How To Survive The Thanksgiving Banquet

jenjen828

My plan this year is to savor how much better I feel being over 50 pounds lighter than I was last year. Our family usually goes out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving, since everyone works and no one has time to bake a turkey. The good thing about that is I know what will be offered on the buffet and can plan ahead, and there are no leftovers. I will plan my meal. I will be very, very good about my eating and exercise on the days leading up to Thanksgiving. I will plan a massive workout BEFORE going to Thanksgiving dinner with my family--and probably go out for a walk of something later that afternoon. I just try to plan ahead and figure out what I am willing to sacrifice before I get in the situation to where I have to make choices. I will be having one slice of pumpkin pie at the restaurant on Thanksgiving...instead of going to the grocery store and buying a whole pie and wind up eating a couple of slices everyday until it is gone.

You have some great tips, and you are such an inspiration to me.

acogg

Trust me people, Sue will not be swayed. I was friends with her during last year's holidays and she is strong, stubborn and focused like laser. IMHO, this post is to give another side to all the "Eat all you want" topics that have been started this week. I don't think anyone needs permission to eat themselves into a coma (my plan ) or eat within their planned calories. Everyone should do what makes them happy.

"Have a fabulous Thanksgiving! (We don't celebrate that here, so I sort of have 'holiday' envy tongue ) "

Celebrate it anyway! It's an awesome holiday full of history and tradition.:drinker:

spring423

Thanks for the post. Holidays are a struggle and unfortunately they can last days as you make your way through the families. Having healthier options are key.

Congrats on your success!

SheFitWalks

Thank you for the wonderful reminder to plan ahead! It won't bother me to take very small portions of those items that I like. It's always been very uncomfortable to overeat and I will remind myself of that *before* I put a bunch of food on my plate. I really think that Thanksgiving is about time with family and friends and not so much the food. (Maybe I'll put out a jigsaw puzzle on a table for everyone to work on. It will be nice to have other activities available that don't involve food.)

I'll get to spend part of that time cooking...with my children here! Thank you for the reminder to have some greens there. I have tried to have a veggie tray out for the last 2 or 3 years. You would be amazed at how fast that good food disappears! Even the children run by and grab a carrot or celery stick. (And that is without any dip!)

Several of us in my family are on MFP and using a Fitbit or Jawbone to try to get more active, eat better and lose some weight. Maybe we'll see if we can all take a walk together after dinner.

I know that gaining weight that I just have to work to lose again is not worth it to me. Thank you so much for the reminder! May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and lots of fun with your family and friends!

katznkt

I completely agree. This Thanksgiving I'm celebrating my 30 lbs of weight loss and my hopes of losing more. There may be a time in my life that I'm able to eat all the mashed potatoes and bread that I want, but that time isn't now.

I spent too many years letting my weight increase because I was going to wait to start being careful "until". Until after my birthday, until after Halloween, until after Thanksgiving, until after Christmas, until after new years, until after Valentines day, until after my sister's birthday, then my husbands, then my daughter's, then memorial day, then the 4th and then back to my birthday- or even just until the next Monday- you get the picture.

I didn't start to really lose weight until I realized that a new healthy lifestyle meant more to me than that one yummy bite at a special occasion.

So this year, I'm bringing some yummy veggie options, I'm loading up on one to two servings of turkey, my wonderful mother is leaving me some potatoes out of the mixer sans the butter and heavy cream. And I'm going to love my family, love the fellowship, enjoy life in my new smaller size and my sense of self control. And for dessert I'm having either baked cinnamon apples or fresh strawberries, splenda and fat free milk. I love my choices!

SuperSexyDork

I would like to preface this by saying that I have a lot of respect for you and what you've done towards your goals. I always enjoy your posts in the forum.

However, respectfully, I would say that if you can't enjoy give yourself 1 or 2 days a year as a break to enjoy yourself with your family, you aren't as far into fixing your relationship with food as you may think.

That is just the point, Sis. Last year, I found out that I CAN MAKE A CHOICE about how I eat during the holidays. In the past, I felt compelled to OVEREAT BECAUSE IT WAS A HOLIDAY. I have learned to make healthier choices even during the time of year, when eating massive amounts of food are encouraged.

I am not saying hide from the food or the family dinner. I am suggesting that you eat with some amount of THOUGHT. Don't just eat everything in sight, because you used to eat without thinking, until you couldn't eat anymore. I will have dinner with my family. I will eat turkey, potatoes, veggies and even a piece of pumpkin pie; but I won't just eat without limits...because I could or would in the past. I will simply make better choices for ME, because I want to feel good in my new body.

In the past, I was in constant pain and ate just for the sake of eating. I used the food to comfort me and dull the feelings of failure. I was an unhappy woman buried beneath a blanket of fat. Now, I can enjoy that family dinner without feeling the need to stuff in more food than needed by my much smaller body. I can enjoy the company of family and be proud of 'the new Sue' in her new body. Then, I can get up the next day without concern for how many pounds I will have to lose to undo 'the damage'.

Thank you for the response. I suppose that I misunderstood the intention of your post.

I fully intend to celebrate Thanksgiving and I will probably be over my calorie goal (however, I won't be tracking) but I also plan to be smart about it and put thought into what I am eating.

I think we're just using different approaches with the same end goal in mind :flowerforyou:

LillyPandme

Every year at Thanksgiving, I try to write notes of thanks to people that have helped me in my own life. I am thankful that God saw fit to put these people into my life to teach me things. Hanfordrose, I have read several of your posts lately and have taken them to heart. They are helping me be successful in my own weight loss efforts and I am thankful for YOU this year.

Perhaps you could share this note and your original post with your SIL Vivian - it sounds like she really helped you get as you got started. The strategy that you mapped out together was a winner. Many readers of your post will be more successful this year because of the ideas that you suggested.

Tell her that I am thankful for what she helped you start last Thanksgiving, too!

Blessings to you and yours.

WDA4655

Unfortunately we are not going to NJ to celebrate the holidays with family this year. We have 2 wedding that we have to save up for in 2014 so we will be going to our former Paster's, in Naples, for Thanksgiving. But Pastor Carol is working until 5pm. I said I would be glad to do the cooking but their son and daughter in law will be coming down too and they want to go out for dinner. I don't know where that will be, but hopefully I can find out before hand so I can see if the internet has a Nutritional Value Guide for that place. But I have been thinking about choices if they serve... Start with a salad and light dressing on the side; turkey with gravy on the side; sweet potato in stead on mashed, this way I don't want extra gravy; just a tablespoon of stuffing because I love it; if I can, maybe a desert...and I am going to use a suggestion you posted a while ago...get a leftover box ahead of time and putting half in it before I start enjoying this Thanksgiving celebration! This way I will be really able to be thankful and grateful for what I have. If anyone has any other suggestion for going out to dinner at a restaurant for Thanksgiving, they will be graciously excepted.

kbmnurse

I am running a 5K Thanksgiving morning so I am not going to worry about what I eat--just in moderation. I usually skip dessert.

lucystacy71

I agree. I already have my Thanksgiving dinner planned and even logged (tentatively). I'm going to have a delicous meal and even allowing myself a small slice of pumpkin pie - and I'm going to keep it within my calorie goals.

mjharman

You are truly an inspiration, Sue! My journey didn't begin until December 27th last year, although I hit the point of desperation at the beginning of November, when I weighed in at the endocrinologists office at my all time highest weight ever. I was not as strong as you were - I waited until the end of December and my dietitian's appointment. And I gave myself a year - I wanted to know how far I could get in that year.

I am the Thanksgiving cook. I will spend two days in the kitchen, preparing a feast for my husband, my sons, and any of their girl friends who decide to come by. I will prepare both healthy and unhealthy options. And I will taste a little bit of everything...just to make sure I prepared it just right. Then I will do all of the cleanup myself, as this is a very special part of the day for me. When the rush of dinner preparation is over,when I can declare it has been a successful meal, I will chase everyone out of my kitchen and I will slowly and methodically put all of the leftovers away, hand wash my good China, and clean up the chaos. One rule of the house is that no one gets dessert until the dishes are done, so everyone's food will have a chance to settle before I bring out the pumpkin and apple pie, and I will have just a sliver of a piece - something that I've gotten very good at this year.

I figure I will burn at least some of the calories that I will eat because I will be on my feet for two days - I know my feet always hurt by the time it is all over! However, I know that my stomach will not hold as much as it used to and my portion sizes will be minimal.

I will have Friday off, so instead of fighting off Black Friday crowds, I will be getting an additional elliptical workout in. On Saturday, I will be running/walking a 3 mile Hot Chocolate Fun Run sponsored by the local Fleet Feet.

I have a plan. I think that is what is important - that we each have a plan. My dear friend, Sue, I know that you will be successful because you are so invincible in your journey. Since you cannot add exercise just yet, you will do what you need to do to continue on your path to success. Your plan will certainly meet your needs. I will succeed because I will not eat as much as I normally would - I will not just let myself eat everything in sight and I will control my portion sizes - and I will add exercise to my schedule.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Phildog47

Your Number one should be this... Drink a big glass of water BEFORE you have your first bite of anything! The rest will fall into place.

calliekitten9

I think you should have titled this "How I plan to Survive The Thanksgiving Banquet" because it would have made this a much more personal approach (which..let's face it....MFP is our own personal journey to health/weight loss etc). My plans are going to differ from yours (not because there is anything wrong with your plans, they work for you and I commend you for sharing your personal journey) because I don't feel that I need to avoid anything (the skin is the best part of the turkey in my honest opinion...calories aside). I do plan to make vegetables a more prominent part of my plate and stuffing/mashed pototoes and creamed onions will be more bit players this year....but Thanksgiving is one of a few times that I honestly plan to forgo "counting". That is just my plan. I wish you well on your continued journey.

AlongCame_Molly

Great post! I'm actually not celebrating Thanksgiving with a huge feast this year, because my family will all be out of town (and it's just ludicrous to make a whole turkey for just myself, the husband and our toddler), but for others I can see how this can be really helpful to others who were dreading next Thursday.

Xenophonica

I've already tracked my thanksgiving meal in my food diary. Being the person that will be making the food this year will help tremendously. Knowing that I don't have to eat everything I make is a bonus! I will be adjusting my meal this week and I finalize what recipes I'm using, but I am feeding a few people who don't care about calories, but 3 of the 6 of us are. I'm planning to utilize the treadmill that day, too!

briana12077

What I am always trying to remember is that anything I do is a success. The fact that on thanksgiving I will not be snacking the entire time before dinner on chips and crackers and cheese and my favorite pepporoni, and all the other things, is a huge success. The fact that I will not drink any soda or any beverage other than water is a huge success. I know I can do that part! The fact that I will eat in moderation and stop when full, and make the best choices I can is a huge success. I will enjoy the food, eat slowly, gulp down water, and remember that the food isn't running away. I can try some foods tomorrow with leftovers. I don't have to eat everything in one sitting. I can eat a bit of dessert. If I want to try three pies, have tiny slivers and try them all. I know I won't be under my calorie goal (just because most of the food is going to be fattening and super high in calories) and I don't think I will log it all because its just going to be hard. I'd rather just spend my energy focusing on my successes and be proud of myself. Don't binge! That is the main goal. If I don't binge on this one day, i will not binge on the rest. I think christmas and christmas eve and all the other holidays (for me) will be much easier because usually the meals are pasta or something similar. I can count that easily and not worry. Anyways, I'm just not going to let it get me down.

sweetpea129

Loved your tips Sue! And its a refreshing post from the "Eat whatever you want, it's only one day" posts. I dont think either opinion is "wrong". Do whatever will work for you. I'm not going to let myself eat everything in sight. Im too close to goal for that and I know it will make me feel sick. I'll still enjoy the day no matter what I eat. We're also going on a roadtrip to visit the inlaws from Wednesday-Sunday. Thats 5 days of food that i will not be preparing, eating out, and knowing that i will go over my cals every single day. I'd rather not go crazy on Thanksgiving. Just my preference. To each their own. Good luck to you and CONGRATS!

ShannonMpls

I absolutely respect your choice, and I understand that we are different people (in terms of age and ability to be active).

But I lost all of my weight while still enjoying the food prepared by my family on holidays, celebrating with them, eating treats I don't eat the other 360 days in a year. I enjoyed Thanksgiving, without guilt, shame, or deprivation, when I still had 80 pounds to lose. I didn't gain back a pound. I didn't set back my progress. I did the same last year, maintaining my weight loss, and I'll do the same this year.

We all need to find what works for us. Counting calories on Thanksgiving just isn't in my plans. My healthy friends and family, the ones who never had a weight problem, don't count calories on holidays either. They enjoy themselves for those few days, and yes - it's perfectly acceptable to acknowledge that food tastes good and is part of celebrations.

I love Go Kaleo's advice this year:

My super simple guide to surviving the Holidays:

1. Go about your life as usual. Eat how you usually eat. Exercise how you normally exercise. Sleep how you normally sleep.
2. On the Holidays, celebrate with your loved ones. Enjoy the food that has been lovingly prepared, without guilt or shame. Eat what you want, and savor it.

The end.

Hanfordrose

I appreciate the comments from so many of you who are on this journey with me. It is good to see that some of you have come so far and are still are part of the MFP family.

I know that my plan for Thanksgiving is MY plan. I realized that many of you will make other choices and have other good ideas to celebrate the holidays without giving in to binging. That is especially helpful to those of us who still have a long way to go, before we reach our final weight loss goals.

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful posts.

haymancm

I love these ideas!! I think I need to have my mom fix a salad (a real salad-not jello fluff) in addition to the green bean casserole!!

pcpharr

My super simple guide to surviving the Holidays:

1. Go about your life as usual. Eat how you usually eat. Exercise how you normally exercise. Sleep how you normally sleep.
2. On the Holidays, celebrate with your loved ones. Enjoy the food that has been lovingly prepared, without guilt or shame. Eat what you want, and savor it.

The end.

THIS ^^^^^

meeper123

We don't do thanksgiving at all guess I am lucky. No reason to cook a huge meal for two people lol

mellyish

I may only be 20 but I'm still working on getting my metabolism back up so an overindulgence like Thanksgiving or Christmas is a huge no-no for me. Even if it's just water weight, one really bad day can make me easily gain upwards of 5lbs which still takes a while to come off. So personally I will be bringing my food scale to the table without a care so I can know exactly how to log the meal I'll also be exercising too that day, but that's just part of my regular schedule now!

wateryphoenix

Wonderful tips! Thank you for them. I am sorry that some negative comments have also popped up in here. =/
Grats on your current loss, and GL on your ongoing journey! =D

happieharpie

Very affirming reading for me! I have spent DECADES giving in to the temptations of holidays and suffering both the long and short term damages of doing so. I am happy for those who can, but I can't.

My dinner will be a portion of turkey, a portion of sugar free cranberry sauce, lots of green veggies, a baked sweet potato, and perhaps a portion of sugar free, dairy free pumpkin custard.

I know I'll relish what I eat and I know I'll be happy with myself on Black Friday.

It is great to read of your triumphs OP. I too was prediabetic and headed toward all kinds of medicines and potential surgeries and the whole 9 yards until I realized what I was doing to myself and what I could do to stop.

Now I pray, I plan, and I perservere- everything works together. Happy Thanksgiving to all, however you choose to celebrate! May we all have a Healthy and Happy Holiday next year as well!

Fiore_

My favorite part of your story: "Make a 2013 Thanksgiving Resolution."

I love your attitude and your list of tips! I plan to log everything before I eat it. That way I can eat stress-free and focus on enjoying what I have on my plate.

susanrechter

OH! I saw Hanfordrose and I had to read what you wrote. I always enjoy your perspective and the great results you have!
Happy Thanksgiving, oh and by the way, I am thankful for you!

cathyg321

Saving. Great thread!