The big question

David1406

So here's the big question...do we just write off Christmas Day for control purposes, and eat and drink whatever takes our fancy? Or do we continue to exercise the control that has achieved our weight loss goal so far and stick to target calories? I have to say I'm leaning towards the blow-out!! What do you all reckon?

GiveMeCoffee

Today and tomorrow I'll be eating what I want but I will log it all. Logging it is my accountability to myself, today will be a rough estimate on some because I'm not cooking, but tomorrow's meal I'll have pre-logged today since I know what I'm making.

Unknown

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jardin12

I'm going to log just to see what it comes out at! Should be a hoot! Back in the program Boxing Day .... :-)

xWendyJonesx

I won't be logging, I'll eat what I want, I just won't go mad, for me it's portion control all the way.
I just keep thinking the more I eat, the harder I've got to work at it in the new year, I also want to be able to get into a fab dress for New Year's Eve and look good in it.
Good luck and have a great Christmas.

hazeljordan1974

I am going to keep logging - I think it will help me get back on track far easier than if I just go "sod it!" and forget to log. I know I will probably overeat during the week but I want to know how many lbs are actual overeating weight and how many are normal water fluctuations.
I am lucky, I have quite a few lbs in my buffer zone to play with - my goal is 150 - 155 and I currently weigh 146, with that in mind I would have to eat an additional 31,500 calories to get to my top buffer. I was hoping to get to the gym yesterday and today to "bank" some calories but have been struck down with a cold so will wait until that has gone before I do.

Marie047

I wont be logging it but I will be keeping a mindful eye on what I am eating.

TavistockToad

i wont be logging or taking any care over what i eat for christmas day or boxing day... day after that though, right back on it!

twixlepennie

So here's the big question...do we just write off Christmas Day for control purposes, and eat and drink whatever takes our fancy? Or do we continue to exercise the control that has achieved our weight loss goal so far and stick to target calories? I have to say I'm leaning towards the blow-out!! What do you all reckon?

I'm currently not keeping a food diary and I'm maintaining fine- I've already done several parties with no gain on the scale But, I have a plan of action that's working pretty well-

-eat lighter the rest of the day of a party. I have one tonight so today I've had a protein bar (160c) and I'll have a salad for lunch (300ish c). Then tonight I'll probably eat close to 2,000 calories, mostly in the form of mac n cheese :bigsmile: So I'll come out right around my maintenance calories, give or take a few.

-I'm still exercising as my normal routine-about to run two miles and tomorrow I'll still do my 30 minutes of strength training

-only eat things that I actually want-I used to 'sympathy' eat at get togethers (taking a piece of pie because grandma made it, even though I don't like that kind of pie etc). Now I only chose things I really want, and I have no guilt about getting seconds of said dish Saturday we had a get together and there was this nasty looking dish a relative brought. She had talked it up and then mentioned after everyone went through the line, that no one was eating it. The old me would have jumped out of my chair and headed over to grab some of it. New me-no way, not going near that thing

mzhus11

If you don't log , you'll be trying to burn that off for the next 2 weeks.

spoiledpuppies

I'm logging, and I'll be staying under goal. I actually just planned out my eating for the next two days (xmas at MILs; then the 26th with my mom for all day shopping, so two meals out in one day). I'm pleasantly surprised by what I'm going to eat and enjoy even while staying on track.

inside_lap

Logging but eating what I want. Will try to squeeze a workout in to offset some of the calories.

SoDamnHungry

Gonna eat everything I want. Not going to worry about logging.

jackpotclown

eat what I want and hope this doesn't happen over the week
\m/

Tuala42

Not logging everything but since I'm two pounds under my goal I can stand to relax about counting calories for a day or two. I tend to get paranoid about staying in my goal range so not worrying about the calories will be easier said than done for me.

MysteriousMerlin

Logging everyday. I have more to watch than calories.

ndj1979

i will be working out today and logging ….

tomorrow I will probably got for a short run and log everything..

so the answer is yes, log everything and stay accountable IMO…


if you go over on xmas day, no big deal….but we should not use the "holiday's as an excuse to blow out each day...

mikeroybal

So here's the big question...do we just write off Christmas Day for control purposes, and eat and drink whatever takes our fancy? Or do we continue to exercise the control that has achieved our weight loss goal so far and stick to target calories? I have to say I'm leaning towards the blow-out!! What do you all reckon?

I'm currently not keeping a food diary and I'm maintaining fine- I've already done several parties with no gain on the scale But, I have a plan of action that's working pretty well-

-eat lighter the rest of the day of a party. I have one tonight so today I've had a protein bar (160c) and I'll have a salad for lunch (300ish c). Then tonight I'll probably eat close to 2,000 calories, mostly in the form of mac n cheese :bigsmile: So I'll come out right around my maintenance calories, give or take a few.

-I'm still exercising as my normal routine-about to run two miles and tomorrow I'll still do my 30 minutes of strength training

-only eat things that I actually want-I used to 'sympathy' eat at get togethers (taking a piece of pie because grandma made it, even though I don't like that kind of pie etc). Now I only chose things I really want, and I have no guilt about getting seconds of said dish Saturday we had a get together and there was this nasty looking dish a relative brought. She had talked it up and then mentioned after everyone went through the line, that no one was eating it. The old me would have jumped out of my chair and headed over to grab some of it. New me-no way, not going near that thing

this is my plan, considering I restarted 10 days before Christmas Eve. I had a great work out this morning, I might swim a few laps after work. I'm going to eat what I want but will avoid the libations as they tend to the cals that sneak up on you

chopper_pilot

just be mindful.

Abakan

Been maintaining for 12 months now and have recently stopped logging with no weight gain, will eat what I want over the next 2 days but find that what I want is now a much healthier selection than I would have chosen 2 years ago and much less of it. 10k race entered on boxing day so that will get rid of a few extra calories.

weinbagel

I'm going to exercise and not log because I'm too lazy/scared to look up all the foods I'm about to eat!

LVCeltGirl

I'm logging everything. Today and tomorrow are still days in my life regardless of the holiday significance and food. If I go over (as I do some days) then I adjust my exercise to help burn some of that. I'd rather know the damage than not know it. I know I'm not maintaining as yet but felt it was important enough to respond to the topic.

jim9097

Over time I have discovered that if I don't log I only eat what I need to maintain.. When I log, I get caught in the I have x calories left; then eating them even though I am not hungry. I know study after study shows people who log do better, but I think I am actually one of the exceptions.

zyxst

It's just another day of logging and exercising.

KimJohnsonsmile

I will not log on Christmas, just as I didn't log on Thanksgiving. I will enjoy the food, and focus on family and friends and not how many calories each and every little bite is. That's not what is important to me tomorrow. But, I will try to get a good workout in to offset the extra I know I'll consume.

After all this time on MFP, I know my food choices will be mostly good and I know my belly will tell me when to stop munching. MFP is training wheels... after a significant time on here, you should be trained how to eat and shouldn't necessarily "need" to log anyway. Just my opinion. To each their own. Log if you think you need to. Don't log if you want to take a break. Enjoy the holiday either way!

RoughDiamondUK

I'm not logging. Partly because weighing things isn't an option tomorrow, so I'll have no idea of portion sizes... and partly because I'm not logging again until January 1st. (I'm starting over again in 2014.) I'm going to eat things I like, but I won't go crazy... I aim to maintain, and if I do manage to lose, so much the better.

daniellabella986

I'm not logging - I'm enjoying my holiday and my treats, and I'll get back to clean eating and working out when it's done. It's that simple, and there should be no reason to feel guilty or stressed about what you're eating. It comes once a year, let's just be grateful that we have all this food when there are so many who don't, and relax & enjoy it with family.

fedupfatty86

I'm eating what I want for today and tomorrow but I will be logging it for accountability purposes

nxd10

I log everything and pay attention to portion size on things that have a lot of calories. But I'll eat and drink whatever I want - and even as much of it as I want today.

I did pre-log (unusual for me) just to see where I think my calories will come out.

I also have learned that just because some is great, more is not necessarily better. Which more or less sums up Christmas in general!:drinker:

Purple_Orchid_87

ive changed my goals to MAINTENANCE for the next 48 hrs and will revert back after boxing day

RllyGudTweetr

I'll log it. I don't necessarily expect to stay under my target calories tomorrow, but a single day over does not mean the changes for my health and well-being are over.