Christmas: What's your strategy?

Riara11

Ok, we're halfway through November so it's hard to avoid the 'C' word. It's that time of year when overindulgence is practically the LAW - the booze, cakes, FOOD... I swear, between Christmas socials at work (of which there were several), at home and with my friends (on top of my already unhealthy diet) I put on a clean 7 pounds last Christmas.

This year, I plan to stick to my diet but I know the temptation will be intense! Any strategies? I don't want to start 2012 a half-stone heavier!!

BeautyFromPain

Ok, we're halfway through November so it's hard to avoid the 'C' word. It's that time of year when overindulgence is practically the LAW - the booze, cakes, FOOD... I swear, between Christmas socials at work (of which there were several), at home and with my friends (on top of my already unhealthy diet) I put on a clean 7 pounds last Christmas.

This year, I plan to stick to my diet but I know the temptation will be intense! Any strategies? I don't want to start 2012 a half-stone heavier!!

I'm gonna allow myself a little of everything, but portion sizes are the key. Also, gonna exercise like a maniac day before and after christmas.

dalgal26

My goal is just to make it through Thanksgiving, for now! That is a very big deal for us.

I guess I can consider it a test for how to balance my calories at Christmas.

ElizabethRoad

In my opinion it is just one day, not the whole season. Eat what I want on Christmas and stick to my calories the rest of the time.

thetrishwarp

I only really have two "Christmas meals"...so...exercise and maintenance of my calories for the rest of the days I'm on vacation, and better portion control on the days I'm eating big meals. I know I will be able to work out on one of those two days, too, so I'm not *too* worried.

sunshinesonata

I plan on doing the same thing but for both Christmas & Thanksgiving. Being a Celiac, there isn't much that I can eat at Thanksgiving usually, BUT! I know I still need to keep it monitored. =]

HayleyDavison1

Im going to stay in my calories/exercise plan over the 2weeks off for Christmas - apart from Christmas day - which I can treat myself to anything - yet I know my mind/stomach wont want half as much as I would of last year!!

curlyclo

My goal is just to make it through Thanksgiving, for now! That is a very big deal for us.

I guess I can consider it a test for how to balance my calories at Christmas.

Agreed! My strategy is basically to only indulge on the day of (the actual holiday). I think what gets me is the over-eating on all of the days before/after the actual holiday while family is still together.

biochick2004

Well, besides trying not to go too crazy with the portions, I'll get some extra exercise in to make up for it. My cousin and I started a tradition, after the big family dinners, we have a Wii or Xbox dance party at her house, to burn off some of those excess calories.

lannlynn

I am thinking about going into maintenance mode for the month of December. I am 6 pounds from my goal and if I don't gain any then I will be happy. I'm like you, I always seem to gain in the month of December!

miss_jamaica

This year, I plan to stick to my diet but I know the temptation will be intense! Any strategies? I don't want to start 2012 a half-stone heavier!!

This is a great topic! I'm on the lookout for tips, but my plan as of now is to make each holiday (Thanksgiving and Christmas) a one day thing. If I make it, it leaves the house the same day... either in bellies or in take home plates! I am also giving myself a one plate rule... so I get one plate of whatever I want, then it's over! I'm hoping that way I can indulge a bit and enjoy myself, but not turn one day into three weeks of unhealthy leftovers etc.

I'm already struggling with the holiday parties at my job, but if you look closely (VERY closely) there is usually a healthy option. Yesterday there was fried chicken, french fries, and pastries on platters at my job... but there was also a barely touched salad bowl. I loaded the plate with salad then stuck a few treats on the edges of the plate--a few fries, two cookies. The old me would have had that plate in the exact reverse order... a plate of fries and chicken with a little salad on the edge :-)

FatGirlSlim899

I'm going to continue to log my calories, stick to my allowance, and workout through the season. For the day itself I'm going to just have a light breakfast and dinner, so that I can use my calories (900 or so) on my family Christmas lunch. I've probably mentioned before that I have a severe allergy to dairy, so I don't have problems like chocolates, cakes etc. that others do. Just my portion control for me.

Alison__

I've decided to treat myself with 3 things TOPS during a dinner. One specific piece of candy or one specific drink etc. And then focus on the healthiest things I can find otherwise

misscase

I'm nervous about the holidays too. I think the key will just be to allow myself to eat what I want as long as I really watch the portion sizes. It's a time to celebrate, so I don't want to make myself miserable longing for that cookie, but in the same token I also don't want to overdo it.
I think I will also exercise a little extra around that time.

swordsmith

Exercise and watch my cals- nothing out of the ordinary.

I may for a friends party exercise to pad my cals.

mgdiock

I reckon that I am okay so long as I stay away from the fruit cake. That stuff is absolutely the worst food you could possibly eat. It has diabetes and heart disease written all over it.

Ummm....Yummy diabetes!

In any case, I plan on hitting the Thanksgiving and Christmas foods like a sledgehammer, but I will also be hitting the elliptical a little harder before and after these days.

truelypinkthing

It's madness to stress to much about it, cos that'll just spoil it for everyone. I plan to walk as much as possible, and try to involve the rest of the family too. My new healthy eating(it's not a diet is it!) suits me so well that I really don't crave the fatty rich food so hopefully I'll say no. But whatever slips I make I'm not going to beat myself up, just carry on the new healthy journey I'm enjoying so much. Good luck, happy christmas, and enjoy.

groomchick

Thansgiving and X-mas are only 2 meals in a 6 week period. I will allow myself to go a little over my cals those 2 meals but stick to my macros. When going to a social thing...put a few low carb bars in your purse so in an emergency you have something to help you get through. If you are cooking... make everybody take ALL your leftovers home. If you are going to someones home...No doggie bags!! Works for me!

Pidders89

Like others have said it is just one day so i am going to treat myself as otherwise i will be grumpy and feel deprived then straight back on it after

xxx

Kandace_Riopel

im buying myself a nice christmas dessert plate and ill limit myself to that since the snacks will get me ... i usually just fill my plate with desserts and sit it beside me and snack all night on it ..... but i also use it for dinner to lower my caloric intake to accomodate the snacks i KNOW i am going to eat!

Gayafrench

I am on holiday from 22nd December to the 3rd of January. On the 22nd morning, I will switch my allowance to maintenance and I will try to burn with exercice a minimum of 200 cal /day, giving me more calories to eat and yet maintain.

Well that's the plan, the reality... we'll see

amymaria91

Well I'm going to an all you can eat buffet with my brother for Christmas dinner - what a great idea that was! I probably won't count my calories for Christmas day but every other day I will and I'll make sure to exercise extra hard

CathiAnne

We can all do this. We have new mindsets and I bet it's not going to be as difficult as we may be thinking. I think we have all learned about balance in life by being on MFP. Let's give ourselves credit for what we have learned and know that we can do. Three years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and I lost 7 lbs. between Thanksgiving through Christmas. That's some serious motivation, yes, but we all have different forms of motivation. We can be successful. Yes, we can.

eliz_in_pink

my family has decided to work around Christmas for me.. which is beyond fantastic! they usually decorate the whole house and take out my treadmill & stationary bike for the whole month of december. mom said that this year we would have to move the tree (it usually goes where my equipment goes) so i can work out. i'll probably get up on Christmas morning (waaaay early) and get a super workout in so i dont have to stress too much that day. i'll do the same thing for Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. there is too much yumminess to have to skip out on, lol!

for example: this weekend ALL the ladies over 21 in my family go on a huge shopping trip for Christmas and we always carry in a spread of food to our hotel room when we get done for the day.. it's not healthy at all (except i brought a fruit tray for me! lol)... so both saturday and sunday i worked out for 2 hours prior to starting my day (no matter what time i had to get up) to make sure i could enjoy the food..

hope this helps and happy Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years! ** and here is to weighing less at the end of the season! :flowerforyou:

LuciaLongIsland

It is a double edged sword for me as I have little family and will probably be alone as I was last year. Therefore, a bit sad, but no food issues.

Sidesteal

My strategy will be as follows:

Thanksgiving, Christmas (and eve): Absolutely destroy everything in my path in such a way that FuriousPete would applaud.

Then resume my diet like nothing ever happened.

curlyclo

My strategy will be as follows:

Thanksgiving, Christmas (and eve): Absolutely destroy everything in my path in such a way that FuriousPete would applaud.

Then resume my diet like nothing ever happened.

Haha love it. That's basically my plan.

gp79

This year my wife is working Christmas so there will be fewer parties / temptations about the house. No complaints here, just time with the kids.

Should there be a big meal incoming my plan is to fast a little extra and then eat whatever I want. I expect to miss a couple of workouts, but once 3 Jan comes back around I'll be back on track.

angela828

I have my mom's side Christmas party on 12/17, then Christmas eve with my dad's side, and then Christmas day with my fiance's family. My plan is to eat what I want and what I like, but small portions and take it easy on dessert - I don't need a slice of pie AND a slice of cake.. I'll just pick one. I'm going to log all those days like normal and if I'm over, I'm over. I also plan on exercising at least 2 of out of those 3 days. I really don't think 3 days is going to make me gain 10 pounds or throw my weight loss out the window. It's all about self-control and not going crazy with sweets. And I always stick to water on holidays!

mhotch

I lost a lot of weight 4 yrs ago and have been maintaining for over 3 years now. I have learned that holiday celebrations are all about the people. The person sitting across the table is more important to me than what is on the plate on the table. You can still stay on track and lose weight. Eat before parties so you do not go there hungry. Drink seltzer with a lime or lemon twist. {you will be glad the morning after!} I indulge in the veggie platters and will allow a taste only, of other indulgences. Eating out is just healthy choices and portion control.

As far as Aunt Millie's special pie or cake: I go by the 3 bite rule. You get all the decadence and flavor from the first 3 bites. After that you are eating it because it is in front of you. Push it away and go for a walk.

Exercise is a dieter's best friend! Get out and move!

annemckee

I do big meals on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, then I visit my sister from 27th to after New Year. No chance of going to the gym at all for a fortnight. We all love to cook, eat and drink, but I will be trying a few alterations to the usual meals and know my sister will choose healthy options. I imagine I will be over calories on a few days but this is my first season while trying seriously to lose weight so I'll use it as part of the learning curve.