The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

PaulFields56
PaulFields56 Posts: 108 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
That's what the song says! But for me, there are lots of challenges around FOOD at this time of the year: Parties with friends, company parties, feasts on the holidays. And Mom is coming to visit for Thanksgiving (you know that's going to be good), and then we are visiting my in laws in New Orleans for Christmas (gumbo, mirlitons, oyster dresssing, daub glace, po'boys, spinach Madeleine, and all that good Creole and Cajun home cooking). So lookinig forward to it, BUT...

What are some strategies you all use looking at ten weeks of temptations, and a few good excuses to get off track?

Personally, I'm trying to reach a specific goal (around 83 lbs total loss) by Thanksgiving. Then, I plan to be mindful of what I eat. I probably won't be as careful as I usually am, but I don't want to go crazy.

I think having a plan beforehand, and maybe visualizing what I want my plate to look like will be very helpful. Also, being forgiving of myself if I don't stick exactly to plan is important. Above all, if I keep logging and remember that this is a long-term (okay, permanent) project, I will be in good shape on January 2.

Keeping focus on the long term, enjoying the company of family and friends, and enjoying the spirit of the season is what will get me thorugh successfully!

Replies

  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
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  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Try to focus on the people rather than the food. You may also calculate your maintenance calories and eat at that on Thanksgiving and Christmas days.
  • SheridanLT
    SheridanLT Posts: 47 Member
    My plan is to exercise an additional 20 minutes on days there are events to go too. Thanksgiving, Christmas, work party...

    Then, enjoy myself in moderation. I love the holidays...don't want to feel I've "missed" out.

    Really hoping this works....

    Good luck!
  • clambert1273
    clambert1273 Posts: 840 Member
    One or two or even three days of this type of eating isn't going to derail anything. I plan on eating what I want on those days and loving every minute of it :)

    There is a huge thread about "plans for Thanksgiving" where you can see that mantra many times over. Eat, drink, be merry!! :)
  • loriq41
    loriq41 Posts: 479 Member
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    I loved that episode even before I saw this post...you have the correct idea TREAT YO SELF...no use being miserable over the holidays..have a strategy, be forgiving, try not to gain, pick your favorites and eat them..if you are "meh" about mashed potatoes then don't eat them! Drink water, fill up on veggies to curb it but to deny is to be unhappy this time of year! :)
  • missylectro
    missylectro Posts: 448 Member
    What's a couple of days of cheating? Try being good for two of the meals in one of those days and "treating yourself" for supper for example. Be kind to yourself! You can get through this <3
  • Mr_Excitement
    Mr_Excitement Posts: 833 Member
    I don't worry about going over at holiday time. I need the extra energy for the Feats of Strength.

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  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    My plans are:

    ~ to drink water instead of thinking "oh it's the holidays why not have that diet soda, cider, marshmallow mocha martini, hot chocolate..." partly because I know how yummy some of those beverages can be, and how caloric. I might make 1-2 exceptions during the season, but I'll be mindful of it.

    ~ I'm not even gonna try to resist fudge, cookies, pie. I will center my holiday meals around the desserts because that's important to me. I'll round it out with any seafood item, veggies and salad if need be, but I won't resist. I know "me" and refusing to split a peppermint brownie with my husband at an Xmas party would lead to me standing in Walgreens at 11 pm that night wanting a Russell Stover Santa Claus AND mini Reese cups...no.

    ~ I will not eat "to be polite". I know people are gonna ask me to have a bit of this and that, but certain foods do not interest me...Chex mix, green bean casserole, chips, roll-ups with cheese, etc. I won't eat them. I will politely decline or at most take a teensy nibble.

    ETA: I see a lot of people talking about 2-3 days of holiday indulgence...I don't know about all of you, but for me that's not quite what it could be. More like 10-12 days! Between Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's, and all of the family dinners, work parties, friends' cocktail parties...way more than 2-3 days. If it was just 2-3 days I'd be a lot less concerned :-D
  • mrslcoop
    mrslcoop Posts: 317 Member
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    Yes. Yes. Yes. Eat and drink what you want. 3 days isn't going to blow all the hard work you've done. I usually take a little of everything then if I'm hungry go back for a little more. Keeps me from eating till I'm exploding.

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