How do you stay focused during the holidays?

Rosemary7391

rheddmobile wrote: »

Thanksgiving is driving me bats. This is my first holiday season as a diabetic, and basically everything my family has available is a) something I really love and want to eat and b) chock full of enough carbs to literally kill me.

One of the more tricky things socially is that the hostess is herself a diabetic, who is on insulin, weighs 400 lbs, and eats whatever she wants, despite the fact that she is now in kidney failure and dying as a result. So using my diabetes as an excuse not to eat her food is likely to seem like a direct criticism.

By my calculation from what I know about her recipes, if I eat nothing but plain turkey, a single half slice of any dessert offered will put my blood glucose over 200. But there is so much more than plain turkey. There's cranberry sauce, oyster stuffing, green beans with carby stuff all over, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, pumpkin chiffon pie, ambrosia, pecan pie, and chocolate chess pie.

I swear I have considered pretending to be sick for a day. But I don't want to do that as she literally is dying and I probably won't get another holiday with her.

Could you maybe say that your medicine isn't quite sorted yet so you don't want to risk it? That might avoid it seeming like critcism... are you able to have just a teaspoon of some of those tasty things? That's what I do when I want to taste something but don't want to make (much) room in my calories for it. I don't know if the same would work for you with diabetes. Will there be low carb things you can fill your plate with so it isn't so obvious?

WilmaValley

Great suggestions!

DaisyHamilton

I like to enjoy the holidays but only on the actual holiday. Thanksgiving day, Christmas eve, Christmas day, and new years eve/day I have whatever I like but make sure not to overstuff myself. I'll definitely have pumpkin pie and a glass of champagne and Christmas cookies, but only 1 slice of pie, a glass or 2 of champagne and only 2 or 3 cookies. Just remember you only have to make it through the month and you'll be back in your normal routine. Great yourself but he conscious.

kenyonhaff

Let's be honest - the holiday season is TOUGH to start out.

It's a hard time for stress. Routines go right out the window. People never bring in a nice veggie plate for the break room. The weather gets cold, so it's often harder to go outside.

So you may want to consider just starting after Christmas or New Year's. It's an option. You are committing to commit on a red-circled date on the calendar.

Start logging on MFP at maintenance...seriously. Just get some data started. Do some research. Try out some workouts and figure out what you like. Take a look at gym memberships. Whatever.

ccruz985

I look at holiday foods and some stuff I'll pass on. Like yeah, mac and cheese is great but that's not something that's only limited to the holidays. Stuffing is though and I loooove stuffing so yeah, I'll indulge because we literally only have it ONE day (and a day or two of leftovers) a year. Same with cranberry sauce (homemade all the way), potatoes au gratin, and broccoli casserole. Those are holiday dishes only so I indulge. I won't see them for an entire year afterwards so I don't feel bad at all, nor should I. Nor should WE. We work hard, we deserve the yearly treat!

bcspringstead

I think about “working” for my meal too.
MFP gives you back calories with workouts. I personally do use those calories every day but on holidays I’ll get up early go work out to EARN my calories so I can have that glass of wine or slice of cake. Also set an end eating time like no ore after 6pm! Also just go for a walk after you eat to help you metabolism! Make it a family thing!

SusanDSME

I've been talking to the friend who's my running coach... she wants me to take a day off running every week, and this coming week, she wants me to run one day and walk the next. This is bad news for me, as I was planning on really busting on the exercise to offset Thanksgiving. At least there are good places for me to walk and run where we will be spending this vacation week- including a hotel gym, which is a total novelty for me (nearest gym is half an hour away, so I don't go).

As of this morning, I've lost 2.4 lbs since 11/4. I've had such a hard time losing weight, I am going to fight tooth and nail not to gain any back over the holidays. Stuffing and cranberry sauce are the two things I can't go without (I'm with you @ccruz985 ), and I'll have a little slice of pumpkin pie (my sister-in-law the pastry chef is making it). I'm going to keep tracking meals, though it will be harder because someone else is cooking. I refuse to just give up, like I have every holiday season up to this point!