

In WW meetings about half in summer ,half in fall:/winter. More bike rides with social eating in summer?? Every year is different but probably 3 out of 4 or 5 years it's summer.
2) Stay mindful. Every season has its hoidays and excuses.