Tested my willpower...and fell on my face!

Advengirl

Okay- confessional. I need some help getting through the Holidays. It's hard asking for help, ya know? BUT- I need suggestions and support so I don't throw in the towel and back track to my pre-preMFP weight. Like, 20lbs ago.

ANYWAYS-
I had to make chocolate chip & peanut butter cookies for a friend's Bday. And ended up making enough to feed an Army since I didn't realize how much a double recipe of these would make. It turned out to be EIGHT dozen. I decided, 'hey, I can do this. Just ONE cookie a day, no sweat!' and kept 2doz at home for my fiance and I to work on over the next few wks.

That was the plan at least. Being overly self-confident with my progress, I decided to test my willpower too soon...and man. I fell HARD.

One cookie lead to two...which lead to three...which somehow bred in laziness and 'let's watch TV all weekend.' My water intake dropped and I started getting headaches which led to a 'want' to sleep in later in the mornings......and the next thing I know- it had been 4 full days of gluttony and sloth.

What. The. Hell.
I had no idea it would THAT easy to revert back to my pre-fit days.
Granted, I am PMSing and completely homesick for the Holidays (plus my Dad passed away on Christmas Day '07...and I've always turned to food as a comfort before). Doesn't matter...I shouldn't have faltered like that!

Thankfully, I only gained back 2 lbs and have gotten completely back on the wagon. I was afraid, for a few days, that I had once again blown it all and 'what's the point.' Then I remembered how a few great gals on here had once told me to not be so hard on myself...everybody slips from time to time...just don't give up.

So. I'm not giving up.

We threw out the last of the cookies (don't even want them at the office!)...
My alarm went off at 4:45am for the gym this morning...and I went. And I remembered how GOOD it felt to get my buttkicked and to use the muscles I've worked so hard for.


Does anyone have any suggestions/ advice to get through the Holidays (and all the days after) so I don't fall so flat on my face again? I'm a vegetarian so my biggest downfalls are mashed potatoes and dessert. And stuffing. lol

Help!

horndave

Dish up your portions from the counter put it away, then eat at the table with no extra food on it. Less likely to go for seconds when it is not in front of you.

squoozyq

I agree....get what you are going to eat all at once, within reason, and don't go back for more. Drink a ton of water or seltzer or tea (the hot herbal kind).
Have a bite of some sweets, in moderation so that you don't make yourself nuts!
Good luck!

knittygirl52

I hear you friend. Most of us are in the same boat. I'm sort of a semi-vegetarian (eat some meat, but try to keep it minimal). Right now I'm trying to keep my food back-to-the-plant basic. As you mentioned, it's the mashed potatoes, the bread, the pasta. Why do we like starch so much. I'm trying to stick to the fruits and veggies, and if I do eat something starchy making it something not too far from the original source--corn, but not corn bread; oatmeal, but not oatmeal cookies, etc. I'm finding I feel better, for what it's worth.

PattyTheUndefeated

I say eat what you want during the Holidays. If you're working so hard any other time and watching your calories, why shouldn't you enjoy that extra portion of mashed potato yumminess with everyone else? I'm not saying eat 'till you're ready to puke, but I'm saying don't deprive yourself. You'll feel even worse, and want to eat more anyway. I look forward to the holidays, because I could now NOT feel guilty about all the delicious food I'm eating and not have to feel self-concious about eating that big piece of cake. Because I know that I eat well any other time, and that I work out consistently as well.

Robin1117

This is hard. I have a similar issue too. My 5 year old just had a birthday on Tuesday and wanted to make a cake. Again, PMS....I just overdid it on the batter and frosting. Typically my will-power is ok, but this day...not at all and the sugar went right to my head. Well...just did a little extra on the elliptical today to make up for it, and I think I learned my lesson.
It'll probably help when the period is over too...

One idea that works for me on choc chip cookies and sometimes for muffins, baking, etc...is that I make the batter with my son. I typically make 6 cookies at a time. One for him to eat right then and the rest to save for my husband. Then I put the rest of the batter in the freezer. Typically my son forgets about it, and my husband just makes a few cookies at a time when he wants them for the next few weeks until the batter is gone. And, it is out of sight out of mind for me.

Good luck!

iplayoutside19

.and it's not so much the actual Holiday that's the killer. It's the ansillary stuff. My Wife's employer is having their Holiday dinner tonight. Mine is on Monday, then there's actual Thanksgiving. And since we're all together for Thanksgiving lets go out to eat on Friday because we'll all be out shopping....oh and then there will be left overs you will be given the thrid degree about if you DON'T take them or eat them.

I swear, it just makes me want to....ruuuunnn. Which is what I will do. I'm planning on running Thanksgiving morning. With that, and the after lunch Football game in the street with the siblings and cousins I'm going to eat with wreckless abandon on Thanksgiving.

stormieweather

Well, I am probably going to eat what I want on Thanksgiving. I'll work out extra to compensate, but I'm not going to deprive myself of a once a year holiday (known for it's gluttony!). I'm on vacation all next week and really have a hard time eating enough when I'm at home (I tend to skip eating).

So, my suggestion is, next time you make cookies for someone, why not throw in a low-fat batch for yourself? Or, what I tend to do is refuse to give other people anything I wouldn't eat myself, so make the entire batch low-fat

Bargain with yourself...an extra 30 minutes on the elliptical and you can have a 2 cookies. Or skip the cookies AND the 30 minutes! But you can't have the cookies AND skip the elliptical.

cherie2304

My gym is open on Thanksgiving and you better believe I will be there. That way when I have the pumpkin pie I won't feel too bad about it. Although this year I will be skipping the whipped cream. I'll be going to a restaurant for Thanksgiving and you know they don't care about calories.

Advengirl

Thanks, everybody!!!

You've all given me some good pointers...I think (no, I KNOW) I'm going to make it thru the Holidays. Otherwise, I'd have to post another 'crap, I did it again' post and everybody could say "umm...Sherry...did you go to the gym to have that extra slice 'o pie?"
heheh