Any tips to enjoy the holidays while in a deficit?

erichpoblete2

Just started a caloric deficit last week but I think it was a bad idea to start in the middle of December where social events are always about foods (Mostly the unhealthy types). Please give me some advice.

Alatariel75

Just because one meal has high calories doesn't mean they all have to!
I balance it out by eating lower when I have control, so I have more calories when I have to spend them.
Maybe setting a weekly goal rather than daily could help?

anxietyfairy

Do the best you can without restricting too much or making yourself miserable. 3/7 good days are better than 0. Maybe make mini goals like drinking a glass of water with each meal and going for an extra ten minute walk would help. As others have pointed out on previous threads, one day of bad eating will even out over a few days and won't make a difference in the long run. Don't worry too much, there's only another two weeks in this year, you probably won't do much damage in that time.

tulips_and_tea

Good advice has been given by the first two responses, but I'd add that just because most holiday and social events involve food it doesn't mean that you have to make that your main focus.

A social event is meant to focus on the people and the conversations. Make that your priority and a bit of fun, holiday food here and there is an option and a bonus if you so choose.

AnnPT77

Mostly, don't let holiDAYs become holiMONTHs.

But some more detailed tactics that help me:

* If I know anything about the event - food and activities - I make a plan to enjoy some food but have priorities and limits planned in advance, and including how to distract myself from the food with activities. (That can be as simple as going around the room talking with people; I'm one for whom hovering over the buffet table leads to bad outcomes. !)

* Eat lighter earlier in the day.

* BUT also don't generally go to an event truly hungry (especially a snacks and drinks kind of event rather than a meal-type event).

* If the plan includes alcoholic beverages, drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink, and sip rather than gulp both.

* In a social setting where people will press me to drink alcohol, make a plan to find more supportive friends. OK, yeah, maybe co-workers or something? I think of something to drink that will look more like an alcoholic beverage to include in the mix, like sparkling water with lime standing in for G&T. I order it at the bar, or sometimes at a restaurant even make a side deal with the waitperson to discreetly bring that when I order the next drink. (If in the US, I tip the heck out of them if they do that.)

* Eat a small amount less (like only 100 calories less) on a few days before the event to bank some calories for the event. (I would NOT do this if I had already cut calories ultra-low for fast loss. I'm talking about a SMALL cut from a MODERATE calorie goal.)

* Think in terms of weekly average of daily calories.

* As much as possible, don't let holiday schedules interfere with my normal exercise schedule (or active daily life stuff). If it's possible to fit in some extra mild exercise without problems, that can be a good stress-reliever as well as extra movement.

* Remember that anything below current weight maintenance calories (as a weekly average) is still fat loss, and maintenance calories is holding steady (sometimes a reasonable choice even with a loss goal long-term). There's no value in to beat myself up just because I was above weight-loss goal calories. It's water under the bridge. Perspective! Balanced life!

* It's possible - not guaranteed - that one substantially over-goal day will cause less impact on long term progress than steadily eating one or two hundred calories over maintenance for a longer sequence of days.

* Remember that eating in unusual ways, especially eating substantially more carbs than usual (even within calorie goal) will temporarily increase water retention, and cause a scale jump of up to several pounds. It's not fat, so NBD, and will drop off over the next couple of weeks. Special holiday-time caveat: That "eat differently" thing happening (say) once a week will keep topping up the water retention, so the expected scale weight drop MAY not happen until after the holidays, even if fat loss is going on the whole time. Calories and movement are what affect fat loss.

Happy holidays?

lesdarts180

Today is the best day to start a new regime - you should never say "I'll start tomorrow/ on Monday/ Next month/ after Christmas/my birthday ...... etc etc.

Follow all the tips above and on January 1st you can look yourself in the eye and say "wow, I enjoyed those family/ friends/ workplace events without stuffing myself with junk" "I don't feel disgusted with myself and I have (perhaps) lost the first 2 lbs towards my goal!"

Some years ago I started a weightloss journey in late December - it was the right time for me.