*LOSING* weight during the holidays.... ?

ZeroTX

I'm currently up about 6lbs from my lowest, and I need to get that back off. When doing things right, I can easily do that in a month or so, and I'd like to continue forward, but we're in the holidays!!

Any REALISTIC tips on how to actually lose (not just maintain) weight during the holidays? Holidays are so food-oriented, and I don't think it's mentally healthy to just "not eat" the things that remind me of good times during the holidays (e.g. pumpkin pie, turkey and dressing, oh my!).

Bring your advice ...

Mr_Knight

We are social creatures, and food is a social event. Let's face it, *everything* tastes better when you're in the right company. (Stop it! That's not what I meant! :blushing: Well, not *just* that! ) Just have to be conscious of how much you're eating. And I find it helps to identify the tricky foods ahead of time, so you know where to be careful and where to relax.

In the worst case, get properly soused ahead of time - you'll be the life of the party, everybody will look ten times as attractive, and you won't be able to get off the couch for seconds and thirds.

Willbenchforcupcakes

I've always lost weight over the holidays, but then, I work in retail and don't have time to do a lot of socializing. Just like any time of year, track, stay active, and stay at your calorie goal. A little harder with all the amazing food, but doable.

dmlatva

For me I set realistic goals that allow me to have the treats I love without feeling deprived, but not going hog wild and reverting back to the bad eating habits. I have done things like allowing myself one dozen (12) cookies during the entire holiday season; so from Thanksgiving to New Years I count the cookies (and the calories too but don't beat myself up on the days I had the cookie and went over) and stop at the 12 (so make them last!). For Thanksgiving, I still measure my portions, count the calories, and making myself stop when I am full (easier said than done but it can be done!) Also, if you cook the dishes try to make them healthier/lower calories with substituting the high cal/bad stuff. Hope this helps! Can't wait to read other people suggestions, because this is the toughest time to stay on track!

bcattoes

Burn more through exercise.

loulamb7

In the worst case, get properly soused ahead of time - you'll be the life of the party, everybody will look ten times as attractive, and you won't be able to get off the couch for seconds and thirds.

This ^:laugh:

Though it's the holiday season, not everyday is a holiday feast. Enjoy the festivities and good food, log faithfully, and try to achieve some balance for the week by eating a little less on non-feasting days or exercising more.

cookiealbright

You have to make choices that you can live with. Do you want the pumpkin pie or to lose a pound? How many times a year do you have pumpkin pie. I'm chosing to have it. I'm not going to have wine that day. It's a choice I can have wine another day. You have to do it the way that works for you. Good luck!

leilaphoenix

I think the trick is that if you overeat on a particular day, not to just throw in the towel and think "I'll get back on the bandwagon after the holidays." 6 weeks of overeating will have a big impact. 1 day of overeating is negligible.

My other tip, which is a bit controversial, is if you go out for a big meal, try and save up your calories so have a very small breakfast and lunch and then enjoy your meal out but still keep to your total calorie allowance for the day.

Chain_Ring

Why did you write "losing" with the asterisks? What do you mean? I'm lost.

cwolfman13

From October through December of last year I lost about 20 of my 40ish Lbs...I even enjoyed the holidays. I didn't treat the entire holiday season as an excuse to stuff my face but I enjoyed the actual days themselves. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just two days of many days...they are irrelevant in the grand scheme even if you do over do it on those two particular days.

seahampride74

For me the plan is simply to increase the exercise levels.

ariamythe

My strategy this year is threefold:

1) Don't fret too much over daily calorie goals, and instead look at weekly and monthly totals. This way I'm not feeling guilty at Thanksgiving dinner; I'm just reminding myself that I'm paying for this meal for the rest of the week.

2) Don't stop logging everything. I won't skip logging every cookie, cake, and glass of egg nog. Yes, it can be hard to do with all the homemade goodies out there, but I will do my best and find averages in the Food Library and be as honest as I can.

3) Don't beat myself up if I don't lose weight. I'm not stupid. I know that I will probably eat more than I have been. I have to be okay with that, because the alternative is to skip all these family & social events I love so much. I can always get all fired up again in January.

Sedna_51

My strategy this year is threefold:

1) Don't fret too much over daily calorie goals, and instead look at weekly and monthly totals. This way I'm not feeling guilty at Thanksgiving dinner; I'm just reminding myself that I'm paying for this meal for the rest of the week.

2) Don't stop logging everything. I won't skip logging every cookie, cake, and glass of egg nog. Yes, it can be hard to do with all the homemade goodies out there, but I will do my best and find averages in the Food Library and be as honest as I can.

3) Don't beat myself up if I don't lose weight. I'm not stupid. I know that I will probably eat more than I have been. I have to be okay with that, because the alternative is to skip all these family & social events I love so much. I can always get all fired up again in January.

Quoted for total truth. Mind if I take your goals and use them for mine, too?

piratebear1

Forgot my sticker

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Rogiefreida

Plan your indulgences. I know that it would be ridiculous for me to expect myself to not indulge on Thanksgiving or at Christmas parties, but that does mean I need to keep that in mind when I start craving ice cream or some wine on a regular night.

Stick to a regular routine as much as you can. Make sure you get your workouts in, even if that means rearranging your normal work out times to plan around work parties or what not. I guess that's also planning.

Name of the game (in my opinion) is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. I usually don't try to lose during the holidays but maintain. This year I wouldn't mind losing 5-10 pounds as I had a small gain after being sidelined with a shattered ankle since July. Now that I can lift weights again and am getting my mobility back, it's game on for me. Thanksgiving is one day. Christmas is one day. It's not an excuse to eat everything for weeks and weeks.

MrJThomasEsq

I plan to work in some extra excersize to keep my net calories below the line. Also if I know I have a big meal or party coming up I plan to cut back some for a couple of days before and after so I have some extra calories to work with.

Just_Ceci

Burn more through exercise.

^^^This!

Holly_Roman_Empire

1) Stop eating when you're full.
2) Do more exercise.
3) Only splurge on the one day. Before Thanksgiving or the day after Thanksgiving, reel it back in.

bacitracin

Wake up an hour early and go running. Drink a lot of water before every meal. Do some resistance training before bedtime.

sarah456s

My plan is to think about what I really enjoy, and then enjoy that once, without any extra stuff.

For example: One moderately sized slice of pumpkin pie vs. a giant slice of pumpkin pie plus a big serving of ice cream plus a second serving.

deksgrl

Have that pumpkin pie and dressing, just log it and make it fit into your calorie goal. So, maybe you don't lose a whole pound on the week of Thanksgiving, not that big a deal, is it? It takes you an extra week.

highervibes

So how long is "in the holidays" cause last time I checked only 2 of those days are "eating days" and a couple days of a party or two on top of that isn't going to derail your efforts either. Thinking of the holidays as an entire season vs just a few days is the kind of thinking that will though.

illuvatree

Smaller portions and more exercise. And depending on whether you're cooking or around when it happens, record the recipes so you can see exactly what you're eating and how much is an acceptable amount. Idk, that's probably what I'll do.

ZeroTX

So how long is "in the holidays" cause last time I checked only 2 of those days are "eating days" and a couple days of a party or two on top of that isn't going to derail your efforts either. Thinking of the holidays as an entire season vs just a few days is the kind of thinking that will though.

...says someone who has never worked in a school environment. Haha. There will be at least 3 or 4 "Thanksgiving" meals for me this month (work, friends, family, parties), plus a plethora of cakes, cookies, pies, etc, dropped off in the break room for all faculty to eat.

Christmas is even worse... it'll start the first week of December and go through New Year's.

lthames0810

Unless you're hosting the feasts, you don't have to be around the food all the time. If you are seeing relatives and friends, make the holidays about sharing time with them. Even better, find non-food things to do with them, if you can, like hiking, biking or even shopping (shudder.)

As far as the feasts themselves are concerned, really when you think about it Thanksgiving dinner really includes a lot of healthy foods and you can pick and choose those things. Or, as others have suggested, you can plan the rest of your day so that you can have your favorite foods. Also, if there is a particular food you especially look forward to, like grandma's pecan pie, then choose that for your spurge and limit other things.

Rather than sleeping in front of the TV football games after the feast, maybe take a walk, instead.

highervibes

So how long is "in the holidays" cause last time I checked only 2 of those days are "eating days" and a couple days of a party or two on top of that isn't going to derail your efforts either. Thinking of the holidays as an entire season vs just a few days is the kind of thinking that will though.

...says someone who has never worked in a school environment. Haha. There will be at least 3 or 4 "Thanksgiving" meals for me this month (work, friends, family, parties), plus a plethora of cakes, cookies, pies, etc, dropped off in the break room for all faculty to eat.

Christmas is even worse... it'll start the first week of December and go through New Year's.

I'll see your holiday meal and raise you an Italian upbringing lol. Every meal I have outside my home is a challenge. See my diary yesterday for an example and we're nowhere near the holidays. I do that once every 2 weeks at my MILs. My plan is to skip a meal, sure it's not perfect but I have to consolidate somewhere. If lasagna is to be the "first course" of a meal then I have to have an action plan lol

Littlestandrews

Echoing a lot of what has already been said, food moderation and extra exercise. I plan on eating whatever food I want to on thanksgiving, xmas eve, xmas and new years eve (notice I said "whatever food I want" but I didn't say "however much of it I want"). But a huge issue for me is what I drink. I can easily drink 1,000 calories sans alcohol! I plan on only drinking water to keep my calories freed up for food. I also plan on running every single day (I usually only run 3 or 4 times a week). I'm not thinking I will lose *much if anything but I'm just hoping not to gain. It's only about 7 total days to get through without over indulging! good luck! :0)

AllonsYtotheTardis

I'm currently up about 6lbs from my lowest, and I need to get that back off. When doing things right, I can easily do that in a month or so, and I'd like to continue forward, but we're in the holidays!!

Just how long are your holidays?!?!?

alpine1994

I lost weight through the holidays last year and what made a huge difference was that I can eat whatever I want ON THE ACTUAL HOLIDAYS, but not all those days in between! I do a 5K on Thanksgiving every year so it eases the calorie blow a little, but I eat to my heart's desire on Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving I need to go right back to normal. If I gorge on leftovers for another 3 days, that's when I put weight on. Same thing with Christmas. I also allowed myself to indulge at 1 Christmas party, but not 5 of them like I normally would. Everything in moderation got me through the holidays with a loss. You can do it!!

bobbijodmb

I try to increase my workouts and the intensity of them right before social gatherings-- so I can eat a little more and not feel guilty. But by eating more, I pick the things that I really want to eat and don't touch the ones that I don't want as much.

BrainyBurro

Any REALISTIC tips on how to actually lose (not just maintain) weight during the holidays?

count calories.