Am I the only one starting to stress about thankgiving ?

we always go out to families for thanksgiving and im just stressing out because i started this new diet and i havent really told anyone on my husbands side because i really dont care to hear his mother complain about your spending to much money to do this diet. So I just figured I would bring a salad with me and eat that so that way i wont blow my diet and gain weight... i have no self control when it comes to food :/ grrr
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Replies

  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    Turkey is your friend! I plan to load up on turkey and any other veggies available, squash, peas, whatever. Skip the rolls and pies and you will do just fine! Have a low calorie day before and after thanksgiving to even it out and try not to stress too much :)
    Lauren
  • Im actually on a diet diet so i can just eat everything i want and just watch the calorie intake, so im gonna just make a giant salad and use some of the turkey so i have my protein
  • laurenk182004
    laurenk182004 Posts: 1,882 Member
    Ooh I gotcha :) I'm sure you will do great! Are you doing low carb or something?
  • laddyboy
    laddyboy Posts: 1,565 Member
    2 bite rule on all sweets if you can't resist. 2 bites then toss it.
  • lisaanne1369
    lisaanne1369 Posts: 377 Member
    We are going on Thanksgiving cruise ! Daughter and I are have all ready cased the menue. Breakfast is going to be my weak point (love eggs benedict) Hope we survive and I will just try to keep busy in gym....All good
  • I'm not really stressing however I have thought of a game plan. Stick with less meat, more veggies. The carbs I will allow myself are my brother's dressing and of course dessert (in moderate portions). All with water...... oh and and just a sliver of cranberry sauce. Even if I go over my calories, I still plan to workout during the holidays so all will not be lost. Thanksgiving is only 1 day and I don't plan doing anything to trigger myself into a downward spiral. Good luck to you!
  • I'm going 600+ miles to see my family. They all know I am dieting but we will still have a traditional dinner for the 25 others who aren't. I plan to help do some of the cooking so that I can control the 'southern' way of loading everything up with fat and high sodium seasoning. I am sure I will use it as one of my few and far between splurge days of the year - BUT I am already lining folks up to walk with me and/or plan things in a way that I can get plenty of exercise to work off my extra calories and GUILT.

    If you don't mind a little more input about someone throwing the expense of dieting into the mix, my husband said it best when he confronted me about cutting back on healthier foods to save money - it cost more in money and risk to see doctors for weight related health issues down the line than it does to spend a little extra at the market each time I go (or purchase a diet that really helps). Because he took the $$ factor out of it for me to erase one of my excuses, I am actually eating many of the same foods I love just preparing them differently.....and buying the healthier meats/fruits/breads/etc.

    Anyway....I got off track there -BUT yes, I am stressing and trying to take control now to prevent a spiral that ends up ruining my Thanksgiving and family time. Sounds like you are doing the same. I wish us all luck!
  • blakejohn
    blakejohn Posts: 1,129 Member
    most gyms have classes first thing in the morning and most are open thanksgiving day.

    Since I'm traveling out of town I plan on taking my running shoes and I'll be adding a extra mile or two that with 500 sit ups I don't think I'll over eat but if I do I'll hit the workout hard the next day
  • rjcelmer
    rjcelmer Posts: 431 Member
    Don't stress out! You can enjoy your food while maintaining the discipline to have smaller portions. You're not going to go out there and put on 5lbs in one day. So you have a little of the food you normally stay away from. No biggie. You will do just fine as long as you keep your head!
  • so my thin ( and younger) sister got angry when I told her i was watching what I eat. She said Thanksgiving should be a free day. WEll, It would be if I wasn't already over 200 lbs. ! UGH! I don't want to eat in one meal my calories for a week. It'll be hard when I've had no sugar or carbs for a month. I think if I did eat the way she's suggesting then I'd have a belly ache. My body doesn't react well to heavy or rich foods anymore! So thats what I'll say. Just don't want a stomach ache to ruin Scattergories!
  • Kelley528
    Kelley528 Posts: 319 Member
    Its not as hard as you think. when you start depriving yourself of foods thats when it gets hard to maintain.

    I dont know what type of diet plan you are following but if you have a daily calorie limit like on MFP its still easy to eat holiday foods---in moderation. I log my calories on all holidays. I pretty much know how many calories per serving for my favorite foods without looking them up. Bring a food scale or at least a measuring cup ( or a less conspicuous serving spoon that equates one cup) and eat with portion control. I ate 4 oz turkey, 1 cup smashed yams, 3oz stuffing, 2 oz asparagus, and 2oz of pumpkin pie last Thanksgiving. I portion controlled for Easter, too, and still stayed on track. Once it becomes part of daily life then controlling what you eat becomes second nature.
  • I am stressing a little but I'm not trying to be a kill joy for everyone else. It's a day to eat. It's once a year and I'm eating. I do plan on going on about an 8-10mile run that morning so I can enjoy my food.
  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    I formulated a game plan. I stepped up my working out and water intake this month. Hopefully that will keep me losing steadily. I also pre=planned the dinner menu with my MIL. I know exactly what I will having. Key is try for portion control. I will continue to log everything. Good thing is my MIL is not the best cook so I'm all good.
  • jenmsu83
    jenmsu83 Posts: 185 Member
    Honestly...I am not going to track on Thanksgiving. I plan to be mindful and not make it an all day eating frenzy, but I want to enjoy the day and not fret about it. It's ONE day...I know it won't kill me if I'm over cals. Also I am doing a Turkey Trot (5K) so the activity will help balance everything out. :)
  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    2 bite rule on all sweets if you can't resist. 2 bites then toss it.

    This has really helped me! I just have a bite or two of my boyfriend's cake/pie/cookie/whatever, that way I still get to enjoy it but not go overboard on the calories. I never feel like I deny myself anything this way.

    But yeah, this Thanksgiving will be different for me than all previous Thanksgivings. I would just shove stuff in my mouth without thinking. Big glasses of egg nog, endless rolls with butter, this kind of pie, that kind of pie, 2 scoops of mashed potatoes with 3 scoops of gravy...etc. None of this is necessary! I will have what I want, but I don't need 4 servings of it. I highly doubt my stomach would be able to handle how I used to eat on Thanksgiving anymore anyway.

    Also, get some good exercise in the morning. I'm running a 5K in my town, with a giant turkey hat of course.
  • Cyngen
    Cyngen Posts: 557 Member
    I am not stressing but for these special occasions I use a smaller plate and really watch my portion control. I will drink a lot of water prior to the meal and not need to eat as much. This works for me as the holidays are at our house ....
  • okinmaine
    okinmaine Posts: 101 Member
    Like others, I am not stressing because I have a plan. Starting the day off with a pre-dinner Zumba class. At dinner I am going to enjoy those "once a year" treats, like my Mom's homemade stuffing and my MIL's apple pie in moderation. Things like mashed potatoes will be VERY limited if at all because I could have those any day. Telling yourself you "can't" have something is likely to cause that whole rebellion mentality and could potentially lead to a binge. Try to not stress and enjoy your family!
  • I will just eat Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy it.

    I have yo yo dieted so many times that I came to the realization that if I let it own my life I'm not going to be successful in the only way that counts... In the LONG TERM.

    So I go to the gym a lot and eat ONE cheat MEAL a week and I wont shy away from major food related holidays... Sure it will slow my long term weight loss down a little bit (though I burn more at the gym than I consume in the cheat meal) but it will keep me committed for far longer if I can still participate in life.

    I have lost 14 lbs in the last month alone doing this.

    Everyone is different though, if you can't enjoy Thanksgiving dinner while eating right the rest of the day and jump back on the diet the next day without issue then maybe you should stick to the salad.
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
    I am currently stretching my stomach in training for the 10 pounds of food I plan on eating on turkey day. Some things are sacred and I'm not willing to ever give up the divine right to gorge myself on thanksgiving. LONG LIVE THANKSGIVING!

    Just try to keep in mind that this is one day in the year. If you don't give in once in a while (and by once in a while for me, I mean one MEAL a week at MOST) then you can actually end up making it harder for yourself to stay with your new way of looking at food and you might even end up feeling depressed. This is about changing your relationship with food, not banishing the pleasure of eating from your life. It's ok for eating to feel good and you will find your tastes changing rapidly if you start eating as much whole, organic, and/or nutritious food as possible. My diet still has some processed stuff in it, pretty much daily! But I make it a priority to stay under my calories, fat, carbs and sodium. Last night I was on the road and wasn't going to be able to eat until 10pm and so I ate some chicken nuggets! I don't worry so much about being over fiber and protein. So, don't stress. Enjoy the journey, enjoy food, enjoy life. I've lost almost 60 pounds in just under 3 months, it's working for me. In fact, I'm probably getting General Gau chicken, pork fried rice and crab rangoon for dinner tonight. And there will be duck sauce. Oh yes... there will be duck sauce.
  • Spokez70
    Spokez70 Posts: 548 Member
    I've pretty much made up my mind I'm not even going to log anything on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. I would probably feel differently if I was just starting but I've been doing well all year long and I know a couple days over the next few months are not going to derail me- so my plan is to not go crazy and pig out but also not worry about it too much. Just try to be like a regular person and enjoy great food with friends and family.

    BTW- I am not extending this holiday policy beyond those two days and into all the little extra work lunches and holiday cookies and crap like that- talking two days only. :wink:
  • laurenz2501
    laurenz2501 Posts: 839 Member
    I will have 3 Thanksgivings this year. We had food for work yesterday, then I have it with my mom and dad separately. I feel your pain!!
  • swagner73
    swagner73 Posts: 43 Member
    I am stressing too but trying to not to stress. I track everything -- food, moods, everything. I've noticed a pattern that when I stress, I tend to hang on to weight. If I keep my stress level to a minimum, I lose weight easier. I have two dinners to go to on Thanksgiving. I pretty much know what my dad will be fixing & have an idea what will be fixed at my brother in law's. Since I don't like the in laws cooking, except for the dressing, I'll have dressing there and maybe a bite or two of broccoli casserole. Then at daddy's, I'll have the turkey & veggies.
  • FitBeto
    FitBeto Posts: 2,121 Member
    I actually cant wait. And my 2 bite rule applies, 1 - 2 bite size per spoonful. I'm not worried about eating alot, just not enough!
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    I'm actually not worried at all. I have really bad anxiety, and for once it's a good thing. Going to have Thanksgiving with my husband's father's side of the family, so I won't eat much anyway. I get super self-conscious about what/how much I eat, so I starve myself around other people lol.
  • kandilynn03
    kandilynn03 Posts: 110 Member
    My mom doesn't like turkey, so we bought a ham. And my husband and my dad got free turkeys from their work. But I'm really excited about the holidays. I think I'm going to make a lot of healthy sides and try not to eat so much that I can't breathe. I'm also going to exercise in the morning and try to take a walk after dinner.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    One day will not make or break your diet. I am from Canada so my Thanksgiving is in October but that month has 3 things to work in. We have Thanksgiving, and then my brothers birthday (which is a big family supper - like every birthday) and then halloween. I found if I worked out before or even after the meal it was fine -even just a family walk I was able to break pretty much even.

    If you go in planning to enjoy your day and get back on track the next you will do just fine. Even if you end up gaining a pound or 2 you can take them off again I mean look at your ticker you have lost 14 pounds already its obvious you know what you are doing. If you don't want to make a big deal out of things than take a salad that everyone can enjoy, and maybe make a low cal dessert for yourself that way your inlaws will not get offended. But most of all don't stress its just another day.

    Edited to fix my spelling...because I don't read.
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    Why stress, it's only one day
  • TooHott2Trott
    TooHott2Trott Posts: 57 Member
    This will be my first Thanksgiving alone since my daughter in now in the Army and going to Lousiana with her friends. This also means it's the first Thanksgiving I don't have to cook. My plan for the day is to get up that morning and do my first 1/2 marathon. After finishing that.... I plan on eating my traditional post race meal..... Pizza and Peroni(beer).....


    Just enjoy the day and don't stress over food.... Enjoy making memories with your family..
  • I am stressed out about having to be in the same room as my sister. UGH.
  • If you look at it as cheating it will hurt you. It isn't cheating, there is nothing wrong at all with eating your fill on Thanksgiving. Nothing wrong at all...

    If you make healthy choices for every single meal except for that ONE then you've eaten right 95% of your meals... Do you really think that one meal is going to kill you? No...

    As long as you can look at it like its not cheating but a part of your plan then you should be fine... I eat a cheat meal a week and its the PLAN it isn't cheating. I eat a good breakfast and lunch and then just for that ONE MEAL and dessert I eat what I want.

    It works and it will help in the long run.