Keto and Christmas Day advice
MakingItHappen2017
Posts: 37 Member
Started on Keto 23rd October 2017, gone from 102kg to 93kg, and still a way to go. As a 5’3 female I am hoping to eventually get to around 70kg. Super proud of myself as this is the longest I have kept up with trying to loose weight and feel like this is my way of eating for life! Now it’s been playing on my mind Christmas Day. Really wanting to have a few beers (low carb of course) but still would like to enjoy the food without having to worry about ruining my progress. Anyone have any idea how much it would impact me going off plan for a day? Will it take ages to get back to ketosis and would it cause much weight gain?
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In my experience (recent blowout x 2 days!
) I went out of Keto and put on 2lbs. It took me about 5 days to get back into Keto properly as measured on the sticks but only 2 days to loose the additional weight. I think the key is to go straight back onto the WOE and not think I've broken it and what the hell, I will just stop: that way madness and weight gain lie! Also try to minimise the damage on the day of you can! You are probably lucky and facing Turkey and vegetables, my Christmas (which I love!) is Italian and includes Lasagna and don't tell me there are low carb lasagna noodles! Firstly they are horrible IMO, secondly I already cook three separate types of lasagna, 1 normal, 1 vegetarian and 1 gluten free!!!! Others may have different experience/advice but this is just based on my recent experience, last week to be exact! (Excellent weight loss so fay by the way!) 
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You'll gain some water weight by eating more carbs than you are use to. Other than that enjoy the day. It's once a year! As long as you get right back on track I see no reason to deprive yourself unless you want to.
If doing that will cause you to go off the rails and eat all the things for weeks then that's another story and you will have to look at ways to minimize the damage.5 -
Yup, I second that, @Catawampous !2
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I'm not Keto, but I am low carb, and I will be stopping that for the days I visit for the holidays. I'm down about 50 lbs and don't want to gain it back but I do enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas treats.1
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You will almost certainly gain 3-10lb.
Is it true weight gain? Nope. It's water from the carbs. Carbs are stored in the body in tandem with water. As long as you go right back to plan immediately the next day, in 4-7 days it will go away. You'll be steadily back in ketosis even sooner, probably by day 2 after the carnage.
My suggestion is to do your best to avoid there being leftovers to tempt you. Christmas day is like Vegas. What happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas. It doesn't come home with you, which by that I mean, what you eat on Christmas Day is it. "That's all, folks." The day after Christmas is a different day. Christmas is over, and there's no bleed-over.
No guilt, but no excuses.
That's how you navigate holidays. (From a low-carber who has been at it over 3 years.
)
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I also am fearing Christmas. It is always at our place. My mom and I bake all November to prepare the annual treats - meat pies, fruit pies, tarts, cookies, squares and the Christmas Dinner grand finale, Skor Trifle. Of course, Chinese Food Christmas Eve, almond croissants Christmas morning followed by a large brunch and all the trimmings to go with my Turkey Boxing Day. I have been strict Keto since July and am terrified that if I climb off that wagon, esp for the three days of our annual celebration, I am doomed. Found the above advise helpful. Gotta come up with a plan1
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I love @baconslave 's approach.
My fear is that I have literally 3 Christmas Dinners to attend, and 5 overnight visits to friends & family. (I'm going the 10hr drive to my hometown). I'm pretty committed on the food front, but there will be temptation. And seeing old friends and family after 2 years away - I know there will be wine!1 -
I'll eat whatever I want on Christmas Day. I'll not want as many things as I have in the past and I'll not want to eat as much as I have in the past. I can try a little of everything and not be excessive. Then back on track.3
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River_Goddess wrote: »I love @baconslave 's approach.
My fear is that I have literally 3 Christmas Dinners to attend
1. Then pick the best option at all three, and limit the size portions.
2. You can also use the fake eating trick, put a tablespoon of something on the plate, then just swish it around while you talk to everyone there. Very few people will pay any attention to what you are eating.
3. Pick just one carby treat you really love at each dinner. Be prepared to have water weight, that will come off if you stay away from leftovers.
4. If you are into fasting, do an extended fast before you get to your hometown. Do your feast and when those dinners are over, go back to fasting mode. You might see a slight bounce, but If you are fat adapted, you will bounce down quickly with another fast.
Last Christmas was my first doing keto, I decided to only indulge in what meant
holiday treat" for me. I didn't eat anything else non keto. I only had one dinner not three, but you might try that. For me it was cheese fondue, I had a few cubes of bread, but also used steamed cauliflower, broccoli, and apples for dipping into the cheese. Normally I would have wanted a chocolate fondue for dessert with angel food cake, but instead I had made up chocolate mint fat bombs. I really enjoyed my meal and did not gain any weight at all.1 -
I will eat what I want but still be very mindful. In saying that the things I ate last xmas are not very appealing to me. It is summer in NZ at xmas so we will probably have a bbq. So meat and salad. Oneday is fine to go over in my books as long as one doesn't turn into 2 of course.0
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I started a weight loss plan in March this year. Eating low carb on a 16/8 intermittent fasting schedule. Started logging my food consistently here in June.
I weigh myself every day. I see a weight gain every time I overindulge in carbs. But as bacon slave noted, it's mostly water. I am back to my pre-indulgent weight within a few days.
So enjoy yourselves. Don't stress over the food - just eat smart. And go back to your regular eating plan when the holiday is past.0 -
Look up the Tuit Nutrition site, love her and she has a whole section on Ketosis/fat adaption and why it ain't that easy to completely destroy what you have achieved in a couple of days, as long as you accept it is water retention and will go, she explains why as well. I love her site, Sunny-bunny gave out the link and I'm now an addict, forget carbs!!
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I agree, Tuit Nutrition is excellent. Here is the link:
http://www.tuitnutrition.com/2016/01/dont-be-a-ketard1.html1 -
Catawampous wrote: »You'll gain some water weight by eating more carbs than you are use to. Other than that enjoy the day. It's once a year! As long as you get right back on track I see no reason to deprive yourself unless you want to.
If doing that will cause you to go off the rails and eat all the things for weeks then that's another story and you will have to look at ways to minimize the damage.
That is the key thing there, IMHO. Does indulging in treats tend to lead you to staying off plan? Is is hard to jump back to it? If so, I wouldn't do it. Perhaps eat some extra but keep it lower carb like low carb beers. Better yet - whiskey.
If you are sure you can get right back to it, and it will not negatively impact a health issue, then go for it. Have fun. 1 -
retirehappy wrote: »I agree, Tuit Nutrition is excellent. Here is the link:
http://www.tuitnutrition.com/2016/01/dont-be-a-ketard1.html
Thank you, @chinatowninchina and @retirehappy Tuit Nutrition looks like a great source of information. I bookmarked the site and will go back to read more later.0
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