Is it true? Gaining vs Losing

BarbaraCarr1981
BarbaraCarr1981 Posts: 903 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Is it true that u can gain weight much quicker than losing it??? Cuz I REALLY don't wanna gain weight over the holidays but I do want to eat and enjoy myself and not worry about cal counting or watching what I eat. It's only gonna be Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and New Years Eve that I indulge. Then I will be having cake on January 6th for my sons 1st bday so... What do you guys think? Am I doomed or what?
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Replies

  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    3500 calories (roughly a pound) is the same either way, so you have to eat the same amount over you maintenance calories to gain weight as you do to eat under to lose it. However I think it's easier to eat over maintenance than under AND with eating sodium filled 'bad for you" food you will gain water weight that will make it look like you have gained more weight on your scale (and you may look and feel a bit bloated)
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,455 Member
    It is easier to over eat on the holidays. It is also possible to lose whatever weight you gain within a week afterward. Chillax. It's the holidays. Enjoy without all this self-imposed agony.
  • JUP1T3R
    JUP1T3R Posts: 31
    You can indulge in the holiday foods without going over your calorie intake limit. just make sure you enjoy in moderation, the holiday food and desserts are not worth backtracking all the hard work you've done to get where you are. just focus on portions and you will skate by and not have to make up for it on the back end.
  • BarbaraCarr1981
    BarbaraCarr1981 Posts: 903 Member
    If I have to use moderation then I just plain don't enjoy so I will end up going over deficit cal but hopefully not so much that I gain weight. But hey like yas say it's the holidays - chillax. So be it! Merry Christmas everyone. May you all lose the most weight possible in 2013! Cheers all!!!
  • CRody44
    CRody44 Posts: 739 Member
    Then, yes, you're doomed.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    no. most people put on weight slowly over time. and when they lose it, it's fairly steady like 1-2 lbs per week.
  • Alcoria
    Alcoria Posts: 167 Member
    my suggestion is to take your time eating you will give your body time to feel full instead of over eating you may get full after a portioned 1st plate than after 2nds or 3rds

    good luck and merry christmas :)
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    no. most people put on weight slowly over time. and when they lose it, it's fairly steady like 1-2 lbs per week.
    Yup. It takes years to get fat.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    Calorie counting on Christmas, New Year's eve, New Year's, your son's birthday, etc. isn't required. What is required is calorie counting on every other day that's not a legitimate cheat day. Breathe. Relax. Enjoy. This is a long-term thing and making yourself miserable on holidays is a great way to just fail.
  • SugafreeNsweet
    SugafreeNsweet Posts: 21 Member
    Don’t do it……

    Honestly, I went through the same thing in October and November with My daughter's Birthday, Halloween Parties and Thanksgiving. I put on weight rapidly and it feels like its taking forever to get it off. I have several dinner parties coming up and I am totally porting my digital food scale with me (I don't care how crazy I look) and logging everything I put in my mouth. In some cases I will be bring my own food. INDULGENCE IS NOT WORTH THE SELF LOATHING that comes with it. It takes hard work to get weight off and maintain it......don't throw it away!
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    I plan on enjoying holiday meals without going overboard with portions or multiple servings. You don't have to turn into a human garburator to indulge, you have the power.
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    Don’t do it……

    Honestly, I went through the same thing in October and November with My daughter's Birthday, Halloween Parties and Thanksgiving. I put on weight rapidly and it feels like its taking forever to get it off. I have several dinner parties coming up and I am totally porting my digital food scale with me (I don't care how crazy I look) and logging everything I put in my mouth. In some cases I will be bring my own food. INDULGENCE IS NOT WORTH THE SELF LOATHING that comes with it. It takes hard work to get weight off and maintain it......don't throw it away!
    What the what?
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    Don’t do it……

    Honestly, I went through the same thing in October and November with My daughter's Birthday, Halloween Parties and Thanksgiving. I put on weight rapidly and it feels like its taking forever to get it off. I have several dinner parties coming up and I am totally porting my digital food scale with me (I don't care how crazy I look) and logging everything I put in my mouth. In some cases I will be bring my own food. INDULGENCE IS NOT WORTH THE SELF LOATHING that comes with it. It takes hard work to get weight off and maintain it......don't throw it away!

    FAIL
  • RedHeadDevotchka
    RedHeadDevotchka Posts: 1,394 Member
    I once gained 5 lbs from a cookie, true story.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I once gained 5 lbs from a cookie, true story.
    One beer got me drunk one time too. I just don't remember WHICH one.
  • Tricep_A_Tops
    Tricep_A_Tops Posts: 319
    I once gained 5 lbs from a cookie, true story.
    That must have been one hell of a cookie! :happy:
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Don’t do it……

    Honestly, I went through the same thing in October and November with My daughter's Birthday, Halloween Parties and Thanksgiving. I put on weight rapidly and it feels like its taking forever to get it off. I have several dinner parties coming up and I am totally porting my digital food scale with me (I don't care how crazy I look) and logging everything I put in my mouth. In some cases I will be bring my own food. INDULGENCE IS NOT WORTH THE SELF LOATHING that comes with it. It takes hard work to get weight off and maintain it......don't throw it away!

    Self loathing? Whoa. Calm down.

    You are planning to bring your food scale and your own food to parties? Seriously? Well, at least next year you probably won't have to attend as many dinner parties, so I suppose that's good...
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Some cookies can make you gain weight just from looking at them. It has to do with the phlogiston they give off. You can't see it, but if it catches your eye, then you get the calories from it.
  • 70davis
    70davis Posts: 348 Member
    Bump
  • baja572
    baja572 Posts: 94
    I am not sure but I have been told most weight gain over the holiday is from the over eating of left overs and the large amount of sweets..easy with the sweets and carbs. a little extra work out before and after might help (walking..if you have snow build a snowman or go for a walk) take what you like and forget the rest.. the best to you.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,455 Member
    Bump

    Bless your heart.
  • OspreyVista
    OspreyVista Posts: 464 Member
    Idk. I ate a lot over thanksgiving week... Sunday-Friday, especially on Thanksgiving, and I only gained 1lb, and it came off quickly. I ate in moderation for the most part, except for appetizers on thanksgiving. But I never over-ate on any day except for Thanksgiving day. I just listened to my body and didn't worry about counting calories during that week as I had absolutely no control over it anyway.
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
    I gained four pounds over Thanksgiving week and by the following Friday I had lost it. I have been terrible this month, and I've fluctuated about 4 pounds up and down. SO...I stopped logging today, I will start again on Thursday, and whatever happens in between will be between God, me and the tray of cookies I'll be taking to my MILs. :laugh:

    Listen, it's the holiday season. Try to relax a little bit, then get back to your routine of healthful eating and exercising on the 26th or 27th. Life's too short to stress out about this time of year. I've read many, many articles about holiday weight gain and how most people return to their pre-holiday weight when they resume their pre-holiday habits. You'll be just fine. Happy Holidays! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

    ETA: I still do my workouts, though. I'm sure that's helping my case.
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
    Don’t do it……

    Honestly, I went through the same thing in October and November with My daughter's Birthday, Halloween Parties and Thanksgiving. I put on weight rapidly and it feels like its taking forever to get it off. I have several dinner parties coming up and I am totally porting my digital food scale with me (I don't care how crazy I look) and logging everything I put in my mouth. In some cases I will be bring my own food. INDULGENCE IS NOT WORTH THE SELF LOATHING that comes with it. It takes hard work to get weight off and maintain it......don't throw it away!

    :huh:
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    ...Listen, it's the holiday season. Try to relax a little bit, then get back to your routine of healthful eating and exercising on the 26th or 27th. Life's too short to stress out about this time of year. I've read many, many articles about holiday weight gain and how most people return to their pre-holiday weight when they resume their pre-holiday habits. You'll be just fine. Happy Holidays! :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:
    Or as I've heard it said: "It's not what you do between November and January that matters most; it's what you do between January and November."
  • SugafreeNsweet
    SugafreeNsweet Posts: 21 Member
    I will still have plenty of parties because my friends and family support my choice to live a healthier lifestyle and want me to succeed. Most people who have had to lose a tremendous amount of weight and keep it off would understand where I am coming.

    Happy Holidays!
  • honkytonks85
    honkytonks85 Posts: 669 Member
    Is it true that u can gain weight much quicker than losing it??? Cuz I REALLY don't wanna gain weight over the holidays but I do want to eat and enjoy myself and not worry about cal counting or watching what I eat. It's only gonna be Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and New Years Eve that I indulge. Then I will be having cake on January 6th for my sons 1st bday so... What do you guys think? Am I doomed or what?

    I went on a 2 week cruise and came back 17 lbs heavier - the same amount which took 6 months to lose. So yes!
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    Is it true that u can gain weight much quicker than losing it??? Cuz I REALLY don't wanna gain weight over the holidays but I do want to eat and enjoy myself and not worry about cal counting or watching what I eat. It's only gonna be Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and New Years Eve that I indulge. Then I will be having cake on January 6th for my sons 1st bday so... What do you guys think? Am I doomed or what?

    I went on a 2 week cruise and came back 17 lbs heavier - the same amount which took 6 months to lose. So yes!

    Wow you ate 4250 more calories than you TDEE a day over two weeks, that's crazy!
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
    It is easier to over eat on the holidays. It is also possible to lose whatever weight you gain within a week afterward. Chillax. It's the holidays. Enjoy without all this self-imposed agony.




    This
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    No, it just seems like it is harder to lose than it is to gain. Ask any body builder how hard it is to gain weight, and they'll tell you losing is much easier.

    It is probably about the same either way.

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